"So the guy has really good weed? And he's bringing some over?" Yoko was bouncing her small frame up and down, using her palms on the counter to give her some pretty good air.

"Uh huh, and we can maybe smoke some after we do our algebra homework, okay?" Penny teased as she poured her friend a glass of wine. "God, Yoko, you sound like a goofy teenager instead of the mature woman you are." She handed her the wine. "Here, drink this and try to act your age."

"Oh, come on, Pen, pot's a young person's drug, everyone knows that," Yoko retorted, hoisting her wine in a silent toast before tasting it. "Ooh, this is yummy, nice tannins," she added.

"Anyway," she went on, leaning on the counter and watching Penny as she sliced watermelon and peaches for a fruit salad, "I haven't smoked pot in a long time, what's wrong with looking forward to it?"

"Nothing." Penny looked at her tiny friend with affection. "Go ahead and look forward to it, I don't care. Just try not to embarrass me too much, okay? Simon is Cam's best friend, and you're mine, so I want you comport yourself in a manner that reflects well on me, you know?"

Yoko gave Penny a salute. "Yes, sir, I'll do my best." And she downed the rest of her wine in one go, holding her glass out for more.

Penny saw, but ignored her, so Yoko came around the counter and poured herself another glass, giving Penny a sour look as she did so.

The sliding glass doors to the terrace slide open, and Cameron entered, bring the smell of broiling meat wafting in with him.

"The steaks will be ready in a bit," he announced. "Simon here yet?"

"Not yet," Yoko responded, shaking her head. "I'm waiting, though, with breath that's bated."

Just then the buzzer rang, so Cam went to the door to let him up.

Moments later, Simon's voice could be heard at the door. "Yes, everyone, the party has arrived!"

Cam followed his friend into the room, chuckling. "The problem with you is that you just lack self-confidence, you know? Come on, come on, let me introduce you to Yoko."

He followed Simon into the kitchen. "Yoko, this quiet fellow here with all the red hair and good manners is my best friend, Simon James. Simon, may I present Penelope's best friend, Yoko Kitajima. Be nice, please," he admonished.

"Hello, Yoko Kitajima," Simon echoed as he set his things down on the counter. "I've seen you before," he continued, walking around her in a circle. "On TV? I want to say on a comedy special or something. Are you a comedian? Have I seen you at Carolines?"

"Yes!" Yoko was thrilled to the teeth. "I love being recognized!" She turned to Penny with a grin, then back to Simon. "You want my autograph?"

Simon blinked at her, nonplussed. "Not particularly, no."

"Oh. Well, that's okay, because I don't have my lucky Sharpie with me anyway." She took another drink of wine. "You want me to pour you some? We're already on our second glasses, so you're going to need to catch up." She looked curiously at his bag. "And did you bring something for later?"

"You're awfully direct," Simon remarked. "Are you referring to the reefer?"

Yoko grinned, at Simon, this time, nodding her head. "I am, I am."

"Then the answer is yes, some of the best stuff around, if you want to know."

"Woo-hoo," Yoko nearly howled, hoisting her glass high.

"Oh, dear god," Penny sighed as Cam slipped an arm around her.

"At least they like each other," Cam responded, pecking a kiss on her forehead.

"True."

🍓🍈🍒🍑🍍🥥🥝🍇🍉

Cam's delicious steaks had been destroyed by everyone, along with potato salad, fruit salad, and bread, and numerous bottles of wine, all consumed on the terrace as they watched evening deepen over the East River and New York Harbor while they waited for it to be dark enough for the fireworks to start.

Simon's pot was indeed quite potent, and very little was needed to get utterly polluted. Penny, who had never smoked pot before, took one hit, coughed a lot, and politely refused anymore, to the amusement of the others.

"Leave her alone," Cameron admonished, when Simon and Yoko teased her about not wanting any more. "The last thing we want is for her to get sick her first time. Everyone knows their own limits." He put an arm around her and pulled her close on the chaise where they were reclining.

"Thank you," Penny murmured, closing her eyes. She felt somnolent and warm from the food and wine, and maybe even from the one hit of pot, who knew?

"Any time," Cam answered comfortably.

"Hey," he said, changing the subject, "Do you think something could be going on between those two? Or getting ready to start or whatever?"

"You know, I was wondering the same thing," Penny answered, eyes remaining closed. "They're awfully chummy, considering they just met a couple hours ago, don't you think?"

"Yes."

They were both silent for a moment, listening to Simon and Yoko talking and laughing where they they were still sitting at the table, picking over the remains of the fruit salad. Both were pleasantly stoned and everything was uproariously funny to them.

"Well, he is kind of her type," Penny commented.

"What type is that?"

"Funny, of course. Smart, you know, quick witted, good at talking? Plus, she doesn't like guys who are too much taller than her."

Cameron snorted. "That must really cut down on her options."

"I know, right? I mean, she's not even five feet tall!" Penny shrugged. "Anyway, it might be kinda nice for us, you and me, I mean, if they got together, don't you think? We could all hang out together, you know? Double date or whatever? Wouldn't that be fun?"

"It would, actually," Cameron answered. "I've tried setting Simon up with some of my friends in the past, but he's never been interested in the women I knew."

"Don't you mean the models you introduced him to weren't interested in him?" Penny contradicted, shaking Cameron's body gently.

"What? No, and I'm offended," Cameron said, opening his eyes to look at Penny. "Lots of my model friends were interested in him. He's funny, he's nice, he's okay to look at--"

"'Okay to look at'? Wow."

"Anyway, he just didn't like them, I don't know why," Cameron went on. "Yoko, though, they really seem to have hit it off, don't they?"

"Both of them are so stoned right now, they might not remember each other's names tomorrow," Penny remarked with a soft laugh.

"Good point."

They lay a moment longer when a huge boom interrupted the silence, along with a bright flash of light over the East River.

The fireworks had started.

"Come on, love, sit up, sit up." Cameron rose and helped Penny, and the two of them joined Yoko and Simon at the railing so they'd have an unobstructed view of the show. They even had a view of the dark water, so they could see the reflection of the fireworks as they burst in the sky, which made it twice as beautiful.

"Oh, wow, look at that one!" Penny cried when a particularly gorgeous yellow and purple one exploded nearly over their heads. She clapped her hands in a pretty gesture that made Cameron smile.

He glanced down at the street, and across at the park, where people were gathered to watch the fireworks, sitting on spread out blankets or on folding chairs.

A hulking shape caught his eye, partially because it was alone when most everyone else was part of a group, and partially because it didn't seem to be watching the fireworks at all; rather, it seemed to be looking up at Cam's terrace.

The shape was smoking a cigarette, and he could see the glowing tip brighten as its owner took a drag. He could even smell the smoke as it drifted up toward where Cam stood with Penny, Yoko and Simon.

The hulking smoker was standing on the other side of a bus shelter, and was definitely watching them and not the fireworks. Cam felt like he was being watched by a shark, swimming around in dark water, and he recognized the person, based on how he walked, based on the shadow he cast, even though the person was obviously trying to stay in the dark places on the street.

Frederick.

Cameron had honestly and stupidly hoped that, after Penny's embarrassment of him at the bar, Frederick would just leave her alone, but apparently not.

Under the guise of getting a better view of the fireworks, Cam moved to Penny's other side, so Frederick's view of her was at least partially obscured, and he put an arm around her, pulling her into his side, rubbing her arm.

"Hm? What?" Penny asked, leaning into Cam's body. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Cameron responded. "You having fun, love?"

"I'm having a great time," she responded. "Maybe not as much fun as those two, but definitely a good time." She gestured toward where Yoko and Simon were watching the fireworks while laughing so hard they were leaning forward on the railing, barely able to breathe.

"At the very least, it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, isn't it?" Cam agreed.

As soon as Penny looked back at the fireworks, Cameron looked back down at the hulking shark shadow.

He'd moved to their side of the street, to the shadow of a large juniper bush two doors down. Cam could see the cigarette still burning. It glowed brighter for a moment, then it arced high into the air as its smoker flicked it to land in the street.

Cam could feel the menace in the air as an almost palpable thing, and had to suppress a shudder.

Don't come any closer.

Just don't.

Leave her alone.