They finished Act Two that morning, fixed a few things, and eat lunch. Penny got a chance to change out of her costume for lunch, so that it doesn't get stained and ruined. Corey remained distant, surprisingly not saying anything about the kiss. However, his grins and smirks clearly reveal how he felt.
At lunch, the girls (except Malia who seemed slightly jealous) teased her about the kiss, how they would actually be a good couple. That Penny could change his cocky attitude and teach him how to be a good person. But Penny doesn't want that role. She doesn't want to end up with someone who is less then decent and have the responsibility of changing him. She already has a husband at home, who is above decent. He didn't need her to work him, since he already did it himself. He changed without her immediate help.
But she didn't say how she had feelings for her husband, since it was none of there business.
Soon it was time to get the dress back on and practice Act One. Thankfully, Corey didn't have anything to do and was sent off to help the crew load the truck to move anything else to the theater.
It ran rather smoothly. Sure there were some mistakes here and there. Specifically, Penny missed one arm movement in a dance. It wasn't a big deal. However, she seemed out of touch. Looking at the door every so often, watching everyone who came in and out.
Every so often when Penny and one of the girls were back stage, they would always make fun and tease her, claiming that she was looking for Corey.
It was strange because Penny kind of was. She wants to apologize for being so rude to him in the beginning. He wasn't so bad. He started to treat the girl and rest of the cast with more respect. He gave Penny her distances.
And he sure knows how to kiss a woman! Penny blushed at her thoughts. She couldn't help it. She doesn't know if its the therapy, Quentin, or the dress, but Penny was feeling some things she was repressing for a long time. She never dated or kissed a man outside of stage, even if she wanted to. She kept those feelings and urges deep down so that no one can see them. Now, it is all spilling out.
Penny felt the urge to explore her sexuality. Not explore who she feels attracted to, but what to do with that attraction. She almost feels torn...torn between Quentin and Corey. Corey was just this random dude. He would mean nothing to her but a fling. For Quentin, however, Penny felt much deeper for him. Every morning she would wake up, sit across from him, and stare into his green eyes. Their connection building everyday. Penny has a feelings that soon she will never want to leave Quentin, and there marriage would actually be a marriage.
Penny doesn't know if she wants to be with just one person, because there is always that fear that someone else is out there.
It is a lot to think about right now for Penny. She is one week from the first show and she is trying to understand her past childhood trauma. Penny makes a mental note to talk about all of this with Aubrey when she sees her next.
After final notes and words from the director, it was time to leave for the day. Penny went back to the bathroom to slip off the dress. But first, she took her phone and took a few mirror pictures. Sending some of the more classy ones to Quentin. In response, she got some emojis with heart eyes and a few worried questions: does it fit well, are you comfortable, do you like it?
Once handing the dress bag back to Rosa, who will take it personally to the theater, Penny finally texted him back. She addressed all his questioned and asked out his day. She got her jacket and her bag from the music room, saying goodbye to everyone, and started to exit the building.
She continued texting Quentin during her walk back. She had become so accustom to the path, she would walk it her her sleep. She stopped briefly, glancing every so often at the light, waiting for it to be the pedestrians turn. Once it turn white, Penny looked down at her phone and started walking across.
She could hear speeding in the background, but her peripheral vision saw no lights of car. The sound got closer, and closer, but Penny was too focused at her phone to notice a black SUV speeding towards her. Once she realized she was going to be hit, she froze. Her feet were planted in the ground, her eyes wide, and her breath stopped. She didn't know what to do and nothing in her body told her to run to the other side. Her heart was beating so fast, it felt like it wasn't.
Before the car could hit her, a hand grabbed her forearm and pulled her away. She fell halfway onto the sidewalk, knocking the air from her lunges. Luckily, she was wearing long pants and long shirts because her favorite jacket had small rips from the impact of the concrete. Her legs weren't so luckily. The impact from the ground and the small drag her savior did to get her away from the car, ripped through her jeans and onto her legs. Little droplets of blood pooled from the cuts. She was too shocked to be taken into a flashback, something blood usually did for her.
The black SUV stopped a few yards ahead, to assess what happened. Penny almost expect the person to get out and profusely apologize. However, the car started and speed back into the night. She noticed through her shocked and fuzzy mind that the car had no headlights on. She started to suspect that it was more than just an accident.
"Penny, are you okay? Penny just talk to me!" She finally felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. She looked up and saw Corey. He was her savior. She didn't say anything, she just stared at him. Her now cracked phone buzzing with new notifications didn't even call her attention.
Corey out stretched a hand to help her up, which she graciously took. Now, pressed up against his body, his arms keeping her steady while her whole body starts to shake. Her mind still foggy and in shock from a near death experience, she pressed her lips to his. He was her savior after all. He saved her life.
This was Penny first kiss not on the stage. So, to her, it was the first kiss that mattered. However, it felt so anticlimactic. It just happened. There was more emotional build up or even chemistry between the too. She started to realize her mistake and pull away.
Corey, on the other hand, felt like he was going to die himself, or pass out. He felt fireworks shoot off in his stomach and chest. It felt like his whole life was just waiting for this moment. He was thankful that the night be decided to follow her home was the night she needed him.
Corey for the longest time was debating if he should follow her home, just to see where she lived. It wasn't meant to be creepy or stalker-like, but that's what all creeps and stalkers think. He was so desperate to get to know her and see her more, that he ended up following her that night. She was so entranced by her phone, she didn't realized that there was someone on the other side.
When he saw her freeze on the streets, he ran to her like he was in the Olympics and going for the gold. He quickly grabbed her forearm and pulled her to the side. He didn't seem to mind that she fell and ended up scratching herself in the process. All that mattered was that she didn't get hit by the car.
Now, they were kissing. Corey felt Penny start to back away. He wasn't going to let this moment end. He put his hands behind her skull and pulled her back, pushing his lips started against his. He heard her make some noising, but he perceived it as moaning, wanting more. He started to move his lips, hoping that she would respond and go along with it. All he got was a shift kick in the balls.
Penny realized that he wasn't going to let go anytime soon, so she took matters into his own hands. She realized it was a mistake.
The kiss, not the kick.
She didn't want to "explore" herself with Corey. She doesn't want to be around him anymore. She watched him groan and cup his crotch. Wait a minute-
"Were you following me?" Penny shrieked at him. She was in disbelief.
"Just this one time," he croaked out.
"There should never be a one time! You should never follow anyone. That is the biggest invasion of privacy anyone could do. How dare you!"
"But I saved your life," Corey tried to save himself, tried to make her see more clearly.
"I would have rather died than have been saved by you," She said coldly. She didn't really mean it. No one would rather die, but she had to get her message across. She walked away from him, to her phone buzzing not to far.
It was Quentin. He noticed that her text stopped and that she should have been home by now. She brushed some dirt from the screen, cringing at the large cracks spread across the screen. She pressed the call accept button, which thankfully work and turned the phone on speakerphone. She didn't want to put a broken phone to her ear.
"Hey," she first said.
"Hey, where are you? You stopped texting and you should have been home by now," a male voice spoke through the phone. Corey's ears perked up as his pushed himself to standing. It was probably a brother or roommate. If she was with someone, she would have told people about her boyfriend.
"Um, yeah," Penny's eyes started to water. She felt so overwhelmed. She almost died, and it wasn't just a blameless accident, and now she has a stalker. Hearing his concerning voice started to send her over the edge. "So, I almost got hit by a car, can y-"
"What!" Quentin interrupted over the phone. "Tell me where you are and I will come get you right now!" Penny heard the jangle of keys and the slamming of the door. She gave the street names and hung up. It wasn't far at all, at least a block away, but Quentin didn't care. His girl is scared and he is going to get there.
"Who was that?" The pathetic man she happened to kiss asked, after gaining the courage.
She didn't care who knew anymore.
"My husband."
Sounds of disbelief escape him, but he never was able to conjure a full sentence. Finally, a familiar car rolled up and parked right next to her. Quentin quickly got out of the car and rushed to Penny. He wrapped his arms right around her waist, holding her tight.
She got close to his ear and told him, "I also have a stalker too."
Quentin released his arms, checking her over from wounds and major injuries. All he saw were her cut up legs. Finally, his eyes drifted to the man. So this was Corey, pathetic he told himself.
Not caring who knew anymore, he antagonized, "Are you stalking my wife? Following her to our home!" He reaches over, grabbing his collar by his neck.
"I don't see any wedding bands," He smirked, like he didn't just fear his life.
Taken aback by this, Quentin didn't really now what to say, "Just-uh-just...just shut up."
He let the man go. He gentle grabbed Penny's hand in his and lead her to his car. Like a proper gentleman, he opened the passenger door for her and closed it as well. He gave one last nasty look Corey and got in the car to drive his wife home.