That Night | JenLisa FF

Part 1

Jennie lay back, staring up at the night sky. She wore a Tank top and the tar coating the roof was rough against her bare shoulders, but thankfully warm. It still held the heat of the day though the sun sank behind the horizon some hours earlier. Her bare shoulder brushed against her, and the strange fizzle of electricity seemed to tingle over her nerves.

"Okay," Jennie said, trying to ignore the sensation, "what am I supposed to be looking at?"

Lisa released an exasperated sigh and Jennie had to stifle a laugh. Lisa was so adorable, trying to teach her things when they both knew she was hopeless. That said, the astronomy lesson was going much better than the algebra. Trying to explain theorems almost exhausted her infinite patience.

"This is not the best place to be doing this," Lisa grumped.

Jennie smiled in the dim light. Lisa was such the perfectionist. She wanted to go to the planetarium for this lesson. Of course, Jennie made up some lame excuse they both knew was a lie. She didn't feel guilty about it. Not in the least. Not if a simple lie could prevent her having two broken legs – or worse.

Lisa steadfastly refused to admit there was any danger in the two of them being seen together in public. Jennie knew better. She wasn't going to risk her health simply to see some stupid stars. "We can see the stars," Jennie lied. There was too much light from the city for the stars to be distinguishable, but it was a preferable alternative to her being pummeled to death.

Lisa was quiet beside her, and Jennie knew she was concentrating. She rolled her head to the side watching her stare intently up at the sky. Just looking at her caused the corners of her mouth to curve upward into a smile. They were the same age, but Lisa still seemed so young, so innocent. She had no idea what she was doing spending time with her. Trouble and misery were her constant companions. Most people knew enough to steer clear of her.

But she was her friend. Lisa had always been her friend and she was undoubtedly the only wholesome thing in her life. While all of the other kids from the neighbourhood avoided her, whispering things about her, she always seemed immune. Jennie knew what people thought of her. She hung with a bad crowd and that seemed to make her bad by association. She also knew that the rumours were more fact than fiction. She was not a saint.

Lisa pointed to the sky and said, "There, the really bright one, right above us." But Jennie's eyes weren't on the sky, they were on her. When Jennie didn't answer, she turned her head to look at her.

As soon as their eyes met, Jennie was swimming in her dark chocolate irises. Even in the dim light, they were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Huge, richly dark orbs that gave you the feeling you were seeing right into her soul. Without thinking, Jennie reached out and cupped her cheek in her hand, trailing her fingertips lightly over her skin.

"Why don't you have a girlfriend, Lisa?" she asked in a bare whisper.

Lisa's expression was suddenly akin to the one she wore when trying to teach her algebra. It told her that Jennie had asked the most obvious question in the world. But she was blind to the answer. Lisa opened her mouth to say something and then shut it again. Levering herself up on one elbow, Lisa looked down at her. Her hand slipped from her cheek down to her neck and in one agonizingly sweet second Jennie knew exactly why Lisa didn't have a girlfriend.

Her heart raced, but she didn't pull away like she should have. Jennie was transfixed by her eyes, by the naked longing they held, the affection and reverence. How many times had she wondered what it would have been like to be looked at like that? And instantly, she knew she did not deserve it. She was sullied and worn – used goods. At eighteen, Jennie had done more living than someone three times her age. There were mornings when she couldn't bring herself to look into a mirror. Lisa deserved so much better, so much more than second-hand whore like herself had to offer. But again, Jennie did not pull away.