Jennie
Of all the stupid, idiotic things Jennie. You confused proximity with affection. Of course Lisa goes everywhere with you, she's paid to do so. And of course she's going to make conversation with you while she's around. She would die of boredom if she didn't. It's not friendship or... anything else. It's a business relationship and you're confusing the two.
Jennie reached for the door handle to let herself back into the ballroom, but her hand was quickly covered by Lisa's who stalled her movement and kept her from turning the handle.
"Jennie will you talk to me please?" Lisa asked from behind her. Her voice was strangled and hushed and made Jennie feel like absolute shit, because none of this was her fault. She was a person just trying to do her job for a few weeks, collect a pay check, then go home. There's no dishonour in that. Lisa didn't owe her a damn thing, but she was making assumptions about her as if she did, putting her misplaced feelings ahead of her own logic.
Turning to face her, Jennie softened her expression. After all, she wasn't angry with her, she was angry with herself.
"Lisa, really it's okay," she tried to reassure her, but she wasn't buying it.
"Are you upset because I said it was my job to take care of you? Because I think you have misunderstood me." Jennie cut her off before she could finish. She shouldn't have to explain her comment because Jennie was the one who assigned meaning to actions that were strictly professional.
"Seriously Lisa you don't have to explain. I understand. You're here to do a job and making me feel like we're friends makes that job easier. I put you in an awkward position back there which I apologise for, I'm never that vulnerable... it was a moment of temporary insanity and weakness."
To her surprise Lisa's mouth tipped up into a smirk as Jennie spoke as if she knew something that she didn't. "That's a cute little story you've concocted in your head, mind if I interrupt it with the truth?" Finding it harder and harder to resist that smile, Jennie gave her nod of approval, agreeing to hear Lisa out despite her better judgement.
"Jennie, I said it's my job to take care of you because it is." Her brows drew in and she recoiled her head in confusion, which only caused Lisa's chest to bounce as she chuckled at her. "It's my job to take care of the people that are important to me. I take care of people that I care about because that's who I am, not what I'm paid to do. If you feel like we're friends, that's because we are. I'd never use you, I'd never manipulate you, I care about you Jennie, simple as that. If I didn't enjoy your company I would do my job and only my job. I'd shut down be seen and not heard... but the fact is, I do enjoy your company Jennie. I enjoy knowing everything about you."
Tilting her head to the side, Jennie studied Lisa's face for any sign of deception or humour, but saw only genuine compassion. An internal battle raged between her analytical mind and her tender heart, with both sides fighting for her attention at the moment. Her mind was screaming and spewing statistical facts of the likelihood that Lisa was using her for personal gain and that she shouldn't trust her based on past experiences alone, but her heart felt completely content and at home around Lisa, like she could do no wrong.
Using one of her strong hands, she brushed a loose tendril away from Jennie's face as she spoke to her. The sensation of her hand against Jennie's skin made her forget every negative thought that had just overtaken her overworked mind and she considered trusting Lisa for a brief moment, but was scared to.
Please don't hurt me Lisa. I can't handle any more betrayal, not from you.
Lisa spoke to her as if she could read Jennie's mind with intuition unmatched by anyone she'd ever met. "I'm not a bad person, Jennie." she said softly.
