Main Campfire; Sunday Evening

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope sat before the fire but her attention was on the Dreamer. He was seated not far from her, his smile faint, secretive; the same smile he's been giving her since she woke up to him yesterday morning.

She glanced back at the marshmallow she was roasting, not giving it much attention. It was hard to pay attention to anything else with him staring at her like he was.

"When are you going to leave?" she asked.

"When I'm ready," was his reply.

With a soft sigh, she felt her marshmallow slide off her stick and plop on the ground, a burnt melty mess.

The Dreamer chuckled and Penelope reached for another marshmallow.

[[ Open campfire! ]]

Comments

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Hey, he used to just switch me off whenever he thought I was beeping too loud," Four-Dee. He's fine. Just taking a nap. So now I can go out and do the things he was trying to keep me from doing yesterday."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Still, you shouldn't have done that. He better be alright," she warned. Though it wasn't like she could do anything about it, could she?

"You said he was screwing things up on purpose? Explain that, if you can."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"He's so afraid of being happy that he ruins it," Four-Dee said. "It's the easy way out, and he's a total scaredy-cat. It's kinda ridiculous. It's like he wants to be a lone wolf, all sad and fat and stuff."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

The Dreamer took Penelope's hand in his and moved his thumb slowly back and forth soothingly.

She didn't move it.

"If he wants to be alone and stuff, he's doing a very decent job of letting me know it," she said, her voice quiet.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's the thing," Four-Dee said. "He doesn't want to be. But he's... has he ever told you about his dad?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"No... not really," she said slowly, curious about where this was going.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"His dad ran out of him," Hurley said. "and not to get all psycho-analyzy, but I think he's afraid of... repeat performances. Which makes him dumb, and you need to go smack him and tell him you wouldn't, and then he'll behave like the teddy bear he really is."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Wait... but that's crazy. One? We're in high school." Forget the fact that she had just walked away from a wedding. "Two? Hurley and I are not dating. We're not a couple. I know how he feels and I know what he said. His telling me I'm too pretty for him now has nothing to do with anyone, namely me, leaving in this situation. It's telling me that I was ugly enough before that he could deal with being around me."

Penelope had issues where this was concerned. Emotional ones.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Except he didn't think you were ugly," Four-Dee said. "I know that. Man, I know that."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Suddenly because my nose is different, I'm too pretty?" she asked, brow arched. "It's not a significant change. I know he doesn't like change. But it's my nose. Not me."

The Dreamer moved closer, his dark eyes now staring at the one who spoke to his girl.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, well, his dad said he was just going out to find a new job and never came back," Four-Dee said. "Things kinda avalanche on the poor guy. So he panics."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

People handle things in different ways, she supposed. She felt for Hurley, she really did. But did he think about everything she's been through? Her own mother faked her death. One can imagine how that would make someone feel.

She sighed, softly. "What would you have me do?"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Honestly, I think you guys just to need to make up and have sex," Four-Dee said.

...his way of helping, not so good.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I don't think you should say such things," warned the Dreamer.

Penelope's jaw dropped.

"Did you... did he..." she shook her head. "Did he say that?"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Four-Dee laughed. "Dude, he's so repressed. He probably just really wants to hold your hand and get ice cream."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope looked at the Dreamer who was still looking at Four-Dee.

"You shouldn't have drugged him," she finally said, her attention back on the other man. "That was mean."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Please, it was just--"

He was quickly cut off by Hurley. Tackling him.

"Dude! What the hell!"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Oh my god!" Penelope stood, startled, her book standing with her and taking her in against his side.

"Hurley!"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley was panting, having run from his own cabin. He was now perched over Four-Dee.

"...I don't know what he was saying, but I am so sorry," Hurley said.

"Ow," Four-Dee said.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Well, he drugged you for one," she said, staring down at him.

She didn't think she should mention anything else. Not yet at least.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"He left me a note, yeah," Hurley said. "Said he was going to fix things. I kinda... I don't..."

"See, this is why you need someone to talk for you," Four-Dee said. "Could you get off me, please?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"He certainly tried," she replied, somewhat dryly. If Hurley knew what Four-Dee had said, she didn't think he'd ever get off of him.