Chapter 5 Five

It took a long time for my leg to heal and to get all the muscles back, but it was back to normal now. I couldn't be any more happy than I am right now to be able to go outside without the help of anyone. I could stand on my own two feet without holding the wall. No more pain either.

"Hey, Pen." Hank waved and smiled at me.

"Hi, Hank." I was emotionless to him.

"What's up with you?" Emily asked.

"Nothing. Just tired. Didn't sleep much last night."

"You and Hunter get busy last night?" Starlight teased. I looked right at her with the most disgusted look on my face.

"EWW! Are you crazy?!" I wanted to gag just from the thought of that. No way! Never!

"No. Just a tad bit insane." Emily winked at me. I took a deep breath to calm myself and walked away. I was not up for this. Not at all.

"Good morning, Penelope." Lockwood greeted me like this every morning. It was very lame if you ask me.

"Hey, and it's Pen."

"Penelope is better. Where is Snowflake?"

"She's outside playing. She was up before dawn again."

"As we all are."

"Well not this one. I hate mornings."

"Morning is the beginning of the day. Not the afternoon."

"I know, but I still hate mornings. Anyways, I'm off to work on my leg some more. See you later."

"Alright, have fun." We gave each other a nod and went our ways. I walked all the way to the pond. Killer was there, but I didn't see Wolf.

"Hey Killer. Where's Wolf?"

"He's out there on that rock. He asked me not to let anyone bug him. He's thinking."

"Oh. Well, I'm going to swim and work on my leg." I removed my shirt and shorts. The sun felt nice on my skin, in the bikini that Wolf got me. It was the only one I owned. I was used to changing in front of Killer. He was always making sure Hunter stayed away from me. I got into the cool water. I wondered what Wolf was doing out on that rock. I watched him for a while. It looked as if he was rehearsing something. Curiosity killed the cat, I swam over.

"No. That's no good." I kept as quiet as I could. " 'Hey, Pen. Would you like to--' No. That's stupid. 'Hey, Pen. There's a dance at my school and I was wondering if you would accompany me to the dance.' That sucked even more." He sat down, putting his feet in the water, he slumped over and sighed. "I'm never going to get this right. Plus at this rate, even Hunter is going to have a girl for the dance before me." He sighed again. I couldn't help but smile. " 'Pen. Hey. Come to my school's dance with me?' Oh god that was horrific!" He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed for a third time.

"How about you say, 'Hey Pen, There's a dance at my school. Be my girl for that nigh?' " I watched him jump and turn around.

"Holy crap! You scared me!"

I laughed and climbed out onto the rock. "Sorry."

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." I smiled.

"You know, don't you?" His face was bright tomato red.

"Duh. I was listening for a while. However, the answer to your question, I shale. I just don't have anything to wear."

He looked at me with the brightest eyes I have ever seen in my life. He was so happy I said yes. "I'll get you anything you wish for."

"May I make it a surprise for you?"

"Yes you can." He smiled and laid a gentle kiss on the back of my hand. I felt my face go hot. I turned away hiding how red I was. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing is wrong."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Want to swim with me?" He gave me the most ridiculous smile he could make and then cannon balled into the water. I laughed and dove in after him, nearly hitting him in the head as I landed.

"Woah! You've got good formation. Where did you learn it?"

"I learned it from my swim team."

"Oh yeah. You were on a 'swim team'."

"Don't say it like that. It's really fun being on a team."

"If you say so. Anyways, what other team things are there?"

"Well there's, swim team, basketball team, football team, soccer team and others that I can't remember the names of."

"There must be a lot. Maybe after the dance tomorrow, we can check it out."

"Wait, back up. The dance is tomorrow?" Surprise would be an understatement, shocked would be a little closer to what I was feeling.

"Yeah. Something wrong with that?"

"Nothing major. just the fact that I won't be able to find a dress in time." There was sarcasm in my tone ti hide the panic. Something I always did.

"You can use one of my mom's dresses."

"Uh-- What?" I was lost. He never told me about his mother. Nor have I met her either.

"My mom's dresses. You can use them. My Dad was just going to throw them away anyways."

"Oh. Alright than. Umm-- If you don't mind my asking, where is your mom?"

"She left for the outside world man years ago. She came back a few times, but I think she died. She was looking old the last time we saw her."

"Oh. I'm sorry." I looked at him with pity, but he just shrugged.

"No need to be. Come on. Let's go find you a nice dress." He smiled at me. It seemed like he didn't really have a bond with his mom. We swam back to shore.

"I told you not to bug him!" Killer yelled.

"It's okay! She said yes! It's all good." Wolf said. I got dressed and limped on our way home. I knew this was going to happen.

"What's wrong with your leg?" Killer asked, watching me limp.

"Oh nothing. I just worked it a little too much is all." A smile grew across Wolf face. He quickly picked me up bridal style. "I-I can walk you know." My cheeks felt really hot at this moment.

"I know. I just want to carry you. Plus, what kind of gentleman would I be if I let an injured woman walk all the way home on her own?"

Alright, I admit it, I liked him a little bit, but it wasn't until he saw the dress I chose, that he fell.

"Can't I know the color?" Wolf said, outside of my room.

"No. You will see when she is ready." Snow snorted. I heard him sigh and leave my door. "Alright, now you need a necklace."

"I don't think I can do this. My black hair just doesn't go with the color of this dress." I was so nervous. I can't do this! My heart was already pounding! I don't know how much more it can handle before it explodes!

"No! No getting cold feet! This is a big night. A night for you to shine." Snow was trying so hard to keep me from running away from this.

"Okay. I'll calm down, or at least, I'll try to." I took a few deep breaths as Snow looked for a necklace.

"I can't find one that goes with that color of blue."

"Maybe I can help with that." Phantom said, scaring me half to death. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay." I placed my hand on my chest to calm my now racing heart.

"Here, I was going to give this to my girl for homecoming, but she ditched me for a jock." He placed a beautiful blue gem with a silver chain around my neck. "There. You look beautiful." Phantom smiled at me. I smiled and gave him a hug.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, but save all this hugging for the slow dancing." He smiled and winked at me.I left my room and walked down to the front door. My dress was a baby blue sleeveless, corset top that puffed out at the waist. It was floor length.

With a small wave and a smile, Wolf and I were off to the dance. "I saw your jaw drop when I walked down the stairs."

"Yeah well, I have never seen such a beautiful girl in my life."

"I highly doubt that."

"No, it's true. I have never seen a more beautiful girl than you." My face was red and hot, but I didn't care. I was happy and having fun. For the first time in a long time at that.

At the dance, I had a very bad feeling. Alas, stupid me, I ignored it. "You don't look good. Are you okay?" He was looking at me with concern in his eyes for a while now.

"Yes, I'm okay. I think it's just because I'm tired."

"Do you want to go home?"

"No, I'm okay." I insisted, but I was wrong. So very wrong. For what was about to happen, could never be fixed.

"So Wolf, you picked the outsider over the most popular girl in school?" A girl in a skimpy neon pink dress came up to us.

"Yes, I did. I'd rather be seen with her than the school slut." Wolf spat.

"Are you calling me a slut?!" Her face was red with anger. Wolf was never mean to anyone. There must be a reason he was being so cold to her.

"Yes. Now leave us alone."

"Fuck you! You're an asshole! I can't believe I actually fell for you! I hope you die, just like your mother did! Banished to the other side to die fast!"

"Do not bring my mother into this!" You were the one who cheated on me! Remember?" His mother was banished to my side? I thought she left. Why did Wolf lie to me? Wolf turned at walked away from her, but she went after him with a knife.

"Not a chance, Sweetheart!" I said through gritted teeth. I knocked the knife out of her hand and punched her in the face.

"What the hell?!" She held where my fist connected with her jaw.

"You aren't going after my date with a knife. Not unless you can get through me first."

"I can kill you bitch!" She spat at me. Literally spat!

"Bring it on than!" I spat back at her.

"Pen, no! She can really hurt you. She's done it to others before!" Wolf tried to step in, but I pushed his aside.

I didn't listen to any of his warnings and fought her. That day, I lost two of my fingers and nearly my life. I wasn't about to loose to a prissy girl with issues. I kept getting up. No matter how much blood or body parts I lost, I was not loosing this fight. I was covered in slashes from another knife she had hidden in her dress. In the end, I won the fight. She had six broken ribs, a shattered left knee, a broken right arm and a concussion. "Pen! We have to get you home! You're bleeding badly!" Wolf said, but his voice was very distant. Darkness was moving in fast to take over me. I couldn't hold on. I dropped to the ground, unconscious.