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Mayfair seems to be a very daunting place for Penelope.
She grew up in a small part of Brighton with her parents and two older sisters. After Archibald, her father, died a year ago, her Mama decided that they should move to Mayfair and use some part of the insurance money to purchase a bigger house for them.
Never in her fifteen years of existence did Penelope thought that she will uproot her life for her Mama's dream of having them exposed to rich people.
Everyone seems so unreachable in Mayfair, well, that was her observation as she walks around the square.
She took off her yellow cap to fan herself when the strong wind and her weak grip caused it to fly away from her.
"Oh!" She screams but it was too late.
A man who seems to be a bit older than her had fallen on his bike and landed on the puddle near a tree.
Penelope approached him, coming near, she now noticed that the guy is wearing a black and blue trisuit. He sat properly on the grass, pushing his bike away from him.
"I am so.. so.. sorry." Penelope kneeled beside him.
The man laughs and looks at her. "That wasn't very good of me, right?"
Penelope opens and closes her mouth but words would not come out. In front if her is an artwork in human form. He is a Greek God.
"Colin." He smiles. "I'd like.to shake your hand but I am quite dirty."
"Pe...Penelope." She looks at him and noticed his trisuit is muddy and his gloves are wet.
"I am fine. Do not worry, Miss." He flashes a boyish grin.
"Are you sure?" She gulps.
"Yes." Colin nods. "Do you live here? I have not seen you before."
"We.. we moved in yesterday. There." She points to their house.
"Oh. And I live there." He points to a grand residence across theirs.
"Oh." Penelope blinks, maybe her mother was right about connections and marrying these men.
"I should hope to see you again soon. Penelope.. Pen."
"Pen? You met me and I already have a nickname?" Penelope smiles, target locked.
"What can I say? I cannot say your full name if your this pretty." He gulps and Penelope could visibly see the movement of his adam's apple.
"See you soon, Colin."
They made few small talks before Penelope went back home with a renewed perspective of the ton.
"Mamaaaaa?" She runs inside to look for Portia, her Mama.
"In heeeere. Kitchen!" Portia shouts.
Penelope walks in with a squeal. "Mamaaaaaa!" She sat on the breakfast nook, putting her elbows on the counter while cupping her face. "I met my prince charmiiiing."
"Oh God." Portia puts a tray inside the oven. "You lived in Brighton for fifteen years, hated every guy. You step out for few hours here in Mayfair and you suddenly found one?" She faced her with a hand on her waist.
"Mamaaaaa." She sways her feet. "He is so... so handsome. He is Prince Eric!"
Portia frowns. "Is anyone that handsome?"
"He is. His name is Colin." She dreamily shares. "Mama I want him."
"And where does he live?"
"Across us." She points to their house from the window.
"Oh God.. a.. a Bridgerton!"
"A what?" Penelope pouts.
"They're a very prominent family, Penelope." Portia claps. "Very nice choice."
"Oh."
"Oh wait.. is he kind?" Portia huffs.
"He is.. he is a gentleman, Mama." Penelope nods.
"Very well then. Give him some of the cookies I am baking."
"And some biscuits too!" Penelope jumps from her seat. "Mama, what should I wear?"
"Oh. Oh. What about that yellow dress?" Portia bit her lip. "A happy color, is it not? Surely he will notice you."
"Will you come with me across the street?" Penelope hugs Portia from the side. "Male friends with his Mama for me."
"Alright. Your sisters are out anyways." Portia kissed the top of Penelope's head. "Let us prepare and get you that boy."
"He's not a boy, he is a very very handsome man."
___________________________________________
Portia wore an orange thin-strapped romper while Penelope wore a bright yellow short-sleeved smock dress that hugs her growing chest and ends above her knee.
Together, the mother and daughter duo went to the Bridgertons with their baked goods.
The butler lets them in and Violet, the matriarch of the house greeted them. Pleasentaries were exchanged and they were introduced to Violet's eight children.
Portia and Violet moved to a corner to socialize, the two apparently are both widowed and shares the same interests, gossip and meddling.
Penelope was grabbed by Eloise, the fifth of the bunch to a corner with her elder sibling Daphne.
"So yoooou are Penelope." Daphne squeals.
"Uh...yes?" Penelope hesitated.
"Colin likes you." Eloise blurts out. "I think we like you as a friend."
"But Colin doesn't" Hyacinth pops in.
"He doesn't want to be my friend?" Penelope frowns.
"More like.. a boyfriend." Francesca chimes in.
"Really?" Penelope's eyes almost buldged out in surprise.
Hyacinth nods. "Anthony and Benedict were teasing him."
"He confessed she likes the girl that she met." Daphne adds.
"And it is you!" Francesca quips.
"Talking to you tonight made it clear to us." Eloise smiles. "Colin is right... you are smart."
"And beautiful!" Hyacinth claps.
"He thinks I am beautiful?" Penelope asks.
"He has a crush on you.. a bad one." Daphne giggles.
Penelope squares her shoulders. "I will get him then."
___________________________________________
It was time to go and Penelope cornered Colin when she saw him enters the kitchen.
"Colin."
"Oh. Pen." Colin smiles, scratching his nape.
"Sorry we did not have time alone together. I shall remedy that next time." Penelope stood infront of him and hands him a small box.
"What is this?" Colin takes the package.
"I baked this.. just for you." She smiles and tiptoed to kiss his cheek.
Colin blushed, stuttering so bad. "Pe..Pen.. I."
"T's alright." She wipes her lipgloss on his cheek. "I will find you at school tomorrow." She winks and walks away.
Benedict who was hiding whistles. "Atta boy!"
Anthony laughs. "That girl wants you.. And it seems like she will beat you to confession."
"Ask her about her sister." Benedict winks.
"Portia?" Anthony frowns.
"Ben.. I do not think-" Colin was about to tell him that she is her Mama but Anthony cuts him off.
"Ask, Col." Anthony winks, Colin understood that they will play with Ben some more.
___________________________________________
Colin was about to ride Anthony's car, his brother will drop him, Eloise, and Francesca to school when a yellow convertible stopped at their gate.
"Ride with us, Colin." Portia shouts and waves.
Penelope who is sitting at the back wavss at him. "Hi Colin!"
"Wow. What a supportive sister." Benedict taps his shoulder. "Go now, Colin."
Colin nods and hops in, sitting beside Penelope. "Hi Portia.. Hi Pen." He greets them.
"Oh do not mind me." Portia wore her earbuds before driving off.
"Hi Colin." Penelope giggles.
"Why did you seat here?" Colin tilts his head.
"Mama was giving us time.. and scpace." Penelope flutters her lashes. "Do you not like it?"
"I do." Colin gulps. "I like being with you."
Penelope hugged his arm. "Thank God, I see you everyday."
"Me too." Colin leans on her head.
___________________________________________
Colin sat on his usual spot at the library, he was arranging his books and ipad when a coffee cup was placed beside him.
"Good luck to your exams!" Penelope beams.
Colin looks at the coffee cup then his gaze shifts to Penelope. "Pen."
"Study well my future." She kissed his cheek and walks away.
Colin smiles, holding his cheek. Penelope is really something.
___________________________________________
Colin puffed his chest, he finally had the courage to ask Penelope out today. He had been hinting to go see a movie tonight since it was a Friday.
He fixes his polo and walks across the square, only to be shocked by what is waiting outside the Featherington house.
Portia is sitting on the driver's seat, waving at him. "Hello, son!"
Penelope walks to him, stopping infront of him. "Hi!"
"Pen.. uhm." Colin looks at her, noticing she us dressed for the night. "Do you have plans?"
"Yes." She laughs and held his hand. "With you, silly." She grabs him to their car.
"How.. how did you know?" Colin blinks.
"I hear your thoughts. We are soulmate." Penelope blushes.
The car started moving and Colin realized that Portia was being once again, supportive of their developing love.
Colin pulls Penelope in his embrace. "Glad to know that, soulmate."
Penelope giggles and sniffs his chest. "You should've brought your Mama's ex boyfriend."
"Ex boyfriend?" Colin frowns.
"Oh. Is he not?" Penelope looks up at him. "Is he your uncle? driver?"
"Who?" The creases between Colin's brows deepens.
"Benedict?"
Colin laughs. "He is my brother."
"Oh brother." Penelope covers her mouth. "Bollocks! I thought my Mama could have him."
"Oh she could." Colin laughs.
"Huh?" Penelope frowns.
Colin pulled Penelope to hug her tighter. "Lets focus on us, shall we?"
"I like that."
"You are so beautiful, Pen." Colin kissed the top of her head.
"I know that... but thanks, my love." She hugged him tighter. Oh how she won in life.
___________________________________________
Colin was practicing football with his teamates while his brothers, who are alumni were there to help practice, when he heard it. He cannot be mistaken, it was Penelope.
"Go sexyyyy! Go sexyyyy! Go sexy sexy loooove!" Penelope cheers with her blue and yellow pompoms. She is wearing her uniform minus her blouse which means she is just wearing a skimpy short-sleeved scoop neck shirt on top.
Colin looked at the bleachers and saw her. They waved at each other.
Anthony ran to him. "Love?"
"Aaaawww. My baby boy has a girlfriend." Benedict laughs.
Colin scored every attempt he made, inspired and too determined to impress Penelope.
After the practice, he climbs the bleachers and sat beside her. "Pen." He half greets, half asks her.
"Hi Colin." Penelope grabs the small cooler box and placed it on her lap, taking out a variety of sanwiches. "Mama and I made these."
Colin blushes. "You did?"
Cressida, the lead of the cheerleading team, walks to them to pry. "Are yoy courting the most handsome Bridgerton, Miss Chubby Newbie?"
Penelope crosses her arms and smile wickedly at Cressida. "I actually am." She raises a brow.
"Besides, Colin like my curves. Not my fault I have these." She wiggles her developing tits.
"Pen, no." Colin tries to cover her with his jacket.
Cressida gasps, clearly scandalized.
"Move away." Penelope smugly smiles. "He is mine. Find your own."
"Did he even know that?" Cressida argues.
"Come now, babe. Claim me." Penelope challenges Colin.
Colin is gagged. He opens and closes his mouth.
"Its okay, babe." Penelope giggles and rubs his thigh.
Colin coughed air, tapping his chest before he leaned forward and gave Penelope a peck on the lips.
Cressida groans and walks away.
Penelope playfully hits Colin on the arm. "Eeeeeei. Thats my first kiss."
"Was.. was it alright?" Colin asks.
Penelope blushes. "I want more.. but not here."
"Oh." Colin gulps. How is this girl real? Wait.. what are they even?
Smiling like she reads his thoughts. "I am your girlfriend."
"Pen.. uhm... let me court you."
"Court me?" Penelope laughs. "Do that while we are dating. This is not pride and prejudice."
"Well then... what are we?" Colin asks.
"A couple. You are my handsome boyfriend." Penelope winks.
"No." Colin shool his head. "You are my wife." He dips his head to kiss her.
Penelope responds with instincts, meeting his every movement. Oh how he matches her freak.