Work Text:
Colin just got back from school and went straight to their flat. At this time of the day, he is usually alone at home since his siblings are either at work or at school while his Mother is out with the babies.
He changed into his house clothes and started to arrange his school works when their door bell pinged.
Colin is tall but since he is still ten years old, he needed a stool to look via the peeping hole. He peeked and saw no one, weird, he thought.
He climbed back down the stool and wondered. They lived at the penthouse section wherein only two flats shares the floor and the flat across them have remained unoccupied eversince they lived in this building. Who must be that?
Colin shrugs and went back to the living room, he did not know why but he made sure to make no sound while doing so in the hopes that whoever it is will stop.
On the other side of the door, Penelope frowns, the box of cookies on her little palm is getting heavy. Is the neighbor not yet home? She is sure she heard that someone came in. Weird. She'll try again tomorrow.
___________________________________________
The next day, Colin got home as usual. After changing into his comfortable clothes, he helped himself and started to make a sandwich. He was about to put the bread in the toaster when their door bell pinged.
Colin's heart is beating fast and he doesn't even know why. He walked slowly and climed his stool, he then carefully peeked through the hole. No one is there. Again?
While staring at the empty lobby, the door bell pinged again. It was Colin's last straw and it made him ran to his room. What in the world is happening?
On the other side of the door, Penelope frowns. She is sure she heard a commotion inside, but why is their neighbor not opening up? Weird. She'll try again tomorrow then.
___________________________________________
On day three, Colin is already worried that his stomach hurts. He got home on time and lounged on the couch.
As if on cue, the door bell pinged. Same time. He bergrudgingly stood up and repeat the process, seeing no one again.
He was about to run when a small voice catches his attention.
"Wait!" The little voice said. It sounded like a small girl. "Don't run!"
Colin is perspiring, his heart is beating fast. "Who...who are you?"
"I'm Penelope." She answered.
"Penelope."
"What is your name?" She whispered.
"Colin."
"Hi Colin!" She knocks.
"Don't come in!" Colin shouted in fear.
"Alright. I'll sit here." Penelope sat and leaned on the door. "I just want to be friends."
Colin unknowingly mimicked her actions, the two of them sitting with their backs on the door. "Okay."
"Okay?" Penelope giggled.
"Sure.. Pen." Colin gulps. "Just don't...scare me too much."
"Why would I? Silly." She laughs again.
Colin found it weird that he finds her voice soothing, like it calms his soul. "Tell me about yourself, Pen."
Penelope smiles, why is this boy making her heart flutter? Weird. "I am eight."
The two spent atleast a few hours telling each other about their personal lives and interests. The conversation was only been stopped by Penelope saying that she needs to go.
Colin is confused. Do ghost have curfew?
___________________________________________
Few weeks have passed and their interaction had been consistent. Excitement filled Colin's heart whenever its time for their daily conversation at the door.
They were in the middle of conversing when Colin decided to give Penelope his gift.
"Pen.. Do you know I drew us?" He laughs, he slid the paper between the paper thin gap of the door and the floor.
Penelope did not grabbed the paper but looked at it. It was them sitting with each other's back separated by the door. What made Penelope curious is that Colin drew her like a redhead casper. "It is very lovely. You are astonishing, Colin."
Colin blushed. The few weeks had made him realized one thing, his teeny heart is in love with the ghost of Penelope. "Pen.. Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Penelope asks.
"Could you... could you be my girlfriend?"
Penelope gasps, her heart fluttered in excitement. "Are you sure?"
"Yes" Colin said with determination, love knows no bounds, right?
"Yes, Colin." She giggles.
"Oh that is great!" Colin exclaims.
___________________________________________
It was late at night and Colin could not sleep, he walks to their living room to lounge. Why is ghost Penelope not available all day? He must read about these things soon.
When he reached the couch, his mother is already sitting there. Colin knows what this is, it is his mother thinking about his father again.
He sits beside her and held her hand. "Isn't it beautiful, Mama?"
"What is, dearest?" Violet was surprised but indulged her son.
"That we can love them.. assuredly... feverently.. loudly.. even if we cannot see them.. nor touch them" Colin said with melancholy.
Violet initially thought that Colin is talkibg about his father, but the sparkle in his eyes says otherwise. "Hhmmm. Are you happy then?"
Colin nods. "So much so.. that I wish I was a ghost."
Violet did not understand Colin but she gave him a hug instead. "You will figure this out."
"We shall." Colin kissed his mother's cheek. "I undestand you, Mama. Maybe try talking to Papa at the door." Colin bid her goodbye.
Violet looks at Colin as he retreats back to his room. That was something.
___________________________________________
"Oi!" Benedict shouts as Colin is hurrying to grab his lunch and snacks on the table. He is running a bit late for his school bus.
"What?" Colin frowns.
"Why the hell did you order a ouija board and a lot of candles?" Benedict puts a hand on his wais.
"Did I asked you why you bought a lot of lubes?"
"You!" Benedict attempted to grab Colin but he was fast to run.
"Do not scare your sisters!" Benedict shouts.
___________________________________________
Colin excitedly went home with a singke sunflower om his hand. He immediately did his routine and sat by the door.
"One...two.. three." Colin counts to himself. On three, little knocks could be heard from outside.
"Colin!" Penelepe whispered.
"I am here." Colin answered gleefully.
"What are we doing to day?" Penelope hums.
"Lets draw each other." Colin says. "But look at your left first."
"Oh!" Penelope exclaims as she saw the sunflower on the floor.
"You're like a sunflower, Pen. You make me so happy."
"You too, Colin." Penelope blushes. "Sorry I do not have anything. I swear someday, I will learn how to bring you food."
Colin smirks. It would be nice if his ghost girlfriend can do that. "T's alright, Pen."
"So... draw each other again?" Penelope asks.
"Well.. I do not have a picture of you, Pen." Colin blushes hard. "Just a little souvenir for me. I shall put it on my bed side."
"That is sweet." Penelopr giggles. "Someday.. I hope.. we can touch each other." She dreamily said, she does not know why Colin is still scared to open the door but she would patiently wait.
"I hope so too, Pen."
___________________________________________
It was their first monthsary together and Colin is disappointed that Eloise, his sister, is at the house. Apparently, she had a stomach bug.
How could he prepare and talk to Penelope later? Bugger.
Colin was drawing on his DIY monthsary card when Eloise came out of her room. He ignored her and continued drawing.
Eloise catches a glimpse of the card, did she saw it right? Penelope's name? "What is that?" she asks.
Colin frowns and covered his art. "None of your business."
"Hey, don't be mean!" Eloise frowns. "I saw my friend's name."
"Your friend?" Colin's frowns deepen.
"Penelope." Eloise nods. "I have a classmate named Penelope.. She actually lives across our flat."
"A... across... Across our flat??" Colin gasps.
"Yes." Eloise points to the main door. "There."
"We...we have a neighbor?" Colin's eyes widened so big it threatens to pop out.
"Why are you speaking like that?" Eloise crosses her arms. "Have you gone mad?"
Colin was silenced but Eloise continued with her ramblings.
"They've been living across for more than a month now. They actually-"
Colin did not wait for Eloise to continue with her ramblings, he grabbed his half finished card and ran outside. Panting, he knocks on the neighbor's door.
It took only a few seconds before the door opened and a little girl with a fiery red hair came out.
His Penelope. Oh she is so beautiful, much more than his drawings. "Penelope!"
Penelope blinks. Who is this handsome boy? Could it be? Her eyes fell on the artwork in his hand and it confirmed her suspicion. "Colin!"
Colin hugged her tight. "You are real, my love."
"Of course, I am!" Penelope hugged him tighter, he felt so warm and smells like home.
"I...I thought you were a ghost!"
"A ghost?" Penelope laughs.
"Well you are invisible everytime I take a peek!" Colin explains. "You are very small." He kissed the top of her head.
"I though you just do not want to see me." Penelope explains. "Everyone says I am not pretty and-"
Colin cuts her off, he cups her face. "Pen, I have fallen in love with you even if I thought you were a ghost." He chuckles. "Seeing you alive and real now makes my heart happy."
"Are you sure?" Penelope's baby blue eyes were filled with hesitation.
Colin nods. "I love you, Pen. In any form that you are."
Penelope laughs. "I love you, Colin. My brave Colin."
___________________________________________
"Awooooo" Penelope has her hair on her face, as she walks towards the fort in Colin's bedroom.
Eversince the ghost fiasco, the couple had been playing ghost games and role play to commemorate how they met.
As usual, Colin was alone in the flat. This time however, his little redhead is with him.
The lights were closed and Penelope is threatening to catch him.
Colin sits inside the fort, hugging a pillow. Penelope crawls and straddles him. "I will turn you into a ghoooost!" She says.
Colin giggles and holds her. "But how?"
"I shall bite you!" Penelope squeals and opened her mouth, she hovers over Colin's neck when the light flickering on and a hand grabbing the fort off interrupted them.
"I said doors opened, lights on!" Anthony shouts. He once again found his younger brother at a weird encounter with his little girlfriend.
"Anthony!" Colin spats back. "We are playing!"
"House rules! Play in the living area." He looks at the two of them and noticed their position.
"I said no kissing!" Anthony grunts.
Penelope burried her face on Colin's neck, shy and afraid. Colin hugged Penelope and stared at his brother dead in the eye. "One day, I shall interrupt your secret dealings. I assure you."