I Think I Love You •Chaennie•

Chapter 27

Jennie's POV

I've spent so much time fiddling with the edge of my dress that a little hole has appeared in the lace. I stick my pinkie inside and wiggle it. It tears the lace more.

My parents are by the Corner Hotel bar sipping glasses of wine. They ordered me a Coke. It's sitting untouched by their glasses, but I can't bring myself to join them. Not before the screening starts and they've seen the movie.

At the thought, my fingers go right back to widening the lacy hole in my hem.

"Are you excited?" Jisoo asks, maneuvering through the crowds to reach my side with a glass of Sprite in one hand. She's gone full movie star in her look tonight, with a floor-length light pink dress she's been working on all month.

"Excited is one word for it." I press my palm against my stomach, as though that could steady the butterflies.

Jisoo takes my hand into both of hers and squeezes it against her chest. "I'm so proud of you. I know this wasn't easy. I hope it pays off."

Before I can answer, Rosie ducks behind a waiter to join us.

And I forget everything we were talking about. Because she looks like an actual princess. Her hair is short but fancy, but she's wearing a flowy white dress that makes her look like she's floating when she walks.

I catch myself before I let my gaze linger too long on her glossed lips.

"You guys look so nice," I say, looking down at my own outfit choice, a knee-length dress that's too nice to wear to school but that's leaving me feeling way underdressed next to them. "I didn't realize we were going full Hollywood."

Rosie laughs, and the richness of the sound thrums into my chest. I push it out, forcing myself to remember Kai's words. Kiss or no kiss, she never really loved me.

"Any excuse to be fabulous," she says, winking at me.

"Oh? Is that what they say in France?" I poke her in the ribs, and she has the grace to blush.

"As a matter of fact, they do," she says. "I don't know if you've heard, but fashion is kind of a big deal there." She glances at my outfit with a soft smirk. "More than it is here, anyway."

I slap her shoulder with the back of my hand. "Sorry my American style isn't good enough for you."

Her eyes soften as they meet mine. "There's nothing about you that isn't good enough, Kim."

I open my mouth, but I have no idea how to respond. I stare at her, keenly aware of Jisoo standing next to us with her mouth agape. Without looking at Jisoo, I reach over and lift her chin to close it.

"We should go find seats," Rosie says, breaking the moment.

"Lisa's saving us some," Jisoo says, and leads us from the lobby into the theater. "You know she brought Bambam?"

"Looks like you gave her some good advice," I mutter. Nice to know that giving up on romance works.

The screening is in the same place where the mixer was, but this time our seats are closer to the front, in the contestants' section. We walk down the red carpeted steps, and as soon as we reach our seats, I crane my neck to search for my parents in the crowd. They haven't gotten to their seats yet, but Bambam is near the back saving spots for all our plus-ones. As I sit, I angle myself so that I can see him out of the corner of my eye. After all, the whole point of this is that I can watch them watching my movie.

Well, that and finding out if I get to go to LA. My chance at a professional film career rides on how our short does tonight.

I twist the hem of my dress around my fingers as we wait. The lights dim and brighten three times, and the theater becomes much more crowded as everyone hurries in to find their seats. Within a few minutes, Alan strides out in front of the screen.