Chapter Text
Sebastian had gone to the saloon just like any normal Friday night, albeit a bit later than usual. But when he got there things were different.
His best friend Sam was waiting for him at the pool table, while Abigail was dumping coins into Journey of the Prairie King. This was normal. What was different, however, was the person standing next to Sam. Sebastian sighed internally and half-smiled/half-grimaced at Maru.
Sebastian didn't begrudge the relationship between his best friend and his half-sister. Not really. Sam was certainly happier than he had been in ages, really since before his dad had shipped off to the war. Sebastian and Maru had long gotten past their sibling squabbles, especially after Sebastian worked through some of his resentment issues with his therapist. But Yoba, wasn't there supposed to be a bro code about not dating your best friend's sister?
Sebastian ordered a drink as he watched the couple finish their game of pool. His sister was way better than Sam (which certainly wasn't hard). But she'd clearly also benefited from their mom Robin's lectures on angles. Seb smiled as she sunk the 8 ball and Sam put on a fake pout. He then quickly rolled his eyes when Maru kissed Sam on the cheek.
"Alright, enough of that!" Sebastian grumbled. "My turn to beat you Sam."
Thirty minutes later, Sebastian's prediction came true. He was sitting on the couch, trying to chat with Abby who was mostly ignoring him and playing her game, while glancing longingly at Emily, the cute blue-haired lady behind the bar. He stood up, muttering something about needing some fresh air, which his friends knew meant he was going for a smoke.
He finished his drink, grabbed his hoodie, and left the bar, lighting up his cigarette on his way out the door. He realized he was about to get all in his head about feeling alone, not that he'd ever admit that to anyone but his therapist, and decided maybe he'd be better off heading home. He sent a quick text to Sam and Abby, so that no one would be looking for him later, and headed up the path towards the run-down Community Centre. Yoba, he thought, the town should fix that thing up or just bulldoze it already.
Normally Sebastian walked home by the river. He loved being near the water, but it was chilly this evening and it was less windy this way. He was about to round the corner to the path heading up the mountain when he saw a woman sitting on the bench next to the Community Centre.
*~*
Penny was having a bad night. She'd gotten home from teaching the kids at the library this evening and was bone tired. She opened the door and was met with a giant mess and an angry note from her mom chastising her for it, and saying she'd be at the Saloon. No surprises there, Penny thought, pushing away the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
Penny texted her best friend Maru to see if she wanted to hang out, but Maru already had plans with Sam. Penny wasn't too sure how she felt about her friend's new relationship. She was happy for Maru, who seemed really smitten with Sam. While Penny and Sam had dated briefly a few years ago in high school, that was long over, and they were friends now. Still it was weird that her best friend was dating her ex. Wasn't there some rule about that?
Penny sat in her room in the trailer, staring at the ceiling until it started to get dark. Suddenly she couldn't stand being inside any longer. She grabbed a jacket, and went for a walk up by the Community Centre. She sat down on the bench next to it, trying to enjoy being outside and clear her head. She really wanted to talk to someone, and maybe Maru would pass by on her way home and they could catch up.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there when she heard the leaves on the path crunching under the weight of someone's footsteps. Penny looked up hopefully, but instead of her friend, Maru's older brother was walking by. He nodded at her, then seemed to hesitate. She heard a small sigh and then a low voice asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"
*~*
Sebastian groaned at his lame joke. He wasn't even sure why he'd stopped. But his sister's friend looked so sad. He walked over to the bench and sat next to her, handing her a tissue from the pocket of his hoodie, since she looked like she was about to cry.
"I know it was a bad joke, but do you want to talk? You seem upset."
Penny looked back at him with a hint of nervousness in her eyes, as if she was trying to decide how much, if anything, she wanted to share.
She took a deep breath, and then almost whispered, "It's just hard, you know. Mom is well... mom. And Maru and Sam are... I'm happy for them but... And then it's…"
She trailed off, taking another shaky breath as she tried to have her words make sense. She looked at the older man's face again, not sure of what to say next. She sighed.
"...and then it's today." She looked at him like he should get it.
Sebastian thought for a second. It was Fall 20 (ah crap, his mom's birthday was tomorrow and he hadn't bought her gift yet. Guess he'd be going to Pierre's in the morning). Then he realized…
"Shit. It's the anniversary isn't it?"
That was enough to make the tears start falling. Sebastian awkwardly pulled Penny into a hug.
Penny's dad, Dan, and Sebastian's dad (his real dad, not Demetrius, his mom's irritating second husband) had worked in the mines together. They had been best friends, always working the same shifts in the same parts of the mine.
Sebastian hadn't thought about his dad in a while. His parents had been divorced and Robin remarried and had a new baby before the mining accident killed his father.
But Sebastian's father wasn't the only casualty from Pelican Town that day. George Mullner had been severely injured. But not as injured as Sebastian's dad, and his buddy Dan. Dan who had a brand new baby girl at home, Penny.
He held Penny in his arms while she cried, rubbing her back in awkward circles, trying to let her know he understood without talking about it. Slowly her tears slowed down, and she pulled out of his arms.
"I'm so sorry," she started to apologize, breathing shakily, but he shushed her.
"There's nothing to apologize for. It's normal to feel upset on days like this."
"Sure but your hoodie is all wet because of me."
Sebastian shrugged, "I have other ones."
They looked at each other, not sure what to say next. Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed, startling them both.
Sebastian smiled ruefully. "Are you feeling any better? I just ask cause in about 10 minutes my mom and stepfather are going to be coming up that path. I can stay if you want, or you can come over or I can walk you home, but if we stay, mom is definitely going to have questions."
Penny gazed at Sebastian with big eyes. She wasn't actually sure she'd seen him smile before. Her heart gave a flutter and she realized how close she was sitting next to him. She started up. "Oh Yoba! Yeah, I should go. I don't feel like explaining myself to anyone again."
She looked at Sebastian and smiled. "Thank you." Before she could stop herself, she gave him a hug, then darted off the path to head home, taking the stairs by the river to prevent anyone from seeing her.
Sebastian looked at her retreating figure, an odd chill settling over him after the warmth from the quick hug faded. He heard his mom and Demetrius taking the stairs up the path from town, and hustled home, retreating to his basement bedroom and lying on the bed as he reflected on the evening. Down in the Valley, Penny sighed and started doing the dishes before her mom got home, a small smile on her face.