August 29:

Penelope:

"I have to go Penny." Andy says, "You've got school and I have classes in a few minutes."

"Bye Andy." I tell him hearing the line die before hanging up.

"Pen," Sam stands outside my door knocking. "Lets go!"

"Just a minute!" I call back. I look at my outfit and check for stains, holes, and other issues that might pop up. I knocked into Mom's craft table knocking everything off and onto me after breakfast, it's in the middle of the hall. I can't wait for dad to move it into the spare guest room.

I give myself a nod of approval before putting on my locket and heading to the door to slip on my flip flops. And pick up my bag. I open the door and smile at my brother. "Hey Sammy." I greet him, "I'm ready now."

He grins and we walk out to his Jeep. Will and Michael in the back seat already. Sam opens my door for me and then goes around to start the car.

"Hey Penny." Will greets. I turn around and smile at the sight. Good to know nothing changes even at a new school. Michael gives a nod staring at his phone. Will nudges him.

"Hey Penny." Michaels answers automatically. Will and I both grin at the normalcy.

"Good morning boys." I greet them with a smile of my own on our way to school Will and I talk excitedly about nothing. Sam laughing every time one of us would get worked up over it.

"Last stop." Sam announces. "Orson High home of the Hens." Sam and I get out and Michael and Will follow behind Michael's eyes never leaving his phone. He walks safely to the school building avoiding every vehicle that would otherwise hit someone not paying attention. I swear my brother has a secret set of eyes.

"Come on Pen," Will says.

"Won't we get in trouble?" I ask him.

"Who cares?"

"Yore starting to sound like Michael, and that's worrying me." I tell him. "But okay." I tell him taking off. Will not too far behind me. I touch the door. "I won!" I cheer. Will grins and slows to a walk and Sam joins us at the door where Michael is still glued to his phone.

"Michael, William, Penelope," Sam joins us at the door pocketing his keys. "Inside, registration now." I guess now that Andy's gone, he feels like he has to step up to the plate and be mature.

"Oh Sammy, relax." I tell him, "We're going, we're going." The four of us go inside Will and I joking with each other like the best friends we are. Sam remains stoic as we walk into the office. Michael is in and out with his schedule in five minutes. Sam and Will both hover over me as I fill mine out and they their own.

"Who's our doctor?" Will asks.

"It was Dr. Claymore." I tell him, "It's probably what Mickey put." They both scribble it down. I do as well. I can't help but smile. These goofballs are my family, and the sad thing is, I wouldn't trade them for the world.

I answer the last question and hand it to the man behind the desk. Sam and William not far behind. We exchange our forms for schedules. I head to the Life Skills class. I think it should be just like my Home Economics class. Where I hope to just keep my head down. I sit in the back corner of the class my head ducked letting my hair block everything by the door.

"Is this seat taken?" Someone asks sitting down next to me anyway. "Sterling Jennings." He offers. "Call whatever you feel like."

"Like Jen?" I joke he gives me an annoyed look, "You know you had it coming. I'm Penelope Lancaster. Call me Penny or Penelope. Whichever happens to feel right."

"I wouldn't get to comfortable in your seat." A girl tells me.

"Only we get to sit next to the quarterback." Says another.

"There are two other seats by the guy. I was here first." I tell them.

"I wanted to meet the new girl."

"Penelope." A familiar overly optimistic voice cheers sitting in front of Sterling, the quarterback apparently. "I didn't know we'd have this class together."

"I literally just found out too."

Class drones on and when the teacher says pair up both girls dive for Sterling, but he dodges just in time.

"Partners?" He asks me. I just shrug. "I'll take it as a yes."

"Could you tell me where these classes are?" I ask him showing him my schedule after class. "My brothers and I just moved here during the summer. I feel like such a freshman."

"I'll take you. Come on." He says. He introduces me to his friends on the way. They're all so nice. I hope I don't have to have their names memorized for a while.

"I should warn you now, my brothers will all want to meet you." I tell him. "Especially if Sue starts talking around them."

"Sue?" He asks.

"The girl that got paired with Axl?" I tell him.

"The foreign exchange."

"No, she lives in Orson." I tell him. "It's Axl's sister."

"Axl said he didn't have a sister." He says sounding confused. "Anyway. This is your next class. I'll come by to walk you to your next next class then we'll grab lunch together."

"After third period right?" I ask my get a nod in return. "Thanks so much."

~~

Third period, French, speeds by and as Sterling promised he came by and walked me to lunch. "Sis, come sit." Will says. "Who's this?"

"My tour guide and new friend Sterling." I introduce, "This is the middle of my twin brothers Will." I tell him. "We're triplets."

"Hey Will," Michael walks up, "Penny. Lunch in the Quad?"

"I've actually already made lunch plans for today." I admit. "Michael this is Sterling. Sterling this is the oldest of the triplets my brother Michael."

I see Axl, Sean, and another boy walking in with Sam. "What is he doing with Mr. Glass-breaker and company?" Will asks. Michael doesn't wait for speculation but heads over their a look of fury on his face.

"Mickey!" I start to head after him but Will stops me.

Michael and Sam begin arguing animatedly but quiet enough that I hear absolutely none of it.

"Michael is arguing with my older brother Sam. My oldest brother, Andy, is at Notre Dame."

"Any other siblings I should know about?" Sterling asks I shake my head as he grabs two trays heading to the lunch line I follow behind him and he picks up two lunches before heading out to a table filled with football players. I sit down next to Sterling and everyone introduces me to everyone else.

I blink in everything. It's a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by so many strangers. Sam walks over to me.

"Can I talk to you Pen?" He asks quietly putting his hand on my shoulder. I nod standing up and stepping away.

"It's not what you thought. He wasn't aiming for your window. He was aiming for the lamppost." He says softly. "Sean told me everything."

"And did he tell you why Axl apologized for breaking the window because he wasn't thinking?" I ask him softly.

"He did?" Sam sounds shocked.

"Judging by that reaction I'm guessing not." I tell him. "Axl came to my room while they were over. Apologized for breaking my window thinking the room was empty and the house abandoned. If he wasn't intending on doing it like you say, why would he say he was?"

"He said that?"

"He said the building was abandoned, that he thought nothing of breaking the window."

"That is not what Sean told me."

"Then someone is lying."

"Or maybe they aren't. Darrin very well have dared him to hit the lamppost and Axl aimed for the window instead."

"Sam, don't do anything. You've got that look in your eyes."

Sam makes no reply. He kisses my forehead before joining the trio.

"Everything okay Penelope?"

"I hope so." I answer suddenly not hungry. "Excuse me." I stand up and walk out of the cafeteria.

"Penny?" Will and Michael are both in the hallway talking when I walk out.

"What's wrong Penny?" Michael asks.

"Nothing." I answer joining them. Will wraps his arm around my shoulders in a hug pressing a kiss to my temple.

"We all know that's a lie." Will says stepping away. "And that's not just because we're your brothers."

"I'm just so confused about the other day." I tell them, "If they were just walking and he threw the rock by a dare, it doesn't make sense, from where they were standing, the lamppost was in the other direction."

"That-" Michael growls receiving a glare from me for his near slip. He moves to go back into the cafeteria. Will and I both put ourselves in front of him to stop him. "I want to go talk to that-"

"Michael. Language." I warn him, "Count. One-one hundred. One ninety nine. One..." he begins counting down on his own still breathing hard, but slowly relaxing. His posture going from tense to as relaxed as it will with his thoughts.

"You were on the second floor." He says. "How can someone be that directionally challenged that he throws it 180 degrees in the wrong direction and over a dozen feet too high?" He asks me. I give a shrug and a soft smile.

"Michael, I love you, but you're over reacting." I tell him, "It's going to be fine. I will survive. I always have."

"I know Penny." He says, "I'm sorry." He wraps me in a hug. I hug him back with a smile.

Its kinda sad that Michael and I have gotten closer because of my window breaking. But I love that we have gotten closer.

"Penny, Mick let's walk." Will says. I agree and the three of us walk around the campus together.