Penolope

Penolope flew down the stairs so fast she rivaled her sisters hundred meter pace. She had always thought her Priscilla was crazy for running, especially running competitively. She could almost see the apeal now though. The pain in her lungs and legs made it impossible to dwel on the words spoken on the other side of her bedroom wall.


A particularly Painful Throbbing in her side made her stop running right as she was about to leave the mansion through a small side door that led out into the garden.she stopped to allow her pain to vanish, but instead her brain repeated the Overheard conversation again. The tears that had dried on her face as she tore through the house were quickly replaced as her vision blurred with fresh tears. She didn't know why she was crying. It's not like she knew the person who was killed, or that she was surprised her great grandmother would do such a thing.


She leaned against the wall and allowed herself to process the truth. She was the soft Dutch, who could never handle any of her families buisness endeavors. She allowed herself a moment to cry, and feel her terror and sadness. When she was about to collect herself and develop a plan for her next actions, a guy walked out of the only connecting hallway to the one Penolope stood in.


His head was down, letting his dark black hair catch on the lights,and he wore a black suit that was appropriate for the occasion. Despite his attire being appropriate, he walked in a way that made him seem to be sneaking around, from the tilt of his head, to his hunched posture and quick, nervous movements. He was also coming from a hallway that did not attach to the ballroom, or kitchen, or any of the closest bathrooms to the ballroom.


His eyes met hers, and for a second she was distracted from everything that had happened before her honey brown eyes landed on his almost black ones. He was of inuit decent, and he had the clearest skin she had ever seen.


"Hey", he said. His voice was the clearest, crispest thing she had ever heard, and it was neither high or low. " I got lost on my way to the bathroom", he lied to try to explain his obvious sneaking around.

" were you coming from the ballroom?"

" yes"

She would have believed him if she didn't know he was lying. " the hallway you just came through doesn't connect to the ballroom." Penolope said what they both already knew.

"How would you know that? " he sounded genuinely curious. He came closer.

" I live here," she told him.


When he heard those words, his expression soured. Then he moved closer again, now standing roughly a foot infront of Penolope, theire eyes met again. His previously sharp gaze softened .

" are you okay?" He asked " I'm sorry I couldn't see you were upset before, bad eyes, gift from my mom." He shrugged, but his eyes on her red and puffy face were serious. She looked away. His caring hurt, considering her family had never once asked her if she was OK, bit this random stranger had.


" I'm fine, just stubbed my toe really hard. " She realized how lame that sounded after she said it, and it was an obvious lie. He gave her a puzzled look, but didn't call her out on the lie.


" I have to admit, I'm a little curious about you," he said. His cheeks turned the brightest crimson she had ever seen.

Penolope froze. She had never gotten attention from a guy before.

" i- I mean curious in the sense that i didnt see you in the ballroom, and you're covered in paint. you're also obviously lying about stubbing your toe," he froze when he saw her irritated expression , then continued quickly

" which is fine, you don't owe me the truth" he sighed, temporarily putting a halt to his rambling. " unless you're a murderer or something."


" why weren't you in the ballroom?" He suddenly asked.

Penolope was irritated now. Why did this boy think he could snoop around her house and demand she explaned herself to him.

" why aren't you in the ballroom," she shot back.

" touchè," he gave a one shoulder shrug. " Since we're both sneaking around, why don't you show me what you were painting before we get back to our respective sneaking and snooping?"

Penolope was annoyed that he accused her of sneaking around in her own house, and she horrified by the idea of going back to her room.She tried to cover the fear that made her whole body cold and shakey, but also somehow sweaty, by focusing on her annoyance.

" I can't sneak around in my own home."

He snorted."That is an obvious lie"

Penolope said nothing, and the boy turned to walk away. Before she knew what she was doing, she was following him back down the hallway he came through.


He gave no sign that he heard her. She noticed a hearing aid in his ear. Deaf and blind, all his good genetics went to his looks, She thought.

" Hey" she almost yelled. He turned around with his eybrow raised.

" we are absolutely not going to see my paintings, but I suppose we could walk together, so I can prevent you from snooping of course."

The corner of his mouth lifted into a lopsided smile.

" sure" , he said and then walked backwards until we were side to side in the hallway.

" my names Mikko, by the way, but everyone calls me Mike except for my parents.

" Penolope, and everyone calls me Penolope now"

" now?"

She turned her head towards mikko, realizing her mistake, before turning her head back and ignoring the searching

Look he was giving her.

" keep walking Mikko."