she's very pretty (jenlisa)

chapter 25

(1am the next day)

i wake up to the sound of someone softly crying.

it's jennie.

my eyes open quickly, but i sit up slowly, trying not to alarm her.

"jennie, what's wrong?" i whisper in the dark, and my eyes adjust to see her sitting up, with her knees tucked under her chin, and the vomit bucket sitting next to her.

"hey." she chokes out quietly, her voice shaky with tears.

chewing on my bottom lip, i get up from my bed, sitting down next to her, tucking my knees up to my chest as well.

jennie sniffs quietly, raising her head to look at me.

tears are brimming in her eyes, and it makes me hurt, so much.

"hey, what's wrong? what happened?"

"lisa, it hurts. it hurts so much. i want it to stop, i've been dry heaving for hours. my chest aches so much." she sobs out, digging her head back into her knees.

i try to ignore the stinging in my eyes, staring up at the ceiling and exhaling slowly.

"we're out of panadol. i'm sorry."

she chokes out a fresh set of tears, leaning back and clutching her chest in pain.

my eyebrows furrow, and i scoot over next to her, leaning on the headboard, and she just collapses on my shoulder.

i can feel her tears soaking through my shirt onto my neck, and her hands quivering, her chest wracking with each sob, probably making the pain worse.

what am i supposed to do?

"cmon, go get a hoodie and some slippers on, i have an idea." i say suddenly, sitting up and pulling a hoodie over my head.

jennie lifts her head up, staring at me confusedly with tears in her eyes.

"we're gonna go for a drive, it might calm you down a bit, and we can also get some panadol from the chemist." i explain, leaning down to squeeze her hand.

she sniffs deeply, blinking a couple times, before slowly getting up, wincing at the pain in her chest.

"there we go. that sounds like it hurts, i'm sorry." she winces, as i help her pull her hoodie over her head, and out the door.

"wait, how are we gonna get there?" jennie stops in her tracks, staring at me dumbly.

i spin on my heels, grinning widely as i hold up jisoo's keys, jangling them in the air.

jennie rolls her eyes, walking slowly to catch up to me.

"i'll put the heater on, and you can pick the music." i order jennie, jumping into the drivers seat, as she climbs into the passenger seat.

"i'm scared to trust your driving." she admits, smiling softly at me, her messy brown hair framing her face.

i chuckle softly, starting the engine and backing out of the parking lot.

jennie purses her lips, rolling her eyes and looking through her phone for a song to put on.

"do you like lorde?"

"is that even a question?"

"that's very true." jennie admits, turning on 'supercut' by lorde.

i sigh happily, as i spot jennie lean back in her seat, closing her eyes.

the crying has stopped slowly, and she's watching the cars drive by, the city lights blurring in the dark.

we drive in silence for twenty or so minutes.

the city at night has always been one of my favourite things. it's so beautiful, more beautiful than any beach or jungle or person.

it's so perfect, and whenever i feel sad or mad or anxious or just unhappy, this is where i go to in my mind. it just reminds you that there are other people in this world, people who have to deal with possibly much worse shit.

then you don't feel so lonely and horrible.

i snap myself out of my thoughts, realising i'm just about to pass the chemist.

glancing over at jennie, who has fallen asleep, i quietly pull over and run in to grab the panadol.

i'm about to check out when i spot another woman walking through the door, looking like she hasn't slept in ages. she picks up some panadol tiredly, lining up behind me.

"long night?" i ask, turning on my heels slightly to look at her.

her head jolts up when she realises i'm talking to her, and she chuckles softly.

"sounds about right. my toddler's complaining about a sore chest and won't rest til i fix it." she sighs heavily, pursing her lips, smiling sarcastically.

my eyes widen. "oh, haha, same. i mean, not my toddler, my best friend. poor thing's been dry heaving all night." i explain, scuffing my shoes on the linoleum floor.

she chuckles. "you must love her very much if you're out here at 2 in the morning." she jokes, and i step up to pay for the pills.

"i guess i do, i probably owe her. i used all her shampoo." i admit, paying quickly and thanking the cashier.

"nice meeting you, i hope your toddler feels better."

"you too, same with your friend. she sounds like a keeper."

——

"you were gone for a quite a bit, who on earth were you chatting up in there? i saw you through the window." jennie says quickly as i get back into the car.

rolling my eyes, i pass her the panadol, and she quickly swallows two pills gratefully.

"stop faking sleep, you little asshole. and also, i was talking to a mum whose toddler was also having chest pain, so, yeah. shove it up your ass." i joke, starting the engine and heading back down the illuminated highway.

"how's your chest feeling now?" i ask, after ten minutes of silence.

jennie scoffs, staring at me with her deep brown eyes.

"it won't kick in within ten minutes silly, but, yes i am feeling better. thankyou. for the pills. and doing all of this." she says quietly, squeezing my hand.

i smile softly, looking over at her.

"that's okay. as long as you drop the dry heaving at midnight thing, seriously i cannot sleep with those noises." i joke, pulling into our apartment car park.

"ouch."

——

"lisa, i'm cold."

"get warm."

"can you come here?"

"..."

"where?"

"in my bed. i'm cold."

"fine. you owe me now."

"fine."

"you're very warm."

"jesus christ! you're very cold!"

"i told you. now let me sleep."

"alright, goodnight."

"get your foot off me."

"i was wondering how long it'd take you to notice."

PLEASE VOTEEEEEE