in4apounding | All-Purpose CMO

[Penny had been avoiding Pidge for the last week or so. Avoiding all her friends, really. Which was still mostly just Pidge. None of their usual between-classes chatter or afternoon and evening Snipjabber messages trading homework questions and advice. Not even one of Penny's frequent forwarded cat memes with a 'thought of you, lol' text. Radio silence.]

[It was probably fine.]

[But regardless, it had come to an end - Penny gave a small start as she noticed Pidge approaching, before giving a short, slightly jerky, too-energetic wave. The sunglasses she was wearing weren't that unusual for the approaching summer weather, but the knit wool cap looked a little warm.]

Pidge, salutations!

[At least the wide smile at seeing her friend was the same as always; or at least it was for the brief instant it crossed Penny's face before she clamped her mouth tightly shut.]

[Pidge didn't know what she did to make Penny avoid her. It hurt. Penny was one of Pidge's few friends, and the tiny brunette couldn't think of anything she did to make there be distance between them. It was depressing. None of her messages were returned which was worse. At least she wasn't blocked. Yet.

Pidge has her head in a book, but it snaps up when she hears her name.]

Penny?

[Was she hearing things? Penny had a hand over her mouth. Pidge isn't sure what to do... She wants to ask about the hat...] I'm on my way to class, so I don't really have time to talk.

[Ah, the warring urges to flee or speak to her friend. Good old anxiety. She slowly dropped her hand, mouth still firmly shut as she gave another jerking wave.]

Oh-! Oh- okay.

[And. Pidge hadn't actually been approaching her. This was fine.]

That's- okay. Have you been. Well?

[Penny, Pidge won't approach someone she thinks hates her. Even if curiosity was killing her.]

I've been okay. What about you?

[It seems only polite to ask how Penny was.

Why is conversation feeling so awkward right now? This should be easier!!]

[What, no, why would Pidge think Penny could hate her, all she did was break off all contact for like a week.]

I'm. Okay? [hic]

[She rocks a little on the balls of her feet, tugging at the straps of her backpack.]

I've. Just- been. ...Okay. [hic]

I'm glad you're okay too. Everything's okay. [hic]

[That's exactly why Pidge thinks Penny hates her.

..........]

Why do you keep hiccuping?

[what is that unusual or something]

...No reason?

[hic]

[Your friend is a terrible liar, Pidge.]

.... if you're trying to lie, that means that hiccup is giving you away.

[Which just disheartens Pidge more.]

You don't have to tell me the truth, or even talk to me, so I'm going to class now.

...You really are really smart, you know.

[Which is clearly the answer, not that her tell is incredibly obvious.]

What- no, I- Pidge!

[She bounces on her feet again, fighting the urge to just flee. She looks back and forth quickly for a second.]

I just- ...after school. Can we talk? Please.

[Pidge hears that, and for once she's not proud of being smart. She hates that she has to be suspicious of a friend...

Watching Penny, she drops her shoulder as she sighs.]

Fine. But if you don't show up, I'm not agreeing to talk to you again.

[You really did hurt her, Penny.]

[Penny doesn't quite flinch, but she visibly droops a little. She hurt a friend, she's a bad person and she's going to friendship jail for the rest of her life.]

Okay. ...I'm sorry.

[And she's off for the rest of the day. She might be skipping classes? She's just kind of. Not there, as much as possible.]

[Sorry, Pidge can be very blunt at times. To protect herself.

It's noted that Penny doesn't show up. Pidge isn't surprised. She rarely is with some of the habits Penny has. When it's time to meet up after school, Pidge goes to their usual spot and waits.

She'll give Penny till the buses leave before she just goes home.]

[She almost can't bring herself to come. In the end it's the knowledge that she's hurt Pidge that gets her to show up, more than anything else.]

[Or. Mostly there, at least.]

Pidge. Pidge-!

[It's. Kind of a hushed whisper-shout as she tries to get Pidge's attention, waving frantically from behind a more secluded corner of the building.]

All-Purpose CMO

no monsters here, only modern au shenanigans, you can't prove otherwise, shh

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