Through Her Eyes (JenLisa)

Backwards and Forwards

Jennie got sick and Lisa kissed her.

It was the rain. Lisa was positive she could blame the whole thing on the rain. She'd always heard that staying out in a storm would make you sick.

Jennie had been trying to befriend the rain but clearly it hadn't wanted to be friends. Lisa didn't see why not.

They spent all evening under the downpour, Jennie laughing and complimenting the dew covered leaves and telling Lisa excitedly how all of the city would be green when the rainbow came.

Lisa had loved it. She'd been there beside Jennie and she'd anticipated the rainbow that hadn't come in the darkness, but it didn't matter because Jennie was there, a kaleidoscope of color within herself.

Jennie's hair was still damp when she'd fallen asleep, Lisa's fingers numb as she raked them through the knotted locks.

In the morning, Lisa woke to feed the stray cats that she knew would be waiting on the back porch. When she left the bed, Jennie was still fast asleep but Lisa wasn't surprised to hear Jennie's soft footsteps padding down the hallway after her.

After the first time Lisa had left while Jennie was sleeping to go to work, Jennie had started to wake immediately when Lisa moved from the bed. Lisa was sure she should have felt guilty, but mostly she wanted to have Jennie around all the time.

"Do you know any of the strays besides Leo?" Lisa asked as she was pouring the cat food into bowls. Jennie gravitated naturally to Lisa's side, their arms pressed warmly together.

"Strays?" Jennie repeated, picking a piece of cat kibble out of a bowl and considering it thoughtfully. Her voice sounded odd and when Lisa turned towards her, Jennie looked odd, too.

Not odd in the way Jennie decorated her face with glossy and powdered colors, or the way she wore huge bows on her head. Jennie looked odd because she looked naked, vulnerable. Her skin looked pale and when she looked up to meet Lisa's gaze, Jennie's eyes were puffy and red. Before Lisa could ask the question, Jennie cut her off with a violent sneeze.

Lisa froze and Jennie tried to look down at her nose disapprovingly, cross-eyed.

"You okay?" Lisa asked, glancing around the kitchen. "Want a tissue?"

Jennie snuffled and wiped her nose on the cuff of the sweatshirt she was wearing. Which happened to be Lisa's.

"Guess not," Lisa observed. When Jennie laughed, the sound was hoarse, and Lisa frowned, stroking her fingertips against Jennie's neck.

"You're hot," Lisa said, startled.

"Yes," Jennie agreed.

"No, you're—hot. Your skin. Is warm. Hot." Lisa moved her touch fluidly to Jennie's cheek, Jennie's skin silky beneath her fingertips. Her skin was warm, but then, Jennie was living, her skin should have been warm, right?

"Yes," Jennie agreed again, like it was not cause for concern.

"Here, come here." Lisa moved closer, pressing herself into Jennie's space. Whether Jennie knew what Lisa was doing or not, Jennie was comfortable and happy to have Lisa close to her.

Lisa pressed their foreheads together. She could feel Jennie's breath against her lips. It was close, hot. Lisa stood, bare skin pressed to Jennie's, and Jennie met her eyes curiously. "I saw this on TV," Lisa said dumbly. "But I don't know if I'm doing it right."

"I like it," Jennie said, nudging the tip of Lisa's nose with hers.

"I must be doing it right, then," Lisa teased, nudging Jennie back.