In Your Orbit (1st Book)

Chapter 13: Unspoken Truths

The cool breeze greeted Lisa and Jennie as they stepped onto the rooftop, a space where they often came to escape the noise of the school below. The calming wind brushed against their skin, doing its best to soothe Lisa's frayed nerves. But even the gentle air couldn't shake the tension building inside her.

Lisa leaned against the railing, staring out at the horizon. She wanted to calm down, but all she could think about was Jennie—what had happened with Alex, the way Jennie had looked so vulnerable. Lisa had never seen her like that, and it had scared her more than she was willing to admit.

"Jennie... what happened?" Lisa asked softly, breaking the silence. Her voice was gentle but filled with concern as she looked at Jennie, hoping for an answer.

Jennie hesitated, biting her lip as she played with the hem of her uniform. "Alex was just irritated. She said she couldn't talk to me because... well, because of you," Jennie muttered, her voice barely audible as she avoided Lisa's gaze.

"Is that all?" Lisa asked, eyes narrowing slightly. Something about Jennie's response didn't sit right with her. She knew Jennie too well—there was more to it than that. Lisa's gut told her so.

Jennie nodded, but it was slow, hesitant. She was holding back, and Lisa could see right through her.

"Jennie..." Lisa's voice was firmer now, though still patient. "Tell me what really happened. Please."

Jennie's heart raced in her chest, her mind spinning with conflicting emotions. She didn't want to burden Lisa with everything—not after what had just happened. But Lisa's persistent gaze made her crack. She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she gave in.

"It's nothing," Jennie mumbled, turning away slightly, trying to escape Lisa's prying eyes.

But Lisa wasn't having it. She took a step closer. "Come on, don't lie to me, Jennie. I can tell when something's wrong. What did she say?"

Lisa kept nagging, her worry and frustration evident. Jennie tried to deflect, but the weight of the truth she was holding in became unbearable. After what felt like minutes of silence, Jennie's resolve crumbled.

"I told her I love you," Jennie finally blurted out, her voice shaky.

Lisa froze, her mind momentarily blank. Jennie stood there, vulnerable and exposed, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them.

"I love you, Lisa," Jennie continued, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Not just as a friend... but more than that."

Lisa's breath caught in her throat as she heard Jennie's confession, the raw emotion hitting her like a wave. Her heart pounded in her chest as Jennie's voice cracked.

"I'm so confused," Jennie whispered, tears now slipping down her cheeks. "You keep leading me on to somewhere I don't understand. I can't figure out what we are. I don't know if you feel the same way, and it's killing me."

The sight of Jennie's tears broke something inside Lisa. She had never meant to hurt her, never wanted Jennie to feel this kind of pain. But in trying to protect her own heart, she had only ended up hurting the one person she cared about most.

Without thinking, Lisa walked forward, gently cupping Jennie's face in her hands. Her thumb brushed away the tears staining Jennie's soft cheeks, and she looked deep into Jennie's eyes, the sincerity of her next words clear in her voice.

"Remember when I said I wanted you all to myself?" Lisa asked softly, her thumb still stroking Jennie's cheek. Jennie nodded, her lips trembling slightly.

"I meant that," Lisa confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't just mean it as a best friend. That was just me hiding the truth because I was too scared to tell you how I really felt."

Jennie blinked through her tears, her heart aching at the raw honesty in Lisa's words. She placed her hand over Lisa's, the warmth of their touch grounding her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jennie asked, her voice still shaky but filled with a kind of quiet strength. "Why didn't you say it a long time ago? Why did you hurt yourself like this, Lisa? You could have just told me."

Lisa let out a soft chuckle, the sound bittersweet. "I was scared, Jennie. I was scared you wouldn't feel the same way... that you'd reject me, and I'd lose you."

Jennie shook her head, a sad smile pulling at her lips. "You're the person who knows me better than anyone, Lisa. I love you. I've always loved you."

The weight of Jennie's words settled into Lisa's chest, and for the first time in a long time, Lisa felt something she hadn't allowed herself to feel—hope.

She took a deep breath, her gaze softening as she looked at Jennie. She had kept this secret for so long, afraid of what it might mean, afraid of losing Jennie. But now, standing on the rooftop with the cool breeze swirling around them, all of that fear melted away.

"I've loved you for so long," Lisa confessed, her voice trembling with the depth of her emotion. "Longer than I ever let myself admit. I thought I could keep it inside, that I could just be your friend... but I can't. I don't want to hide it anymore."

Jennie's eyes shone with unshed tears as she processed Lisa's words. "Why did you wait so long?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. "We could've been together. We could've been happy."

Lisa smiled sadly, her thumb brushing against Jennie's cheek one last time before she leaned in closer. "I was just scared... but not anymore."

Before Jennie could respond, Lisa closed the distance between them, her lips brushing gently against Jennie's. It was soft at first, tentative, as if Lisa was still afraid to push too far, too fast.

But as soon as Jennie kissed her back, Lisa melted into the moment. The kiss deepened, both of them pouring all the unspoken words and emotions they had kept locked inside into this one moment. Lisa's hand slid to the back of Jennie's neck, pulling her closer, and Jennie's arms wrapped around Lisa's waist, holding her tightly as if she never wanted to let go.

The world seemed to fall away around them, leaving just the two of them on that rooftop. The cool breeze, the distant sounds of the school festival below—it all faded into the background as they lost themselves in each other.

Lisa's heart raced, but it wasn't from fear anymore. It was from the overwhelming realization that this was what she had wanted all along. Jennie was what she had always wanted, and now, finally, she was here, in her arms.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they caught their breath. Jennie's eyes fluttered open, and a soft smile graced her lips.

"I love you," Jennie whispered again, her voice filled with the kind of certainty that Lisa had craved for so long.

"I love you more," Lisa replied, her voice equally steady, equally certain.

And in that moment, everything felt right.