A.N
ATTENTION!!
I have no updating schedule, no set times. You might get three chapter in one week, or one chapter in three weeks. My creativity is like an ocean, the waves crashing to the shore before pulling back again. I'm terribly sorry for any inconvenience. I can say I will push myself to post at least six chapter a month. Happy reading!
The fever broke shortly after Penny awoke and sat up in the dark.
Through the thin walls she could clearly hear May as she breathed in and out deeply from her room.
Asleep. Penny decided, and futher decided not to bother her. Her phone lay dead on her desk, but Penny didn't feel like crossing the room to grab her charger.
The digital clock on the wall was broken. Penny suspected it was early morning, judging by the pale light that filtered through her curtains.
Penny took a sip of water, acutely becoming aware by how much her ears seems to be popping. With each pop, sound cleared and she could hear a little better.
By this time she realized that May had made her morning coffee and taken liberty in the living room.
"May?" Penny called, voice dry and raspy. She took another sip of water.
Penny heard the TV click off and May launch from the couch.
She appeared in the door way a moment later. "Penny." May sighed in relief. She crossed the threshold of Penny's bedroom and placed a hand on her forehead. A happy sound escaped May. "No fever."
Penny smiled breiflg. "May- wait how long has it been?"
May shifted uncomfortably. "You came home Friday. It's Tuesday now."
Penny sucked in a breath. "Shoot. My school- and my friends!"
May waved a hand. "Don't worry. I called the school and your friends stopped by earlier with your homework. They said call them." She said.
Penny glanced at her phone, and May followed her gaze.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She asked.
Penny hesitated. "I am kinda hungry."
May smiled. "Whatcha want? Soup… jelly sandwich…"
"Soup sounds good." Penny replied happily.
"Glad you have an appetite. I'll call you when it's done." May ducked out of the room and Penny listened to her footsteps thump into the kitchen. When they settled in the restless movements in front of the stove, Penny swung her feet out of bed and padded into the hall.
She paused at her door and glanced into the room. On the coffee table she could see her school books and could clearly read the titles. Penny reached to adjust her glances but found empty air. She frowned. Has she been wearing contacts?
Her feet changed course and she half jogged into the bathroom. She flicked on the light and gently rubbed the "sand" from the corner of her eyes.
Leaning in close to the mirror, Penny checked to see if she had contacts In. Knitting her eyes brows together when she had throughly checked and found none, Penny stepped back in wonder.
Penny pursed her lips, quickly bracing herself and turning out the light and turning on the fan. The fan was loud and old, and normally she couldn't even hear herself think over it. Across the small bathroom, Penny scanned the soap bottles. She could easily read each label in the pitch black.
Putting herself to another test, Penny closed her eyes and listened.
Three floors down, Penny could hear Missus Chele and Mister Chele arguing about their dog Snuffles. Her tounge poked out in concentration, and she focused hard. Delmar's, which lay four blocks away from her house, was normally quiet at this hour, and Penny could hear the lazy cat purring softly in its sleep.
Penny staggered backwards. "Get a grip." She scolded out loud. In the kitchen she could hear May's heart beat.
Thump thump pat.
Thump thump pat.
The sound was comforting and Penny focused on it. In the background, she could hear May humming softly and the clanking of the wooden spoon against the pot.
Penny let her erratic heartbeat slow down. She took a deep breath and twisted the door knob to let the outside light filter in. The hallway was bright, and Penny breathed in deeply. The smell of chicken soup was strong.
Or maybe it was just her new hightened senses.
Penny padded into the kitchen. "Smells great." She greeted.
May smiled warmly, pressing a kiss to Penny's cheek as she passed.
Penny collapsed into a dining room chair, stretching lazily against the soft cushions.
She placed her palms facing down on the table. "How is work?" She asked.
May tensed, and shrugged. "Ah, the same."
Penny eyed her back. "You took it off."
May set the utensil down and turned to Penny. "It amazes me how grown up you are these days."
"You're changing the subject." Penny objected.
May held up a finger. "No. Maybe I'll get to the work thing."
Penny pursed her lips. She went to pull her hands back into her lap, but choked when they didn't move.
The table screeched loudly against the floor as she yanked.
May turned back to face her. "You okay?" She asked, concerned.
Penny looked up wildly. "Yep. Grest. Actually, I'm not really hungry. I might just go do my homework."
May laughed. "You? Doing homework early? Wouldn't you rather do it ten minutes before class?"
Penny huffed. "Maybe I'm maturing."
May eyes widened comically and she nodded seriously. "But of course. Maturing."
Penny ripped her hands from the table and stood up. "Stop patronizing. I'm going to do it now."
She stomped from the kitchen, Mays voice following her.
"I still love you!" May called after her, chuckling. "Sure you don't want food?"
"Yep," Penny called back. "Post sickness catching up. Don't want to risk it."
The truth is, Penny was starving. She wasn't sure if she ate much while under the fever, but she was sure this was the hungriest she'd been.
But at the same time, Penny was terrified of her newfound enchantments. The scientist in her was begging to begin tests, while the more logical and rational wanted to curl up and cry.
Penny did neither. True to her word, She sat down and began her homework, plugged in her phone so she could text MJ, Ned and Betty to alert them that she was still alive.
Within record time, her phone came to life and a stream of messsges came in.
May 2nd, 5:14
Group chat
MJ: You alright penny? You looked pretty sick
Ned: yea it came on so suddenly
Ned: lmao u ok?
Betty: txt us when u can
May 2nd, 9:56
Group chat
Ned: guys got a new Lego set
MJ: Is it Star Wars or something new and frankly more Interesting
Ned: M, dknt pretend. You like Star Wars too
MJ: i TOLERATE it. Also you spelled don't wronh
Ned: you spelled wrong wrong
MJ: you messed up on a four letter word
Ned: and a five letter word is how much better?
Betty: so what kind of set is it
Ned: Star Wars
Ned: wanna group call and see
MJ: sure give me five
Betty: ok talk soon
May 2nd, 10:31 PM
Group chat
Betty: sorry my mom wants me to get off the phone
Ned: okay sounds good. See u tmr
MJ: for lunch?
Ned: ya
Ned: night
MJ: nicht
May 3rd, 6:24 PM
Group chat
Ned: anyone heard from pen yet
MJ: no but I can call Aunt may tmr
Betty: I haven't either
Ned: okay sounds good
May 4th, 6:43 AM
Group chat
Ned: may the fourth be with youu
MJ: you couldn't have waited until school for that
Ned: no way this is important.
MJ: i can't even
May 5th, 4:39 PM
Group chat
MJ: called may she said bring p's hw tomorrow
Ned: oka don't forget
MJ: tell Betty
MJ: she has the best memory
Ned: she's grounded :(
MJ: oh
MJ: it's up to u then
May 6th, 5:45 PM
Group chat
MJ: aunt may said Pennys fever dropped and is awake now
May 6th, 6:01
Group chat
Penny: I am pretty sure I can go to school tmr
MJ: oh thank goodness
MJ: how dare you leave me with the low intelligence
MJ: not u Betty. You were grounded
Ned: I am very high intelligence Ty. Glad u feel better Penny
Penny: yeah I feel great actually
Penny: thanks for dropping of my hw
Penny: also can't wait to see the new set
Ned: yess waiting for u to set it up
Penny: yay
Betty: can't wait to c u tmr pen
Betty: we missed u and ur dorky self
Penny: missed u guys too :)
Penny set her phone down, smiling. Her smile faded as she remembered events of earlier that day. Glancing across the room, Penny frowned when her bed caught her gaze. She crossed the room and stood in formt of it.
Penny poked her toungue out in concentration. She placed her hands underneath the bad frame of the twin bunk beds, and lifted up.
It was light, not even straining her at at all. In shock, Penny dropped the bed with a loud thump.
May came running into the room. "Are you okay?" She exclaimed.
Penny waved her hands. "Fine! I tripped, but I caught myself."
May smiled softly. "Maybe you should turn in early. Catch up on some sleep. You feel up to school tommorw?"
Penny nodded earnestly. "That might be a good idea." She said in relief.
May have her a quick hug and closed the window curtains. "Sleep good, my lucky Penny."
Penny groaned esaperatelsg as she closed the door behind May. "Do you only call me thst to try to keep the "Parker luck" at bay?"
May laughed. "It's worth a shot."
Penny smiled happily. "Love you." She called after May.
May tossed a wave in return.