love me like you mean it // chaelisa

thirteen

Lisa opened the cab door once they stopped at her apartment. She took a deep breath before running out the cab to the cover of the entryway. It took a minute but Chaeyoung soon followed as they crammed themselves into the small door way. Even though the run from the cab to the door was short they were both soaked as the rain continued to assault the pavement.

Lisa let them into the complex, only to find that all the lights were off. "Great." She mumbled to no one in particular as she reached her hand out until she found Chaeyoung's hand in the dark. She felt the other woman flinch slightly but more than that she felt the warmth of the other woman's hand radiate through her entire body. She practically pulled her down the hall way and up the stairs, only being led by the light of her the flash on her cell phone.

After going up three flights of stairs they finally reached Lisa's apartment. She opened the door and let Chaeyoung in first before walking in herself and closing the door. Chaeyoung stood frozen in the foyer, not sure of what to do. She really hadn't thought this through, all was thinking about was not dying in the storm. A little dramatic sure but a little flair never hurt anyone.

"I'll get you some dry clothes to change into," Lisa said before walking off down the dark hallway.

"Great, just great Park, you've trapped yourself in an apartment with your ex-girlfriend." She spoke to herself in the dark as her eyes started to adjust to the lack of light.

A minute later Lisa appeared with clothes in hand. "I was going to bring these home for you but this seems like a better way." Chaeyoung took the blue Columbia sweater and USC track pants out of Lisa's hands. Washroom is the second door on the left. I lit a candle in there so you'd be able to see."

Chaeyoung nodded. "Thank you." She slowly made her way down the hall and into the washroom. She steadied herself again the sink, she really never thought she'd be standing here in Lisa's apartment when she made her way home. She held the necklace that hiding under her shirt and shook her head. At least she was close enough to the hospital so that if they called her could rush over.

XOXO

An hour later the two women sat on opposite ends of Lisa's couch. Candles were lit around the room but they were few and far between. "This is far more awkward than I thought it would be after the hospital." Lisa let out as she stood up and walked over to the fridge. She came back with a full bottle of wine and two glasses and what looked like left over pizza. "It's all I have. I'm not here much, and I usually eat out when I do decide to stay here."

Chaeyoung nodded as she looked up from her iPad. "I'd say awkward is an understatement." They both let out soft chuckles.

"Thank you for taking such good care of dad, Niki said she talked to you at the hospital."

"Yeah, and you don't have to thank me, again, just doing my job."

"Thank you for coming to Mom's party then. She adores you, sometimes I think more than she adores me."

Chaeyoung shook her head no when Lisa held the bottle up to her. "Storms always mean trouble so I may get a call to go in. She doesn't adore me more than she adores you, she is so proud of you. Every time we'd have dinner or go shopping she'd accidentally mention you somehow and it was only because she couldn't help herself and your father is just as bad."

"They're great parents."

"They are, and they raised a great daughter." The admission left Lisa looking at Chaeyoung with a shocked expression. "Despite everything that has happened, I don't hate you, Lisa. You've worked hard and accomplished your goals and then some. I'm just as proud of you as you are of me."