Bubbles

Chapter 26

Penny

I wake up on Lucy's chest, her jaw resting on my head. Immediately I stir and pull myself away, leaning on my elbow.
She blinks at me, staring me right in the eye, her face in a frown.
Bright early morning sun pokes through the blinds, casting strips of light across the room.
Lucy looks beautiful.
Without words, I reach out and run my thumb across her cheek.
"Hello," she says.
I swallow, taking my hand back.
"Hi," I mutter, suddenly looking anywhere but her.
"I think I'll have toast for breakfast this morning, Penny. Maybe some coffee. I've got to get up before Mickey or he'll finish the jar."
Lucy goes to leave the bed, sitting up and stretching.
I don't know if I want her there or not. My brain decides to take hold of her wrist and stop her anyway.
She twists, facing me.
"Um..." I say.
"What was that?"
"Um..." I say again.
"I agree," Lucy leans over me, and I let go of her wrist. "I look hot in the morning."

We walk through the corridor, past Mickey's half-open door. I see him lying in action-man underwear on his bed, hair fluffed to excess.
"Ew," Lucy says, and closes the door.
I giggle. "He's funny."
"He's annoying," she scoffs.

The sun blazes through the apartment, casting shadows and reflecting on the glass coffee table in the living room.
I gaze at it from a bar stool in the kitchen as the biologist on the radio talks of glaciers melting.
I would be more empathetic if my mum hadn't evicted me last night.
Also Lucy provides ample distraction from the ever-pressing issue of climate change.
"Penny, would you like one or two bits of toast?"
I bite my lip, eyeing the loaf on the counter.
I can't tell her I ate a lot last night.
I can't tell her...
"Um," I stutter, repeating my favourite phrase.
"Penny," she says again, grinning at me. "You shouldn't bite your lip like that. It'll get damaged."
I let it go from between my teeth, obeying without consideration.
Mum would be proud.
"One or two?" Lucy squints at me.
"N-none."
"Come on, sweetheart. You've got to eat something!"
"No."
"Why? Did you have dinner last night?"
"No."
Her voice softens instantly.
"Penny," she says, quietly.
I can't stand to look her in the eye.
"What?"
"You're not fat."
"Y-yes I am."
Lucy takes me by the chin, lifting my gaze, her brow set in a serious frown.
"You are one of the most gorgeous girls I've ever seen. I've seen a lot. I've slept with a lot. None of them keep me as invested as you, Penny."
My heart thumps rapidly in my chest.
I sniff. "Okay."
She presses her lips to my forehead.
"So you'll have some breakfast? For me? I'd hate to see you withering away into some wafer-thin leaf."
She laughs, and adds: "You don't want to lose that ass, honey."
My nose wrinkles involuntarily. She's making me feel weird.
I don't know what I'm doing.
She's got her hands on my waist.
I've got my arms around her neck and we're kissing and I like it.
I feel like I did when we were on her bike, going to that field.
She asked me if I was a tree-hugger and I wasn't sure what it meant; I just looked at her - at her smooth mouth.

I think Lucy's made of bubbles.