Chapter Text
Penelope knew from the beginning that she shouldn't have gone to that karaoke session with Eloise and her brothers. The whole day had been full of signs for her: a torrential rain that prevented her from arriving on time for a job interview, the teasing of her mother and Prudence and the fight with Marina, when the latter accused her of wanting to take Colin away from her and of getting in the way of their relationship.
-Marina, please! said Penelope trying to calm her down -Colin and I are just friends.
-Please Penelope! You don't fool me, I've seen how you look at him but don't be so deluded, he could never desire a woman who looks like you, said Marina pointing at Penelope in a derogatory way. Well, I'm going, Colin is waiting for me for an appointment, don't worry dear cousin, I'll be very, very late today.
...
Penelope had a feeling but she couldn't say no to Eloise, after she had refused the two previous karaoke sessions. So she put on her best jean, the one that suits her curves, a shirt with the characters of Derry Girls, her favorite series, and her leather jacket and arrived at the Bridgerton's favorite karaoke where they always celebrated important events since they were teenagers.
- Peeeeen, you cameeeeeeeeee!!! Eloise shouted as she hugged her tightly.
-I see you started the party early," said Penelope laughing as she watched Eloise stagger a little from the alcohol.
-Peeeeen, it was the only way to endure this karaoke session while you arrived especially if you have to endure her comments, said Eloise pointing to the couch that was at the back of the VIP room where they always sang and where Colin and Marina were sitting.
-Oh, El! said Penelope a little disappointed and sad as she realized that it was going to be a very uncomfortable night for her.
-Pen! Colin shouted from inside, I'm so glad you came, I feel like it's been a long time since we've seen each other," Colin said with a slight smile as he hugged her. Pen froze when she saw the murderous look Marina was giving her.
-Hey, yeah," said Penelope letting go of the hug.
-You've been busy, haven't you cousin? said Marina as she approached Colin and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
-Eww, I'm going to go throw up," said Eloise as she saw the scene Marina was making.
-Yes, that's it... I've been busy," answered Penelope in a very cold way. Come on, El join me for a drink I think I'm going to need it said Penelope in Eloise's ear so no one would hear.
By the time Kate, Anthony, Sophie and Benedicte arrived, the evening had passed without a hitch: Pen and Eloise had sung a few songs and Marina had dedicated a rather explicit song to Colin that almost made Eloise and Penelope vomit.
-Hello Pen! said Benedicte to Penelope.
-Hi Benny Ben! What a pleasure to see you, said Penelope while she hugged him.
-Pen, I want to introduce you to someone," said Benedicte calling a friend: he was a tall man, with dark eyes and dark hair, one of the most beautiful men Penelope had ever seen in her life. Pen this is Michael, he is John's cousin, Michael this is Penelope one of our family's best friends and the woman I have told you so much about .
-Nice to meet you Pen, Ben didn't lie to me when he told me about you," Michael said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
-It's my pleasure," said Pen blushing.
- From what I see you like Derry Girls said Michael smiling as he looked at Pen's shirt.
- It's my favorite show! said Pen with a big smile on her face, my dream is to go to Derry, she laughed.
-When you go, you have to take me," said Michael giving Pen an eye poke.
-It's a deal! said Pen with the biggest smile she had had all day as she shook his hand as if they were closing a deal.
Michael was lovely company, he was not only very handsome but also very smart and funny and Penelope felt like she hadn't had so much fun in her life after El, Michael and she sang Wannabe by the Spice Girl. But, there was only one thing that made her heart ache: Colin. Since Michael had arrived, he had been acting strangely towards her and Marina's presence didn't help Penelope feel any better.
After midnight, when Kathe and Anthony had left and the drinks had taken their toll, Eloise shouted that it was time for Pen and Colin to sing the karaoke song they always played since they were teenagers: All My loving by The Beatles
- El, not today said Penelope laughing a little uncomfortably, I think it's better that Colin sings it with Marina.
-Come on Pen, it's the funniest moment of the night, Colin come and convince her please said Eloise already quite drunk.
- Eloise, Colin doesn't want to, said Marina while crossing her arms on her chest and, you guys are already too drunk. Come on, baby said Marina to Colin, it's already late.
-Wait love," said Colin to Marina. It's a tradition, isn't it, Pen? We can't break it or at least not again.
Penelope looked nervously at Michael, all night they had talked and realized that they had many things in common, one of them being in love with a Bridgerton and Michael had listened to Pen like no one else, they had given each other advice and, due to the alcohol, they had also flirted a little bit.
- Pen, come on! Colin said to her with the most charming smile in his repertoire as he stretched out his hand.
-okay! said Penelope with a soft smile.
When they started singing Penelope felt that something had changed, she didn't know if it was because of the alcohol or Michael's encouraging words but she decided that she was going to enjoy singing that song with Colin as if it was the last time she was going to do it in her life because, after the fight with Marina she had decided that it was better to let Colin go.
When they sang the last phrase of the song "All My loving, I Will send to You" Penelope felt that Colin was looking at her as if there was no one else in the world but her and he was going to kiss her. But, that fantasy lasted two seconds until Marina got up from the couch, very angry, and started to ask Colin to leave now. Colin just looked at Pen, smiled at her and walked out with Marina.
-Wow, that was intense, I swear I saw sparks flying between you guys, here I think you're going to need this," Michael said to Penelope as he handed her a glass of wine.... Are you okay, Pen? You look a little pale, do you want to go? I can give you a ride home in an Uber if you want.
-I'm fine," said Penelope, "but I'm tired already, it's been a night.... very particular...
-Come on, let's go! Said Michael smiling, if you want to go out while I pay the bill.
Penelope put on her jacket and went out into the corridor when she heard a conversation and the voice sounded familiar.
-Marina, please love, I don't understand why you are so angry! Colin said in a soft tone as he tried to calm Marina down, he hated confrontations forever and didn't want her to be angry.
-Do you really not understand Colin? said Marina very angry and raising the tone of her voice.... You almost kissed Penelope and you don't want me to be angry!
Penelope realized that they were talking about her and, something deep inside her told her that it was better not to listen but what she heard next froze her:
- Marina, please stop saying stupid things, Pen and I are just friends...you know that I only like women like you, he told her and then began to kiss her passionately.
Penelope could not help the tears that began to run down her cheeks. Colin made real what Marina had told her in their fight: that he only liked women who were beautiful like Marina.
-Pen, Pen, what happened? Why are you crying? What happened? Tell me please, Michael shouted when he saw Penelope in that state.
- Oh, Michael said Penelope between sobs, let's go please.
When Colin realized that Penelope was crying, he rushed over to her, Penelope was not used to cry like that, much less in public and it made his heart ache.
-Pen, are you okay? Said Colin approaching them while he was looking very serious to Michael Did something happen? Did he do something to you? He tried to touch her arm to calm her down but she pushed him away as if he was the plague.
-Pen, are you okay? Said Colin approaching them while he was looking very serious to Michael Did something happen? Did he do something to you? He tried to touch her arm to calm her down but she pushed him away as if he was the plague.
-I'm fine, come on Michael, I want to go now," she said to Michael trying to stop her tears from flowing. She didn't want to continue to please Marina who was watching the scene with a little smirk, who had realized that Penelope had heard what Colin said.
-Let's go, bye Colin said Michael in a very serious tone.
When Colin saw Penelope and Michael walking away he felt a strange pang in his chest, as if something was causing him a little emptiness.
-Let's go love, I want to give you a present in my apartment said Marina seductively to Colin while kissing the commissure of his lips,
Colin left the establishment with Marina and had to avoid with all the strength of his soul to run to Penelope when he saw that Michael was hugging her while crying What the hell happened? Colin couldn't help but ask himself sadly