LISA

Kai is so damn annoying. I don't know how Jennie could stand him for all those years. I'm beginning to think she was hiding from him in that greenhouse instead of from Richard.

I wouldn't blame her, I'm tempted to do the same right now.

"I don't think you should have called that girl," Kai says from the couch across the massive living room of his parents' house. "I really don't like her. I don't like you either, but she's even worse than you."

"Shut up," I groan and go back to staring at this weird pillow that's on the plush, oversize chair I've claimed these past few days.

"I'm just saying. I don't understand why you called her if you hate her so much."

He doesn't know when to shut up. I hate this town for not having a hotel within twenty miles of Jennie's mum's house. "Because"—I let out an annoyed breath—"she doesn't hate her. She trusts her even though she shouldn't, and she needs some kind of friend right now, since she won't see me."

"What about me? And Jisoo?" Kai pulls at the tab of a can of soda, and it opens with a loud pop. Even the way he opens soda is obnoxious.

I don't want to tell Kai that what I'm really worried about is that Jennie will run back to him, wanting the safe relationship instead of giving me another chance. And when it comes to Jisoo, well, I'll never admit it, but I sort of need her to be my friend. I have none, and I kind of need her, in a way. A little.

A lot. I need her a fucking lot, and except for Jennie, I have no one else, and I barely have her, so I can't lose her, too.

"I still don't understand. If she likes her, why would you want her around her? You're obviously the jealous type, and you know about stealing people's girlfriends better than anyone."

"Ha-ha." I roll my eyes and glance out the expansive windows covering the front wall of the house. The Porters' house is the biggest on this street, probably the biggest in this entire shithole of a town. I don't want him getting the wrong impression here. I still hate his ass, and I'm only allowing him to be around me because I need to give Jennie her space without going too far. "Why do you care anyway? Why are you suddenly playing nice with me? I know you despise me, just the way I do you." I look over at him, dressed in his stupid fucking cardigan and brown dress shoes that should have a penny stuck on the top of them.

"I don't care about you; I care about Jennie. I just want her to be happy.

It took me a long time to come to terms with everything that happened between us because I was so used to her. I was comfortable and conditioned to be that way, so I couldn't understand why she would possibly want someone like you. I didn't get it, and I still don't, really, but I see how much she has changed since she met you. Not in a bad way either, it's a really good change." He smiles at me. "Excepting this week, obviously."

How could he think that? I have done nothing but hurt her and tear her down since I crashed into her life.

"Well"—I shift uncomfortably in the chair—"that's enough bonding for today. Thanks for not being a dick."

I stand and walk toward the kitchen, where I can hear Kai's mum working the blender. In my stay here, I've found vast entertainment in the way she fumbles with words and traces her fingernails over the cross around her neck each time I'm in the same room with her.

"Leave my mom alone, or I'll kick you out," Kai warns mockingly, and I almost laugh. If I didn't miss Jennie so damn much, I would laugh along with the asshole. "You're going to the funeral, right? You can ride with us if you want; we aren't leaving for another hour," he offers, which makes me stop.

I shrug my shoulders and pick at the fringe along the bottom of my cast.

"No, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? You did pay for it. You were his friend, kind of. I think you should go."

"Stop talking about it, and remember what I said about spreading it around that I paid for the shit," I threaten. "I.e., don't fucking do it."

Kai rolls his stupid eyes at me, and I leave the room to torture his mum and get my mind off Rosé's being in the same house as Jennie.

What was I thinking?