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A genuine look of surprise crossed Penny’s face followed by a sheepish smile as Stacey dropped down next to her and lavished her with gratitude. [color=goldenrod]“Don’t mention it,”[/color] she said quietly as she patted him on the shoulder between hiccups. She always considered herself more of a confronter than a comforter, but when some poor guy straight-up ugly cried in front of her it was hard not to reach out reflexively. Penny pulled back as Zoey approached and whatever words she had for the girl dropped out of her mouth as she noticed that the streets had changed. Gone were the buildings and the trash cans, instead replaced with trees and a quaint little pond. 

[color=goldenrod]“What?”[/color] Penny said flatly. She knew this place before Zoey even said the name. She had a decent number of memories associated with Wild Creek, none of which were really decent. As Penny stood she caught sight of Odessa staring out over the water and froze. Something triggered inside of her, and Penny was transported back to the same pond. The light had shifted; the leaves were a different color. Standing in Odessa’s spot was a tall, better dressed girl holding her arms in the exact same way. Behind her was a blonde in sunglasses and a faux leather jacket—God she had tried so hard back then—screaming and gesticulating wildly. The words were garbled, unrecognizable, except for the line ‘I wish you were dead’ from the blonde before the vision faded from her view as Odessa turned to the group. 

Penny unfroze. Had that been a Recollection, or just a hazy memory? Penny glanced around. Nobody else had seemed to notice it. Zoey and Odessa were at odds with one another while Elron was trying to defuse the situation. He brought up an interesting point about the cold not affecting Odessa. What was even stranger than that was how she didn’t seem to be hurt at all from that bump she had taken, while both Penny and Zoey looked absolutely ragged and they had been the ones doing the hitting. 

[color=goldenrod]“Wild Creek’s just a shithole pond where assholes would take you to get you drunk on wine coolers and try to reach second base,”[/color] said Penny, answering for Zoey. She stepped in front of the girl and pushed down her fist. [color=goldenrod]“And Zoey, supercop is right. Cool it.”[/color] She gave Zoey a knowing wink. [color=goldenrod]“We’re all friends here.”[/color]

Penny turned sharply on her heel so that she was standing by Zoey’s side as she confronted Odessa.[color=goldenrod]“So, friendo, you seem to have done your fair share of research when it comes to spooky shit. Any guess as to why our old town’s makeout point has suddenly forced itself upon us?”[/color]