Jennie's POV
I pick up the clothes Lisa brought me to wear: one of her signature black T-shirts, a pair of red-and-gray plaid pants, and some large black socks. I laugh at the idea of Lisa actually wearing those, but then I realize these are likely from the dresser of unworn clothes. I lift the shirt up and it smells like her. She has worn this one, and recently. The smell is intoxicating, minty and indescribable, but it is my newly acquired favorite scent in the entire world. I change into the clothes, finding the pants much too big but very comfortable.
I lie down on the bed and pull the blanket up to my chest, my eyes fixated on the ceiling as I relive the whole day in my mind. I feel myself drifting off to sleep, to dream of green eyes and black T-shirts.
"NO!!" Lisa's voice jolts me awake. Am I hearing things?
"Please!" she yells again. I jump out of bed and run across the hall. My hands find the cold metal of the doorknob to Lisa's room and, thank God, it opens.
"NO! Please . . ." she yells again. I didn't think this through; if someone is hurting her, I have no idea what I will do. I fumble around for the lamp and switch it on. Lisa is shirtless and tangled in the thick comforter, thrashing and tossing. Without thinking, I sit on the bed and reach for her shoulder. Her skin is hot, too hot.
"Lisa!" I say quietly, trying to wake her. Her head snaps to the side, and she whimpers but doesn't wake.
"Lisa, wake up!" I cry and shake her harder while my body moves to sit astride her. Both of my hands go to her shoulders once more and I shake her again.
Her eyes fly open; terror fills them for a brief moment before confusion, then relief. Beads of sweat cover her forehead.
"Jen," she chokes. The way she says my name breaks my heart, then heals it. Within seconds she untangles her arms and brings them to my back, pushing me forward to lie on her chest. The wetness of her chest startles me, but I stay put. I can hear her heart beating, pumping rapidly against my cheek. Poor Lisa. I put both of my hands on her sides, hugging her. She strokes my hair as she repeats my name over and over, as if I am her talisman in the dark.
"Lisa, are you okay?" My words are lower than a whisper.
"No," she confesses. Her chest is rising and falling slower than it was, but her breathing is still shallow. I don't want to push her to discuss what terror she has just dreamed.
I don't ask her if she wants me to stay; somehow I know she does. When I lift up to turn the lamp off her body stills.
"I was going to switch the light off, or do you want it on?" I ask her. Once she realizes my intentions she relaxes, letting me reach farther to the lamp.
"Off, please," she begs. Once the room returns to darkness, I lay my head back on her chest. I would imagine lying this way, straddling her body would be difficult, but it is comforting to her and me both. Hearing her heart beat under the hard surface of her chest is calming, more calming than the patter of the rain on the roof. I would do anything, give anything, to be able to spend every night with Lisa, to lie this way with her, to have her arms wrapped around me and her breathing slow in my ear.
I WAKE UP to Lisa shifting below me. I am still lying on top of her, my knees astride her. I lift my head from where it rests on her chest and encounter her dazzling green eyes. In the light of day I am not sure if I am wanted the way I was last night. I can't read her expression, which leaves my nerves to take over. I move to climb off her, since my neck feels sore from sleeping on her hard chest, and I need to stretch my legs out anyway.
"Good morning." She gives me a dimpled smile, soothing my fear. "Good morning."
"Where are you going?" she asks.
"My neck hurts," I say, and she brings me to lie next to her, my back pressed against her front. She startles me by bringing her hand to my neck, causing me to jump. I recover quickly as her hand begins to rub my neck. My eyes close and I wince a little at her contact with the ache, but the pain slowly disappears as she massages.
She speaks before me. "Thank you."
I turn my head to look at her. "For what?" Maybe she is telling me to thank her for the neck rub?
"For . . . coming in here. For staying." Her cheeks flush and her eyes dart away from mine. She is embarrassed. Lisa embarrassed; she never ceases to amaze and confuse me.
"You don't have to thank me. Do you want to talk about it?" I hope she does. I want to know what she dreams about.
"No," she states plainly, and I nod. I want to push it further, but I know what will happen if I do.
"I will talk about how incredibly sexy you look wearing my shirt, though," she coos in my ear. She nudges my head with her and brings her lips to my skin. My eyes close in response to her plump lips wrapping around my earlobe, gently tugging. I can feel her hardening against me, making me feel drowsy in an incredible way. This type of mood swing is one that I can enjoy.
"Lisa," I chirp and she chuckles against my neck. Her hands travel down my body; she brings her thumb along the waistband of the oversize plaid pajamas. My pulse begins to quicken and I gasp as her hand slides down the front of the pants. She always has the same effect on me; within seconds I feel myself pooling in my panties. Her other hand cups my breast and she hisses as she flicks her thumb over my sensitive nipple, making me glad I decided not to sleep in my bra.
"I can't get enough of you, Jen." Her raspy voice is even deeper, filled with lust. Her hand cups me over my panties and she pulls me as close to her as possible. Her erection presses against me. I reach down and take her hand, removing it from my pants. When I turn to face her, a frown covers her face.
"I . . . I want to do something for you," I whisper slowly, embarrassed.
A smile overtakes the frown and she takes my chin in between her fingers, forcing me to look at her.
"What do you want to do?" she asks. I don't know, exactly; I just know I want to make her feel as good as she does me. I want to see her lose control like I did in this same room.
"I don't know . . . what do you want me to do?" My lack of experience is evident in my tone.
Lisa puts my hands in her and slides them down to the bulge in her pants. "I really want those plump lips wrapped around me."
I gasp at her words, and feel the pressure in between my thighs.
"Is that something you want?" she asks, her hands moving circles over her crotch. Her dark eyes regard me, gauging my reaction.
I nod and gulp, earning a smile from her. She sits up and pulls me to join her. Nervousness and want both flood my body. The loud jingle of her ringtone echoes through the room and she groans before snatching her phone off the table. Her eyes meet the screen and she sighs.
"I'll be right back," she informs me and disappears out of the room. She returns a few minutes later and her mood has changed once more.
"Karen is making breakfast. It's almost finished." She pulls open the dresser and grabs a T-shirt, tossing it over her head without looking in my direction.
"Okay." I stand up and go to the door, needing to put a bra on before I go see her family.
"See you downstairs." Her tone is emotionless.
I swallow the lump rising in my throat. Guarded Lisa is my least favorite Lisa, even less liked than angry Lisa. Who called her, and why did it make her so distant? Why can't she just stay in a good mood?
I nod and walk across the hall, smelling bacon that causes my stomach to grumble.
I put my bra on, and pull the drawstring on the plaid pants as tight as it will go. I contemplate putting my dress back on, but I really don't want to be uncomfortable this early in the morning. Checking the large mirror on the wall, I run my fingers through my unruly hair and wipe the sleep from my eyes.
As I close the bedroom door, Lisa opens her. Instead of looking at her, I focus on the wallpaper and walk forward down the hall. I can hear her steps behind me, and when I reach the staircase her hand wraps around my elbow, pulling me gently.
"What's wrong?" she asks, worry clouding her features.
"Nothing, Lisa," I snap. I am overly emotional and I haven't even had breakfast yet.
"Tell me," she demands, dipping her head so that her face is in full view. I give in. "Who called you?"
"No one."
She lies. "Was it Nancy?" I don't want to know the answer.
She doesn't say anything, but her expression gives away that I'm right. She left the room as I was about to . . . do that to her . . . to answer a phone call from Nancy? I should be more surprised than I am.
"Jennie, it's not . . ." she begins. I pull my arm from her grip and she clenches her jaw.
"Hey, guys." Jisoo appears in the hall, and I smile. Her hair is sticking up slightly and she wears plaid pants similar to mine. She looks adorable and sleepy. I pass Lisa and move toward Jisoo. I refuse to let Lisa know how embarrassed and hurt I am by her answering Nancy's call while we were together like that.
"How did you sleep last night?" Jisoo asks and I follow her down the stairs, leaving a frustrated Lisa to herself.
Karen has gone all out on breakfast, like I could have predicted she would. Lisa joins us at the table a few minutes later, but I've already piled eggs, bacon, toast, a waffle, and a few grapes on my plate.
"Thank you so much for making this breakfast for us," I tell Karen on mine and Lisa's behalf; I know she won't be bothered with thanking her.
"It's my pleasure, dear—how did you sleep? I hope the storm didn't keep you awake." She smiles.
Lisa tenses beside me, probably worried I will mention her nightmare. She should know by now I would never do that, so her lack of trust only bothers me more.
"I slept great, actually. I sure didn't miss my bed in my dorm!" I laugh and everyone joins me, everyone except Lisa, of course. She takes a drink of her orange juice and keeps her eyes focused on the wall. Mindless breakfast chatter fills the dining room as Marco and Jisoo banter about some football game.
AFTER BREAKFAST, I help Karen clean up the kitchen once more. Lisa hovers in the doorway, not offering to help but just watching me.
"If you don't mind me asking, is that a greenhouse in the backyard?" I ask Karen.
"Why yes, it is. I haven't done much with it this year, but I absolutely love gardening. You should have seen it last summer," she says. "Do you like to garden?"
"Oh, yes, my mother has a greenhouse out back as well and it was where I spent most of my free time as a child."
"Really? Well, maybe if you two come around more often, we could make something out of mine," she says. She is so kind, and loving. Everything I wish I had in a mother.
I smile. "That would be lovely."
Lisa disappears momentarily, and when she returns she clears her throat loudly. We both turn to look at her.
"We should get going soon," she says and I frown. She has my clothes and purse in her hands, holding out my Toms. It's a little weird she doesn't give me a moment to change out of the pajamas, and a little discomforting that she went through my things, but I overlook it. We say our goodbyes and I hug Karen and Marco while Lisa waits impatiently by the door.
I promise them that we will return soon, and hope that it will come true. I knew my time here would end, but it has been such a nice departure from my normal life, no lists, no alarms, no obligations. I am not ready for it to end.