🌻 15 The Book Thief 🌻

Penthia & Rowan

In the afternoon sun, Penthia and Rowan laugh over a 20-question game, which Rowan has suggested, and this is where our chapter begins. 
 
“Favorite era to study?” Penthia asks. Rowan: “1920s. Yours?” 
 
Penthia answers, "I romanticize early 1800s romance, but arranged marriage and limited rights? No thanks. And you?" 

 
Rowan nods. “Romanticized is right. Women weren’t treated right, history, period.” 

 
Penthia: “Exactly! Why'd we lose etiquette? We should’ve adapted it.” 

 
Rowan grins. “Don’t tell Erika, but I blame the women’s rights movement.” 

 
Penthia hums, “Your secrecy is safe with me.” 

 
As the two sit in content silence, Rowan secretly watches Penthia in wonder, his heart fluttering with admiration as she searches for her next question. Pen's gaze softens, drifting to the flowers moving in the gentle breeze, and a small smile tugs at her lips. 

 
“You mention that you like romance stories—” Pen begins. Rowan interrupts, “Not all of them!” 

 
“Alright! Which romance stories can’t you stand?” 

 
Rowan smirks before asking, “Whatever do you mean, Penthia?” 

 
He crosses his leg in a carefree position as Pen asks, “What kind of stories give you the ick?” 

 
"Hint?" Rowan teases. Pen glares at him in response. 

 
“Fine! I can’t stand stories where the main character manipulates someone by pretending to need to be cared for or gets injured to get a date.” 

 
"Is the clue, The Notebook?" Rowan asks. Pen clicks her tongue and says, "Don’t answer with another question." She smiles at his cheekiness as he pulls an ‘Oh’ face. 

 
"So, is enemies-to-lovers out?" Rowan teases. Pen huffs, annoyed by his teasing. 

 
Rowan chuckles at her sour stare, then replies, "This answer isn’t just for romance; it’s for all stories—I do enjoy other genres too." 

 
He pauses for dramatic effect. Pen lightly taps his shoulder to encourage him. Rowan continues, "I can’t stand stories where you already know how it ends during the prologue." 
 
Penthia tilts her head. “So, Titanic is out?” 

 
Rowan shakes his left index finger before mimicking her voice, "Don’t answer with another question." 

 
Pen lowers her head with a sheepish smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as embarrassment and playful frustration war within her. Rowan laughs at her 'I give up' gesture, his voice warm with affection as he watches her, noting the glimmer of mischief in her eyes. 
 
After two hours of playful banter, Pen pauses and raises a mystery that's bothered her since her last visit to Lindsay Hall.  Penthia starts by listing the books she had read, then describes how they would disappear while she was staying at their country house outside Texas.  Rowan raises his eyebrows innocently, but Pen could tell from his expression that he knew where her books went. 

 
Pen looks at Rowan with a suspicious glare. "Rowan, why did you look sheepish when I mentioned a book thief at Lindsey Hall?" 

 
Rowan fiddles with his fingers and gives her a sheepish smile. “The books didn’t disappear after you set them on the library table.” 

 
“How would you know where the missing books went?” Pen asks, noticing how uncomfortable he looks, “Is there something you want to confess?” She asks again. 

 
Rowan shifts on the bench. “I might have found them where you left them and taken them.” 

Pen arches an eyebrow at Rowan, suspicion and disbelief flashing across her face, but behind it a hint of relief, her eyes narrowing as if weighing trust and amusement simultaneously. Her pulse races just a touch, caught between laughter and lingering anxiety.  

 
Rowan shrugs. "I took them from the library table when I saw them lying there without anyone present to claim them as their own." 

 
"Rowan!" Pen slowly states each syllable of his name, as if a mother about to scold her child.  
"Tell me again. Why did you take the romance books I borrowed from The Mayfair Library?"     
"Pen!" he whines, cheeks red. "I thought those books were Delly's and assumed she forgot to return them, so I picked them up and started reading."     

 
Pen keeps glaring, then playfully swats his arm with exaggerated frustration. "ROWAN CHRYSTER BAZINSON, YOU HAD ME STRESSED OUT," she gasps, her voice shaky with nervous energy, torn between panic and relief. Tears prick briefly at the corner of her eyes before she laughs, realizing the silliness of the moment. "I THOUGHT I LOST THOSE BOOKS!" 

 
Rowan laughs and tilts his arm in defense. "Stop, Pen. I returned them to the Mayfair Library for you. You should be thanking me," he teases. 

 
Pen huffs and finally lands a flick to his ear, scolding with genuine exasperation. "You could have just told Ita so I’d know! Instead, I kept calling the Mayfair Library, worried sick, only for the librarian to reassure me—every time—that you’d already returned them!"     

 
"Hey now, I don't appreciate you scolding me when I made sure to bring them to the library. I could have kept them, and you would have needed to pay for the book's replacement," Rowan remarks back while his long fingers smooth out the pain from Pen's playful hit by rubbing behind his ear near his short neck.     

 
Pen accepts his excuse. "Fine—thank you. Now, Mr. Book Thief, did you like my list of books?"     
 

Satisfied, Rowan drops his trembling hands from his neck, heart pounding. A mischievous glint ignites in his eye as he starts plotting his revenge, lips curling into a sly grin. 
 

Rowan decides to take action by waiting for an opening, using the new knowledge he gained from the question game. Seeing where his mind is going, Penthia prepares to block his move, but she is too late. Rowan directs his hands to her stomach, where Penthia admits is her ticklish spot, and he puts his hands there, making her laugh uncontrollably.  

 
Rowan loves making Penthia smile. It was one of the few things he enjoyed with her. The second is when Penthia would answer his questions with a witty remark or two.     

​

It is now about time for dinner. Pen and Rowan were about to start a new conversation when their phones vibrated at the same time, seamlessly pulling them into the next moment.     

 
Rowan pulls his phone from his water trunks while Pen removes her Android SXX from between her bosom.     

 
Rowan almost looks down at Pen’s bathing suit, but distracts himself by checking his iPhone XX, where a new family group appears with an unknown number.     

 
"It only took a day, and Ella already has a new group chat!" Rowan states with amusement behind his smile, "I am assuming your number is the one I have as unknown?"     
 

He shows her his phone to get her answer.     

 
Penthia looks at the number before confirming, "Yes! I guess that answers my question, too. What a great way to communicate, don't you think?"     

 
Rowan is about to agree when he remembers their first interaction and how he almost heart her last comment, "Actually, I think we communicate better on social media. Especially on Instagram. Your introduction in my DMs has left a strong impression. Now I know what to expect when I introduce you to your future husband."     

 
"Hey, I was drunk!" Pen defends herself.  

 
Rowan taunts. "So, is there anything else you want to share with me now while we are alone?"     
 

Pen begins to spiral. 'He remembered those comments. What now? Should I just leave?'

She decides to turn and leave in embarrassment; her silence leaves a bit of a sharp turn around, and her shoulders tense up in defense. 

Rowan’s smirk fades with concern, and his pulse quickens.
 

He begins to panic. 'I hope I didn't mess up!' He studies Pen's back, hope and fear flickering across his face. 'Maybe I should just wait for her reaction,' he thinks.

Pen begins walking, and Rowan decides to follow behind.

From the outside, it looks like Penthia is running away, and Rowan is chasing her.  Which may be true in a romance scenario, but far from reality.

​

Penthia believes she is ready for love but is afraid to let herself fall in love. Meanwhile, Rowan is being cautious with his heart, but he wants to be in a relationship with her.

​​

Neither is ready to be more than friends, and this is what makes their future relationship special.

As the Rowan and Pen walk in companionable silence toward the Secret Garden entrance, each begins to reflect on their earlier conversation. Erika came to mind again, prompting a new conversation.     

 
Pen turns to face Rowan, smiling slightly at her content expression. "Thank you, Rowan. Your story helped me understand Erika’s thoughts better."     

 
Rowan reaches for Pen’s right hand, rubbing his thumb gently on her palm. "You’re welcome, Pen! Call anytime, friend.” He pauses, thinking of a great way to end the conversation, then adds, “Even if you want to send me weird comments while drunk, I’ll answer. Though I think the best way for us to communicate is through Instagram. iPhones and Androids aren’t very compatible."     

 
Pen turns away, jaw tight and shoulders slumping, disappointment etched clearly on her face at hearing him say the word “Friend”. Her throat tightens; she blinks back sudden tears, chest constricting with a mixture of longing and resignation.  
 
Rowan catches Penthia’s disappointed expression; realization dawns, his chest tightening as a flash of regret and worry crosses his face. He clenches his fist at his side, wanting to say more but hesitating, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he watches her retreat.     

 
The question is, "Why does Penthia look so disappointed in his answer?"    
 

Rowan doesn't know what has just transpired, but one thing is for sure: he wants more time with Pen. 

Coming in the future

🌻 28🌻

Coming in the future