READY FOR LOVE | JENLISA

Chapter 28

Lisa

I get to lab just as Irene opens the door, instructing everyone to put all study materials away for the quiz. Everyone begins shoving things into their backpacks and filing into the classroom. I find Jennie sitting on the floor of the hallway between Rosé and rat boy, packing up.

"Hey, Finch." I greet her, extending my hand out to her and helping her up, earning me a death glare from rat boy.

"Thank you." she says, brushing off the back of her jeans. Before she can lean down to pick up her backpack from the floor, I swoop down and grab it for her, proceeding into the classroom with it.

"Lisa!" she hisses, giggling while chasing me into the classroom, trying to grab her backpack from me.

"Oooh... such chivalry." I hear Rosé coo behind us, followed by a disgusted scoff from rat boy.

When everyone is seated, Irene passes out the quizzes over last week's material. I surprisingly breeze through it, confident that I'm still going to hold up my other end of the bet by getting a grade C or better on the lab quizzes. Now all I have to worry about is what I got on the test yesterday.

After Irene collects the quizzes, she reaches for the large stack of papers on her desk that I already know are our tests from lecture.

"I have your tests." Irene announces. "When I call your name, please come and grab them from me." she instructs, calling out names shortly after. I wait impatiently as she calls out name after name. Jennie, Rosé, and rat boy all get their tests before me, looking pleased. It isn't until Irene has the last test in her hands that she calls out my name. Of fucking course. I walk up to her, my heart thudding nervously in my chest.

"Here you go, Lisa." Irene hands me my test, her face neutral.

I immediately stare at the red ink scribbled at the top of my paper, my heart faltering for a moment. Swallowing hard, I quickly regain my composure, walking back to my desk. I feel Jennie's eyes burning into me, but I refuse to look at her, taking my seat and shoving my test into my backpack before anyone can see.

"What? Did you fail again?" I hear rat boy snicker maliciously, and it takes everything inside of me not to lunge over this table and break his fucking nose. Along with his jaw. I'll see if he can make any more smart-ass comments with a broken jaw.

Jennie quickly shoots him a glare, and for a split second I see a flash of regret shoot across his face. He's only guilty because he made her upset, he wouldn't even give a shit over whether if he hurt me or not with his words.

Jennie's eyes eventually swing to me, softening, full of questioning and worry. I can tell that she's dying to know about my grade, but she's too polite to flat out ask me. I only shake my head, grabbing my lab manual as Irene begins teaching this week's lesson, shoving my nose into my book.

The rest of the lab session, I try my best to focus, acting as neutral as possible. I can tell that Jennie is trying to walk on eggshells around me, worried about my reaction, or lack thereof, after getting my test back. When Irene dismisses us, I can't pack up my stuff fast enough, heading out the door. I make it halfway down the hallway before I hear soft footsteps running up behind me.

"Lisa! Lisa, wait!" I hear Jennie call after me, her footsteps nearing closer.

"Lisa." she says breathlessly, catching up to me and grabbing my bicep. I stop in my tracks and she cautiously walks around me to stand face to face. Those warm brown eyes search mine, worry marring her forehead.

"Lisa?" she says softly, still desperately searching my eyes for some sort of answers. I let out a sigh, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose. When I finally look up I watch her face fall and shoulders deflate.

"How bad?" she whispers carefully.

Instead of answering verbally, I shrug off my backpack and reach inside it to pull out my test. I hand it to her, restlessly shifting on my feet. Slowly, hesitantly, she grabs the test papers from my hands, her eyes immediately landing on my score. I watch as a handful of emotions scroll over her face. Her brows pinch together in confusion for a few moments before smoothing over, and she blinks slowly a few times.

Confused, she frantically begins flipping through the pages, eyes scanning my answers. She eventually makes her way back to the first page, her eyes trained on the red ink once more. Her eyes snap up to mine, widening in shock and surprise. "Lisa."

I can't help but grin, gently grabbing my test paper back from her. My smile widens as I stare at the B-, written at the top of my paper in red ink.

"You did it." she breathes in disbelief, a slow smile making its way onto her face.

I nod, my grin almost splitting my face. "I did it."

"You did it!" she exclaims excitedly, throwing her arms around my shoulders, hugging me.

I immediately wrap my arms around her waist, picking her up a few inches off the ground and spinning her around a couple times in the middle of the hallway. She lets out a melodic laugh, taking a step back to look at me when I set her back down.

"You scared the heck out of me!" she cries, shoving my shoulder.

I can't help but chuckle, placing my hands on her shoulders and running them down her arms until I capture her hands in mine. "Come on, Finch, did you really think I'd fail with you as my tutor?"

She shyly tears her gaze away from mine, humbly shrugging a shoulder.

"I passed all because of you, Finch." I say, dipping my head to meet her eyes. "Thank you."

She blushes. "You're welcome."

"How about we have an official celebratory lunch?" I ask, smiling.

Her face falls, and a slight pout forms on her lips. "I would love to, but I actually have a lunch meeting with Mrs. Lee."

I feel my shoulders deflate. "Do you really, or are you just trying to get out of lunch with me?" I joke, chuckling lightly, praying that she really does have a meeting, instead of trying to use that excuse to ditch me like she did with rat boy.

"I promise you I actually really have a meeting with Mrs. Lee." she says, laughing lightly, actually seeming disappointed. "How about dinner instead?" she asks hopefully.

I sigh, using my thumbs to rub circles into her palms. "Can't. I have practice." I admit sadly.

She frowns, looking just as disappointed.

"Rain check?" I ask hopefully.

Her lips twitch upward. "Sure."

"Alright, Finch." I sigh dramatically, causing her to laugh, reluctantly letting go of her hands. "Have fun at your lunch meeting."

"Loads." she says sarcastically, giving me an apologetic smile. "I'll see you in English class."

She gives me a small wave goodbye before walking away, heading towards Mrs. Lee's office.

"Finch, wait!" I call, reaching into my backpack.

She spins around, looking at me expectantly.

"For Saturday." I inform, throwing a maroon article of fabric at her.

She fumbles to catch it, caught off guard, the fabric nearly slipping from her fingers and falling to the floor. I watch as she unfolds it, holding it out in front of her at arm's length to inspect it, my last name and number staring back at her.

"You're going to look really good in it." I tell her, grinning.

She laughs, shaking her head in disbelief before draping my jersey over her arm and heading back down the hallway, smiling at me over her shoulder.