experiments

chapter two

When Jennie had decided to follow Lisa after their double English lesson, she had hoped Lisa wasn't heading to another lesson. It was unlikely, since she could cross English and Sociology off, which left only one more subject. It seems luck was on her side as Lisa headed out of the school building.

She followed her to a bus stop and then got on the same bus as her, and then she followed her to the back and took the seat right next to her. Lisa looked at her with wide, slightly panicked eyes, and Jennie knew she had unintentionally succeeded in creeping her out.

"Uh, can I help you?" Lisa asks.

"Do you want to get lunch or something?" Jennie asks simply in response, as if talking to an old friend and not someone who she had just stalked.

"No?" Lisa looks at Jennie like she's crazy. "It's not even eleven yet, oh, and also, I don't know you!"

Jennie furrows her brows and frowns. "What are you talking about? I'm in your English class. We just met. Jennie. Remember?"

"Yes, Jennie, I do remember, but I don't remember inviting you to follow me to the bus and then sit next to me on it!" Lisa exclaims, gesturing her hands to demonstrate how crazy Jennie was being.

"Don't you want to be friends?"

"Um, not really..." Lisa replies awkwardly.

Jennie furrows her brows again and frowns deeper. "What? Why not? People would kill to be friends with me."

"Would they?" Lisa questions.

"Yeah," Jennie says, unsure, now looking confused. "I think so?"

"What's so special about you?"

"Well, I don't know... I'm... popular," Jennie says, embarrassed.

"We're all over sixteen, Jennie, most of us are eighteen. Literally, no one cares about popularity," Lisa tells her bluntly.

Jennie frowns again. "Don't they?"

Lisa shakes her head. "The only people who care about the popular kids are the other popular kids, and also maybe a few that seek validation from the popular kids."

Jennie's ego was bruised, not to mention the embarrassment. "But I am... popular?"

Lisa smirks. "Yes, Jennie, don't worry, you are still popular. It just doesn't mean much."

"Did you already know my name before I introduced myself to you this morning?"

Lisa nods and smiles reassuringly. "I did."

Jennie exhales in relief and looks at her fingers. "That's something then."

"Is it?"

Jennie looks back at Lisa. "I wasn't expecting a reality check when I followed you onto this bus."

"What did you expect?" Lisa asks curiously.

Jennie looks at Lisa's lips, her heart thumping against her chest.

Just go for it.

And she does. She leans forwards and presses her lips to Lisa's. Hard. They connect for about three seconds before Jennie is pushed away. Lisa had tried to lean back immediately, but Jennie's lips had followed her and had allowed them to connect for longer.

"What the hell are you doing?" Lisa whisper-yells, looking around the bus.

Jennie's eyes snap open. "Kissing you?"

"Are you insane? That's literally assault, Jennie," Lisa tells her. "Also, I don't feel like getting hate-crimed today."

"Oh," Jennie sinks back in her seat. "Sorry, I didn't think."