Surrender

[Carleigh Davidson]

A pair of blue eyes landed on Penny's form, her stiff posture and the straight line she wore upon her lips. The only expression she wore, at least from Carleigh's perspective. Even talking about something as happy, again in her opinion, as marriage. But she seemed... desperate. Desperate enough to go to the blonde who irked her the most for advice regarding her relationship with Lucy.

Carleigh was flattered, really.

The only other thing she could think of was to do the opposite. Instead of trying to stop herself, maybe Penny had to set a date. Close, or in the distant future. Then she wouldn't feel tempted. Maybe.

"You could set up a date?" Carleigh went for it anyway, deciding to share her suggestion. "Plan for a day. Then maybe you won't be tempted to ask at random times since you'll have a perfect day in mind."

Her eyebrows narrowed slightly with her last sentence. Did she know Lucy? Their friendship had started from a random school project and turned into something substantial and worthwhile. "I.. I don't think it's about knowing Lucy." Carleigh started to say, pausing only to find the right words. "Because you know her, too." Equally, if not better.

"I think you have to look at... yourself, really. Think about this. Has it been something you've been thinking about for awhile?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because who are you to deny something that... that feels right inside. And if that's the case, then I say go for it." A tentative smile appeared on her face. Maybe it wasn't the answer Penny was searching for, but it was the blonde's honest evaluation of their relationship.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

The more involved Carleigh became with the subject, the more Penelope struggled to see why she thought this was a good idea. Admitting that the blonde knew her counterpart was hard within itself, admitting it out loud was even worse, so much that the thought to point out that it was impossible to Carleigh to know Lucy as well she did had crossed her mind, still, she forced her mouth shut. After all, Penny was searching for some form of help.

But the advice given was not, by any means a solution. Penelope brought her hand up, bringing her thumb and middle finger together at the bridge of her nose, pinching it to try and ease the headache that was already beginning to form.

Because worst of all, what Carleigh offered made sense in an offbeat way. That, if anything, was irksome within itself. As much as Penny wished for a solution, she didn’t want that one. It refused to settle within the Brit’s stomach as she folded her arms together.

“Does a date even matter when it comes to something like this?” She questioned instead, refusing to completely give into what the blonde was saying.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh watched Penny's expression with a worried look on her own face. She was confused why her wife's counterpart couldn't see from the same lens as herself. And maybe that's why the two of them always seemed to be on a different page; never able to see eye to eye on anything. They were too different, personality wise.

Then again, was there anyone like Penny?

The frown on Carleigh's face deepened as Penny brought her hand up to her face. She stared, searching for something more to say. To fill the empty air. "And... I do know Lucy, pretty well. Not as well as you do, obviously." She added quickly. "And honestly? I think she'd be excited. I can see that she loves you, a lot." Traditionally, love was a one-way path to marriage. Then again, Penny and Lucy weren't exactly a conventional couple.

"Maybe?" The blonde answered, her voice raising at the end, questioning not only the British girl's statement but her own. "It seems important to other people. I always see people plan it and go on a nice dinner, maybe somewhere with a lot of memories and propose once the meal is done." Kind of cliche, if you ask me but..." Carleigh trailed off.

"Maybe not a specific day but... if you make it meaningful, then it will mean a lot." She still didn't know if she was the right person to give this sort of advice to Penny, who was in a loving and committed relationship while Carleigh had only one serious relationship that was more of a summer fling.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope dropped her hand down with a quick exhale, feeling the build up of stress at her temples. Again, she just considered walking away from the entire ordeal, but now the blonde was invested. Walking off - Penelope's personal favorite tactic - was not an option. Something that should have been taken into consideration before she walked in on cheering practice.

"You're right." Penelope nodded sternly. Of course she knew Lucy better, but at least the cheerleader recognized that. And it was good that Carleigh remembered that. Enough to make a note to reiterate that fact more in the future. Just to be sure.

But her expression softened, just barely under bright blue eyes as she pointed out that Lucy loved her. She had been unaware of just how much Lucy and Carleigh spoke about their relationship, but there was something endearing about seeing someone outside of it comment about it. But the Brit was quick to put up a stonewall expression again, eyebrows furrowing together at the idea of making a proposal meaningful.

"I'm not trying to sound offensive here;" It was never good to start a sentence with such, but that never quite stopped Penelope Blaise. "Isn't that more or less something hetrosexual couples do?" Was there a gay manual for these things?

[Carleigh Davidson]

Carleigh could safely say that she too never expected to be someone Lucy Serrano confided in with serious topics. And Penny was one of them. A reoccurring subject that seemed to come up. Not that the blonde minded. She saw things from both Lucy's point of view and as someone outside of the relationship. By being in their presence alone, Carleigh could just feel the overwhelming emotion and love they had for each other. Which, was cheesy, and maybe creepy, but true. And it put a smile on her face seeing two people so happy and in love with each other.

Which is why the blonde was seriously invested in this proposal. Why she wanted Penny to do this. Because it was right.

She didn't catch the softening of the British girl's expression. What she did catch was the way Penny's eyebrows narrowed. Carleigh nodded when she said she didn't want to be offensive but couldn't help the frown that appeared on her face at the conclusion of the sentence. Because it did seem to be something straight couples did, predominantly. As someone who identified as such, it didn't seem weird to Carleigh. "Oh." Her voice lowered. "I never really.. took that into thought. Maybe? But there's nothing out there that says you can't do it, you know?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

This was dangerous; Carleigh was supposed to be helping Penelope with her situation. Wasn't that what a person was supposed to do when confided in? She wouldn't call Carleigh a friend, but she was supposed to be something in this situation, but instead of helping the Brit, she was trying to encourage something Penny believed shouldn't be taken into consideration yet.

Lucy and herself were adults, legally. But still very much young. There was no doubt that she loved the ink manipulator, and more than she ever believed she could love another person. The tattoo on her finger proved that this was no relationship to be joked about. Second from the left. A more permanent offer than a band of metal with a rock attached.

Was that why the idea of offering some sort of planned, big proposal seemed so off putting? There was no definite answer to the blonde's question, and that within itself was concerning. More so was the idea that it made Penelope consider it. "I trust you will not speak to Lucy about this." She replied instead, a threatening tone clearly taking in her voice. Although trust was hardly a word she wanted to use, it was the best way to articulate her point.

[Carleigh Davidson]

As dense as she could be sometimes, it didn't take long for Carleigh to realize that penny wasn't satisfied with her answers. That she wanted her to disagree and try to get her to supress her feelings for Lucy. Which wasn't right. There was nothing wrong with being forward, according to Carleigh.

They were young, but that thought didn't even cross her mind.

A frown flashed across her features momentarily. Did Penny really think she was going to blabber about something as important this? Carleigh didn't dwell too much on it, shaking her head. "Oh no! Of course not, no." She replied. "I'd never do something like that for something so... huge." As if to emphasize her point, Carleigh raised fingers to her lips, pretending to 'zip' them shut.

Pause, followed by a hesitant breath. "Can... can I ask you something?" Before Carleigh could process what she was asking, the words tumbled out of her mouth.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Despite the fact that Penelope turned to Carleigh with the intention of finding some sort of help, she didn't know the blonde all that well. With that in mind, it was potentially dangerous for the Brit to approach Carleigh as she had - it involved certain risks. Risks taken into consideration and rectified with a single, threatening question. Because the cheerleader would not tell a soul, and Penelope would guarantee that.

Even without it, however, Carleigh seemed genuine. It was clear that she was excited about the idea; it involved a secret, yes, but it needed to be kept as one to work in her favor, too.

Penelope nodded at the answer, about ready to leave when she was suddenly stopped. The Brit didn't even manage a step in the direction of the door before Carleigh's question flagged her interest. "Yes?"

[Carleigh Davidson]

Although she was easily excitable, Carleigh also knew when and where was the right time to let something slip. She could be careless at times, but not when the subject was something as huge as a proposal. No secret Carleigh had ever been told before could compare.

"Okay, it's sort of random." She warned, finding the strength to look up into Penny's eyes. The blonde almost flinched away but managed to hold steady. "But... I'm really concerned about Lucy. Specifically, if she'll graduate this year or not."

"And you know, she's already been held back, what, twice? And I don't want it to happen a third time and I'm sure you don't either." Carleigh paused, fiddling with the silver ring looped around her thumb. "I'm just really worried. And I know you're like, really smart. So why don't you help her?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope eyed the blonde, unable but to help the way she was suspicious of whatever question Carleigh might throw at her. Her first thought was that it had to pertain to the previous conversation, one that the Brit was well done with now that she was offered such unexpected advice.

Yet it somehow didn't surprise her to hear that it was a random subject. Random seemed to fit the cheerleader, from a judgmental Brit's point of view. But what came next drew a clear look of surprise from Penelope; the normally stonewalled expression faltering underneath blue eyes.

She even blushed.

A quick breath and she tried to look her expression back in place, despite the color that resonated in her cheeks. "No, I don't want it to happen a third time." She paused, tongue tracing over the line of her lower lip as she took the time to consider her explanation. "I just can't help." Her eyebrows lowered, fighting frustration in her tone. "What I mean to say is, I can't help in the way people expect me to."

[Carleigh Davidson]

Random was what suited Carleigh's easily distracted mind best. It took no conscious effort for her to seamlessly jump from subject to subject, as if they were meant to be joint together. Her gaze was curious; no hint of malice towards the British girl. Just genuine curiosity and hopefully an answer to her question.

What surprised the blonde was the colour that rose to Penny's cheeks. Pink. It looked... weird. To see someone like her show embarrassment. Carleigh bit down on her tongue, to stop herself from pointing it out. It took a bit of effort but she managed to suppress the urge. She didn't expect Penny to answer, to tell the truth. Carleigh expected her to glare, maybe say an offhand comment and walk away.

But here they were. And they both didn't want Lucy to fail.

"What do you mean?" This time Carleigh couldn't fight the way the words rolled off her tongue. If anyone could help her graduate it was the academically gifted girl. If she couldn't, then who could? "You totally can help. You're like, the smartest person I know. You study hard. You're organized. You have this. I mean, I tried but... I'm not smart enough." She thought back to the failed assignment that, by default, Lucy failed as well. Because she hadn't been careful. "And if she's gonna listen to anyone, it'd be you."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

If anything, Penelope struggled to believe she was having this conversation with the blonde. In all honesty, she never expected to talk about this with anyone, the ink manipulator included. It was important. They both knew it, but actually putting it on the table was entirely different.

A multitude of answers came to her mind, one of which was the reason for the color behind her cheeks. As much as she tried to just brush it off, the hue refused to fade.

There was always distraction between the two of them. Penny herself struggled to keep focus when studying around the ink manipulator, let alone a reverse of the idea. Yet she wasn't about to offer that as an explanation, especially not when she had another honest answer on hand.

"So many people want her to graduate, myself included." The psychometrist easily recalled the brief mention of topic between Lucy and her mother; how quick she was to change the subject. "But it's something she's capable of. Lucy isn't an idiot." She exhaled in light amusement, not quite a laugh. At one point she wouldn't have believed the words coming from her own mouth. "Pushing her wont work." Sitting Lucy down and telling her to do schoolwork simply wouldn't happen.

Penny paused again as she thought just to stop there, it would have been easy to just withhold her own personal side of things. "I'm trying to give her something to look forward to after graduation."

[Carleigh Davidson]

Likewise, Carleigh didn't expect to be talking to Penny about Lucy and the graduation dilemma. She should have done it awhile ago; ideally, during the fall. As the semester and time went on, the chances to help her out would only shrink. Less assignments were due, and more emphasis was placed on final exams. Only, there was a certain point where not even an amazing grade could save a failing class. And the blonde was scared that she'd be held back, again.

She nodded in agreement to Penny's first statement, and the second. The conversation about colours came to mind. Knowledge to a subject Carleigh had zero experience with. No, Lucy wasn't an idiot. But the British girl was right; there was no use pushing Lucy. It wouldn't work. A useless action.

"Like what?" Carleigh asked, out of curiosity. Maybe she could help too, though she knew Penny's words would hold more power. She needed her help in order to be successful.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

The thought of walking away in that moment crossed Penny's mind. Multiple times. Personal conversations with anyone who wasn't Lucy was rare. Even her brother knew little of the inner workings of her relationship, and he was her best friend. This was new. Different. And with Carleigh of all people.

"We're moving in together." It felt awkward passing her lips, not for the admission but rather that Penelope felt that it might come across as egotistic. She rarely cared what others thought of her; it was never a concern but someone so close to Lucy did have weight on her. She was still there speaking to her, after all.

She shifted the weight on her feet. "I'm sure it's clear that I want her to stay here." Penny said factually, "I stayed here for her, but that's not something I want to hold against her because it's not something bad." Cambridge had been her dream, but suddenly the school felt insignificant in comparison to what she had there in Vermont. "What I mean is, I believe there's more here than either of us realized, and that's something to hold onto."

[Carleigh Davidson]

As soon as the words passed from Penny's lips, Carleigh's hands clasped together in excitement. A wide smile and little jump paired with the action showed her enthusiasm over the revealed fact; a reaction the British girl likely didn't want. "Oh my god! That's so exciting!" Carleigh exclaimed. That would work; with the possibility of moving in together why would Lucy want to stay in the dorms? It was brilliant. "Did you guys find a place already? Or do you want extra help?" She fired the questions, one after another.

She nodded, agreeing with everything Penny had to say. As much as the pair disagreed, Carleigh found that they had similar views, at least when it was relevant to Lucy. Maybe it wasn't much, but it was something. And something was better than nothing. Letting her fingers go, Carleigh's arms fell back down to her side. "I'm sure she'd stay though." The blonde added optimistically. "Or at least go somewhere with you. Once she graduates that could be a possibility." She took a moment to pause and think to herself.

"I mean, that's a good thing though, right?" The staying in Vermont part. Having a reason to.