Chapter 12

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


I'm still in shock after Jennie's departure that it barely registers with me when Hanbin announces that he'll go after her. I nod my head and watch him follow her without uttering a word.

Part of me wants to be the one who finds out what got Jennie so upset but another part of me is afraid to know the answer. All sorts of worst case scenarios run through my mind. I take a seat back down on the piano bench while my stomach goes haywire.

It bothers me that however innocent, I had some hand in causing a person I care about pain. Sure I've only known Jennie for an incredibly short period of time, but in that time I've already done so many things to her that I wish I could take back. I should have punched Irene the second she walked through those doors and next time I see her I'll have to do just that.

The longer I'm left with my thoughts, the more panicky I become.

What if Jennie decides that my sexuality is not something she wants to put up with?

What if Jennie decides that me representing her is not worth the trouble it's already brought her?

What if Jennie decides that being friends with me brings too much drama into her life?

What if Jennie decides that she doesn't want to see me anymore?

I try and stop the frantic and irrational questions piling up on top of each other with no success.

What if Jennie decides that...

"Hey."

Oh thank god she came back because I was about to have a full blown panic attack and it wouldn't have been pretty.

I look up and when I see how unnerved Jennie is I forget all about my own anxieties. She seems tentative to approach me and I don't know why. "Hey." I reply as I run my hands up and down my jeans. "Are you ok?" Jennie nods her head but I get the feeling her actual answer is no. "I'm sorry..."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." Jennie forcefully cuts in. "I should be the one apologizing to you."

"No you shouldn't." I tell her just as forcefully. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Jennie sits beside and sighs. "Yeah I did, I let Irene get to me and because of that she said all those awful things to you."

I can't believe Jennie is taking responsibility for the hate that Irene spewed. "Trust me Jen, that wasn't the first time Irene has gone off like she did. She's said a lot worse to me before."

"Doesn't make it right." Jennie says with conviction.

"No, I suppose it doesn't." I concur. "But I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't have to get used to something like that." Jennie whispers and her voice is clouded with such emotion.

I want to take her in my arms and comfort her but I'm sure that will only make matters worse. "That's life sometimes, you can't control what people think or what people say." I place my hand on her shoulder even though I'm scared of what her reaction will be. I have to let her know I'm ok because she's clearly not.

Jennie doesn't recoil from my touch, but she doesn't seem all that comforted by it either.
"I don't understand."

"Understand what?" I whisper. From the second I spotted Jennie I figured this girl was strong, but in this moment she seems incredibly fragile and one wrong word from me will cause her to break.

I don't want Jennie to break and I certainly don't want her to break over me.

"How you can be fine after those awful things Irene said about you?" She explains. Her voice cracks and I'm seriously worried that she might start to cry.

"You have to pick your battles Jen." She looks over at me and the expression on her face makes my heart ache. I never want to see that expression again. "Irene is just not worth getting upset about."

Jennie nods and doesn't respond right away, almost as if she's processing what I just said. "I'm really sorry Jisoo."

"For what?" I ask. I don't understand why she feels the need to keep apologizing to me, she didn't do anything wrong.

Jennie closes her eyes briefly before she answers. "For how I acted and for taking off instead of seeing how you were."

Is this girl for real? She took on Irene, defended me and now she feels bad, that's messed up. "Seriously Jen you have to stop saying you're sorry."

She shakes her head, "I was an idiot."

"An idiot who did something really nice for me." I say hoping it will make Jennie smile.

"That's not going to work." She replies as the corners of her mouth twitch.

I breathe an internal sigh of relief that I appear to have done something right. "What's not going to work?" I ask feigning innocence.

Jennie tries to glare at me but I can tell I've gotten to her. "You're making jokes so I'll forget what a fool I made of myself."

Somebody needs to recap for Jennie the events of the last two days because there's no way she came close to even matching the fool I've made of myself in front of her. "Are you embarrassed?"

"No." Jennie replies quickly but the crimson cheek's she's sporting lets me know that she meant yes.

In a move Jennie perfected, I guide her eyes back to me as I take my fingers and turn her head in my direction. "Please don't feel bad, you have no idea how grateful I am that you stood up for me."

"I only did what was right." Jennie's modest too! Could she be any more perfect? "Nobody deserves to be spoken to like that, especially you."

Especially me?

What does that mean?

I really need to invest in an Jennie-to-English dictionary, it would make my life a whole lot easier.

"Even though you don't want the praise, I'm going to give it to you anyway." I pause and take a deep breath. "Thank you."

Jennie smiles but I suspect she's not completely over the Irene incident. "You're welcome."

Time to insert some playful humor back into our afternoon.

"See that wasn't so hard." I wait a few beats. "Slugger."

I laugh and Jennie is again trying to hide her smile. "Are you mocking me?"

"Moi?" I point at my chest. "Of course not, please don't hit me or anything."

"And to think I defended your sorry ass." Jennie jokes and I'm happy to report her nose crinkle is back. "Remind me next time not to do that."

I roll my eyes, "Like I could have stopped you."

"I have a confession to make." Jennie blurts out.

She stops my mind from coming up with another joke cold.

Oh my god!

This is it!

She's going to confess that she's secretly gay and I'm the love of her life.

Yes!

I take a quick scan of the room because I'm sure that this is when Irene or Hanbin are going to come in and interrupt our conversation right when we're getting to the good part.

Shockingly, neither one of them are around.

"What is it?" I ask as I wait with baited breath.

Jennie seems reluctant to tell me what's on her mind and that only confirms my suspicions. "I really don't feel like playing anything right now."

Oh well, there goes that theory.

Darn, I was so sure she was going to admit her undying love for me.

That's ok though, I have time to work on her feelings.

Two weeks to be exact.

"I know you wanted to hear me sing." She continues. "But Irene ruined the mood."

I chuckle softly, "Yeah, she does have that affect on people."

I hope Jennie singing for me isn't going to turn into one of those running gags where it never actually happens. Like on Fraiser, how we never saw Maris or on Will & Grace how we never saw Stan.

This better not be one of those things or I'm going to be so mad!

"I'm sorry." Jennie apologizes for the umpteenth time.

"Stop doing that." I tell her sternly. "There will be no more 'I'm sorrys' coming from you today." I ball my hands into fists and shoot her a menacing look. "You got that."

Jennie holds up her hands in surrender. "All right, no need to threaten me."

"Don't give me a reason to Jennie." I tell her as I scrunch up my face.

"Ok, geeze, you made your point Jisoo." Jennie replies as she holds her hands up higher.

"Good, I'm glad we got that settled." I withdraw my fists of fury and grin. "Besides, I'll just have to find a way for you to make this up to me."

Boy, will I ever!

Jennie laughs and for the first time since Irene infiltrated our time together it sounds genuine. "You really are something else Jisoo."

"Thanks, I like to think so." I grin even wider at my ability to cheer Jennie up.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Hanbin asks as he sticks his head through the door.

Jennie and I both look up at him but she's the one who speaks. "No you're not."

"Cool." Hanbin walks inside and for once I don't feel like vomiting at his presence. "I just did an Irene patrol and I'm happy to report there's been no sightings of her at all."

No!

Don't be funny and charming!

How am I supposed to hate you if you are?

"Thanks." I say as I try to think of a reason that will make him leave again.

"It's the least I can do." Hanbin replies sincerely.

Ugh, he's being nice, someone make him stop!

"I should probably be going." I announce as I stand up. I'm really not in the mood to bond with Hanbin. "My mom's expecting me for dinner soon."

"Sure if you have to go." Jennie says as she stands up as well. "I'll walk you out."

Hanbin waves at me, "It was nice seeing you again." Jennie turns her head for a second and Hanbin winks. That normally would disgust me but then I remember how he asked me to watch over Jennie, so I guess that was ok if he was referring to our earlier discussion.

"You too." I tell him and I hope I didn't come off as sarcastic.

I'm about to walk out the door when an incredible idea hits me.

I know I just said I didn't want to spend time with Hanbin, but until he leaves that might be the only way I can get face time with Jennie.

And I'll take any time with Jennie I can get.

"If you guys aren't busy tonight, you're more then welcome to come over for dinner as well." I suggest and then I marvel at my brilliance. It's a perfect plan and there's not a chance Hanbin will figure out why I'm inviting them over. "My mom usually makes a ton of food anyway so I'm sure having two more guests won't be an issue." Jennie looks uncertain so I decide to use Hanbin for my benefit. "She's making her world famous pot roast."

Hanbin's eyes light up just like I suspected they would.

Boys are so easy.

"I haven't had a home cooked meal in forever." Hanbin remarks and he's practically salivating at the mouth.

Ew, gross!

"It does sound good." Jennie says as she looks over at Hanbin.

"Great, you're totally coming then." I exclaim. I write down my parent's address without giving Jennie a chance to change her mind.

Score!

More time with Jennie and if Hanbin gets in the way I'll just stick Bobby on him.

Jennie and I make idle chit chat on the way to my car and when we reach it, I'm faced with a dilemma.

To hug, or not to hug, that is the question.

I jingle my keys, "This is my stop."

"That it is." Jennie replies and she looks as awkward as I feel.

"Thanks again for earlier." I say as I try to work up the courage to embrace Jennie.

Friends hug all the time, right?

And we're friends so if I hug Jennie she won't freak out, right?

Jennie cuts off my inner debate by wrapping her arms around me.

I'm stunned momentarily by how utterly fantastic it feels to be in Jennie's arms before I hug her back.

"If I have to stop saying I'm sorry, then you have to stop thanking me." Jennie whispers in my ear.

"Ok." I manage to reply as my body melts into hers.

It's going to sound so cliché, but seriously we fit perfectly together and I don't ever want to let her go.

But just like Rose let go of Jack, I have to let go of Jennie no matter how much I wish I didn't.

"I'll see you soon." I say as I get into my car. I lower the window and peer up into Jennie's chocolate brown eyes. "Don't be late or we might start without you."

Jennie crouches down before she sticks her head inside my car. "I won't, I promise." She gazes at me for a few more seconds, making my heart flutter like only she can. "Bye Jisoo."

"Bye Jennie." I watch her step back and then I rev my engine. That elicits a shake of the head and a laugh from Jennie, which was exactly my intention. Jennie walks inside and as I pull out of my parking spot I bask a bit in the hug we just shared.

Each encounter with Jennie brings us closer together.

And soon enough I'll get the chance to learn more about her, which is what I really want.

I've never had such a strong desire to get to know somebody like I do with Jennie. I find myself wondering about who Jennie really is and what makes her tick.

That is the part I'm really looking forward to.

Ok, ok, I'd like to see her naked too, who wouldn't?

I feel so happy right now and nothing can bring me down.

I'm the king of the wor...

Smash!

Oh, that can't be good.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net