BREAKING POINT

Penny opened her mouth but no words came out. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because for the first time since she met Joey she’d never seen him look so angry. Or because she had just heard him use those swear words that way. Or maybe because of his plain admission of his attraction towards her. Or maybe it was all of it.

She didn’t know. Didn’t want to care. She could feel her body start to react to him being so close to her, but she fought to concentrate. No matter what happened, she had to remember that she was still really angry with him.

“You can’t blame me for all that, Joey” she said, trying to make him understand, “I had a bad break up with Jeremy and I …..”

“I’m not Jeremy….” Joey said a little harshly, his fingers digging into her arm.

“I know you are not, jerk” Penny replied. For some reason she felt her voice crack. Oh no. She wasn’t going to cry. She shouldn’t cry. Too late, but her eyes were misty now and the tears were already falling. Stupid. Stupid. She thought as she pulled away from him. Realizing that he was hurting her, Joey released her immediately.

“I know you’re not Jeremy, jerk face. You’re nothing like him. I hate myself sometimes for not seeing that I should have been with you sooner. I hate that I didn’t choose you when I should have. But I thought I doing the right thing at that time. You have to understand that I have been scared to let myself get out there again. I have been scared to open myself up to being hurt again. And I didn’t turn you down because I don’t think you are worth it any bullshit like that. I was also worried about our friendship. I was worried that getting intimate would ruin it and I was right. Look what’s happening now. Simply because we caught feelings and kissed once. I won’t try to stop you from getting your own place, Joey. I’m happy for you. You deserve every good thing you want.”

Before she could stop her, she brushed past him and rushed upstairs to her room.

————-

“Why don’t you just call Joey and tell him that you miss him? You clearly do” Audrey said to Penny one evening, as she slipped on her dress, getting ready for a date with Raymond.

It was a week after that argument with Joey and he had just moved into his new house.

Penny sat up on Audrey’s bed and pouted. “And why would I do that?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Audrey gave her a look, “Like I said before, Because you clearly miss him. And you look miserable…. He’s miserable too”

“No I don’t. Just because I don’t have him around anymore doesn’t mean that I’m miserable. He probably doesn’t even want to see me. The last time we talked, there was a lot tension…. And some yelling. He looked so angry and he hasn’t tried to talk to me for a week now, so what’s the point?”

Audrey came to sit beside Penny on the bed. “Sweetheart, trust me, Joey isn’t fine either. He misses you too. For goodness sake, you two have come all this way, gone through so much together, and now that’s it time for you guys to actually be together, you’re going to let something come between you two? My God, for all the trouble I went through trying to get you guys together and now that it’s supposed to happen, you two ruin it with your drama”

Audrey got up and gazed down at Penny who was still seated on the bed. Almost like she thought that towering above Penny would help her talk some sense into her.

“My God! It’s almost as if you guys just enjoy torturing each other. Being so damn stubborn. When I gave him that lame excuse of yours for not coming yesterday, you should have seen his face. And look at you too….. You know what, I’m not going to say much anymore, I have talked and the both of you don’t want to listen, so do what suits you. But deep down in your heart, you know what would really make you happy. You should go for it. You guys already lost so much time. Time that you should have spent together….. Do you really want to spend more time apart?….. Think about it”

——————–

Joey was surprised when he opened his door and found Penny standing there. Her face expressionless.

That little argument they had in his room was bad for their friendship. And Joey was beginning to think that he’d never get it back, but now here she was….. He shook his head when he heard her clear her throat.

“Urhmmm, are you going to let me come in?” she asked him. Her voice low and she looked down at her feet. “Or are you still mad at me? Would you like me to leave?” she added.

Joey wanted to punch himself. That wasn’t what he wanted her to think. “No. No” he said quickly and stepped aside as he opened the door wider so Penny could come in.

“I gotta say, this is a great place” she said as walked in, looking around as she did. The living room had not been completely furnished yet, but she could see that Jeremy was doing a great job of it. “When I got out of the cab, I couldn’t help but stand and admire it.”

“Thanks. I have always wanted a place like this… You know, when I had a family… Kids” Joey replied. He shook his head, realizing he was kind of going off topic. “I’m glad you like it. I’m glad you are here, Penny. I was so disappointed when you didn’t come with Audrey the yesterday. I mean, I know that I messed up and I shouldn’t have yelled at you and you have every right to be mad at me, but I’m so sorry about all of it…. I”

“I’m sorry too” Penny cut in, interrupting him, “It was my fault too. We could have handled it better and we didn’t. But then I don’t want to talk about that right now. It’s in the past and I want it to stay that way. Let’s focus on the present…. Why don’t we start by you give me a tour of your new house instead? I have all the time in the world. Audrey agreed to baby sit Howard for the rest of day…. Unless you’re busy? +”

Joey grinned at her. He liked the idea of letting go of the awkward part and just getting along with his friend, just like old times.”Fine” he said, “And I’m definitely not busy. You have to the garden at the backyard. I know you are going to love it”

And she did.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.