Penny put her empty wine glass down on the coffee table and she looked down at her hands. Her cuticles were red and raw from her biting them in the theater while waiting for Charles. [color=f49ac2]"He said that I could go with him tomorrow and that he and the others would teach me everything I needed to know." [/color]

What Penny really wanted to say was on the tip of her tongue, but she found she didn't have the courage to utter it aloud. She sat up and eyeballed the tequila sitting on the counter and she nodded. Liquid courage, that's what she needed. She stood up, grabbed her wine glass, and marched over to the kitchen. She poured a small amount of tequila in her wine glass before downing it in one gulp. It burned going down and she coughed slightly, placing her glass on the counter. Her face felt a little warm and her brain a little fuzzy, but it wasn't unbearable. [color=f49ac2]"I told him I would tell him my answer in the morning,"[/color] she trailed off. [color=f49ac2]"I'm gonna turn him down,"[/color] she said succinctly.

Penny whirled around to face Christian. [color=f49ac2]"I know you can probably appear wherever I am in the world, but I don't want to leave without you. It feels like I'll be leaving you behind and I don't want that."[/color] She was rambling at this point, but she found she didn't care. She was tired of dancing around her confusing feelings for Christian. Yes, he was her friend and she wanted him to know that she valued his companionship- whatever that might entail. [color=f49ac2]"I want you to stay by my side and give me hunting tips and help train me, because-"[/color] she put a hand to her head and leaned back against the counter. [color=f49ac2]"Because while Charles helped me, you're my friend and I care about you more than I care about him, Annie, or Dylan."[/color]