Work Text:
Penelope was woken up by the phone ringing, she realized that she has fallen asleep cuddling their wireless phone. Bloody murder! Her mother or sisters will kill her for hoarding the machine again.
“Hello.” She answered the phone with a sleepy tone.
“Hi Pen!” Colin answered happily.
Oh, Colin. Penelope have almost forgotten that her best friend and the love of her life was the one she was talking to before she fell asleep. Ten-year old Penelope did what she had been doing for the past two years, pretend that it was all normal. “Oh. Hi Colin! Sorry I fell asleep.”
“Well, me too, Pen” Colin laughs on the other side of the line. “I fell asleep as well. Anthony insists that its because I am turning thirteen soon."
“Another growth spurts?” Penelope frowns. “I might not be able to reach you soon”
“Silly! You really can’t reach me now, Pen.” He lets out a hearty laugh.
“Meanie!” Penelope exclaims.
“I can imagine your pout.” Colin paused, he knew she must be frowning and pouting by now. “Go and move now, Pen. We’ll be late for the bus.”
“Alriiiight!”
It had been a tradition for Colin and Penelope to do things together, despite Eloise’s protests, the two are joined at the hip.
During weekdays, Colin will leave the house earlier than his siblings to cross the street and fetch Penelope at their gate. They will walk hand in hand while Eloise walks in front of them to the designated bus stop across the square. The two will sit together on the bus until they arrive at school.
And in doesn’t stop there, Colin will ensure that Penelope gets in the primary school building with Eloise before he walks to the middle school building for himself. That is exactly how that morning went.
The bell rang and it was Colin’s lunch recess, he hurriedly ran to the other building to look for Eloise and Penelope. As usual, the two were at their favorite picnic table under the willow tree doing their art class homework.
Colin sat on the picnic table opposite them and pulls out his precious canvas board. He had been doing this project for a few weeks now and hopes he will complete it before the recipient’s birthday.
“Ugh! You’ll bother us again.” Eloise groans. "Go find boys your age!"
“Let him.” Penelope answered. “He is doing his art alone.”
"Already done with football." Colin stood up and grabs some acrylic paints from Penelope’s supplies. “Borrow, please.”
“Hey!” Penelope protests but did not stop him. “I have bought another set because you kept on borrowing my supplies!”
Colin smiles and plops on his seat, he started to paint on his canvass, “Promise to buy the next one!”
“Promises, promises.” Eloise teases. “You keep saying that but you never really do.”
Colin pouts. “I am saving for something very important.”
“You mean for a girl.” Eloise huffs. “I already saw your letter to her.”
“You read it?” Penelope asks curiously, anger seems to cross her face.
“No. I just saw him dipping the paper into a coffee concoction to stain the plain paper. Regency style as that dumb dumb said.” She points to Colin.
“Ow.” Penelope tried to act like its nothing. She envies whoever it is because she herself is a regency simp.
Colin had started to act weird for about a month ago. His older brothers Anthony and Benedict suspects that he has a crush and recently, Daphne and Eloise have confirmed that Colin is preparing for something grand.
It pains Penelope to think that Colin will soon be less in her life. Who will pick her up from the Featherington house? Who will ride the bus with her? Who will carry her bag and bring her food? And who shall watch animes with her and call her on the phone at night? That is why she feels so jaded about this grand preparation.
“A special person deserves a special treatment.” Colin declares, he is biting his lips as he carefully paints along the lines of his drawing.
“Lucky her.” Penelope murmurs. Lucky her she has cpatured the kindest and most charming Bridgerton.
___________________________________________
It was 4PM and it usually means book time. Penelope and Colin spend it at the Bridgerton library to read their current book obsession. Today, however, Colin is too busy with his painting. What makes Penelope even more mad is that the materials he is using now are all hers.
“Colin.” Penelope puts down her book. “It’s reading time!”
“Sorry, Pen.” He lifts his head from his artwork. “But I am here, please continue and read.” He smiles. "You can talk to me."
Penelope hates it. Colin sits far from her, refusing to allow her to see his art. This isn’t them, and it was unfair.
She puts the book in her bag and stood up. “I’ll just go home.”
“Hey. Pen, no!” Colin protest.
“You don’t want me to go but you ignore me.” Penelope scoffs. “Go and spend your time with whoever that gift is meant for!” She shouted and ran.
Penelope could hear Colin following her but she ignores it. She walked faster and went straight to her room. Rae, her maid, had informed her that Colin was begging to be let in but Penelope refuses. She even ignored the wireless home phone that is ringing.
___________________________________________
Penelope have planned to walk alone the next day but Colin was already at their gate when she went out of the house.
“Sorry, Pen.” Colin holds a paper bag. “I baked you some eclairs... well… I helped Mrs. Wilson.” He smiled sweetly.
Penelope wanted to ignore him, to refuse, but this is Colin. He had been her savior and protector since she was eight. Eventually, she just nods and followed him, holding his hand as they proceed for the day.
They sat quietly at their spot on the bus, their hands still intertwined.
“I care about you, Pen. Do not be mad. I cannot take it when you are mad.,” Colin pouts.
“You seem to care more about that person.” Penelope pulled her hand off him and crosses her arms. “You missed our baking time yesterday. You did not watched anime with me because you were writing letters again. You – “
Colin cuts her off by grabbing her hand back. “I am done with that now, one more painting session later and I am really really done”
And what happens after? Penelope wanted to ask, what happens when Colin and that person becomes a couple? What happens to her? She pushed back her thoughts and lets him hold her hand.
___________________________________________
Birthdays are never really fully happy days for Penelope. However, her eleventh birthday today must be the worst.
She woke up without any call from Colin. It is a Saturday and yet he did not show up for their book session.
Noon came and she wanted to paint for awhile, hiding her melancholy. She was sifting through her supplies when she realized that Colin had once again used up all her paint.
Wanting to cry out all out, Penelope ran to her and Colin’s secret spot on the Featherington’s garden.
Crying her eyes out while walking, she stopped dead on her tracks upon seeing an elaborate set up.
Wait. Is that? Is that Colin?
In the alcove stands Colin, arranging a candle lit table for two. The floor was surrounded by flower petals and different sizes of lanterns. A covered canvass is propped on the table and some homemade goods are plated and covered.
What in the world?
She was about to leave when Colin noticed her. "Pen." He said in disbelief.
“So… Sorry, Colin.” Penelope said in a shy tone.
Colin gulps. "Might as well.” He breathes deeply and pulled down her button-up polo. “Happy Birthday, Pen!” He grabs the small bouquet of tulips and gave it to her.
“Oh. Thank you.” Penelope accepts it, she looked around once again. “What is all this?”
“It’s my gift... for you.” Colin blushes. “Penelope. Please don’t reject me without hearing me out.”
Penelope blinks, what is he saying? Her? Rejecting him?
Colin pulls the cover off the canvas and revealed the artwork to Penelope. “It is for you.”
Penelope rubbed her eyes to ensure what she’s seeing is true. It is painting of her, at the best Colin could deliver.
"What?"
"I'll buy you supplies, I promise." He squeezes her hand. "I just want to tell you that. I really.. really like you."
"Like me?"
"Love you." He whispered and closes his eyes, scrunching his nose, fearing rejection.
Penelope jumps on Colin and he catches her on reflex. Before Colin could recover, Penelope cups his face and stole a peck on his lip. "Love you too."
On the day of Penelope Featherington's eleventh birthday, she kissed Colin Bridgerton, and it was glorious.