*JENNIE
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Who knew that one display of public affection in a crowded cafeteria could create so much buzz. I mean seriously, do people have nothing better to do than worry about who Lalisa Manoban is hooking up with?
I feel like every pair of eyes is on me as I make my way out of school at the end of the day. Maybe part of it is just me being paranoid, but I know for certain that's not entirely the case. I had four different girls come up to me between the last two periods of the day wanting to know if Lisa and I were dating.
I wanted to say yes, more than I thought I would. But instead, I settled for a shrug and non-committal response like "we're just hanging out."
To say it's been an exciting first day is putting it mildly. I don't think I've ever gotten so much attention in my life, and truthfully, I'm not sure I like it. I mean, Lisa I like. But I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by what it might mean to be a part of her world.
All I want is to climb in Jisoo's car and whine to her and Rosé about the day I've had, but my plans are immediately thwarted when I see Lisa leaning against Jisoo's passenger side door, her arms crossed in front of her.
My heart instantly kicks into overdrive, pumping so hard and fast it's a wonder I don't go into cardiac arrest.
"There she is." She smiles, pulling me into her arms without an ounce of hesitation.
The heaviness of the day melts away the moment her scent invades my nostrils, and I feel the firmness of her chest against my cheek. I thought I needed Jisoo and Rosé, but maybe this was what I needed all along. Lisa has this unique ability to make the outside world seem so insignificant.
"What are you up to now?" I pull back and peer up at her, her dazzling smile even more prominent in the bright afternoon sunlight.
"I was hoping I could give you a ride home." She tucks my hair behind my ear, something I'm learning she does a lot.
"I usually ride with Jisoo." I gesture to the car behind her as I take a step backward.
"I'm aware, but usually doesn't mean always." She winks. "Come on." She drops an arm over my shoulder, leading me away from the car.
"I should probably wait and tell Jisoo," I try to object.
"Already did." She smiles down at me before turning her attention forward.
"Awfully presumptuous of you, Ms. Manoban; what if I didn't want you to take me home?"
"You do," she states matter of fact, humor lacing her voice.
"You're confident," I deadpan.
Seconds later her incredible laugh flutters around me. I swear I could record the sound of it and listen to it all day, every day. It's the most amazing thing I've ever heard.
"And you, Ms. Kim, are a pain in my ass," she teases.
I'm ready to respond with some witty retort but end up changing gears when Lisa stops next to a fancy black sports car.
"I thought you drove a Jeep?" I question, knowing that's what she was driving Saturday when she came to my house.
"I do." She pulls the passenger door open and takes my book bag, waiting until I'm planted inside before dropping the bag onto the floorboard between my feet and closing the door.
"Then whose car is this?" I ask when she climbs into the driver's seat next to me.
"Mine."
"Yours?" I blanch. "You have a sports car and a Jeep? I can't even afford a beater and here you have two vehicles that probably cost more than the house I live in."
"Half." She chuckles next to me.
"Half?"
"Half of the cost of your house." She grins, clearly just messing with me.
"Wow. You really are spoiled." I snap my seatbelt, turning my gaze out the windshield.
Lisa is silent next to me for a couple seconds before she finally speaks again, and I'm instantly surprised by the vulnerability in her voice.
"Your mom shows you love by spending time with you, being your mom. My parents do it with possessions. Anything they can give me to keep me happy, so long as they don't have to lift a finger in the parenting department."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said the thing about you being spoiled." I immediately feel guilty over my statement and my assumption. I take her hand that's resting on the gearshift between us and give it a squeeze.
"Don't be. It's what everyone thinks." She shrugs, giving me a quick sideways glance.
"Does that bother you? That people view you a certain way?"
"Not really." She shakes her head, her focus remaining on the road. "It comes with the territory."
"What territory is that?" I ask.
"Being the hottest, richest girl in school." Her words drip with playfulness, but that doesn't stop me from rearing back and slapping her chest.
"Owe." She laughs, rubbing the spot where my hand connected. "Such violence. I see I'm not the only one who has everyone fooled."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the window, a huge smile on my face.
"I gotta say, you play the good girl routine well, but I'm starting to see through your façade."
"I am a good girl," I object, looking back in her direction to see a smug smile on her handsome face.
"Okay," she says disbelieving, nodding her head.
"I am," I insist.
"Says the girl who can drink whiskey straight from the bottle like a champ and kisses like a porn star."
"Did you just compare me to a porn star?" I'm not sure whether to laugh or be offended.
"Relax, it was a compliment." She chuckles. "I just meant, you're a phenomenal kisser." She grins, her eyes catching mine for a brief moment before returning to the road. "And you do this little moan—it's like you're a starving woman and my mouth is the most delicious meal you've ever tasted. It's seriously so hot. You play like you're this innocent little thing, but I think deep down you've got one hell of an untapped wild side."
"I think you have me confused with someone else," I offer.
"You may think I don't see you Jennie Kim, but I do. I see everything." She winks at me seconds before pulling the car to a stop on the street outside my house.
"Well…" I hesitate, not really sure what to do. "Thank you for the ride." I move to grab my bag, but Lisa catches my arm before I reach it.
Tugging me toward her, the next thing I feel is her warm lips against mine. She kisses me gently, dragging her tongue along my bottom lip before sliding it inside of my mouth.
Like being invaded by a body snatcher, something else takes over and I feel crazed, lustful. I deepen the kiss, my fingers tangling in her hair as I try desperately to control the overwhelming urges I feel taking over.
By the time we part I'm breathless, my chest heaving up and down as I ride out the high Lisa's touch sparks inside me.
"See." She smiles against my mouth. "My little minx." She kisses me again, this time a gentle press of her lips to mine before she pulls back, her hazel eyes dark and hooded.
I can tell she wants me, maybe even more than I want her, and the thought is dizzying. Lisa makes me feel a way I've never felt before. Wild and untamed. And while I love the feeling, it's also terrifying at the same time.
"I should probably go," I finally blurt. "My mom is home today. It's Monday, her one consistent off night each week. We always spend Monday's together."
"Can I call you later?"
"You better." I smile, grabbing my bag before quickly exiting the car.
I manage to make it up to the front porch before turning back. Lisa is still sitting on the curb, her eyes glued to me. I throw her a little wave over my shoulder, my heart doing acrobats in my chest as I stick my key in the lock and push my way inside.
I take slow calculated breaths, trying to calm my rapid pulse, before sneaking a peek out of the vertical panes of glass that line the sides of the front door. I do it just in time to see the back of Lisa's car as she drives away. I stare at the place where she was just parked for what seems like forever before my mother's voice causes me to jump in surprise.
"Who's the girl?" she asks, pulling my attention to where she's leaning against the doorway of the living room watching me.
"What?" I question, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my lips.
"You know, the one who put that there." She points to my mouth. "The black sports car. Who is she?"
"Lalisa Manoban." I sigh.
"Well, it looks like this Lalisa Manoban really knows how to lay on the charm." She gives me a knowing look, and I swear I smile wider.
"She's so… I don't even know how to describe it." Nervous laughter bubbles from my chest.
I've never been one to keep much from my mom. In the relationship department we've always had open communication, but telling her too much about Lisa right now almost feels premature.
I mean, she knew everything about Kai as it happened, and even though it took me a while to see through him, my mom never cared for the boy. Guess she could see something I couldn't. But Lisa, I think she'd like her. I mean, I could be wrong, but I can't see how anyone could not. Lisa's just so damn charming. But it's still so new and I don't want to jinx it, as dumb as that sounds.
"Uh oh," mom teases, giving me a knowing look.
"It's nothing." I blow it off, slinging my book bag over my shoulder. "I've got lots of homework to do," I say, wasting no time taking off down the hall toward my room.
"Okay, but I want to hear more later. Dinner will be ready in about an hour," mom calls after me. I swear I hear her chuckle when I shut the door without a word, but I'm too far gone to worry about what she thinks at the current moment.
Pressing my back against the door, I let my mind wander back to the scene that unfolded in the car just moments ago. The way Lisa kissed me, the way she looked at me—her eyes so full of longing. I swear my heart is still trying to find a normal rhythm.
I smile, touching my fingers to my lips as I think about lunch and how she kissed me without caring who saw. I don't know why but I had convinced myself that whatever this thing is we started Friday would come to end when we got back to school, but that no longer seems to be the case.
My chest swells as I think about all the girls who would kill to be in my shoes right now. They're all probably sick with jealousy and you know what—I can't blame them. Lalisa Manoban is special. And I'm not talking about her money or her popularity—she, as a person, is special. There's something about her. This endearing quality that makes it impossible not to like her.
I'm so lost in thought that I jump slightly when my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Pulling it from my jeans, I immediately answer when I see Jisoo's name flashing across the screen.
"Hey," I get out breathlessly, still unable to wipe the stupid smile off my face.
"Holy shit, Jen. Holy shit. Holy shit. You and Lalisa. Oh my god, I think I'm going to die," my best friend rambles. "You owe me so big for making you go to that party. I about died when she kissed you at lunch. God, she's so fucking hot. I bet she's an amazing kisser. Tell me everything that happened. Wait, is she still there?"
I laugh, knowing there's no sense in answering any questions other than the last one she asked.
"No, she just dropped me off. Monday, remember?"
"That's right. Mom day," she says, knowing my schedule probably better than anyone. "So how was the ride home? Did you guys talk more? What's going on? Is it like official yet?"
"Are you going to continue to ask me five hundred questions in a row, or are you going to give me a chance to answer?" I chuckle, collapsing down on my bed, and staring up at the ceiling.
"Sorry. I'm just freaking out for you. I mean, Lalisa Manoban, Jen. She's only the hottest gp girl in school." she quickly tacks on. "So… Tell me. I'm dying over here."
"There's nothing really to tell," I admit, having already filled her in on the events of this past weekend.
I think she, like me, was curious if things would continue with school starting back up, or if everything would kind of go back to normal. Again, we're not unpopular by any stretch, but Lisa is on a completely different level, and even though Jisoo was convinced Lisa liked me, she didn't know how school would change the dynamics between us; nor did I.
"Bullshit. Lalisa Manoban doesn't just kiss anyone in the middle of the cafeteria. Now spill."
"I'm serious, Chu. We're just—I don't know—going with the flow. She hasn't said anything about actually dating, and I'm not going to bring it up. I mean, I like her—a lot, but it's only been four days."
"And, I knew I wanted to date Jack after an hour." She laughs.
"Do I want to date Lalisa?" I say as a question. "I mean, I think I'd have to be dead not to want that. She's very charming and well…"
"So hot," Jisoo adds.
"Yes, and that." I chuckle. "But there's more to her than that. I don't know, I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface with her yet and already I'm finding it hard to keep my thoughts straight when I'm with her. She makes me feel—god, I don't even know," I say, trying to find the right words. "But I don't want to move too fast either. The last thing I want is another repeat of the Kai fiasco."
"Lisa is not Kai. Don't let that douche bag ruin every one for you just because he couldn't keep it in his pants."
"I know, Chu. I'm just worried that there will be certain expectations with Lisa. What if I'm not ready?"
"Maybe you're not yet. But trust me, eventually, you will be. And when that time comes you'll be glad if it's with someone like Lisa. At least she knows what she's doing. Nothing worse than losing your virginity to another virgin, trust me I know. It's like two people who've never played chess before trying to play a match in the dark."
I laugh at her analogy. Only Jisoo would describe her first sexual experience as playing chess. She doesn't even know what the chess pieces are called. If I had to guess she probably has never even seen the game played. Then again, maybe that's why she's used that as her comparison.
"Yeah, but that also means I'm subject to being compared to every other girl Lisa's been with before." I sigh, shaking off the thought. "Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. It's not like I'm just going to hop in bed with her after four days of hanging out," I say, ignoring the voice in my head that tells me that's exactly what I want to do.
"Well, you better snatch her ass up before long. Jack and I have a bet going that you're going to be the first girl Lisa has officially dated since she moved here from California, and I've got fifty bucks and a blowjob on the line."
"What?" I snort in disbelief.
"If you and Lisa become official, Jack owes me...Well, you don't want to know what." She giggles. "But if you don't then I owe Jack fifty dollars and a blowjob. Not that I mind that second part."
"Gross." I shake my head, not wanting to envision that picture at all. "And why would you bet on something like whether or not we'll start dating?"
"It's Jack's fault. He says there's no way you'll break Lisa's no relationship rule, and I disagree."
"Wait—her what?"
"Her no relationship rule. Tell me you knew about that. You'd have to be living under a rock not to know that Lisa has a strict no dating rule."
"Well then, apparently I've been living under a boulder because I had no idea. I mean, obviously, I've never seen her officially date anyone, but I had no idea it was some weird rule of hers," I say, feeling a bit of my happiness deflate. "And if that's the case, you shouldn't have bet in my favor because I seriously doubt a girl like Lisa is going to change her rules for a girl like me."
"I think you'd be surprised," Jisoo sings confidently. "Trust me, I can read people a hell of a lot better than Jackson. He may know Lisa, but I know more and I'm telling you—the way she looks at you—she's definitely interested in more than just a hookup. When she smiles at you, dear god, even I melt a little. I'm telling you, girl, as long as you don't do anything to screw it up, that girl is going to be yours."
"Do I want her to be mine?" I ask like I'm asking her permission.
"Um... duh," she says dramatically followed by a long pause. "Hey, I gotta go, Jack is beeping in. Talk soon. Love you."
"Love you, too." I barely get the words out before the line goes dead.
Tossing the phone down on the bed next to me, I let out a deep exhale and let Jisoo's words sink in.
Lisa has a no dating rule?
She looks at me a certain way? Why have I not noticed? Then again, maybe I have. I mean, I feel it don't I—the connection between us, the chemistry. But what if this is all just a game to her? What if this really is just some elaborate scheme to get me into bed? It's not like things like that don't happen on the daily. And while yes, she could have any girl she wants, what's the fun in that? Don't people like her get off on the chase, conquering the unconquerable? After all, isn't that kind of what Kai was doing?
I shake the thought away. Jisoo's right, I can't let what Kai did effect the way I see Lisa. I'll never know unless I try, right? And god knows I want to, more than anything I've ever wanted before.
And while yes, this no relationship rule is a bit of a shock, it's also something that could very easily change. Who knows, maybe I'll be the first girl to ever get to call Lalisa Manoban her girlfriend.
Now isn't that a thought…
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