By My Side [JENLISA FF]

Part 4

Jennie found herself in Lisa's car again after the police had allowed them to leave and Lisa had insisted on her not staying there for the night. Lisa looked at her concerned, her face was deadly pale, and her hands were tightly entwined, her knuckles white and she could see her knees were trembling.

"Maybe I should call someone. Your parents perhaps," Lisa suggested, trying to sound as gentle as possible.

"NO," she almost yelled. "I cannot see them. I ... maybe I could go to a hotel," her face was directed to her lap.

"I don't like that," Lisa replied. "Whoever did this was looking for something and I am not sure they found it. It's more than possible that they are looking for you too. You were safe in jail, but I don't want you to stay anywhere alone."

Jennie managed to look up and was touched by the honest concern in her face: "But I don't know anyone else. Well, I do, but not that good. And if they really look for me. I would endanger the people I am staying with."

"Then why aren't you staying with me?" Lisa heard herself ask. Was I really saying this? Lisa what the hell do you get yourself into.

"With you?" Jennie seemed astonished. "But I don't want to intrude your privacy. Your girlfriend might not be happy about it." Where did that come from? Why should I care if she's a girlfriend or not! I am not interested in her.

Lisa smiled: "I do not have a girlfriend or anyone who is staying with me for that matter. So do you want?"

Lisa doesn't have a girlfriend! She couldn't stop her soul from making a mental jump. God, stop that Jennie, stop that now!

"Alright," she answered almost automatically. No, no, no, her head was crying out, you will only get yourself in trouble.

Lisa started her car again and they drove the short way to her apartment in silence. She opened the door to her flat, switched the lights on and put her bag on the floor, then she looked at her: "Can I get you something? You must be hungry."

"No, I am not," Jennie replied and suddenly her body began to shake with sobs. In her mind she saw pictures of Anna laughing brightly, both of them watching television, going into the park, talking about their problems and then finally she saw her body lying lifeless on the floor of her bedroom. All colour drained from her friend's beautiful face, her sparkling eyes closed.

Lisa was at her side in an instant and took her in her arms."Shhh, it's okay," she whispered. "I am so sorry you had to see that. Nobody should see a person she loves like that."

"I-I-I, she w-was my b-best friend," she said between sobs. "She was s-so k-k-kind and ... good, who c-c-could do that to her."

Lisa stroked her back and held her for a while and then after some minutes Jennie pulled back: "I am sorry. You must think I am a hysterical girl or something."

Lisa shook her head: "No, I would never think that. Your reaction is only too understandable. When I saw the first dead body I couldn't sleep for a whole week and it was nobody I knew."

"Really," she looked at her disbelievingly.

"Really," Lisa said, smiling at her, then she took her arm and led her to her sofa. "You just sit down for a moment, and I get you some tea."

With that she disappeared through a door into what Jennie thought the kitchen. She looked around in her living-room. The interior was classical, there were some paintings on the walls and one or two statues. A large leather sofa and two fitting chairs were standing in the middle with a small glass-table in front of them. Two walls were covered with bookshelves and Jennie grinned inwardly, she didn't look like a scholar. She'd always pictured someone like her step-father in this department. All in all the room felt warm and comfortable and she felt herself leaning back on the sofa and relax.