Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 22:26:13 GMT -6
She turned then, looking directly at him as she put a finger to her chin, as if thinking about it. Then, she smiled. "Nooope." She turned back then. She was enjoying this. Evening out the playing field. Especially considering how this seemed to be Trevor's area of expertise and not hers. No, hers was hidden behind a computer or underneath piles of papers.
Lifting her hand, the brunette started examining her nails. She was going to enjoy this for as long as it lasted, which would likely be soon. She doubted Trevor would put up with this for much longer.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 22:36:27 GMT -6
Trevor's head tilted back as he gave out a low chuckle. He rested it against the tree and stared up at the night sky through the branches and leaves. The two of them didn't know that much about one another and he'd fallen right into a trap that left Penelope the unequivocal winner. He shook his head a bit, causing a few flecks of bark to scrape off the tree and fall onto his sweater.
"Alright, alright." He glanced down and brushed the bark off, issuing a resigned sigh in the process. "I'm just going to tell you straight up." He let out a light laugh. "You're driving me crazy. You win." He waved his hands about for emphasis. "I am at your mercy. You've twisted the knife enough to where I'm willing to pretty much lay it all on the line." He shifted a bit, leaning over just enough to where he could get a look at Penelope's profile. "What do you want? Whatever you want, you got it. I just..." He let out a grumbled sigh followed by a chuckle. "You've got me to the point where I have to find out what that was all about."
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 22:41:21 GMT -6
She listened to him talk, the smile steady against her lips. Perhaps it was a little sadistic of her, to do this to him, but she wasn't sure if telling him was the best way either. It felt a little too personal. Chuckling softly, the brunette pushed herself away from the tree and brushed whatever bark and dirt had gathered off of her clothes.
"And what happens if I don't tell you?" she asked, genuinely curious. She watched him, her head tilted as she studied his posture and his features. She wondered why he wanted to know so badly. Was it the need to be in control of any situation he found himself in? Or was he genuinely curious because she'd managed to win at his own game? "And why do you want to know so badly?"
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 22:49:30 GMT -6
Trevor threw his arms up in exasperation. "I don't know." He answered honestly. His words were a little on the desperate side even if his face was still plastered with that smirk of his that seemed to imply he knew something Penelope didn't. That the smirk was now decidedly wrong was a bit of a contentious point even for Trevor at this point. "I guess I'll just stay cantankerous and not knowing." Which seemed logical. It wasn't as if he was going to start getting angry or anything.
"Because I'm supposed to be the one who's all shady and secretive." Trevor admitted this flat out. It wasn't a knock on Penelope and her, up to now, relatively transparent life but a general, egocentric admission. "After all, you came to me because of rumors of whatever shady things people think I'm in on." He lifted a hand, gesturing toward the party with a blank expression on his face. "I make it so kids can get drunk and not worry about getting caught." He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm not carrying around secrets for NASA or anything." His hands dropped back to his side. "You played my game. On my terms, with my rules, and you beat me." Trevor's hands came up and it looked so though he was going to continue with adding some great words of wisdom or something but in the end he just shrugged again and fell silent.
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 22:54:51 GMT -6
She watching him, then her eyes moved to the gathering of teenagers getting plastered. She nodded slowly before looking back at the boy. The admission was, in many ways, enough for the brunette, but alas, she wanted to milk it for everything it was worth. And therefore, she supposed she could offer a challenge. A fair one- well, mostly fair. "Okay," she finally said, stopping a chuckle from bubbling through her lips. "Okay, okay, okay."
"I did win. I did beat you. At your own game. With your on rules. Your own terms." She had to rub it in a little more. "But I'll give you a chance to figure it out. A challenge, if you like." She stepped closer, hands on her hips. "If you can surprise me, not through words or admissions, but actions- fair is fair, after all. And by surprise, I'm talking about the same amount of surprise and curiosity you felt. If you can do that, I'll tell you."
Stepping back, the brunette spread her arms and raised her eyes, challenging the boy in front of her.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 23:03:36 GMT -6
Trevor's head turned when Penelope pushed off the tree and started moving. He followed suit in standing straight but remained where he was. She rounded, still speaking and issuing a challenge of sorts. His eyes narrowed as he watched her. She was reveling in knowing she not only had him beat but had done so on his terms. They were in his backyard, so to speak, and she'd still managed to come in and claimed victory. That she had every right to gloat and savor in her success only succeeded in driving the the knife further into Trevor's chest.
The two of them stood, eyes locked for a long moment. The gauntlet had been thrown and to back down from the challenge would mean admitting a second defeat. Trevor was already struggling to come to terms with losing once, to allow it to happen again would surely drive him mad. His mind raced to find an answer to the issued challenge but nothing Trevor could think of seemed to fit. Penelope was too smart, she knew too much. She'd done her homework on him and even though she couldn't get him to admit any shady dealings, she'd still proved she knew just about everything there was to find out about him.
Left with no other choice Trevor defaulted to something he'd wanted to do since the moment Penelope had walked up to him asking for an interview he knew she'd never get. With a smooth, confident motion void of any hesitation or doubt Trevor stepped forward to close the gap between the two of them. His arm slipped around Penelope's waist, pulling her to him as he leaned in and abruptly placed a strong, passionate kiss upon her lips.
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 23:13:04 GMT -6
For a moment, the brunette thought that he was about to give in. That he would admit defeat a second time, because considering that she had the benefit of being aware of the challenge and him having to do something that'd surprise her, sort of made it difficult for the boy to do much. She watched him, her eyes gleaming the same way his usually did, a confident smirk coloring her lips.
Then he did the last thing the brunette had ever expected; He stepped forward. Too quickly for Penelope to react and before she knew it, his arm went around her waist and he drew closer. It was as if the entire scene happened both in slow motion and too quickly for her to think, all at the same time. Regardless, the brunette suddenly found herself in the boy's embrace, his lips pressed against hers and all she could think about was; This didn't at all seem like the friendly kind of like.
Pulling her head back, so that their faces were separated, though, only slightly, Penelope narrowed her eyes at him. With the arm around her waist, she couldn't move very far away. She could feel her heart thunder inside her chest, though. A constant reminder of what had just happened. Still, the surprise, the fact that he had caught her completely off guard was apparent, not only in the way she stared at him, but also because of the simple fact that for once, Penelope had no witty comeback.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 23:27:17 GMT -6
There were moments when Trevor surprised even himself. While he had given thought to kissing Penelope before nothing could compare to having the opportunity (and mental fortitude) to go through with it under such circumstances. He let the kiss linger, not pulling away quickly even after the kiss had broke or making any moves to release his hold on her. There was something almost intoxicating about being so close with someone who'd proven themselves to be every bit his intellectual equal. Penelope represented a puzzle, an enigma he had been tasked with solving. He remained a long way from doing so, of that he was sure, but he'd taken the first steps toward fulfilling his goal.
Trevor's eyes opened after a long while and he studied Penelope's face. It looked as though she was just as shocked as he was at his abrupt action. He hadn't gotten slapped or pushed away, though, so he could call that a victory. He kept his eyes locked on hers, taking in every nuance and minute detail of her gaze. He had never realized how vivid and clear her dark eyes truly were until just then. his heart began to race, beating wildly in his chest before he had to pull away for his own safety.
He did so carefully and gently, allowing his touch to linger on her hip before taking a step back. Trevor's gaze fell to the ground beneath him. His reaction to Penelope's challenge had been so drastic it had obviously taken its toll on him just as much as it may have her. He let out a small, almost mirthless chuckle and shook his head. He lifted his eyes back to Penelope and gave her a bit of a smirk, though this one was utterly void of the smug confidence it usually carried. In its wake was a flat, uncertain smirk put on as a defense mechanism and failing miserably in hiding the one thing Trevor didn't want Penelope to know.
That he reveled in every second of kissing her.
"Surprise." He said, his tone wavering and uncertain.
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 23:36:17 GMT -6
Her gaze didn't leave his. Not when he lingered close, nor when he carefully pulled away. She searched his gaze; Despite the smirk, he looked uncertain. Whether that was because he'd been scared she'd punch him or because he hadn't really thought it through, but simply acting on impulse, she didn't know. She was sure of one thing, though, her own expression matched his own uncertainty, bit by bit. There was something else, hidden in his eyes and in the way he smiled, something she didn't recognize. Something she couldn't quite make out.
It struck her then; this wasn't something done entirely on a whim. At least, not the stupidly reckless kind. It wasn't something he was overly used to doing either. To her, it had been her first kiss, but unlike the movies, it wasn't nearly as grand or history changing. That, naturally, didn't mean it had been bad, or even remotely so.
Then he spoke and the brunette blinked herself out of the trance. And for a moment, she wondered if it had all been for show. To complete the challenge and nothing else. She furrowed her brows as she reached for the package. She held it out to him.
"They're herbs," she said quietly, her gaze now averted. "They're supposed to make you feel more relaxed when sleeping and help you go into a deeper kind of sleep." She shrugged, almost helplessly. "And hopefully prevent one from dream walking." She felt odd. Not happy, not depressed, but still gloomy. She couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was nothing but another part of the game. "Congrats."
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 23:47:42 GMT -6
Trevor inhaled sharply and let out a long, slow ragged breath of air. He'd kissed girls before and it had never been like this. Penelope had marked the first time he actually felt a sort of weight to kissing. It hadn't been just something to do or what was expected of him. There was a certain dynamic to the act he'd never experienced before and it lingered in his mind long after they had parted.
So engulfed in the feelings that he couldn't shake (even if he wanted to), Trevor barely heard what Penelope was saying. The words themselves didn't seem to be as important as the dull, resigned tone in which Penelope delivered them. He glanced to her while she spoke and felt a jolt of alarm and worry stab through his chest. He wasn't a mind reader by any stretch of the imagination but the listless, joyless way in which the single word tumbled from Penelope's lips shook Trevor to his very core. 'Congrats'.
He reached out, his hand coming to rest atop hers and pushing it away. Trevor didn't need to look in the package anymore. He believed her explanation and they'd gone well passed the little game of cat and mouse they had been playing. The stakes were suddenly much, much higher and Trevor, no matter how deep into uncharted waters he was, could see Penelope quickly slipping away with every passing second.
Again Trevor's mind raced for something to do. He had to tell her there was more to this than a simple game. He had to let her know the uncertainty in his eyes wasn't from his brash action but from the shock at how right it had felt. Panic nearly flooded his dark eyes before he shook his head sternly. There would be no congratulations. Not for him, not tonight. His body moved seemingly of its own volition as he stepped toward Penelope again. The intent in his gaze was plainly evident as were his motives. He was going to kiss her again and this time he wasn't trying to surprise her.
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 23, 2016 12:29:08 GMT -6
The brunette's brown eyes dropped to her hand, watching it get brushed away with something akin to surprise and confusion. Her mind was reeling, wondering after everything, after being so curious he'd simply toss the victory away. Just like that. She didn't understand it. Her mind couldn't process it. For what could possibly be more important than winning, than being above others? Lifting her gaze then, she watched him cautiously, trying her best to read any of the offered signs.
What happened next happened far too quickly for the brunette to properly process it in the matter of seconds. He stepped forward, then there was a sound, the flashing of lights and voices that grew closer. An arm slumped around both of their shoulders, a boy, seemingly drunk leaned against them, chuckling to himself as he spoke, his drunken words slurred.
Instinctively, the brunette stepped away from the drunk boy, causing him to sway, as if losing his balance and then both his arms went around Trevor's shoulders for support. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as the boy continued slurring on, reeking of alcohol.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 23, 2016 12:49:32 GMT -6
There has been a genuine intent in Trevor's action. It wasn't simply because he thought he could or because he found some amusement in doing something that obviously flustered Penelope so. The first had been a knee jerk reaction born from a challenge and an underlying desire Trevor had tried to keep pushed down. The second (or at least the attempt had come from a much more simpler place. Trevor wanted to. He thought it unfortunate he didn't succeed.
"Oh, hey." Trevor said, his face now an emotionless mask in order to hide his increasing frustration. He did know who the guy was, though it was debateable how good of a thing that was. A low groan escaped as Penelope slipped away, leaving Trevor to hold up the drunken interloper. Trevor stood there for a moment, turning an expression of abject resignation toward a steadily retreating Penelope. He looked to her for a few moments, his head shaking while he mouthed the words 'help me'.
"Yeah, yeah. That's great." Trevor said without paying much attention to the guy. He shifted a little, gently pulling Penelope away from the drunk kid while giving a wave and a nod of his head. "Now... go away. Sleep it off, alright man? You've had enough. Get one of your friends to get you back to the cabins." Trevor even went so far as to give a little 'shoo'ing' motion with his hand while he ducked under the drunk guy's arms and scooted closer to Penelope. He leaned in toward Penelope, his eyes staying locked on the drunk guy in hopes that he'd leave, and muttered. "That walk is sounding a lot better right about now."
Last Edit: Apr 23, 2016 13:00:48 GMT -6 by Trevor Paige
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 23, 2016 13:06:32 GMT -6
The brunette watched the little scene with a sigh heavily hanging on her lips. See, this was what Penelope didn't like about alcohol; it made people sloppy. It made them toss their inhibitions away and act like wild monkeys. It was everything Penelope didn't want to be, and therefore, she had promised herself a long time ago she never would. Shaking her head at his mouthed words, the brunette shrugged. What could she do? It was his party.
She let Trevor pull her away, her eyes watching the young man too, hoping for his sake he wouldn't roam any closer, but it seemed as if he heeded Trevor's word, though with an annoyed shrug. She could faintly hear him mutter the word 'partypoopers' before leaving.
"Yeah, well," she began, looking up at the dark sky. "It's getting late. I should head back." Truth be told, it was mostly because her mind hadn't yet processed all of this. What it meant and what she was supposed to do with all of it. Heck, she hadn't been able to think about how it made her feel.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 23, 2016 13:18:29 GMT -6
Trevor exhaled a sigh of relief as the guy wandered off, leaving him and Penelope alone again. Trevor eyed the swaying, stumbling silhouette disappearing into the darkness. His head shook faintly and he glanced down for a moment as he gathered his thoughts and came to terms with what he'd tried to do right before being interrupted by a drunk kid. His eyes lifted, casting one last glance in the direction of the interloper before shifted his attention back to Penelope.
There was no hiding the frown that touched his features as Penelope offered her tentative response to his offer. He wasn't about to start pushing her to anything even though he hated the idea of giving up on the evening and possibly causing everything they'd just gone through to be lost. "Yeah." He said, modding a bit in resignation. "I'll, um..." He scratched at the back of his neck a bit. "Yeah, we should head back." He agreed
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 23, 2016 13:22:46 GMT -6
He looked disappointed somehow. Though, the brunette was sure that with some sleep, he'd realize that it was nothing more than being in the heat of the moment. Truly, he didn't like her like that and the challenge that had brought on the kiss had simply stimulated his hormones. Naturally, that had to be the reason.
"Okay," she nodded as she took yet another step backwards before turning. She didn't know what to say or if there was anything to be said. All of this felt so alien to her. Though, she supposed it wasn't overly odd, all things considered. These kind of situations was alien to her. Maybe that was why she had such a hard time accepting it.