Arthur was still staring at Penelope as she averted her amused gaze to the floor, her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment due to her audible giggle. 'Crap' Penelope thought to herself... She couldn't do anything, her feet felt like they were glued to the floor. Her heart was racing, unknown to Penelope, her bandages on her hands came loose. Arthur moved his eyes slowly down her figure, stopping at her hands. Blood was escaping from the bandages. Arthur said worriedly...
"Let me help you with that", as he took a step forward.
Penelope, paniced and embarrassed at the same time, replied, a little too loudly.
"No".
Arthur's mouth was glued shut, he watched Penelope trip backwards again, not wanting her to be harmed for a second time (the blame obviously would be on him), he stepped forwards and grabbed Penelope's wrists, stopping her from falling. He pulled her effortlessly upwards till she was only a foot away from his face. Arthur stepped back quickly, feeling like that was the hardess thing in the world he had to do.
For Penelope, it was a little different. She'd lost her footing for a second time, in front of probably, the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Embarrassment took her, dread filled her brain, and her hands were at risk from being scraped on the floor again where she fell, but that of course didn't happen. As soon as she felt Arthur's strong manly hands on her wrists, a shock wave rushed through her entire being, and heat consumed her. It was almost like time slowed down, and as if Penelope was in slow motion, she floated slowly upwards as Arthur protected her from falling, she landed right near his face. She felt Arthur's breath quickly fan her face, causing her eyes to flutter.
Arthur had stepped away so quickly, she stayed rigid to the spot. He knew he already had an affect on her, but he quickly realised, 'I don't even know her name'. Feeling, well embarrassed for her at this stage, he spoke with a smirk...
"Well I guess I should know your name before making you fall for me a third time".
Penelope, unable to contain her smile, beamed at him. She knew he was trying to make her feel better, but she couldn't tell yet if he was, really, a little too full of himself. That is one thing she didn't like in a man, cockiness. So her smile quickly faded, and she replied to him with crossed arms.
"Penelope".
Arthur arched his eyebrow at her cold response, 'maybe I should just be more serious, well try to be'. He wasn't cocky, not by a long shot. In actuality, he was a geniune lovely caring man, which Penelope was yet to know, but he had a sense of humour he could not hide. He was used to making people laugh, but Penelope tried to hide her amusement from him, making him even more interested in her. Penelope held her nuetral gaze, watching his eyebrow arch, she unknowingly mirrored him, raising her own eyebrow. Arthur crossed his arms and bit his lip to stop laughing, he was a jolly sort of being, but Penelope took this to heart, and said in a low irritated voice...
"What's so funny? Does me making a fool out of myself amuse you so much? Arthur"
As soon as she said his name, his eyes widened, his breath shaky. He was never affected by anyone, but he felt like, similar to how Penelope felt earlier, that there was little electric shocks shocking his very core like tiny sharp needles. When she said his name, something happened. His brain turnt to mush, as he accidently said out loud...
"Yes".
Penelope took this as he was replying to the 'does me making a fool out of myself amuse you so much', so she frowned. This made Arthur's heart stop, as he rapidly corrected himself.
"No no sorry I... I don't know why I said that. Look sorry I just, we got off on the wrong footing, quite literally".
Arthur's light-hearted statement made Penelope giggle again, this time she didn't really care if he heard her. Although she had gone through a lot, and seemed angry and fed up all the time, deep down she had a heart of gold, a heart that was in danger of being claimed by the very man who caused her to fall and cut her hands, by accident, but still. She replied to him with a smile.
"You apologise a lot".
Arthur smiled as she said this, but just before he was about to say something, Penelope suddenly thought out loud.
"My hands".
She looked down at the bandages that were unwrapped, stained with blood. Her hands began to shake as she stared at them. Arthur gingerly took a step forward, but spoke firmly.
"Please let me help you".
It sounded like he was pleading Penelope to let him help her, so she said nothing and slightly outstretched her shaking hands to him. Arthur smiled sweetly at her, he took a few steps forward till he was directly in front of her. He stopped his own hands right underneath her own, he hesitated.
"If you wouldn't mind?" He asked questionally.
Penelope gave a quick nervous nod, so Arthur gently wrapped her hands firmly back in the bandages, but what followed caused what she believed in to be called into question...