To Capture A Heart

1.

//

Irene stood to the side of the foyer's entrance twirling her diamond pendant between her polished nails. A nervous habit though she was anything but. She appeared calm and collected. Everything from her hair to her clothing to her makeup was polished; not a blemish, not a wrinkle. To an outsider, she was the picture of perfection. Little knew the vitriol that brewed and bubbled down to the very fabric of her character. She puffed on the last of her cigarette when only seconds later she saw the girl trotting back toward the school. As she approached, Irene flung open the door and let her squeeze in under her arm.

"Fuck, took you long enough Kim!" Irene snatched the envelope from Jennie's hand. They were extremely pressed for time.

"Well excuse me for having to meet some shady asshole down the street, which is something you could have done." Jennie exclaimed, accusingly. "What's even on this thing?"

"Oh just you wait." Irene stormed down the hall with Jennie hot on her heels. Their pleated skirts swishing with their quick steps. 

Rosé and Jisoo were waiting in the PA room that overlooked the current assembly being held in the school's gymnasium. They weren't supposed to be there of course, but as Irene's best friends they had to come when she called. 

Rosé nervously sat at the controls. Jisoo irritably paced the room.  As soon as Irene appeared, with a frazzled Jennie a second behind her, Rosé stood wringing her hands. "Whatever this is, I don't think we should do it." 

"Shut it Rosie, the bitch has it coming." Irene nudged her out of the way and plugged the USB into the computer system. Everything was ready, she just needed the perfect moment.

"But Irene-"

"If you care for the fatty so much go be friends with her." 

Rosé ducked her head and moved out of the way. Irene took her seat. "I'm kind of with Rosie here Irene, maybe this is overboard." Jisoo said as they both stood beside Jennie. 

They knew nothing, only that Irene was pissed about Lisa Manobal, again. It wasn't enough that they'd bullied her relentlessly, but now Irene had a new vendetta against the girl. "Are you kidding me! She embarrassed me in front of the entire school by winning the vote for Student Council, which she cheated by the way. I thought if anything my friends would stick beside me for a little payback."

"But-"

"I've broken my back to make sure the four of us were at the top of the food chain this year. Senior year, this fucking school will be eating out of our hands. There's no way I'm letting some fugly, wannabe, fat, lesbo bitch take that from us. Now either you're with me or against me. Either way I'm going to ruin her." Irene spat bitter with her friends, venom dripping from each word. 

The three girls watched as their friend hit the button. The huge screen slowly descended from the ceiling. A decision that would ultimately shift their lives.

//

Jennie's muscles tensed as she picked up the dumbells for another rep. With her ear pods secure and workout playlist in full swing, she took a deep breath and began her arm curls. 

It was getting late but she didn't mind. Her gym was 24-hours and Jennie liked when there was hardly anyone around. This way she got first dibs on all of the equipment. Not that this was the norm. Jennie tended to visit the gym after work most days, but she'd had a meeting that ran late and couldn't make it at her normal time. It's cool, that meant less weirdos standing around and watching her do squats. That was the only downside, being gawked at when she didn't want to be. Plus, if they couldn't tell they were barking up the wrong tree, she didn't know what else she could do to dissuade them that she wasn't interested, at all.