Love to Hate You

Chapter Fifteen

Lisa

What in the fresh hell is this?

My eyes nearly fall out of my head when I walk into the kitchen in the morning. My trusty assistant Kuma, as always, two paw steps behind me.

It is a complete bomb site and in the midst of it is Jennie, standing in a shroud of smoke and singing out of key as she attempts to flip something dark and ominous in the frypan. I feel like I am surveying a warzone. It takes everything I have in me not to lose my cool. Yellow liquid drips down the cupboard doors with agonizing slowness. Half-open pantry items litter the counter, the sink's exploding with dirty dishes, and splashes of milk are all over the floor.

It is hard to believe so much damage can be inflicted in such a short amount of time, but Jennie is one capable woman.

I clench my jaw to restrain myself.

"Morning. Shouldn't you be at work?"

Jennie's hands are covered in flour, and so is everything she has touched. The fridge, cupboards, handles. You name it. There is flour.

I rub my forehead like a headache is brewing, and Kuku whimpers when one of his pads sticks to the floor.

Jennie turns, whisk in one hand and flour smattered across her forehead. A pitcher of yellow glug sits off to her right.

"Oh, hi. No, I took today off. I worked the weekend. Thought I might whip you up something to make up for the misunderstanding last night," she says, looking genuinely contrite.

I narrow my eyes, the comment catching me off-guard.

Is she trying to be nice?

I peer over her shoulder and try not to sound shocked. "Are they pancakes?"

"Uh-huh," Jennie says proudly before she picks up a dish towel and flaps it unconvincingly around the smoke detector. "Hang on. I just need to... there!"

I am not saying a word. The cloud of smoke is now hanging over the table.

Poor Kuku - I have to peel the guy off the floor because he is completely stuck in position. Did she cook with glue? I wipe his feet off with a wet cloth and throw it in the sink.

"Don't they teach you how to make pancakes in girl scouts?" Jennie smirks. "Any tips?"

I knew it was only a matter of time until that intel would be used against me, but when I look into those flour-dusted eyes, I can't think of anything witty to say.

Instead, Jennie hands me a plate. "Here you go. There's maple syrup over there."

"Oh, I -" Clearly, I am trapped. I eye her with trepidation, but this sudden niceness tilts me sideways, and now I don't want to hurt her feelings, so I mumble, "Thanks."

I sit, staring down at a stack of burnt, brown disks and wonder why I committed to this. Last night Jennie cracked me over the head, and these pancakes are probably going to give me a serious case of indigestion at best if they aren't already laced with some poison to begin with.

As Jennie slips into the chair opposite me, looking like a flour ball, a strange warmth enters my chest, and I try to push it away.

"How are they?" asks Jennie, turning those doe-brown eyes onto me.

I carefully consider my answer and the repercussions. "Mmm good," I lie, with a mouthful of what can only be described as incinerated cardboard. They are quite possibly the worst thing I have ever tasted.

I attempt to bathe them in maple syrup, which in turn makes for a hideous soup. Either way, I have to glug them down with a gallon of water. "Oh, thank god for that. I was worried when I saw them. I haven't made them since I was a kid." Jennie seems to merrily throwback the pancakes, and I am left wondering if her taste buds also have the day off. "They always remind me of my childhood."

It must've been awful.

"So, how was your trip? Your mom?" asks Jennie with a mouthful of blackness.

"Well, mom was mom. Psychoanalyzing me. She spent a lot of time watching my dietary habits. You know, what I was eating and drinking." I watch her reaction as I try to dislodge the grit stuck in my teeth.

"Oh..." Jennie's cheeks color.

"She says hi, by the way. It seems you made quite the impression."

"Still wants me to be your girlfriend?"

"Something like that." I can hear Kuku sniffing around under the table, so when Jennie isn't looking, I slip him some pancake. I feel a pang of guilt but think it only fair that we share the burden.

"Your sister didn't burn down the house, then?" she asks.

"No, the house was still standing." I pick up my napkin and dab my lips. Jennie smiles. "You know, I think we are actually being civil with each other."

"Possibly... but don't get used to it," I reply with a small wink.

Did I just wink?

Oh god, what's in these pancakes?

A moment later, I stand and push my chair in. "Sorry, but I have to go to work. I can't be late... and thanks for this."

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Jennie says with a childlike innocence, and I instantly feel my cheeks heat up, almost embarrassed by that comment.

I look at her, and she looks back at me. We hold each other's gaze for a long moment, and something seems to shift right then. And for the first time ever, I don't feel like rushing straight out the door. An epiphany starts to wash through me like cold dread, maybe I don't dislike Jennie half as much as I think I do.

But then my stomach rumbles.

~~~~~~~

A/N:

I'm giving you all a reason to like this story more by posting this chapter third time in a row today 🫦