“Don’t get mushy, or I’ll tell everyone you’re secretly a romantic.” She kisses me hard, smooshing our noses together. I love when Penny is like this. Silly, uninhibited, just completely herself.
I wasn’t raised to know what a healthy or normal relationship looks like. I don’t always know how to communicate with Penny. I don’t have the means to do everything I want for her. But she doesn’t seem to care, always telling me I’m enough. I know all she wants is to get out of this town, to fulfill her dreams, and for us to be together through it all.
Penny presses play on the movie again, and her fingers lace through mine. As the end nears, I trace the lines on her palms and she begins to grow sleepy, her head heavy on my shoulder.
“Jesse?” She glances up at me, eyes tired but peaceful.
“What’s up?”
“Promise you’ll never leave me?”
I lower my brows and pause to take in her face. I trace the freckles across her nose that only come out in the summer. Her soft lips that pull into the most beautiful smile. Her eyes with flecks ofgold, like honey. And beneath it all is a heart she so freely gives to everyone. Penny takes care of everyone. She seems older than any other girl our age, but then again, I know a thing or two about growing up fast. If you don’t, you won’t survive.
“Why would you think I’d leave you?” I squeeze her hand.
She bites her lip, eyes falling to her lap. “A lot is going to change soon, new town, new school, all that. I can handle change, but I don’t want anything to change betweenus. You’re everything to me. I can’t do this without you, Jesse.”
Penny doesn’t talk about it, but I know her parents leaving in the middle of the night really fucked her and Danny up. They just show it in different ways. Penny needs to be reminded a lot that I’m not going anywhere. And that’s the truth. I’m not.
I lean down until our foreheads are touching, my lips an inch from hers. “I can promise you, Penelope Hanson, we’re going to be together no matter what.”
She nods, a single tear quickly swept away, and I kiss her lips.
Less than fifteen minutes later, she’s sound asleep on my shoulder. I quietly move the popcorn bowl from beside her and slowly stand to go to the bathroom. Penny slumps down, nuzzling into the tan sofa, so I pull the blanket over her. Even if it’s still 90 degrees outside at midnight, she’s always chilly.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I make my way down the dark hallway to the powder room.
It’s Tyler, one of Danny’s friends. Someone he smokes with a lot.
Tyler:Dude I don’t know where you are, but you need to come to Kels RIGHT NOW. Danny is majorly fucked up.
I exhale, annoyed. It’s midnight, and he’s seriously telling me now?
Jesse:Did he fight someone?
Tyler:Nah man…he is tweaking hard. He’s not acting right…something is wrong.
Jesse: What happened to Sean?
Sean was supposed to drive him home, even though we both knew that was a horrible idea.
Tyler:He took whatever Danny was selling and passed out like an hour ago. It’s fucked up here.
Fuck.
I grit my teeth and bang my fist against the door frame. Danny’s gotten himself into plenty of shitty situations this past year, but he’s always managed to get himself home.
I slip my phone in my pocket and walk swiftly to the back door, pausing next to the sofa. I know exactly what I’m about to walk into, these parties are notorious. But I know if I were in Danny’s shoes, he’d drop everything to come get me. As weird as things have gotten between us lately, he’s my brother for life. I can’t leave him hanging.
Penny is still curled up, looking peaceful. She had a long day at work and made everyone dinner. She needs to sleep, so I decide not to wake her.
She’ll just panic and want to come, probably making things worse. And there’s no way I’m letting Penny go into that house. She doesn’t know how wild these parties are. It’s not safe.
She’ll be asleep like this for a while, so I kiss her forehead softly.
“Be back soon. Wish me luck,” I whisper, then curse Danny for being an idiot.
And silently pray he’s actually okay.
