In My Dreams, You Love Me Back

Chapter 21

Lisa didn't like to think of herself as avoidant, but her choices lately had proven otherwise. Because only an avoidant would avoid the beautiful Jennie on a weekly basis.

It had been... almost a month since the hallway incident. Lisa hated herself for being the cause of the pain in Jennie's eyes when she would quietly brush by her with a simple nod or a quiet hello. Or when she would constantly tell Jennie she was too busy to spend any time with her, despite being caught doing absolutely nothing or spending time with everyone that wasn't her.

Lisa didn't want to think about her because when she thought about her, she inevitably felt intense guilt and shame because she shouldn't be hurting Jennie this way. Just because she couldn't reciprocate her feelings, just because she was with somebody– no, Jennie didn't deserve Lisa's cold shoulder. But, Lisa could not help it.

"No offense Lis, but..." Joy dragged, seating herself down beside Lisa, their backs against the mirror wall, "You look terrible."

"Thank you, I totally remembered asking for your opinion on my soft complexion," Lisa rolled her eyes and nudged Joy's shoulder. Joy giggled before calling Irene over to sit with them,

"Take a break mom, you have weak joints."

Irene scoffed, "Shut up, brat." She sat herself down beside Lisa as well and analyzed her tired eyes with a frown, "Still avoiding her I'm assuming?" Joy nodded from the other side of Lisa,

"She's totally avoiding her."

Lisa whined and pulled her knees to her chest, hugging it closely before pressing her face to her knees, "You two are the worst."

"No," Joy said, "You're the worst. How could you be so mean to such a pretty girl?" She whined, "If it was me I'd—."

Lisa lifted her head and sharpened her gaze, "You'd what?"  She angrily asked, knowing how perverted the girl can be.

In no way would she allow Joy to speak about Jennie in a way— no, just the thought of it had her burning in annoyance. And maybe Joy realized it because she sent an innocent smile and blinked cutely,

"I'd take her on a nice romantic stroll."

"That's what I thought."

If anything, Lisa would love to take Jennie on a romantic stroll. But she knew, the more she thought about being the one Jennie held hands with, the one who Jennie would speak her thoughts freely to, the one who Jennie would kis– no.

Forget it. Forget that Lisa loves her. She needed to forget that Lisa has loved her for years because Jennie did not need to know how she felt.

That is another reason why Lisa had been avoiding her. Because she was at her limit. If she were to spend any more time with the girl, she knew that her strength in holding back from kissing her was nearly gone. She recalled more than a month ago after they had finished eating ice cream and were walking back home.

"It's so cold," Jennie shivered from beside Lisa. Lisa smiled down at her,

"It's your fault for eating three scoops. You also didn't bring a jacket silly." Lisa had already slid off her jacket, "Come here."

With her free hand, she took hold of Jennie's wrist and pulled her closer. She stepped in front of the brunette and draped her jacket over Jennie's shoulders before smiling contently knowing Jennie should be warm. "Good. Now you–."

Her breath hitched. Lisa was frozen. She didn't make a sound. She did nothing but allow her eyes to lock into Jennie's.

They were close, so close.