La Fleur D' Amour || JenLisa

LA FLEUR D' AMOUR 3

Half days were some of Jen's favorite days of the year. They didn't happen often, but nothing compared to the joy of getting the students out of her hair by 12:30, leaving the rest of the afternoon to do whatever she pleased. Today, Jennie was planning on going home and taking a long, much needed, hot bath. Yes, that sounded lovely. It had been a long few weeks and she deserved to relax.

Once all her students had been picked up by their parents or sent off to daycare, Jennie hastily wrapped up her work and was ready to leave by 12:45. She rushed out the door, ready to lock it and leave work behind until tomorrow, and ran directly into someone who was outside, about to knock.

"I am so sorry!" Jen exclaimed, looking up only to find Lisa, cheeks flushed, smiling at her.

"It's no problem," Lisa said, stepping back so they could both right themselves. "Early day today?"

Jen nodded as she turned around to lock her classroom door. "Half day," she said. "You caught me just about to leave."

"Lucky me." Jen found herself getting lost in Lisa's doe brown eyes for a moment. She usually preferred pink and black and sky blue too, but brown was steadily working its way up her list of favorite colors. After a moment, Lisa cleared her throat and held up a bouquet of daffodils that Jen hadn't noticed until now. "Another delivery from lover boy."

Jennie took the bouquet in her arms, struggling to balance her purse, her car keys, the stack of papers and books she had to bring home, and now these flowers as she searched for the expected card.

Jen,

You'll always be my closest friend. Wishing you all the best.

-K

Jennie let out a sigh of relief, a breath she didn't know she was holding, a weight she didn't know she was carrying.

"I take it your talk went well."

Jennie smiled sheepishly as she tucked the card back into the flowers. "I guess it did."

"A free agent now, huh?"

"I guess so."

Lisa grinned, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand. "I'm happy for you, Jennie," she said.

"Thanks," Jennie replied, unable to fight the smile on her lips.

They stood awkwardly at Jennie's classroom door for a moment, stealing glances, catching each other's eye, and blushing. God, Jennie felt like a giddy schoolgirl with her first crush. She had never felt like this before and it was new and exciting and she couldn't get enough of it.

"Um, if you're heading out, I can walk you to your car?" Lisa offered.

"Yes!" came Jen's immediate answer, sounding far too eager for such a simple gesture. She didn't care. She juggled the things in her arms and pointed toward the parking lot. "I'm this way."

"Here," Lisa said and, noticing Jennie's struggle, grabbed the bouquet from her. "Let me help."

Jennie tried to brush her off and reached for the flowers again. "I've got it, you don't have to-"

"I insist," Lisa replied, her voice calm and reassuring. Jennie ceased her protests and fell into step next to Lisa as they started for the parking lot. "Can I grab anything else?"

"No, I've got it," Jennie said, shaking her head. "Thank you, though."

"What's with all the papers anyway?" Lisa asked, nodding at the bundle Jennie still had balanced in her arms.

"Oh, the usual. Tests, homework, projects," Jen explained. "Plus, next week is Open House and we want the students to showcase their best work for their parents, so they've started picking what they want to use and I have to organize it all this weekend so we're ready by Tuesday. It's a crazy time of year."

"Sounds like you're a busy woman, Miss Kim."

Jennie shrugged. "Keeps me busy, but I love it," she said with a smile. "I can't imagine doing anything else." She turned to Lisa and nudged her gently in the arm. "What about you? How'd you get into florist work? In America, no less!"

Lisa laughed at that. It was a lovely sound. Jennie knew immediately she wanted to hear it more. "I like plants," Lisa said plainly. "They're much easier than people. You put in the work, you get the results. Simple as that." She tilted her head to the side, glancing at Jennie out of the corner of her eye. "As for America, well, I mostly just wanted to get as far away from home as possible."

Jennie chuckled. "Don't we all?"

They had almost arrived at Jennie's car and Jennie found herself dragging her feet, walking slower the closer they got. If Lisa noticed her reluctance to leave, she didn't say anything. Jennie could only delay the inevitable for so long and soon enough, they stopped next to a small Volkswagen Bug.

"This is me."

Lisa's eyes flitted from the car to Jennie, an amused smirk on her lips. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Oh, shush!" Jennie scolded. She opened the trunk and tossed her belongings in the back.

"Where d'you want these?" Lisa asked, holding up the flowers.

Jennie hummed in thought for a moment. "I'll take them," she said, and swiped the bouquet from Lisa's hands again. She frowned, then. "Are you okay to get back to your car?"

Lisa chuckled and nodded to something behind Jennie. Jennie turned around and spotted about twenty feet away, a green pickup truck branded on the side with the words, 'The Leafling'.

"I think I'll manage," Lisa said with a wink, and started off toward her car.

"Well, um, thank you!" Jennie said quickly. "For the flowers and the-the walk."

Lisa spun around when she reached her car, suppressing an amused grin by biting down on her lip, and waved. "I'll see you around, Jennie!"

Jen found that she could get her mind off of Lisa throughout her entire afternoon of relaxation. This was definitely becoming a problem.