It was perhaps a miracle that Penny had managed to sneak off again and Penny was beginning to worry that her mother was up to something. It could be awful, if that were the case, but, Penny reminded herself, it could also be nothing at all. Maybe her mother was finally ready to let up on her, maybe, but it was difficult to believe all the same.
Still, Penny took advantage of the day all the same. It was a clear and cold morning and Copper's hooves crunched on the thin layer of old snow on the trail as they trotted toward town at a brisk pace. It was colder than Penny anticipated and by the time she reached town, she was ready for a warm fire and a bit if tea.
It was as good an excuse as any to go visit Gabby. After all, it made more sense to go have tea than go to the Magic Shop when one was frozen to the bone, didn't it? It had absolutely nothing to do with Matt. At least, that was what Penny told herself. Even as much as she wanted to see him, every time she thought about it, her stomach flip-flopped and she went the other way instead.
So the tea shop it was and Penny hitched Copper and started heading in that direction when a bit of movement caught her eye. She glanced up and her heart dropped.
It was him. She nearly blushed at the fact that she would even think of her friend in a such a way and she mentally chastised herself for being so unkind. After all, it wasn't his fault she had behaved in an unladylike manner, now was it? She raised her hand to wave at him but then he quickly looked away.
Oh, dear. Penny bit her lip nervously, imagining that she had done something even more dreadful that she remembered. Had she? She had been quite tipsy that evening, after all. She had to force herself not to turn and run, reminding herself that he had certainly seen her and if she had behaved badly she owed him an apology, at the very least.
"Matt!" she called out, perhaps more weakly than she would have liked but loudly enough to catch his attention.