In Your Orbit (1st Book) Completed.

Chapter 9: A Moment Away

The following weekend, the school organized a volunteer event at a nearby beach. It was supposed to be a relaxing escape from the constant pressure of schoolwork, something fun and rewarding to de-stress. Jennie had almost turned down the offer to join, thinking it would be a good opportunity to stay home and reflect on things, especially with everything that had happened between her and Lisa recently. But of course, Lisa had convinced her to come.

Jennie sat by the window on the bus, gazing out at the passing scenery. The ocean wasn't far, but the ride felt long and heavy with the silence hanging between her and Lisa. They usually sat together, chatting about the most random things, but today was different. Neither of them had said much since they boarded the bus, and Jennie couldn't shake the feeling that there was an invisible wall between them.

Lisa sat beside her, fidgeting with her phone but never actually using it. She kept sneaking glances at Jennie, trying to gauge her mood, but Jennie's expression remained unreadable. Lisa's mind was swirling with thoughts—thoughts she couldn't bring herself to say out loud.

In the background, Jisoo and some of their other friends were laughing and chatting away, but their carefree energy only seemed to highlight the tension between Jennie and Lisa. It was subtle, but it was there, unspoken but undeniable.

As the bus pulled up to the beach, the salty breeze and sound of crashing waves filled the air. The school had organized this as both a fun trip and a community service activity, so the students were expected to clean up litter along the shore before getting time to relax.

Lisa, always the athletic type, immediately joined the group assigned to run down the beach with bags to collect trash. Jennie, on the other hand, took her time, staying back to pick through the driftwood and shells that washed ashore. She liked the quiet, the peaceful rhythm of the waves—it gave her time to think.

The distance between her and Lisa, not just physical but emotional, weighed heavily on her. Jennie wasn't sure when everything had started to change. They had always been close, best friends since childhood, but lately, something was different. Lisa had been acting more protective, more intense in a way Jennie hadn't seen before. And then there was that night in the clinic, when Lisa said she loved her... as best friends. But Jennie knew there was something more hidden beneath those words, something neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge.

After a while, Jennie noticed Lisa heading down toward the water, her usual confident strides a little slower, her eyes fixed on the horizon. She looked deep in thought, and Jennie hesitated, unsure if she should approach or give her some space. But something in her heart pushed her forward.

Lisa was crouched down near the edge of the water, her fingers sifting through the wet sand. Jennie approached slowly, her sandals sinking into the soft beach beneath her feet. "Hey," she called out softly.

Lisa looked up, surprised, as if she hadn't expected Jennie to come find her. She offered a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Hey," she echoed back.

Jennie knelt down beside her, her hands resting in her lap as she watched Lisa pick up a small seashell. "Find something interesting?"

Lisa held out the shell, her smile growing a little more genuine. "Just this little guy. Thought maybe I'd keep it as a souvenir."

Jennie chuckled softly, taking the shell from her hand and examining it. "You've always had an eye for the little things."

Lisa shrugged, looking back at the water. "Maybe it's just nice to focus on the simple stuff sometimes."

There was a long pause, the sound of waves crashing gently against the shore filling the space between them. Jennie could feel the tension easing a little, but it was still there, just beneath the surface. She wanted to ask Lisa about that night in the clinic, about what she had really meant when she said she loved her, but the words were stuck in her throat.

Instead, she handed the shell back to Lisa, her voice soft. "I miss this. Us, just... being like this."

Lisa glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "Yeah. Me too."

Jennie bit her lip, her mind racing. She wanted to say more, to push past the wall that had formed between them, but she wasn't sure if Lisa was ready. Hell, she wasn't sure if she was ready. But then Lisa surprised her.

"I'm sorry about the other night," Lisa said quietly, not meeting Jennie's gaze. "I shouldn't have... I didn't mean to make things weird between us."

Jennie blinked, caught off guard by the sudden apology. She had been expecting Lisa to brush everything under the rug like she always did, but this felt different. "It's not your fault," Jennie replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I don't know what's going on between us anymore."

Lisa's shoulders sagged, and for a moment, Jennie thought she saw a flash of vulnerability in her friend's eyes. "I don't either. But whatever it is... I don't want to lose you, Jennie. Not over this."

The words struck Jennie right in the heart. She had been so focused on her own confusion and feelings that she hadn't realized Lisa was struggling just as much. She reached out, placing her hand gently over Lisa's on the sand. "You won't lose me, Lisa. We'll figure this out. Together."

Lisa looked down at their hands, her fingers twitching as if she wanted to hold on tighter but was afraid to. She let out a small, shaky breath, her voice barely audible. "Okay."

For a while, they just sat there, side by side, watching the waves roll in and out. Jennie felt the tension between them ease just a little, as if they had taken the first step toward something more. She didn't know where they were headed, but for now, it was enough to know they were still in it together.

As the afternoon faded into evening, the sky turning shades of pink and orange, the group began to gather their things and prepare to head back to school. Jennie and Lisa walked in silence, their shoulders brushing occasionally as they made their way to the bus.

Once they were seated, Jennie rested her head against the window, watching the fading light play across the ocean. She could feel Lisa beside her, their legs touching just slightly, and for the first time in days, she felt... at peace. Not completely, but enough.

She glanced over at Lisa, who had her eyes closed, leaning back in the seat with a tired but content expression on her face. Jennie smiled to herself, her heart feeling a little lighter. They weren't there yet, but they were closer.

And that was enough for now.