Penny

PENNY

Penny tried Emma's phone again. Did not answer. Then she tried again, and again, and again.

Guess what happened?

Emma had been in that kind of situation because of her many times before. Guess payback was a bitch.

So Penny just stood alone at her locker, gearing up for the first class of the day, trying to prepare for a quiz which she conveniently forgot about until that very morning.

"Hey," she heard a whisper behind her and she jumped to see Kyle standing there beaming at her.

"Don't you love a jumpscare in the morning?" He asked with a laugh as she felt her face burn.

"Hey... Kyle," she said slowly, composing herself again as she took in his form. He was wearing the biggest hoodie for his frame, with denim jeans and as usual, his guitar strapped to his back.

"Band practice in the morning?" She inquired.

He nodded, "Just got out of it. I swear if they make me play 'River Flows In You' one more time on the keyboard, I'll rip my hair out.

She smiled, "It's a beautiful melody though. What's your favourite genre to play?"

Immediately he replied, "Rock. When schools let their students play hard rock give me their number."

Penny laughed, "Lemme guess, Nirvana? Linkin Park?"

"...Black Sabbath, 3 Days Grace and so many more. But the school won't let us play them. Says their lyrics are too sad. And sadistic. But we'll I can't blame them."

"Kyle!" Came a loud voice from somewhere and Penny closed her eyes to calm herself before Vanessa came into her view. With a face full of immaculate makeup and a heart full of rotten peas.

She flung herself on the boy and began giving him some very sloppy and long kisses. Penny turned her head away in disgust.

Eugh.

When they finally pulled away, the girl gave Kyle a once over, "I was looking everywhere for you!"

Kyle smiled at her warmly the same way he had been smiling at Penny five minutes ago, "Band practice babe," he pointed to the music room a few paces away.

Vanessa then finally seemed to acknowledge Penny's presence, "Oh hey, didn't see you there."

"I wish I wasn't able to see you there," Penny muttered under her breath but Kyle seemed to hear her as he let out a small laugh.

Vanessa wrinkled her nose, "Come on, I need to show you something."

Oh please don't hook up in some janitor's closet.

"But I was talking to-" Kyle began but Vanessa cut him off.

"It can wait I'm sure. Now come on."

Kyle gave her an apologetic smile and she smiled back before turning back to her locker.

And as if her day was going on a loop, she heard another 'Hey.'

She turned around and this time came face to face with Emma and Matt, both smiling at her.

Weird. Emma was wearing makeup. Emma never wore makeup. And she looked radiant.

And she was wearing different clothes? What happened to the sweatshirts and jeans? Where did the high-tops go?

What was weirder was that the entire school was staring at the three of them.

What?

And that was when her gaze fell on their connected hands.

It took her an uncomfortably long amount of time to respond, "Hey  Em. Hi Matt."

She gulped once, staring at their hands, "Are you guys...."

Her best friend grinned and nodded at her, "Yeah we're dating now."

What? Where? When? How?

She wasn't able to bring herself to ask any questions. She was way too shook.

Who in the world thought that they both would be together?

Why didn't Emma tell her? She would have never judged her best friend. Matt was a great guy.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She said softly and Emma's grin dropped.

"I- It happened so suddenly-" Emma began but Matt cut her off.

"I told her to keep it a secret, I'm sorry," he said, smiling apologetically at her.

And that was when the bell rang.

MATT

"What did you wanna talk to me about, man?", Matt asked Kyle, as Kyle pulled him into the music room, where Will was seated on one of the chairs, writing something in that super-secret diary of his. Matt had been begging to read it for record time of six years now. That stubborn bastard still won't let him read.

"If we're starting a band, I'm already telling you, I only sing Ed Sheeran songs", Matt made a statement. Ed Sheeran was dope. That guy's music touched Matt's heart. It made Matt feel the importance of having friends. Of love.

"Not even a hobo-street-band would want you as a singer, you freak", Will said, shutting that book. Ugh, Matt wanted to read it so bad.

"Where were you in the morning? You didn't even answer your damn phone," Matt frowned at his best friend who shrugged innocently.

"Library," Will responded at once, "Last minute quiz prep you know?"

"Okay, this is serious, guys", Kyle said.

Oh wait how was he gonna explain his Emma-relationship thing to them? Was that why he was dragged here? To answer their questions.

"What, Kyle?", Matt asked.

"Kevin loves Shane", said Kyle, and Matt took two whole minutes to realise what that meant. He had been staring at Kyle with his mouth open while he did. Kevin. Loved. Shane. Kevin, and Shane.

Kevin was gay?!

Will must have somehow read Matt's mind, when he said, "He's not gay, he's bi."

Kevin was bisexual?!

"Uhh", was all Matt could respond. Will sighed, and told Matt whatever he had to say. When he was done, Matt's reply was still "Uhh."

Okay so it was not about his relationship with Emma. He gotta admit he felt a little hurt that they didn't find out. He was supposed to be popular after all.

"Now, Kevin loves Shane, but Shane is seriously pissed, so we have to help Kevin to declare his 'love' for Shane, or else we'll end up being Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey in that F.R.I.E.N.D.S situation when Ross and Rachel broke up", Kyle said. And Matt had sudden respect, because he could totally relate.

"What do you think we should do?", Matt asked.

Will got up, "I think I have a plan."