At first, he really had not understood what she had meant by getting ready. He simply looked at her slightly confused, balm in one hand as he pressed his lips together and enjoyed the taste of honey. She laughed, telling him it was nothing and simply moved to sit closer to him. He really was not a physical person, but she was. There was no ambivalence about it, with the way she had gotten closer to him through the day, holding onto his arm as they walked together in the freezing cold of New York City. He still was not sure how a simple 'let's hang out next time we are both in New York' and making proper plans somehow ended up with the both of them sitting in his basement with his dogs, ready to watch Bee Movie.

This really had not been part of the plan. But mostly, it wasn't really Téo's type to invite a stranger to his home. It didn't matter that the two had been talking on a daily basis for months now, it didn't matter that he obviously was developing an attraction to her - she was still a stranger. And you don't invite strangers to your personal home and watch a ridiculous and questionable movie with them. Because really, what the fuck was this thing?

"Bee Movie," she answered with a laugh when he actually shared his thought with her.

"We keep watching weird movies together."

"And!?"

"And nothing. Just stating this interesting fact."

He glanced over at her and noticed how she was giving him a strange look. Well, not really strange per se. He was not that awkward that he couldn't tell when someone was smiling at him but there was something else. He remained quiet, the only sign showing his confusion being his raised eyebrow as she leaned her face closer. Closer. Much closer with her hand flat on his chest. Before he could say or do anything she pressed their lips together for a lingering kiss, his one hand still lost in the dog's fur, the other shyly reaching for her shirt as he returned the kiss.

Peach. That was his first thought when she pulled away, pressing his lips together as the two flavors mixed.

Not so good.

  "Hm," Penny starts, sitting cross-legged atop her couch. She's facing Téo, and with her head tilted just the slightest bit to the side, she peers at him—or more accurately, at his mouth. "Coconut?"

His expression morphs into a bewildered one, so she shakes her head. "No, you're right, that's way off," she agrees, then moves to plant a quick peck onto his lips. "Green tea?"

Another confused look, another shake of her head, another peck.

"Birthday cake?"

Rinse, repeat.

"Watermelon?"

"Penelope, come on, none of those flavors are remotely similar."

Despite always being competitive, even when it comes to silly games like guessing someone's lip balm flavor, Penny's given up trying to win this time. She played seriously at first, racking up points and diligently keeping score. Eventually though, the format they came up with proved to be far too distracting. There's no way he hasn't caught onto her shifting priorities, but she throws up her hands anyway.

"I don't know what to tell you!" she exclaims with a laugh, only halfheartedly attempting to put on a convincing act. "This one's hard to pin down. Guess I'm just gonna have to keep trying until I get it right!"

On the surface, Téo doesn't seem like the kind of person she'd gravitate toward. While they haven't formally known each other for very long, she's learned that they actually share several interests. And that they're also polar opposites in a lot of ways. The most obvious? Likely their usual demeanor. Always cool and collected, his emotions often read as reserved and stoic, while she doesn't know how to contain her enthusiasm or keep a straight face to save her life unless she's on a stage or set.

But when she pulls back after leaning in for another kiss, she swears she can see the beginnings of a wide smile, and she wouldn't mind being the one to bring that side out of him more often.

  "What do you think kissing a ghost would feel like?" Penny muses aloud after swiping lip balm across her lips and pressing them together. It's cherry, of course, because it's Valentine's Day, and she can't resist a theme.

Savannah's probably not the biggest romantic destination in the world, but with her filming in Atlanta, it seemed like a good choice. Plus, to her dismay, he claims to not be into the holiday, and what better way to escape the usual saccharine cliches than a supposedly haunted room in a supposedly haunted hotel in a supposedly haunted city? Naturally, ghosts have been on her mind since they got there. Even while she stares at herself in the bathroom mirror throughout getting ready for their festivities ahead, she can't help but glance at the corners of the reflection, just in case something otherworldly might be lurking about.

"Ghosts aren't real," Téo says from the bedroom, so simply and matter-of-factly that it elicits an eye roll from Penny. She pops her head through the doorway to give him a vexed look, and he has no choice but to pause buttoning up his shirt to elaborate. "How would you kiss a ghost anyway? They don't have physical bodies. Your lips would go right through them."

"Duh! But like, what would that feel like? Casper said he thought he was made of that feeling when your foot falls asleep in the movie, and Kat said he felt really cold." She's forgotten about her makeup now, opting instead to lean against the doorframe as she rambles on. "So do you think it's like a cold and numb feeling? And would it just be on your lips or would it spread everywhere?!"

"I don't know. Should we have a seance and ask the ghost of 204 herself?" His question is clearly sarcastic, unsurprising for a nonbeliever, but her eyes light up anyway. Then her gaze drifts toward her poofy pink dress laid out on the bed, ready to be slipped on for the day.

With a shrug, she takes the few steps to meet him and gives him a quick kiss. Valentine's Day might not be his thing, but they'll do it their own way. "Maybe tomorrow. Today's for us!"

  "In the end, it is better for the both of us if we stop things right now."

He had rehearsed this speech so many times, thinking about what he was going to say over and over that the words sounded flat to him now, as if he was playing the part of the boyfriend traveling across the pond to put an end to their relationship. It didn't matter if that was exactly who he was, it still felt off.

But it was the most logical evolution of the situation. Schedules were going to become more complicated with the upcoming weeks, they were going to be in different countries which would leave room for resentments, frustration and possible conflicts. Why inflict this on each other? Just because they actually liked each other right now? It's not always enough and it was better to cut this short before they got into this too deep. She'll bounce back, she'll find someone that will suit her better and he'll just focus on himself, the way he was supposed to. But they stumbled upon each and now, here they were.

"It's not you, it's us." He was trying to make a joke, to lighten up the situation. No one really enjoys breaking up, but he was not sure he was making better with his weak and awkward attempt at a sense of humor. Part of himself really disliked being in the situation but it was just the logical next step to take.

"No, I get it. And, it makes sense? We're both going to be very, very busy."

He was not sure if she believed what she was saying or was trying to convince herself. Either way, the awkwardness was crippling from every single corner, and now the only thing Téo wanted was to get out of here.

As he was ready to walk out the door, they exchanged one last kiss. There was no surprise flavor for him to discover on her lips this time around, no weird mix happening. A bit disappointed as he left, that the only taste left on his mouth was nothing but her bit of sadness.

  This isn't how Penny's summer is supposed to go. She's got plans, damnit, and an impromptu and impulsive trip to meet Téo in Copenhagen isn't exactly on the agenda. And sure, hooking up with people is her big goal for the season, but that's not meant to include the ex she can't seem to get over—if one could even call him that. They've been broken up for longer than they officially dated, which makes their relationship seem like but a blip in the grand scale of her life, and certainly not something to still feel upset over.

Lately, she blames Sour, in all its teen angst glory, for ripping open old wounds. But considering that she's sinking into the soft sheets on a hotel bed and her fingers are tugging at his shirt, were they ever really healed at all? Initially, after an amicable parting, any resentment that lingered wasn't hard to brush off, and everything felt fine. Overtime, however, a concoction of confusion and discontent bubbled inside of her and slowly crept up until she realized that perhaps she hadn't completely moved on after all. Her pride refused to let her admit that readily, but the way they fell back into their old ways like endless conversations and melting under one another's touch so easily was proof enough.

He murmurs her name and the low timbre of his voice takes up residence in her mind once again, alongside a cacophony of other thoughts. One night doesn't mean anything. Friends can get physical without it being weird. And they're totally just friends, right? Even if he looks really hot tonight. And all nights. But she's still stewing in her delayed dejected feelings, which won't go away that fast. Maybe. She hopes the deliberately and dramatically applied lemon on her lips tastes sour on his.

But most of all, Penny thinks, "I'm so fucked."

  The rules of hide and seek had been changed for the occasion, somehow, with two teams: groom vs bride and everyone had to look for one another and…he is not sure how you determine the winner, he kind of stopped listening midway. No one is making much sense anymore and who the fuck is supposed to be counting? At this point, rules didn't matter, the focus was to just run off through the park in the middle of the night, dressed in suits and gowns and try to be discreet. He knew it was off to a wrong start when, on kickoff, people started screaming and running as he stood there, hands in pockets, watching Penelope laughing as she stumbled on her heels. He had told her to take them off a while ago when she almost tripped during their pre-dessert romantic walk around the castle grounds. I can handle myself, Téo. He had decided not to argue.

He began walking, hands in his pockets while everyone desperately tried to hide, making him wonder who was seeking. Was this a matter of points? How much was the value of a corpse? Wait, corpse was for the dead bodies, which took him onto a very darker path where he hoped no tragedy would take place during this very fun game. Someone getting murdered is not what this wedding needs right now. He was so lost in his thoughts about the possibilities of a tragic turn of events, his eyes scanning more for imminent danger than hiding guests, he did not even hear Penny walking behind him. And he should have, because she was not very discreet to begin with nor was she really sober either.

"Found you!" Her familiar voice broke his darker thoughts, her arms wrapping around him as he stopped walking, his entire body tensing up and his hands turning into fists. Thankfully, before he could act he realized who it was as he turned his head.

"We're on the same team, Penelope."

She looked at him completely confused, her smile vanishing as she frowned. "Are we?"

"Yes," he lied. Maybe it was not a lie, maybe they were in the same team, but who could really tell? He chose to believe they were, she was his date and he was a guest of the groom after all. She was still giving him a doubtful look, though that was probably mainly the alcohol and the way she narrowed her eyes than an actual suspicion.

"Great finding skills though, I will give you that." Leaning down, which really made them form a weird angle in that moment, he kissed her lips gently while entangling himself from her arms, wrapping his own around her shoulders. "Candy Apple?"

"Yes, Cinnamon Bun?"

"What?"

"Don't give me that look! You're the one calling me some weird pet name."

"Penelope…", shaking his head as he closed his eyes, trying to keep a straight face, but he knew he was feeling when he felt the smile spreading over his face. "I was asking about the flavor," he touched her bottom lip gently with the tip of his finger. "Unless that was me but I don't think I can taste myself on you."

As soon as the words left his mouth he knew he had made a mistake when she started to laugh, holding onto him for support while he simply stood there, watching her as he shook his head. "You know what I meant, Penelope. The lip balm. I can't…you know what, just forget about it." Shaking his head as he turned the both of them around, to head back to the pavilion where the reception was still taking place. Playing a game right now was pointless.

"I know what you meant! I can't help if you're funny," she let out in a breath as she sniffled, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes. "And yes, it's candy apple. I took yours earlier."

"Stop stealing my lip balms, Penelope."