Chapter 3

Penny was sitting at home filling out her application for college. She finally decided to go even though her mom was still not speaking to her and she figured it was better then sitting in the house all day, which is what she did now. For the past week, she had been avoiding Seaweed and since he was always on the set of Corny's show she never went down to the station again, which isolated her from other people even more. She couldn't see him again not after he kissed her. She liked it and it reminded her of the good times they had together but she was with Corny now. She was in love with him and Seaweed was just part of her past. As long as she didn't see him, she wouldn't have any problem. The phone rang and she went to answer it. She hoped it wasn't Seaweed. She knew she couldn't be alone with him.

"Penny, is that you?" she heard the voice on the other end of the phone say. It was her mother. Why was she calling her here? How did she even get this number? "Yeah mom. What is it?" She said even though she knew that there wasn't anything she could do to her now that she was eighteen and had moved out of her house.

"How are you?" her mom asked her.

"I'm fine mom. Didn't you get my graduation invitation?" She said not able to hide her anger.

"Of course I did but you know I was still upset with you then. But I want to make things better between us."

"Really?" she asked surprised.

"Yes, I've decided since you are in a great relationship with the right kind of guy. There is no reason why we can't have mother-daughter relationship." Penny rolled her eyes. She should have known that her mom's decision had something to do with the fact that thought that Penny and Seaweed had no chance of getting back together. That was something her mom was always afraid of. It was sickening even though it might have been true.

"How are things with you and Corny? Have you guys discussed marriage yet?"

"Marriage? Mom we haven't been together long enough to talk about getting married"

"Don't be silly of course you have! Plus you are already living together why not make it official? Corny is definitely the white guy for you."

"You mean the right guy, mother?" Penny asked sarcastically

"Well, same thing." Of course that's what it was, time her mom found out she was with the "white" guy she wanted to rush Penny into marrying him. It made her sick. She should probably go back to Seaweed just to spite her.

"Mom, I have to go. I'm in the middle of doing something." She said wanting to get off the phone with her now.

"Wait honey. Why don't you and Corny come over for dinner tonight so I can officially meet him?"

"We have plans mom." She said lying. She didn't want to see her mom right now and she definitely didn't want Corny to meet her. Anyone who didn't know her mom was actually very fortunate.

"Maybe some other time then"

"Maybe." Penny said and hung up. Her desire to make up with her mom was actually decreasing now. She definitely hadn't changed since she moved out.

Later the same day she went to a café in town to have lunch. She had been eating there alone for the past week since she no longer went to the studio. She didn't care what anyone thought of her eating alone because she knew she wasn't really alone. She had been seating in the booth for about a couple of minutes when Seaweed walked towards her.

"Hi Penny can I join you?" he asked smiling at her.

"Sure," she said not wanting to be rude.

"I've been looking for you at the studio all week because I needed to talk to you. I thought you might have been sick or something." He said sitting across from her.

"Oh I've just been busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"Well, I decided to go to college next semester," she said but she knew that wasn't an answer to his question. She didn't want to tell him the real reason she hadn't been at the studio. She didn't want him to know that she had been thinking about him ever since he came into the same café last week. She had a feeling he felt the same way or he wouldn't have kissed her. Plus, he said he needed to talk to her and she had a feeling that he was going to tell her he still loved her. As far as she knew, Seaweed hadn't had a girlfriend since their breakup,

"That's great. I'm glad you are going to college. Look, I have to tell you something. It's about what happened in Corny's dressing room." He said taking her hand in his.

"I think we should talk about it, too." She said squeezing his hand. Here it goes. He was going to admit what she was afraid to admit to herself for the past week.

"I know you are with Corny and I respect that but seeing you again made me wish you were my girl again. That's why I had to kiss you. You are more beautiful then ever Penny and I guess I'll always love you."

"Oh Seaweed! I'll always love you, too." She exclaimed. This was it, they were meant to be together! It was hard for her to admit it but she was glad it was finally out in the open. She suddenly felt bad for Corny. She knew he would be heartbroken when she told him that she decided to get back together with Seaweed but she hoped he would get over her.

"That's great and I hope we will always be friends." He said

"Yeah me too!" she exclaimed and then thought for a minute. Did he just say friends? What was that all about? "What? Friends?" she asked surprised.

"Yeah I know now that we weren't meant to be. You were meant to be with Corny and I was meant to …Oh that's right I didn't tell you." He said suddenly

"Tell me what?" She asked looking perplexed

"I'm seeing someone else." He said looking down at the table.

"Someone else? Who?" She asked heartbroken.

He smiled and let go of her hand and said "Well you aren't going to believe this but-"

"Seaweed! What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you!" A girl said interrupting him. Penny looked behind he and saw the blonde girl with a pink dress and white shoes on who was now glaring at her and thought no way could he be with her!

"Hi Amber," Penny said trying to sound cheerful.

"Penny." Amber said coldly and then sat next to Seaweed and kissed him on the lips. Penny cringed just watching them and wished someone could wake her up from this bad dream.