Amy & Penny

Chapter Nineteen

Penny pov:
Eric walked in and closed the door behind him. He was a really tall man, a little on the chubby side, with brown hair and glasses. All four of us just watched him for a second from the kitchen and he approached us.

"Oh, HELL no!" Gemma shouted.

"It's okay, Gemma." Kamal said softly. I sat in Amy's cupped hands and hid behind her fingers.

"What are you doing here? You don't live here anymore." Gemma said to Eric.

"Actually, I do. Last time I checked, both of our names are on the deed." Eric argued.

"But, you left me. You said you didn't want anything and that you were moving out." Gemma said.

"I changed my mind. I'm sorry for everything, and I want to give this another chance. We can have a family somehow." Eric said apologetically.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. Gemma is really hurting right now." Amy said.

"I know. I messed up and I'm really sorry." Eric apologized. He then looked directly at me as I was hiding behind Amy's hand. "Amy, what are you holding?" He asked.

"Nothing." Amy said as she tried to cover me a bit more protectively. She was too late and Eric spotted me. He moved the hand that covered me, and Amy didn't even fight it, knowing it was pointless and I would just get hurt. His facial expression looked like three circles.

"Holy shit! Is that Penny?" Eric asked in surprise. I nodded as Amy set me down on the table. "What the hell happened?"

"I don't know. I just woke up like this one morning. We are still trying to figure it all out." I explained to him. I was surprised that I wasn't as scared as I usually am when people first see me this way. Sure, the fear was still there, but I think having my three friends with me made it better.

"Aww. Little baby Penny is actually the size of a penny, now." Eric said in a mocking tone.

"Shut up!" I said, giving Eric the finger. He chuckled. In the few times I've been around Eric, he has always made fun of my height. I was short to begin with, but now at this size, oh my god, I'd never hear the end of it.

"Anyway, Gemma, I'm ready to try again if you are. I really want to make this work." Eric confessed. Gemma had a very hesitant look on her face.

"I don't know, Eric. You really hurt me. Can I have some time to think about it?" Gemma asked.

"Come on, Gemma. It will be different this time. And better, I promise." He said.

"I'm not sure it's such a great idea. I just need some time to think." Gemma said. Eric gave her the puppydog eyes.

"Please, Gemma. One more chance." Eric begged.

"Holy, she said she needed some time to think, so give her some damn time to think! Good lord. It's scary to think she'll let her gaurd down and you'll just leave her again after another failed pregnancy." I said in frustration. I hated seeing Gemma struggle to say how she feels. But right after I said what I said, I realized I went too far. Eric quickly grabbed me in his giant fist tight enough to scare me, but not tight enough to actually hurt me. I yelped in shock and the three girls gasped.

"Listen here, you little ankle biter! Keep your nose out of my business. I'm trying to fix my relationship, and you're getting in the way!" Eric hissed. I could feel his warm breath on my face. Eric was a nice guy most of the time, but he was notorious for having a short temper. So I've heard. This is the first time I've actually witnessed it.

"Eric, be careful with her! Jesus Christ! She's fragile!" Amy shouted in a worried tone.

"Let go of her!" Gemma shouted. Kamal just stood there in shock, speechless. Eric listened to Gemma and let me go, but never took his threatening eyes off of me. I took a deep breath to compose myself.