“Hey, you. Come here—I’ve got something to say to you.”

Penelope rolled her eyes, ignoring the background noise as she continued to search the book shelf. The comic shop was always busy on Friday night due to both the upcoming weekend and the weekly Friday Night Magic tournaments. For Penelope, that meant having to overhear conversations about things she really didn’t understand—colors and creatures, strategies and the value of some card changing for better or worse. That was why she did the best she could to block out all the noise; it was the only way to concentrate and potentially find what she was looking for. That’s why she initially ignored the shout that came from somewhere behind her; it probably had nothing to do with her.

Currently, she was still hunting the latest trade of Justice League International. She had seen online that Volumes 5 and 6 were supposed to be released by now, but every time she came to the local comic shop they only ever had Volumes 1 through 4. As she looked now, she sighed. Yep, Volumes 1 thorough 4. Again. With a sigh, she moved to search for the latest trade of Birds of Prey instead. Maybe she’d have better luck finding that.

“Don’t ignore me! I’m talking to you, Crystal Academy.”

The voice that had shouted originally was much closer than it had been previously, and Penelope gasped when a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face someone she didn’t know. He was a rough looking character with greasy blond hair and nearly scar level acne. He couldn’t be more than a couple of years older than her, if that, but he already had a sneer on his face that aged him far more. “Yeah, you. I’ve been seeing you come in here ever since the school year let out, and that pale blue uniform you wore that one time gave you away. Look, this here is Meadowview territory. You’re not welcome here.”

“Last I checked, this comic shop was a business open to everyone, regardless of where they went to school. Besides, we’re off for summer break; technically no one of us represent our schools at the moment” Penelope shot back acidly, her maroon eyes narrowing. “Now, take your hands off of me.”

The boy grinned nastily, “Oh yeah? You gonna make me?”

Penelope immediately slapped the boy across the face before stepping on his foot, using his surprise and pain in order to and move from him. He cursed and went to grab her again, but she sidestepped and let him run into one of the metal shelves holding the comic books. By now, a small crowd had begun to gather, and her opponent was becoming increasingly hostile. He snarled, one hand covering the place where she had slapped him, “You’ll pay for that you little b***h!”

Although it took all the willpower within her, she stood her ground and stared him down until a manager appeared a few seconds later and took her attacker away. That meant any danger was gone… but the crowd of people that still surrounded her remained. Some stared in sympathy; others glared in a way openly hostile. Friends of her attacker, no doubt, that held with his views about who was allowed in the shop. Holding her head high, Penelope grabbed a book that she had been meaning to buy and proceeded to the counter. She waited for the cashier to finish and slid her debit card through the machine. A few number punches later, the teenager was walking out of the comic book store and leaving the entire scene behind. She clutched the volume to her chest and sighed in relief, her legs half-shaking as she headed for home. Well… she might never be welcome in that comic book store again, but at least she had managed to buy Volume 1 of Booster Gold before she left? Somehow… even as shook up as she was by the experience, it was oddly satisfying to have stood up for herself and walk away to tell the tale.

Not that she would ever tell anyone. Ever. Not if she could help it.

[OOC Note:
Participant: Penelope Seneca
Player: Quicksilver the Archangel
Word Count: 700]