made in hollywood.

penelope pouted playfully, throwing her head back to rest on the girl’s shoulder, her heart swelling at the sweet familiarity of the lighter, younger version of themselves. sweet like candy with sprinkled happiness on top -- though, still just as identical in their future. she’d never change their friendship for the world --- “ugh, i do.” she chuckled, she really does. “you two were nice enough that i never noticed anything.” she gazed at her bestfriend. “so, what’s next ?” she softly gasped, pulling away and smiling & wiggling her brows. “a date, perhaps ?”

“same thing.” penelope insisted. she couldn't help her smile faltering for a second, though masked quickly by a purse of the lips and her eyes squinting at ryder. it stung at her heart that ryder didn’t exactly have a solid parental presence in his life. she knew his mother was great & he is, as she noticed, very close to her, but she knew he still deserved better ---deserved what she had. it’s times like these that she wouldn’t look at her father in the eye. “interesting. not good enough, though. you could do better --- you could do makeup.” her teasing grin went back up again.

“What happened this week?” Nat asked, frowning. “It doesn’t matter what happened, they’re not allowed to be rude to you,” Nat continued, leaning against the locker beside Penelope’s.

“ha.” she scoffed. “what didn’t happen, you mean ?” she sighed, pulling a textbook and a her huge green notebook & closed the locker. hugging the books to her chest and leaning on her side against the locker, she sighed again. “me and jordan kinda’ um, argued last night..loudly, in a block party. there were kids from school there, and ugh..” she cringed at herself, huffing out. “it was so --- stupid.”

“this is so — “ penelope took a dramatic moment before continuing. “ — disrespectful, oh my god. why am i just finding out about this now ? left me here guessing when are you two gettin’ together, and not knowing that something already happened. wow.” she spun around, rambling still. “so, i’ve been the third wheel this whole time. this whole time, and had no clue  —  i mean, eventually i knew that’s gonna’ happen. you two are like, literally a love story waiting to happen, but still —  wow.” she huffed out an end to her rant before her lips settled slowly into a wide grin —  cue the arm tugging  and squealing. “ oh my god, i can’t believe this is actually happening !!” 

“Yeah, there’s definitely something on your face,” Nat joked. “Nah, you’re fine. Maybe they just think you look good today.”

“stop.” she whined after a skip of a heart beat at her friend’s joke. “or maybe they’re making fun of me. been nothing but a joke this week, so why not ! ”she huffed out, halting to a stop to her locker, swinging it open to pull out her books for next period. next period, she mentally snorted. how ridiculous is her reality now.

“never day, but alright, bro.” she grinned as she said the word bro, pride filled her to the brim. he may be somewhat of a brat, but she liked him anyway & he had many other good qualities in him, and he’s family — even when he refused to claim her as such. “so, you’re just going to duck and scamper to your room when you go home ? wear hoodies around like you’re eminem or something ? explain your genius to the simple minds here, please.”

How many calls has my muse missed from yours?

I’m trying hard to keep my Australian accent. My mom would disown me if I didn’t.

“oh, my god.” penelope shrieked.  “hold up, wait. again ? again, and you didn’t tell me ?” her shoulders dropped, expressions of shock & light offense all over her face, though her smile is still intact. “wow. like, i knew something has always been up, but wow. friendship over ? ” 

“right.” her lips twisted as she shook her head, smiling shortly after. “almost got me with that evil persona of yours, ry.” she shrugged, her hand twitched to reach up and touch the bruise. instead, she crossed her arms across her chest, looking up at her brother with a soft, worried grimace. “what do you think your mom would do if she saw it ? ”