so, do we like each other or not? // JENLISA

Chapter 31

Monday came and went. Lisa had sincerely hoped Jennie was telling the truth when she said everything that had been keeping her so busy would be resolved by then, but that evening Lisa had yet again arrived back to an empty apartment, and she had eaten her dinner alone. She didn't stay up late enough to hear Jennie get home.

But when Lisa called her on Tuesday lunchtime – something she did purely out of habit now, rather than any kind of expectancy – Jennie actually picked up. Lisa blinked in shock. "Jennie?"

"Is everything okay?" Jennie asked. Lisa could hear people talking in the background.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just…" Lisa faltered, realising she hadn't even had a reason for calling. "I wanted to know if you'd be home for dinner tonight."

Jennie sighed, and she sounded genuinely sorry. "No, I don't think so. Things are crazy here today."

"Do you want me to leave something for you?"

"Please. I do love your cooking," Jennie said. Lisa lit up inside.

"Okay," she said eagerly. "Any preference?"

"Surprise me," Jennie replied, and there was a hint of her old, playful self in there. Lisa could almost hear her smirking. But then, "I have to go, Lisa. I'll speak to you soon."

She hung up quickly, leaving Lisa feeling deeply unsatisfied and more than a little confused.

They were breaking up. She knew it. After a few more days of silence, Lisa even started rehearsing her speech in her head. She was determined to go out with dignity, to not cry or beg Jennie to take her back, but she knew it would be hard: this was the first time in her life that she'd ever desperately wanted a relationship to continue, and it wasn't even a proper relationship to begin with.

By Friday, she was spending most of her workday miserably Googling apartments. She had some pathetic idea that if she was even slightly prepared for her inevitable dismissal, it might hurt a bit less. She was slouched over her keyboard and aimlessly clicking her way through listing after listing, knowing full well that it was futile, when Violet slowly approached her desk. She moved like she was trying not to startle a sleeping animal, and yet Lisa still jumped when she noticed her loitering.

"Shit," she yelped, making Violet flinch away.

"Sorry," she squeaked. When she thrust out a piece of paper, her hands were shaking. "I just wanted to give you this invoice."

Lisa took it, guilt gnawing at her, and watched as she started to rush away.

"Violet," she called out. The intern turned to look at her with terror on her face. When Lisa gestured for her to come back, it only grew.

"Did I do it wrong?" she asked.

Lisa blinked. "What? Oh, no, don't be ridiculous. It's fine. Sit down for a second, will you?"

Violet found a chair and reluctantly dragged it to the corner of Lisa’s desk.

"Look," Lisa said. "I've been horrible to you ever since you started working here. It hasn't been intentional – I just want you to know that."

Violet blinked at her, looking oddly starstruck. "I thought you hated me."

"Not at all. It's just been a weird few weeks – months, really – and you keep catching me off guard. I've never known anyone to walk as quietly as you," Lisa said, and Violet smiled nervously. "I just wanted to apologise. You shouldn't have to creep around feeling scared that I'm going to bite you. I'm not like that, I promise."