by M. Sembera
After finding an empty table to sit at Penny quickly slid into a chair before Seth could pull it out for her. She watched him as he stopped next to her, sighed and then took the seat across from her. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his politeness, she just didn't want to give him the wrong impression. She wasn't looking for anything other than friendship.
Sipping her ginger ale, she noticed Seth take two large gulps from his beer.
Clearing his throat, Seth offered, "I don't have to finish my beer if you want to drink."
"Oh, I don't drink."
Appearing perplexed Seth started to question, "Then why..." when Books interrupt him as he walked up and said, "Hey Penny."
Glancing at Seth first, she looked up at Brooks and replied, "Hey."
Running his fingers through his shaggy blonde hair, Brooks said, "Haven't seen you," pausing to look at Seth before continuing, "lately."
Ignoring the fact that it seemed like he was trying to bring up the day he broke up with her, Penny asked, "So why aren't y'all playing at the fair?"
Without answering her, he questioned, "You didn't think I'd be here?"
The situation started to grow awkward as Penny answered, "Umm, I wasn't really thinking about you."
Brooks eyed Seth again before asking, "Can we talk for a minute."
Penny hesitated before replying, "This isn't a good time."
Suddenly Seth stood up and shared, "I'm going to go."
"No wait," she urged but he was already heading towards the door.
Sliding into the seat Seth had sat in, Brooks raised an eyebrow at Penny and smiled. Penny shook her head at Brooks before hopping up and heading after Seth.
Right outside the bar doors, Penny looked around and saw Seth walking down the street.
"Wait!" she hollered at him causing him to stop.
Seth turned in her direction but stayed where he was at.
"Why are you leaving?"
He just stood there shaking his head at her.
Frustrated, she said, "Well, come on I'll drive you back."
"No thanks, I'll walk."
"But it's like ten miles..."
Shrugging a shoulder at her Seth turned away walking down the street.
Confused as to what his deal was, Penny started to head in the direction of her car to follow him when a familiar and unwelcome brunette walked past her and into the bar. Penny glanced down the street at Seth then back at The Dog House. With a heavy sigh, Penny headed back into the bar. She'd have to wait until later to see what Seth's problem was because right now, her brother Braden was the priority.
Nine
Continuing to shake his head at himself as he walked down the street, Seth couldn't believe he could be that stupid. She had to have brought him out to The Dog House to make whoever that guy was jealous. Why else ask him to a bar if she didn't drink?
The whole thing had been ridiculous to begin with. That must have been her plan all along. No one's that nice unless they want something from you. He should have trusted his instincts and stayed away from her. Liv was right. Penny was nothing but trouble.
~
The second Penny entered the bar, she scanned the main area looking for Braden's ex Lily. When she finally caught sight of her, she was shocked to see her standing in front of Brooks. Marching forward, she wanted her out before her brother even knew she was there.
The closer she got to them the more Penny felt like Lily wasn't there to see her brother. With a once over the bar again, she figured Braden was in the back since Brooks had come off the stage.
"You are not welcome here," Penny assured as she stepped next to them.
Brooks appeared regretful as he started, "Penny, I a..." before Lily spoke up.
"Relax Penny, your brother's moved on."
"That's good because you've been moving on since y'all started dating," Penny snapped at her before saying, "That still doesn't explain why you're here. You know you're not welcome in my family's bar."
Wrapping her arm around Brooks' waist, Lily, shared, "I'm not here to see your family."
"I don't care why you're here. Get out." Penny growled before shaking her head and giving Brooks a disappointed expression.
Pulling away from Lily, Brooks said, "Penny, let me explain."
"How could you do this to Braden?"
Brooks' expression was full of remorse as he replied, "She came over one day looking for Braden. I didn't mean for anything to happen."
Lily had a smug look on her face as she informed, "For the record, I told him he could have kept seeing you."
Penny started to feel nauseous as she questioned, "You were sleeping with her while you were with me?"
"Only a few times, but it felt wrong that's why I ended it with you," he swore.
Overwhelmed Penny felt like she was going to be sick.
As she turned to get away from them, she stopped when she ran into someone. Looking up, Penny saw the hurt and betrayal in Braden's eyes as he stared at his best friend and the former love of his life before he wrapped an arm around her.
Braden quietly asked, "You okay, Pen?"
Nodding, she was furious and disgusted but more concerned about him.
Keeping his arm around Penny as if he was trying to protect her, Braden shouted, "Both of you get out!"
Lily looked like she was going to say something then quickly changed her expression as Liv stepped next to her and the entire bar heard Auggie's voice demand, "Everybody out! Bar's closed!"
Penny watched as Charlotte stood by the entrance waiting as groaning customers trickled out of The Dog House.
When all that was left was Penny, Braden, Auggie, Lily, Brooks and Liv inside, Charlotte closed the doors and locked them.
Auggie stood at Braden's side saying, "You are one sorry ass bitch." Brooks looked over at Lily before Auggie clarified, "Don't look at her. I'm talkin' to you."
Trying to defend himself, Brooks said, "I didn't mean to..." before Auggie got in his face questioning, "Didn't mean to what? Cheat on my sister?"
Brooks backed up until he was all the way against the wall, holding up his hands pleading, "Penny, tell him you're not mad."
Liv spouted, "You gotta be kidding me."
"This doesn't have anything to do with you Liv," Lily snapped at her before Liv assured, "You're wrong about that."
Charlotte chimed in, "If you don't kick his ass, I will."
Auggie grabbed Brooks by the front of his shirt and pushed him up the wall saying, "Your call Pen."
Penny looked around then said, "Just let him go, being with Lily's going to be punishment enough."
Disappointed in Penny's answer, Auggie asked, "Braden?"
"Braden, man, we go way back. We're like family."
Looking at Brooks, Braden replied, "Yea, I thought so too."
Lily stepped closer saying, "It's not his fault. I had to do something drastic. I'm all alone. I just want you."
Penny looked at Lily like she was crazy as she yelled, "What kind of sick thrill do you get from messing with my family?"
Patting Penny on the shoulder, Braden stepped right in front of Lily and said, "Get the hell out."
"You don't mean that," she urged looking up at him with a soft smile.
Braden looked her in the eye and swore, "Lily, I don't love you anymore."
Lily gave him an evil look before making a sound like she was offended as she walked to the doors and let herself out.
All eyes fell on Auggie, who still had Brooks up against the wall.
"I hope you're happy with her," Braden said as he turned and made his way back to the stage area.
Auggie slowly let go of Brooks and followed Braden as Penny said, "Let him go."
Brooks stood there for a moment like he had something to say, but shook his head at himself instead and walked out of the bar.
"You okay beautiful?" Liv asked giving Penny a sympathetic look.
Penny nodded then quickly spun around when she heard a crashing
sound. She may have been okay but her brother clearly wasn't.
Rushing over with Charlotte and Liv to the stage all they could do was watch as Braden smashed his guitar into Brooks drum kit over and over until there was nothing left of either except for broken pieces scattered across the stage.
Sitting down on the edge of the stage, Braden looked at everyone before saying, "I'm done."
All of the sudden Liv seemed angry as she snapped, "Because of her?"
"It's just not in me anymore," he replied.
Penny looked at them thinking it was strange how Braden and Liv always seemed to know what the other was thinking, before everyone else caught on.
"Wait? You're not going to play anymore?" Charlotte questioned.
Auggie appeared frustrated as he griped, "This is damn ridiculous."
Her heart went out to her brother seeing the defeat in his eyes. After all the years of being hurt and broken over the girl he loved that never loved him back, Lily had finally taken everything from him. And what was worse was that, his best friend had been a part of it, leaving him with nothing.
As Penny made her way closer wanting to comfort him, she stopped when Liv started shouting.
"How are you going to let her take that away from you?"
Everyone was a bit shocked that Liv was having such an outraged reaction. Plus the amount she had to drink before Lily walked into the bar was starting to really show as she stumbled a little as she spoke.
"Gah, you're such a..."
Hopping down from the stage Braden fussed back at her, "What are you gonna say? That I'm a punk, Liv?"
Liv gave him a sarcastic laugh as she informed, "Nope, but it starts with a p."
Penny had to throw her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
Then Kieran's voice came from behind them griping, "That's enough Liv."
Liv almost fell as she spun around and glared at her husband.
"It's time to go home."
"Afraid not," Liv replied.
Penny watched the expression on her cousin's face carefully as he seemed sorry but then realized everyone was watching and stood up tall demanding, "Now."
Liv appeared genuinely hurt as she patted his chest saying, "You don't get to tell me what to do."
"Liv," Kieran blurted in a strong tone, as she shook her head and staggered towards the doors.
Penny scowled at her cousin, disappointed in him as she said, "I'll take her home with me," and followed Liv out of the bar.
~
Every few minutes Seth would check out his peephole to see if Penny was back. At first he was planning to apologize, his long walk home had given him some perspective and he thought he might have overreacted. Then, the longer time went on, the more he became certain his initial observation of the situation at the bar was the correct one. He intended to confront her and make sure she kept her distance from this point on.
After hours of waiting, he saw Penny making her way up the stairs. Swinging his door open, Seth stepped out onto the balcony just in time to see Penny sliding her key into her apartment door.
"I guess you had a good talk?" he questioned in a sarcastic tone.
Penny unlocked her door and opened it without stepping inside as she replied, "Yea, it was great."
"Ha! You did ask me out to make your boyfriend jealous," he blurted proud he had gotten it right.
Coldly turning back to the stairs she rolled her eyes saying, "He's not my boyfriend."
"Sorry it didn't work out the way you'd hoped," he snarked at her.
Penny started to step down the stairs then swiftly turned to him griping, "What is your problem?"
"I am not the one in the wrong here. I don't have a problem except that you were being dishonest with me."
"How's that?"
Seth glared at her. If she wanted him to spell it out for her, that was just fine by him.
"You were just making nice with me so you could use me to get what you really wanted."
Giving him an angry look, she shared, "Okay, here's the honest truth. I was dating the guy from the bar before you moved in next door. It ended the same as all the others. I'm a lot of fun to be around but they're not looking for anything serious. So, when you moved in I thought I would try something different."
"I was a guinea pig for your experiment then?"
Penny's eyes were wide as she shook her head saying, "Wow, you are really self-centered."
"I am not."
"Yea you are. You know, I made an effort to be friends with you. It wasn't easy."
"Oh like things are really that hard for you little miss always happy sunshine."
Stepping closer to him, Penny took a short breath before informing, "Your right. When my dad died suddenly of a heart attack after I graduated, that was a cake walk. And it isn't hard at all to have to hide where I go every day because my mom will never approve of anything I do. It was easy to watch my brother slowly slip away before I lost him last year. Tonight was especially easy seeing one of my other brothers give up on everything because he's let the same girl manipulate him since he was sixteen. Not to mention right now Liv is passed out drunk in my car and I don't know how I'm going to get her inside, but that should be easy too right? And you know what, although it would have been nice to have a friend at the bar with me tonight, I don't need one. Because everything is so effortless for me."
Seth just stared at her feeling like the scum of the earth.
There was nothing he could say to make up for how he had acted. Not just tonight either. It suddenly occurred to him that even he had made her life harder than necessary by being exactly what she said he was. Self-centered.
It wouldn't make up for the all the things he'd done wrong, but Seth decided he could do something right to show her that he could be a good friend to her.
"Wait right there," he said before hurrying down the stairs.
Spotting Penny's car in the parking lot, he walked over and opened the passenger door. Catching Liv before she rolled out onto the pavement, he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.
Seth carried Liv over his shoulder through the parking lot, up the stairs and to Penny's apartment door.
"Where do you want her?" he asked, as she gave him a confused yet grateful expression.
Pushing the door open farther for him, she said, "The couch is fine."
Walking into her apartment, he slid Liv off of his shoulder and onto the couch before making his way back onto the balcony where Penny was still standing.
Looking down at her, Seth asked, "Can we start over?"
Penny pursed her lips up into a smile as she nodded at him.
Taking a deep breath, Seth held his hand out to Penny.
"Hi, I'm Seth. I am a self-centered jerk with anxiety issues that make me act like an ass when I get around pretty redheads."
Penny looked off to the side smiling wider before she took his hand saying, "I'm Penny. I have a crazy dysfunctional family filled with an insane amount of relatives. And I've been known to stalk handsome neighbors with baked goods."
As they shook hands, Seth questioned, "Friends?"
Penny gave a little laugh as she confirmed, "Friends."
Letting go of her hand, Seth smiled as Penny stepped into her apartment and closed the door. Sliding his fingers across his palm, he liked the way her hand felt in his. As he stepped into his own apartment, Seth felt good about starting over with her. The only problem now was, he didn't want to be just friends.
Ten
Waking up early to go for a run, before attending brunch at his parent's house took a back seat when Seth was awakened by a loud banging outside his apartment. He pulled on a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt before stumbling to his front door. Rubbing his eyes, he looked out of his peephole. Without being able to see where the noise was coming from, he heard more banging and a loud male voice shouting, 'Open the door' and realized it was coming from next door.
Seth opened his door and saw a dark haired
man covered in tattoos banging on Penny's door.
Stepping out onto the balcony, he asked, "Can I help you?"
The man gave him a stupid look and continued his ridiculous knocking.
"Hey!" Seth said taking a step closer.
The man turned and faced Seth, griping, "You got a problem?"
Without hesitating, he replied, "Yea, quit banging on my neighbors' door."
"As soon as my wife comes out I will," the man assured before he started banging against it with the side of his fist again.
Realizing he must be Kieran, Liv's husband, the situation made a little more sense but didn't change the fact that the guy was acting crazy out on the balcony.
"Maybe she doesn't want to come out."
Kieran looked Seth up and down before stepping towards him questioning, "And who the hell are you?"
Before he could answer, they heard a door slam, and Penny was standing on the balcony.
In pajama bottoms and a matching cupcake t-shirt with her hair a mess, Penny stood there with her hand on her hip.
"Stop banging on my damn door!" she shouted at Kieran.
Turning to Penny, Kieran said, "I wanna talk to Liv."
"Then call her on the phone," she practically growled at him.
"Just let me in so I can talk to her," he demanded.
Standing in front of her door, she crossed her arms narrowing her eyes at him and snapped, "You should have been talking to her all along."
"I don't need a lecture Pen."
"What you need to do is get your head out of your ass."
"Open the damn door."
Feeling the need to step in, Seth warned, "Watch the way you talk to her."
Both Penny and Kieran looked at him like he was crazy.
Looking back at Penny, Kieran asked, "Who is this guy?"
"Oh, this is my friend Seth," she replied with a smile.
Reaching his arm out, he said, "Kieran. Nice to meet ya," waiting for Seth to shake his hand.
Shaking his hand, Seth was completely bewildered.
~
It wasn't that Penny wasn't on Liv's side. She did find it a little ridiculous after complaining that Kieran wouldn't talk to her, now that he wanted to, she didn't want to hear what he had to say.