Penelope giggled at Eli's action. She took another bite, looking over to Harley once again, smiling as she saw how invested in her meal Harley was.
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Harley quickly finished her meal, then called over the waiter ordering even more. Elijah looking at Penelope then back at Harley in amazement as Harley finished her fourth dish.
"You satisfied yet?"
Elijah says finishing his first plate, taking a sip of his water, then running his hand through his wavy blonde hair.
"Oh screw off."
She says defensively but in a sort of joking way as she continues to eat.
Penelope barely finished her first plate, unable to eat anymore. "I'm stuffed… once you're done with this plate are we going to go?" Penelope asked, sneaking her hand down to Elijah's, lacing her fingers with his again.
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Startled a tad but the sudden skin contact, but he laced his fingers within hers as well. He couldn't help the smile on his face as she did. But also a sense of relief. She trusted him, and that meant the world to him. His mind flashed back to a few hours ago. Her crying into his arms and him just holding her. He shot a dude! Yeah, that just registered in his mind. But it was totally worth it. And that guy definitely deserved it.
Penelope smiled as he did the same. The first thing she would think of if someone said "Elijah" would be safe, comfortable, and trustworthy. She wanted to lay her head on his shoulder and scoot closer, but she wasn't sure if that was okay with him. Deciding not to, she stayed in place, taking a sip of her water.
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"Hey, I'll be back. Washroom"
Harley says standing up. She drank too much pop. Though she wished she had ordered a margarita instead. She was always down for those.
"Oh okay…."
Elijah says looking up at her as she stood up, and with that, she left.
"Thank you again, Eli," Penelope said softly looking up into his eyes. She squeezed his hand slightly, itching to scoot closer, but she still didn't.
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"Oh, uh….no problem. I'd do it a thousand times more if i had to. Wait….that sounds weird."
He says nervously looking down at the table, at their empty plates.
"That came out weird. Sorry."
He says biting his lip nervously. Yeah, that was a little embarrassing to say the least. Either that or he was just overthinking everything. But the thought of just being with this girl who was right beside him, holding his hand tightly, it made his heart race and his head spin. It was exciting though. In a way…
"I appreciate that," Penelope replied with a smile. She loved Elijah's company and she didn't want to have to leave him, that night especially. Yes, there was still plenty of time before she had to leave with Harley, but she still couldn't stop thinking about it. Just holding his hand made Penelope's heart flutter a little, and she liked it.
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He dared to scoot closer to her as she talked. He wanted to hold her so badly. But thee were in a restaurant. If they could just get up and run off to wherever they want, that would be amazing.
"Sorry I couldn't keep you safe….."
He felt like he had already failed her. Like he had just let her be taken and hurt. He just let her cry and cry when she was scared. And he wasn't there to help her.
Penelope smiled a little as he got closer, she did the same ever so slightly. "Oh Eli, it's okay, I'm safe and that's all that matters right now. You did you very best and I'm so so thankful for that." She assured him.
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"Okay……that doesn't change the fact that I'm still sorry though!"
He says with a smile, ruffling her hair. Soon Harley comes out, a worried/panicked look on her face.
"Hey, I need to go. Can i steal your car? Nice thanks, bye!"
She says writing out a check and leaving a tip hurriedly not even waiting for Elijah's answer, she was out the door.
"Wait what??"
Penelope watched that unfold with confusion on her face. "What just happened..?" She looked at the door that Harley had exited from. "How far away are we from your house? We're probably going to have to walk right?"
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"Uh…….not very far. This isn't a very big town, though a decent size. Nothing like the other huge cities though. Oh, and its only around twelve I believe, so we have time."
He says looking around at the decorations and paintings on the walls as people were being served.
"You wanna go? There's probably somewhere fun we could go to"
Penelope smiled, happiness replacing her confusion. "Yeah, I would love to!" They slid out of the booth. She kept holding Eli's hand, not planning on letting go, unless he wanted to.
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"Nice! So where should we go?"
He says to her as they walk out of the restaurant, then they proceed to walk down the sidewalk with was nearly lined with shops on the inner side and on the outer side facing the road, was lined with pretty bushes and flowers and lamp posts with benches near them.
"Well, I'm not sure actually. Maybe we could just walk for a bit?" Penelope did enjoy walking around town. It was relaxing and fun to see all the little shops. And this was a beach town so the air was nice and fresh.
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"Okay, I'm down with that!"
He says with a smile as he looked at her, then looking up to the sky. Blotched with white puffy clouds, moving over the town slowly. A plane zooming over the town, leaving a small streak behind them, then quickly disappearing.
He stroked her hand softly with his thumb as they walked. The fresh air filling his lungs more and more as they walked. Every step felt like he was floating.
Penelope had a small smile on her face as she saw different stores and a street performer. Once stopping to smell the flowers on the side of the path. A little fluttering started in her heart, she actually enjoyed it along with the nice air. It was such a nice feeling, she was almost forgetting what happened just a few hours earlier.
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"Enjoying the little town?"
He says after a little bit of silence. A street performer on the sidewalk with a ukelele smiled and waved at them as Elijah did the same. It was a little boy with shorts, a plaid shirt, and suspenders with crazy brown hair and the craziest, brightest green eyes you ever have seen, and a sweet smile on his face as he sang "somewhere over the rainbow".
(So sorry this is so late, I was a bit more busy than usual)
"Definitely. I love places like this." Penelope said with a smile, watching the little boy. As she listened to him, she leaned her head on Eli's arm since she was to short to do it on his shoulder. She lip-synced a little with the song, the smile still on her face.
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Elijah smiled as she leaned on him. Pure joy filled his little heart, even at such a small gesture.
He started soft singing along to the song as he held onto her hand.
Penelope loved Elijah's voice. Once the boy finished the song, she immediately missed Eli's voice. The boy started singing again. This was one of the best moments she'd ever had, nothing could compare to it.
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After a while the boy stopped singing, packed his bags and started walking down the street, passing the two.
Elijah gave the boy about twenty bucks, making the boy smile wide, then he kept walking again.
Penelope smiled as Elijah gave the boy twenty dollars. If she had money she would have also given him some. They started walking once more, their hands still clasped together and her head still on Eli's arm.
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"Oh hey!"
He says suddenly as he turns to her with a smile.
"We should find you a job. You up for it?"
(Sorry it's short im a tad busy)
"A job? I guess I would be up for it, but I don't know where I would want to work…" Penelope looked up at him. "Why though?"
(It's okay!)
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"well i mean….. you would need to somehow get up on your feet. Get some money, maybe get your own place? I dont know, im just trying to help you out any way i can"
He says with a shrug.
"Yeah, that makes sense, thanks. Where do you think I should work? Because I really don't know." Penelope replied with a small smile. Technically, she hadn't ever had a job and she hasn't had a lot of time to figure out what kind of things she wants to do.
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"Well if you liked the skating rink there's always that. Then the fancy restaurants always pay really well around here. There is the flower shop down at the beach, but the shifts are really long and even though its surprisingly successful and it pays a good amount, i don't recommend it."
He says with a smile, though trying to think of as many places for her to work. And if she worked at the shop he wouldn't get to see her much unless he would always be at the flower shop. Though he loved the shop, he needed a break from it at times.
