Forgotten

I don't deserve you

Josie's POV: I looked over the spell books boredly, trying to uncovering any kind of spell that would explain why I'm back here, but no luck. People aren't just sent back in time for no reason! "This makes no sense", I huffed, tossing another book to the ground. 

Rubbing my eyes tiredly, I leaned back against the wall before glancing toward the dresser to see Penelope's notebook. Getting up from my bed, I picked it up curiously before looking it over. Maybe I should look through it.

No, that would be wrong.

But she did it to everyone else, including me...

I sighed, before getting to my feet and walking from room. Walking down the hall, I paused outside a familiar door as a feeling of sadness and regret washed over me. Knocking on the door, I shifted uncomfortably. "Penelope? It's me", I said, knocking again. "Pen", I questioned before hearing what sounded like a loud crash. "Penelope, are you okay? I heard something fall...", I asked in concern before a scream reached my ears.

My heart jumped as I quickly siphoned from her door, and pushed it open. Racing inside, my breath caught in my throat as I took in the state of the room. "J-josie...", Penelope said, getting up from the floor. "What...", she trailed off, clearing her throat. "What are you doing here", she asked.

"You left this in class yesterday", I told her, holding out the book awkwardly.

"Thanks...", she muttered, taking the book from my hands. 

"What's...uh...what's all this", I asked her.

"Oh, just doing a little redecorating", she chuckled, looking around the destroyed room.

"Are you okay", I frowned, watching her continiously wipe at her eyes.

"Yeah...", she sniffed, turning around to hide her face.

"No, you're not. You're shaking", I said worriedly, placing my hand on her shoulder as she flinched away. "Pen...Penelope, look at me", I pleaded, turning her around to see tears streaming down her face. "What happened", I exclaimed, spotting blood on her hands.

"Nothing", she said, snatching her hands away.

"This is not nothing, Pen", I told her softly.

"W-why are acting like this", she asked in frustration. "Just stop, okay", she exclaimed. "Stop acting like you care", she hollered. 

"I'm not-"

"Did Lizzie put you up to this? Is this some kind of sick joke", she demanded tearfully.

"No! No, Penelope, this isn't a joke", I denied.

"Then why are you here", she shouted.

"B-because-"

"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden", she yelled.

"Because I love you", I exclaimed, causing her to step back in shock.

"W-what...", she asked.

"I love you", I said. "I've been in love with you since the first time that I've met you", I admitted.

"Why? I don't deserve you", she sad sadly. "I mean, look at you. When you walk into the room, it's like everything just stops, and you're smile...You're the most beautiful person that I've ever seen, Jojo", she said as tears filled my eyes. "You're kind, and selfless...", she chuckled tearfully. "And look at me. I'm nothing", she whispered.

"Don't talk like that", I pleaded.

"Why?! It's true isn't it?! You've said it yourself", she cried. "I'm a selfish, evil, ugly monster", she sobbed, dropping to her knees. I covered my mouth in disbelief as tears trailed down my face. "Please, forgive me...please...I'm sorry", she sobbed out. "I'm so...", she choked.

Quickly closing the door, I dropped down beside her and grabbed her chin gently. "That's not true", I told her firmly. "When I first lay my eyes on you, you was really shy", I smiled. "You were even hiding behind your father", I said, watching her face redden. "The first thing that I noticed about you were you're eyes. Like I could just sit there for hours on end just getting lost in them", I chuckled. "And your laugh was just...", I smiled softly. "Well, you're laugh made me laugh", I giggled. "But then I started to get to know you", I said, watching her look down. 

"I'll admit. I did think you were rude and selfish at first", I nodded regretfully. "But then I saw you giving your last muffin to Pedro, because you knew that he didn't eat that day. You stood up for him when all the other kids were picking on him", I told her proudly. "I even saw you sit down and talk to Mg about comic books just because he was having a bad day", I told her. "You're a good person, Penelope. You would do anything for the people you love...even make make yourself out to be the bad guy, and get them to hate you", I sighed sadly, causing the girl to look up at me in shock.

"Y-you...you know", she asked.

"Which part? That you use spy pens to read everyone's journal, or the merge", I asked her.

"B-but how-"

"I doesn't matter how I know", I said, laying a hand on her cheek tenderly. "What matters is that you hear me out", I stated. "You did everything you could to protect me from this, but you were hurting yourself in the process. You did what no one else could do because you're a good person. You're kind, selfless, beautiful, smart", I listed off as she gave me a watery smile. "So don't you ever say that again. Do you hear me? I never want to hear that come out of your mouth again, because I care about you. Too much", I said, before I felt a pair of lips on my own. 

My eyes widen in shock before I slowly relaxed as her hand cupped my cheek. She pulled away as I closed my eyes, nearly whining at the loss of contact. "Thank you", she sniffed, pulling me into a hug as I felt tears soak into my sweater. 

"Pen...", I said in concern, wrapping my arms around her protectively.

"He's gone, Jojo", she sobbed. "My dad's gone", she said as I rubbed her back soothingly. My heart ached as I remembered something. She went through this alone last time...

While I was spending time with Hope, she was in here going through this alone. "Shh, you're okay...", I whispered, kissing her head. "Everything's gonna be okay", I promised, getting off the floor.

"N-no! Please, don't leave me alone", she pleaded desperately.

"I'm not leaving you, but we do need to fix this", I said, gesturing toward her knuckles.

"Y-you're not gonna run off", she asked insecurely.

"Never", I smiled, helping her to her feet and leading her into the bathroom. 

Carefully bandaging her hands, I practically carried her to bed and layed her down as she struggled to keep her eyes open. "Stay with me", she asked tiredly, causing me to smile adorably.

"Always", I nodded, crawling in beside her as she immediately wrapped her arms around me securely.