Chapter Text
“Pen!" Eloise couldn’t contain her excitement as she climbed into the driver side a smile fully on display from ear to ear. "I can't believe we are actually doing it! So many years of talking about it and its actually happening!” Her excitement was truly contagious.
Penelope beamed as she worked on fastening her seatbelt. She really loved her friend but if she was completely honest her driving scared her to death. “I can’t wait any more” said Penelope her words never truer.
Both girls had been accepted it into the same university a true accomplishment for both. For Eloise however it was almost a given she would get in, her name securing a seat in the prestigious school. Being a Bridgerton had many privileges but for Penelope well the same couldn't be said, she was a Featherington.
She had worked hard, not to say Eloise hadn’t but Penelope had to make the grades and secure the funds for her own education. Eloise's family came from old money, money that could not be ignored. The Bridgerton were a big clan, Mrs. Bridgerton had produced 8 children humorously named in alphabetical order. Their names of course weren't funny but it was definitely a running joke in their social circle
Unfortunately, Mr. Bridgerton had passed away some years ago making their eldest son, Anthony Bridgerton the man of the house, a role he took on very seriously. Just as seriously as the look he was giving Eloise now.
Penelope tried to hide her smile, Anthony’s presence always commanded attention. He was the picture of the perfect man, a leader and a protector. Eloise was truly lucky, not for her fortune but for her family, of course the fortune was nice too but that was not what made the Bridgerton’s so special. Sure, they could be a lot at times but they truly cared for one another. Something that was very rare among the wealthy and more so in large families.
"Eloise, I expect you to be on your best behavior. No trouble," his tone and expression serious as always, he then looked at Penelope, her smile fading into a thin line as she suppressed the urge to giggle.
Sure, he commanded authority in any room he stood but Anthony or Mr. Bridgerton as everyone outside his family called him was just Anthony to her. He was very much Eloise's oldest brother but over the years she had become an extension of Eloise and hence a big brother figure to her. Another sister, a part of the Bridgerton even though she would never truly be a Bridgerton.
"I'm trusting you Penelope to keep her in check, I know you are the reasonable one" his words true but really could she or had she ever stopped Eloise from any of her mischievous schemes. On the contrary she had gone along and very much enjoyed all their adventures.
"Oh, Anthony stop," Mrs. Bridgerton said, placing a hand on his arm coming to their aid " they will do just fine. Eloise, remember to call me every day". Obviously fighting back tears Mrs. Bridgerton smiled sweetly at her daughter, "Penelope dear I trust you to take care after yourself and please do keep an eye on Eloise".
"Oh God, the both of you! Honestly mother, I am just moving away a couple of hours not falling off the map like Colin likes to do so often may I remind you" Eloise exclaimed, the comment making Penelope’s hear skip at beat at the mention of Colin, Eloise was still slightly annoyed but she couldn't wipe the smile away completely.
Penelope really loved them all, how could she not. They were everything she had never had in her own family. "You have my word," politely smiling Penelope bowed her head towards Anthony and Mrs. Bridgerton.
They waved their goodbyes to everyone else who stood behind on the steps of the Bridgerton home. They had already said their goodbyes to the rest of the family except for one Bridgerton. Hyacinth had said something about Colin taking off to France or Rome or somewhere falling off the map .
They had been held back more than they should have been but that didn’t stop them from making one more stop, their favorite cafe. Well mostly Eloise's favorite coffee spot she really loved her coffee and Penelope really just loved to go along trying different frappes or pretty drinks never truly having a favorite herself.
The girls were a fit of giggles and laughs as they drove off excited of the adventures to come. Eloise set on a mission to become a lawyer and most importantly to finally be taken seriously by her family. In other words, by Anthony.
Penelope, well she just wanted to become someone, make someone of herself be something in this life. To leave her mark on the world as cliche as that sounded but mostly, she was running away. She was escaping from her life, from her family, and from her love for one Bridgerton in particular.
Colin.
Little did they know life had a way of simply happening no matter how meticulously thought out a plan was.
2 YEARS LATER
It didn't take long for the girls to find their place in school, Eloise fit in perfectly with well everyone. Eloise was, simply put, very likeable just like the rest of her family. She was beautiful, the girl had the looks and the brain along with charming charisma. There was nothing Eloise couldn't get.
Penelope, well she fit in too but not with the elite crowds like Eloise, Penelope fit in with the misfits, the outcast, the nerds. She found her place especially with the group of people that ran the school paper. Those were the kind of people Penelope liked anyway, it was a miracle Penelope and Eloise remained friends quite frankly, while they had little in common now a days what they did have in common growing up was enough to build a strong foundation for their friendship to last over the years.
By the end of their first semester Penelope had managed to join the newspaper crew while Eloise well she was in everything that piqued her interest. The only time they saw each other now was back in their apartment. Even if school and some new friends had separated the girls they always came back together.
Late at night huddled on the couch Eloise would go on about some lecture or some professor that surely had it against her, Penelope never really believed that part of the story, Eloise was a very strong minded individual and extremely stubborn when she set her mind to something.
To prove Eloise wrong should be considered a sport, it would definitely earn its part in the Olympics or taken down into the history books as a battle of some sort.
The tile would say something along the lines …
On March 25 th of 2022 at 5:36 Eloise Bridgerton was proven wrong...
Penelope smiled at the thought of it. The truth was Eloise would always belong in the elite world while Penelope always fell into the shadows, forgotten, she would always be a wallflower. However even while they ran in different circles Eloise always made an attempt to make Penelope a part of her life.
Tonight, Eloise was going on about some party at Theo’s place…that would most definitely need their presence. Something about a Theo not understanding why Feminism was such a difficult concept in these times.
“Just because one is a feminist does not mean a woman does not still want to be courted properly” the glass of wine looking dangerously about to spill as Eloise went on.
“Courted?” what a curious word to pick.
“I picked up one of your regency romance novels” Eloise said as if Penelope should have already known.
“Of course, are we still talking about feminism in general or Theo not paying for the first date?”
Eloise had been pacing around the room Penelope’s words stopping her in her tracks. “We haven’t gone on date” she darted back “and of course this is about feminism” and then she went off again speaking faster than usual.
Eloise was going too fast through the details for Penelope to sort out between the "he’ll get a piece of my mind" and "how dare he not ask me out yet" and "I will declined but he should have asked by now" Eloise had managed to get Penelope and herself dressed.
Pen could never compete with her best friend's beauty, not in a million years. Eloise had been gifted with the Bridgerton gene. All siblings too similar looking, sometimes you could confuse Benedict with Anthony or Colin with Benedict depending on the angle in which you looked at them.
However tonight Penelope felt like she looked quite alright, Eloise had the better sense of fashion between the two and managed to come up with an outfit from the not so fashionable items Penelope had acquired over the last year. She wore a pair of jeans that hung to her curves a little tighter than usual, late snacks showing off. Penelope was in that midsection between not thick enough for plus size but never thin enough to be considered slim or skinny. Penelope was quite content with her shape actually and her fiery hair despite the standards of the beauty world. Tonight, Eloise had paired the jeans with a white loose tee and a blazer, unlucky to Penelope they shared the same shoe size and she was persuaded into wearing high heels.
Not just any heels, red bottom heels. Eloise really did try she loved her friend and she deserved the world even if that friend didn’t believe it herself. Someday she would knock some sense into her.
Eloise opted for a simple sleeveless dark blue dress that just went right below the knee. She really didn’t have to try at all, Penelope thought as Eloise put her hair back into a ponytail her hair falling in waves over her back.
"Do I look that bad?" Penelope hadn’t realized when Eloise attention had come back to her.
"Not at all” she replied wiping her thoughts away from her face, “I think I might be a little underdress”.
“No you’re not, you’re the hottest soon to be Marketing analyst” Penelope rolled her eyes at Eloise unable to hide a small smile forming on her lips. "Seriously you look good" Eloise encouraged, "I even think the freckles look especially adorable tonight".
"I thought you said I looked hot, not adorable" Penelope said subconsciously crossing her arms to hide herself from the reflection in the mirror. Even if she couldn't admit it out loud to Eloise, Penelope craved to be one of those girls that was just beautiful without trying, like Eloise.
It wasn't jealousy really, she could never be jealous of her best friend, she just wished she was a lot more like her. Confident, proud, and mostly courageous.
They were both well underdressed compared to the events they were used to attending with their families. Charities, casual parties that were really business events, birthday celebrations, and the yearly holiday party in which each family tried to out due the other. Every. Year. Without fail.
Looking at their reflection in the mirror Penelope had to admit to herself that maybe she was a tad little itty bit jealous of Eloise but she would never admit it. Never.
“It’s open bar!”
Horror ran through Penelope’s body as Eloise exclaimed running for the door to avoid Penelope’s objections.
“El no!” Tonight was trouble, oh Penelope knew that open bar meant party all night regrets all week.
She had already failed Anthony, not once but on several occasions. She most definitely did not keep Eloise or herself out of trouble. The first time they had just been in school for a week and discovered college house parties. That wasn’t the problem, the problem was they’d been arrested not even for being at the party but because Eloise found it extremely important to have a one or if you’re counting Penelope, a two man protest outside the main office demanding free female condoms for the students.
Anthony had been outraged almost dragging both of them back home with him that instant. Oh, they begged and plead almost on their knees and it was Benedict who’s heart they’d touched.
“Brother the girls only meant well” he said taking their side, “if you really think about it, it's not such a bad idea, I mean how many women get preg-“
Anthony cut him off mid-sentence with a sharp look, he pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Eloise this is your one and only warning, if this happens again, which it will not” he pointed “I will –”
“Oh! Thank you, thank you!” Eloise hugged her brother while Penelope stayed behind and mouthed her thanks. “Penelope, you too” he said sternly, “your mother was not pleased about the news”
“Sorry Anth…Mr. Bridgerton,” Penelope corrected herself “it won’t happen again”.
Since the last time she’d seen Anthony, he’d acquire her family’s company, a story for another time. He had ranked himself in the top ten most influential, powerful, and most important the wealthiest man in the country.
“Now the both of you leave Benedict and I, we need to discuss some business”
“This is our place” Eloise barked.
“We’re leaving” said Penelope dragging Eloise along with her.
“Good girl”.
Then there was that second time, only that time Anthony had brought Benedict and Colin with him demanding a head. Drinks were involved that time too except Eloise nor Penelope had done anything wrong. Really, they’d been at some bar dancing the night away after a very stressful demanding week of finals. When suddenly some man tried to rudely dance with Eloise. He had managed his way in between the girls, pushing up against Eloise and well she did throw the first punch but he started it.
Penelope might be shy and quiet but when in danger she was feisty. Eloise and Penelope managed to defend their honor that night until the cops showed up. They were taken in that time too, Disturbing the Peace was their charge. Anthony showed up with Benedict and Colin following right behind him as if the man was still there. It was quite funny really.
“Do you know the man?” Colin asked worry obvious in his eyes.
“No,” Penelope wished the worry was for her but she knew better, it was Eloise he was really worried about. “We were dancing and next thing I knew he was there” she explained for the third time that night.
“And you are sure you are alright?” Colin took Penelope’s hand in his sending bolts of electricity down her arm. She tried desperately to keep her breathing even as her heart threaten to spring out of her chest. “And you punched him” his expression amused with that loop sided smile that was so his. She could only nod in response, “I would have loved to see that”.
Penelope smiled at the memories. Colin, oh Colin. Penelope wondered where he was now, too shy to text him first. Because they texted but she never reached out first, she always allowed him to initiate their conversations to come to her instead of pressuring him to interact. Colin was kind, he was a good person at heart having built a friendship with her if only to please his mother
“Pen, are you listening?” They had made their way down onto the street waiting for their ride to arrive.
"Sorry El" Penelope smiled sheepishly and took her friend's arm in hers, "what were you saying?"
Eloise rolled her eyes accustomed to Penelope always wondering off into her own world but continued anyway. “I think I might have feelings for Theo” she breathed out.
“What?!”
“Eloise!” someone shouted, “Penelope!”
She could recognize his voice even in a sea of thousands.
“Colin!”