Secrets [In edit]

Secrets - two (Penny)

CHAPTER TWO

You make a bad day better than good

You make me feel better than I should

You understand when I’m misunderstood

Like no one else ever could

Better With You—Kris Allen

From the moment Penny left the couch, to get ready for the evening, to when they arrived at Applebee’s for a reunion dinner with their friends, Danny and Erin, Tom still bugged her about him. But Penny still wouldn’t say.

“You’ve mentioned every bloke you went out with, you've ever liked,” Tom continued. They sat opposite of each other in a four-chair table, “Why won’t you mention this one?”

“Not every guy.” Penny replied, already annoyed with the subject. She was dressed in a snug navy blue dress that sits above the knees and matching heels. Her hair was moussed up in perfectly wavy curls. She folded her arms and looked at the entrance that was filled with incoming guests. The restaurant was alive with chatter from the bar, tables and booths. The TVs that sits above the bar aired various sports in a muted volume. “Must I tell you everything?”

“Okay, you’re right…I apologize,” Tom raised his arms and finally gave in to drop the subject. “If you won’t tell then...talk about school.”

Penny felt a pang of relief that he decided to leave it. At the same time she laughed. “School?!”

Tom shrugged. “You make it sound interesting!”

“Does that include me?” Added the waitress that arrived at their table in a flirty tone. She gave her sweet smile, especially toward Tom, who raised his brows and returned the smile. Penny followed his gaze and saw nothing special about her: that fitting, sleek body, her fiery red hair up in a stylish bun, and those annoying blue eyes—she may look cute, but looks can be deceiving.

“Hi,” She giggled at Tom. “I’m Nikki. I’ll be your server for the evening. By the way...I’m a huge fan of yours.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Nikki.” Tom smiled politely. He glanced at Penny, who was visibly unimpressed. Nikki also looked at her; the cheerful attitude she had was suddenly gone. She bit her lip, nervously. “Hey, Pen…”

Penny ignored the greeting and stared at the menu. Nikki awkwardly stood between them, while Tom looked back and forth at the girls. “Uh…”

“I guess I’ll give you guys a few minutes to find what you want to order?” Nikki said.

“That would be great, thank you,” Tom nodded at her as she walked away. He looked at Penny in disbelief. “Penny, what’s going on with you? Clearly she’s just being polite.”

“You don’t know her.” She retorted.

“So, what, are you going to continue this behavior whenever fans are around?”

Penny groaned. The fact that Tom added his fans to the conversation sort of ticked her off. She stood up. “Her being a fan has nothing to do with the way I’m acting right now.”

Penny grabbed her clutch and began to walk away.

“Penny! P-Pen—” Tom called after her. He grabbed his blazer and followed suit. He saw Nikki come back with her notepad and said, “Sorry. Think we might have to give up our table, love.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Nikki gave him a small smile.

As Penny walked outside in front of the restaurant, which was already filled with more parties waiting to get inside, she breathed in the clear, cool air. She had to get away from the stuffy, uneasy air that Nikki breathed in. She heard Tom calling after her again, and turned around.