Here Beside you Dear (Pen)

[Penelope Lopez]

Callie's question made Penelope smile. Not that kind of ear to ear smile, but more of a faint smirk. She kept her eyes on the now two floating lanterns and tilted her head to the side. This was hard for her, being this open and honest not only with Callie, but with herself. She had tucked her feelings away and hid it behind this mean, sassy attitude. But Callie seemed to see past all that. This gentle being saw only the good in her, and that feeling was indescribable.

''For the future.'', she replied and pursed her lips. ''You give me hope of a better tomorrow.''

But that wasn't the only thing she hoped for. She hoped that her own feelings were returned. That Callie liked her the same way Penelope did. That one day, maybe, they could be together. Perhaps not now, but if Penelope kept trying hard enough to be everything Callie deserved... Then maybe. But the words hesitated on her lips. This moment was too perfect to ruin it insecurities and words that may not have ended up being returned like she hoped they would.

No. This was enough. Just being close to her like this. She was content.

Penelope turned to face the blonde and nodded slowly. ''You're my hope.'', she repeated.

[Calliope Gallo]

Try as she might, Callie still didn't understand what she meant. Any inkling was trampled. It was almost frustrating how connected she felt to her. Beyond that, it was unfair that this was all happening now.

With a smile, she leaned across the way and nudged the other girl with her shoulder. Testing the waters, so to speak. But any contact just felt dangerous.

Nevertheless, Callie turned to face her, letting the words sink in. The concept alone was enough to knock the breath out of anyone. It was intimate. Special. She feared if she stood in that moment for too long, she'd literally be swooning. If she wasn't already, that was.

"Be the change you want to see." She replied, the corner of her mouth tugging at a smile. "You're amazing enough on your own, y'know?"

[Penelope Lopez]

Whatever Callie hoped for with the small fragment of body-contact, it went right past Penelope's head. It was met with a smile, but nothing more. Penelope didn't dare to hope for it to mean anything other than playfulness. It was far better to be pleasantly surprised rather than being disappointed, right?

Her brown eyes rested on Callie's blue. She had been afraid she wouldn't dare to go through with her plans, but here she stood in the light of the stars, the fireflies and the quickly disappearing lanterns. It was perfect. Simple perfection.

''I suppose.'', she agreed at the blonde's comment. Surely, one couldn't rely on others to make oneself a better human being, but still, that didn't change the fact that it had been Callie, and Callie alone who had brought out this side of Penelope. No one else. Callie's next choice of words brought a blush to Penelope's olive skin and she shook her head as she looked away. ''That's not exactly what I meant, but thank you... Callie.''

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie believed in many things. Many things she likely shouldn't. She believed in the good in people, and the potential to change if one truly wanted to. It was how she saw the best in people like Lucah. It was why she was so oblivious to the faults her brothers carried. To Callie, people were as good as what they could have been. It was an incredibly optimistic, positive outlook.

But a dangerous one. One that often held false hope.

"Okay," She accepted the comment with a small nod. Sometimes her lack of understanding got the better of her, "So what do you mean?"

[Penelope Lopez]

Penelope wanted this, all of it so badly. Just once, just this one time, she wanted the girl. She wanted the happily ever after. She wanted the fairly tale ending with the boundless, endless love. She wanted Callie. She wanted Callie to want her. She wanted to be with her, kiss her, hold her, show her off to everyone. She wanted to take her home, she wanted to stay with her. She wanted everything all at once, everything that had to do with this girl.

But she knew, deep down inside; She could never have her.

Penelope smiled, a sadder smile than before. She brushed her dark hair away from her face and shook her head. ''You make me a better person. You bring out this side of me... I haven't seen it in a long time, I almost thought it was gone.'', she said, turning her gaze upwards. ''Thank you for that.''

I love you.

[Calliope Gallo]

It was unfortunate, but Callie had absolutely no idea what was going on inside Penelope's head. If she did, things might have been different. She might have been willing to take another chance. But she didn't know. How could she? She couldn't really read people; she took what people gave at more than face value. She trusted people. If they wanted her to know something, they'd tell her.

Her thoughtful words and declarations fell to the wayside.

"You're welcome." Callie said quietly, her mouth curling into a genuine smile. There was so much more to this girl than everyone gave her credit for. On some level, it kept Callie curious.

Curious enough to want at least a sliver for herself.