better

chapter 8

Taeyong slept through the rest of the ride home. Jennie knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep well later tonight, but let him be.

The bus coming to a stop was what finally woke him up.

"Are you that tired, Taeyong?" Rosé questioned, a bit shocked he had slept the whole way back. It's like he hadn't slept at all last night.

"I guess so. I thought I slept enough," he scratched his head, rapidly blinking his eyes.

Everyone started getting up, but not without giving Taeyong weird looks if they happened to glance at him.

"Why is everyone-" Taeyong put two and two together before finishing his sentence. Jennie had a big grin on her face. He grumbled, right before reaching into his bag for a face wipe.

"You still on for later?" Jennie laughed, following the others off the bus.

"You're paying for my icecream, then." Taeyong crossed his arms. Jennie rolled her eyes but agreed.

Everyone headed home from the schoolgrounds, happy to be finally be in the comfort of their houses. Jennie's mom was busy in the kitchen, laughing it up with Taeyong's mom.

"Oh, hi sweetie! How was your trip?" Her mom smiled.

"It was good," Jennie sat in one of the island's chairs. "Hello, Mrs. Lee."

"Hi, pretty girl," she teased her, squeezing her cheeks. "How was spending time with my son?"

"Oh, it was... something," Jennie tried to seem neutral about her son. She didn't want them to think she hated his guts, but she didn't need them thinking she was infatuated with him.

"Yeah? How so?" Her mom pressed, wiping down the counter.

"I had to sleep next to him in our cabin. Highly odd of a school to do such a thing." The teen crossed her arms, huffing.

"Well, to be fair, it is a Marriage class." Her mom reminded her.

"My son didn't do anything weird, did he?" Mrs. Lee kind of laughed, but she was still genuinely curious.

"Oh, no. Just being his usual, outgoing self," She nervously laughed, suddenly remembering the way he took care of her when she fell ill. "Well, I have to go. I'm meeting up with some friends at the mall."

"With who, exactly?" Her dad came from up the stairs, freshly showered and dressed.

"Just Rosé, her partner Doyoung, and Taeyong." She brushed it off, finding her shoes near the door.

"Oh, Taeyong did text me about that. He's on his way to pick you up soon," Mrs. Lee smiled. Jennie stopped dead in her tracks, and looked up at the older woman.

"He is?"

"Yes, he sent me the message a few minutes ago. I thought he would've told you too."

Well, Jennie would've preferred not to ride her bike, so she was glad to ride inside a car. She nodded, and went to stand outside, taking in the warm hugs earth offered.

Taeyong soon pulled up in his vehicle. Jennie started walking towards the car, ready to jump inside and enjoy some icecream. Taeyong parked his car, before hopping out. He went around the front, and got the door for her.

It made her take a double take, something that was small, but very thoughtful had her momentarily speechless. She remembered when she once went on a blind double date with Rosé, and her ex boyfriend, her then boyfriend preferred to dance to his unreasonably loud music than to get the door for his so called girlfriend.