Female Novel
Chapter 240
Aaron 4- Talking and teasing
“| wasn’t sure it was you at first, but | don’t know anyone else who falls asleep in a club.” Penelope says. My eyes fly open as |feel her dropping down onto the couch beside me. She’s sweating a little from the stage lights but she still smells like the ocean.| have to fight not to sniff at her. | always liked the beach. Tonight her hair is in a braid resting over her left shoulder. | nod toconfirm my identity and she snorts out a laugh.
“| was right, just as quiet as a person. Although | guess maybe you don’t mind my company since you're not a cat today?” Sheadds, her words a question. | give a slight nod. Can she tell how awkward | feel right now? I’m usually fairly comfortable with mysilence, but something about Penelope makes me feel like | should be trying harder to answer.
“That’s great. | was worried I’ve been bothering you. My teachers always told me | don’t know when to keep my mouth shut andleave well enough alone.” | raise an eyebrow and she just laughs.
“Yeah, | know. She told me to talk less so | went out and decided to make a living with my voice. | always did like to be contrary.”She jokes. Penelope chatters at me for a while longer, telling me about her music and how she hopes she can make a properliving with it one day. She admits that she struggles a bit right now and that she occasionally has to borrow money from herparents to cover her bills.
“Thankfully they're really supportive and don’t mind that I’m a bit of a mess.” She concludes.“You're not a mess.” | mutter quietly.
“He speaks! And here | was starting to think you really didn’t talk.” She says with a smile. Her face falls as she glances at herphone.
“| should probably be heading home though. | drove here at least. | used to take the bus and that was the worst.” She adds. Myprotective streak flares up. She used to take the bus this. late at night? Alone? That can’t be safe! She stands to leave and | findmyself getting to my feet as well. Penelope looks at me strangely for a minute.
“You look kind of upset.” She says slowly. Then shakes her head.
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Aaron 4- Talking and teasing
“No, wait. Not upset. Worried. Are you worried about me Aaron?” She asks and | nod.
“Oh, well that’s real sweet of you. I’m fine though. I’m parked right out front.” She promises. | stare flatly at her and offer her myarm. I’m about to drop it when | remember that she probably doesn’t know what the gesture means to Shifters, but before | getthe chance, she places her hand on my arm.
“Are you going to walk me to my car? What a gentleman!” She says cheerfully. We head out. together, Penelope waves and saysgoodbye to all the staff as we leave. James waggles his eyebrows at us on the way out. She rolls her eyes.
“Ignore him. He likes to tease everyone. | think he enjoys his job far too much.” She complains. We stop at an old looking silvercar. It’s small but seems serviceable enough. Penelope squeezes my arm gently, thanks me, then gets in her vehicle and drivesaway, leaving me to stare after her.
Just like the previous week, Sunday night | have a little more energy since I’ve had a couple nights rest. | manage to stay awakefor Penelope’s entire performance, although once again people try to approach me. | end up closing my eyes while | listen just sothat people won't. try to talk with me. | could come in my feline form but | don’t want to. | suppose there is ONE person | don’twant to drive away.
“Hello again sleepyhead.” Penelope greets me after the show. My eyes fly open but | don’t bother to or react her assumption that| was sleeping. Does it really matter if she knows if I’m awake or not? It doesn’t seem to affect whether she approaches me ornot. | give her a nod as a greeting then internally kick myself. Is it really that hard to just say hello? At very least | could try tosmile or give some kind of encouraging sign. | know I’m fairly unapproachable, but | should be capable of at least that much! Shedrops into the seat beside me.
“So, | was wondering what kind of job you have that has you so tired all the time.” She prompts me curiously. | try to think of thebest way to describe my job that would make
sense to a non-Shifter.
“Personal security.” Is the answer | end up going with. Penelope raises an eyebrow and looks.at me speculatively.
“That does seem like something you'd be good at. Who do you do security for? Or am | not2/4
Aaron 4- Talking and teasing
allowed to ask that?” She asks curiously.
“Alpha Ryann.” | respond. | don’t know if she even knows who that is but at least it’s ananswer.
“Hm, | don’t know a lot about Shifters, but | know your Alphas are super important right? So | guess your job is super importanttoo. | bet you’re good at it, they wouldn’t pick you if you weren't.” She thinks aloud. | shrug.
“Volunteered.” | comment.
“You picked your assignment? That’s nice. | guess that means you like your job, or at least. you have some goal in choosing it.”She falls silent for a minute and seems to be thinking something through.
“I've heard a lot of weird stories about Shifter packs in the past. What's that like? Oh, | hope I’m not annoying you. You don’thave to answer if you don’t want to. Although something tells me you never talk unless you actually want to.” Ah, so she is takinga page out of Alpha Ryann’s book and asking questions | can’t answer with a nod. Oddly enough | find | don’t mind answeringPenelope. | try to think of an accurate answer. It’s sweet that she’s concerned about my pack given all the rumours she probablyhears about Shifters, we ARE pretty private. But | think back to Alpha Ryann force feeding me cake and pestering me intorelaxing whenever possible and how Alpha Kane dotes on her, his sister and their adopted child Kiara. They treat me like |belong there, like my own family does. | don’t want her to think poorly of
them.“A large, noisy family.” | conclude and she smiles brightly at me.
“That actually sounds kind of nice. | don’t have any siblings, just my parents. My house was always really quiet. Hey if your workisn’t the problem then why are you so tired all the time?” She continues her interrogation. I’m not sure | know the answer to thatquestion. myself so | just shrug.
“Insomnia?” | answer, although it comes out like a question. Penelope laughs..
suppose that’s as good an.explanation as any.” She bites her lip for a second before continuing.3/4
ens provaury wants to get nome and get
some rest. | didn’t mean to keep her.
“I'll walk you to your car.” | get to my feet and offer my arm to her. She looks oddly disappointed.
“| meant... Well, | suppose it doesn't
matter. Thanks, a lecheelingerscathér b P, not unlocking it
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“| didn’t mean | wanted to ditch ourconversation.” She comme ts, mhesitating. don’t tee inen shewants; but she said she was hungry,She should go. The content is onNovelDrama.Org! Read the latestchapter there!
“Go. Eat.” | insist. She nods but hershoulders fall and | know I'vesomehow said the wrong t ing Shit, |need tovixthis.odotit chow what todb. but as she gives mea slight smilegoodbye | let a small smile of myown slip out. Hers grows in responseand she seems to straighten upagain. The content is onNovelDrama.Org! Read the latestchapter there!
“I'll see you next time!” | stand and stare after her car for entirely too long after she has. driven away.Chapter CommentsPOST COMMENT NOW
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