The Promised [Jenlisa FF]

Prologue

Little Jennie Kim was naughty. That was the only way to describe it. She had mud from one end of her to the other. Why in the world she had told her mother she would watch her, and her friends was beyond her. She was a little ragamuffin. Every time Lisa watched her, Jennie managed to break some piece of furniture, or trash some dress that her mom insisted on putting her in. But Jennie really was cute.

Lalisa Manoban was your typical sixteen-year-old high school student. She was on the Volleyball team, got good grades, had a part time job bagging groceries at the local store, and helped her mother around the house. Since her dad had left two years ago, she had focused even more on making sure she got time to just go out. But unfortunately her best friend was Taehee Kim. They did everything together. Taehee was also a single mother. And her daughter was the infamous Jennie. What was even worse was that Jennie had not one but two best friends. Whenever she had to watch her, she always managed to have to watch at least one of her friends. But it usually meant the whole gang, all three of them. And together they were terrors.

Today was one of those days. Lisa and Jennie's mom had gone to a viewing at the art gallery she owned and out to dinner. So Lisa had been stuck babysitting since 5:00. And not only had Jennie, but her friends Bambam and Jisoo as well. Nothing like a trio of 9 year olds to ruin your day. Or night. Or, hell, life. She was supposed to have had a date with Sooyoung tonight but had cancelled it instead. She wasn't going to disappoint her mother just because Jennie's babysitter had bailed at the last minute. Sooyoung wasn't happy with her, but she would just have to get over it. She didn't want to be here either.

"Lili, whatcha' thinking about?" Jennie asked.

"Oh, nothing, Jenjen. How did you get so dirty? There weren't any mud puddles in the back yard."

"Duh, Lili, we have a hose. And we made some really great mud castles. Want to see?'"

Jennie had the cutest smile and she couldn't resist. "Sure, Jenjen. But then we have to get you three cleaned up. Your mother is going to kill me. Another dress ruined. Why can't she just put you in shorts and a t-shirt like most kids?"

"But, Lili, I like wearing dresses. Don't you think I look pretty?"

Jennie was looking up at her with her beautiful catlike eyes. She was going to be a knockout one day was all Lisa could think. "Yes, Jenjen, you always look pretty. Even with mud between your eyes. Now let's get your cohorts in crime and get your baths started."

"OK, Lili. Chu and Bam are really dirty too. So, we all need to take a bath. Do you need to take a bath?"

Lisa giggled at that. "No, Jennie, I haven't been playing in the mud. So only your gang needs to bathe. And while you're getting clean, I'll order a pizza. How's that sound?"

The Scooby Baby was the name they had given themselves a year ago after deciding, in a very heated debate for a trio of eight-year-olds, that the Scooby Doo cartoon was the best ever. Jennie had become the 'boss baby' leader of the gang. She just came by it naturally. Giving orders was what Jennie did best.

Three hours later, Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Bambam were all spread out in the living room. Bambam was on the floor, so close to the TV that Lisa was beginning to worry about the boy's eyes. Jisoo was propped up in a chair with her nose in a book that would have very likely bored her to death, and Jennie was leaning against her side, engrossed in the movie they were watching. "The Princess Bride" was a good movie, but there were only so many times a man could be expected to sit through it.

Lisa looked down at Jennie, who was now sound asleep, and marveled at the time they had spent together. Jennie had only been seven years old when Lisa had first met her. The first time she had watched her, Jennie had looked her up and down, like she was trying to decide if she was worthy of her. With a nod of her head Jennie pronounced her fit, then preceded to ask her if she would marry her. Lisa had been flabbergasted. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, she told her she was too young to get married and to ask again when she was older. This had seemed to pacify her for the moment. But every birthday since, Jennie had asked her if she was old enough to get married. It was really cute, and kind of unnerving, that such a sweet child would hold her in such high esteem.

Cute she was but Lisa really wished she was with Sooyoung right now. They were going to go to a party, one with all their friends. But it was OK. She would forgive her, like she always did. Sooyoung loved her. There would be other parties.