Aaron 4- Talking and teasing
“I wasn’t sure it was you at first, but I don’t know anyone else who falls asleep in a club.” Penelope
says. My eyes fly open as I 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. I have to fight not to sniff at her. I always liked
the beach. Tonight her hair is in a braid resting over her left shoulder. I nod to confirm my identity and
she snorts out augh.
“I was right, just as quiet as a person. Although I guess maybe you don’t mind mypany since
you’re not a cat today?” She adds, her words a question. I give a slight nod. Can she tell how awkward
I feel right now? I’m usually fairlyfortable with my silence, but something about Penelope makes
me feel like I should be trying harder to answer.
“That’s great. I was worried I’ve been bothering you. My teachers always told me I don’t know when to
keep my mouth shut and leave well enough alone.” I raise an eyebrow and she justughs.
“Yeah, I know. She told me to talk less so I went out and decided to make a living with my voice. I
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 proper living with it one day. She admits that she
struggles a bit right now and that she asionally has to borrow money from her parents 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.” I mutter quietly.
“He speaks! And here I was starting to think you really didn’t talk.” She says with a smile. Her face falls
as she nces at her phone.
“I should probably be heading home though. I drove here at least. I used to take the bus and that was
the worst.” She adds. My protective streak res up. She used to take the bus this.te at night?
Alone? That can’t be safe! She stands to leave and I find myself 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 I nod.
“Oh, well that’s real sweet of you. I’m fine though. I’m parked right out front.” She promises. I stare tly
at her and offer her my arm. I’m about to drop it when I remember that she probably doesn’t know what
the gesture means to Shifters, but before I get the chance, she ces 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 says goodbye 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. I think he enjoys his job far too much.” Sheins. We
stop at an old looking silver car. It’s small but seems serviceable enough. Penelope squeezes my arm
gently, thanks me, then gets in her vehicle and drives away, leaving me to stare after her.
Just like the previous week, Sunday night I have a little more energy since I’ve had a couple nights
rest. I manage to stay awake for Penelope’s entire performance, although once again people try to
approach me. I end up closing my eyes while I listen just so that people won’t. try to talk with me. I
coulde in my feline form but I don’t want to. I suppose there is ONE person I don’t want to drive
away.
“Hello again sleepyhead.” Penelope greets me after the show. My eyes fly open but I don’t bother to or
react her assumption that I 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 or not. I give her a nod as a greeting then internally
kick myself. Is it really that hard to just say hello? At very least I could try to smile or give some kind of
encouraging sign. I know I’m fairly unapproachable, but I should be capable of at least that much! She
drops into the seat beside me.
“So, I was wondering what kind of job you have that has you so tired all the time.” She prompts me
curiously. I try to think of the best way to describe my job that would make
sense to a non–Shifter.
“Personal security.” Is the answer I end up going with. Penelope raises an eyebrow and looks.
at me spectively.
“That does seem like something you’d be good at. Who do you do security for? Or am I not
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Aaron 4- Talking and teasing
allowed to ask that?” She asks curiously.
“Alpha Ryann.” I respond. I don’t know if she even knows who that is but at least it’s an
answer.
“Hm, I don’t know a lot about Shifters, but I know your Alphas are super important right? So I guess
your job is super important too. I bet you’re good at it, they wouldn’t pick you if you weren’t.” She thinks
aloud. I shrug.
“Volunteered.” Iment.
“You picked your assignment? That’s nice. I 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, I hope I’m not
annoying you. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Although something tells me you never
talk unless you actually want to.” Ah, so she is taking a page out of Alpha Ryann’s book and asking
questions I can’t answer with a nod. Oddly enough I find I don’t mind answering Penelope. I try to think
of an urate answer. It’s sweet that she’s concerned about my pack given all the rumours she
probably hears about Shifters, we ARE pretty private. But I think back to Alpha Ryann force feeding me
cake and pestering me into rxing whenever possible and how Alpha Kane dotes on her, his sister
and their adopted child Kiara. They treat me like I belong there, like my own family does. I don’t want
her to think poorly of
them.
“Arge, noisy family.” I conclude and she smiles brightly at me.
“That actually sounds kind of nice. I don’t have any siblings, just my parents. My house was always
really quiet. Hey if your work isn’t the problem then why are you so tired all the time?” She continues
her interrogation. I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. myself so I just shrug.
“Insomnia?” I answer, although ites out like a question. Penelopeughs..
suppose that’s as good an.exnation as any.” She bites her lip for a second before continuing.
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ens provaury wants to get nome and get
some rest. I didn’t mean to keep her.
“I’ll walk you to your car.” I get to my feet and offer my arm to her. She looks oddly disappointed.
“I meant… Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Thanks, that would be nice.” She lingers at her car, not
unlocking it right away.
“I didn’t mean I wanted to ditch our conversation.” Shements, hesitating. I don’t know what she
wants, but she said she was hungry, She should go.
“Go. Eat.” I insist. She nods but her shoulders fall and I know I’ve somehow said the wrong thing. Shit, I
need to fix this. I don’t know what to do, but as she gives me a slight smile goodbye I let a small smile
of my own slip out. Hers grows in response and she seems to straighten up again.
“I’ll see you next time!” I stand and stare after her car for entirely too long after she has. driven away.
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