DELICATE ★ JENLISA - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

The next few days were weird, to say the very least. I would wake up before Lisa, shower and make the both of us coffee, and I'd usually still have a little less than an hour to spare. I was careful not to wake Ark, though I had to admit, both her and the blonde in the room over were fucking adorable when they slept. Ark scrunched herself up into a tiny ball and mumbled in her sleep, while Lisa's long body stretched out on her bed. She stayed on the right side, but I still found her usual sleeping position, loose and sprawled out, humorous because it was the complete opposite of how she presented herself while awake.
She seemed to shift back into teacher mode though, even while in her apartment, because she didn't speak to me much and when she did, it was only to ask me why I was up so early. I wouldn't give her a real answer, because I didn't need to add my insomnia onto the growing list that she had of my problems.
Ark couldn't get enough of me though, and while Lisa got dressed, I got an earful of whatever was floating around in her head that morning. I didn't mind because she was cute, but I almost wished Lisa was as willing to talk as she was. I practically already knew everything about the girl; her favorite color was purple but it had to be a certain shade of purple or it was no good, she was good friends with Kyler and Blue, but she wasn't sure how she felt about Pauline, she wanted to be a race car driver when she grew up-
The list went on.
Even if I was staying in her apartment though, I hardly talked to Lisa. I convinced her to let me walk to her apartment from the grocery store, since she had to stay with Ark anyhow, so I only ever saw her in the morning, in class, and when I went to sleep. We didn't speak in class or at night because she'd already be in bed by the time I got back, which only left morning.
When my eyes shot open on Thursday, I realized I was staring into Lisa's worried emerald eyes. Her hair fell around both of us and her right hand was supporting her body as she hovered above me, her other hand on my shoulder. "Jen? Are you okay?"
I was sweating, shaking, and I knew I'd been having a nightmare. I could only be grateful that it wasn't about my parents because I wouldn't have been able to pull myself together so easily. I forced my body to control itself, sitting up as her hand fell off of me. I squinted in the darkness, but immediately stood up and hurried toward the bathroom door.
"I'm fine," I muttered, before closing the door behind me. After a few moments, I heard a soft knock.
"Jen?" Her voice sounded tired, but still laced with concern. "Please, what's wrong?"
I sat down on the lid of the toilet, exhaling. "Nothing, I just have to use the bathroom. Can you give me a little privacy?"
I expected her to continue pestering me about what had just happened, but instead, I was met with silence. I sighed in relief, putting my head in my hands. I honestly didn't think I would ever be able to consistently stay asleep for more than one or two days. I would never be normal, which I couldn't say I minded because normal was boring as hell, but I still would've preferred to have a less fucked up mind. I still would've preferred for my parents and my sister to be alive, and I still would've preferred never to have been introduced to Charles Carter.
Thankfully Lisa didn't try to talk to me about what had happened when I woke up on Friday morning, and that school day passed normally. Jisoo and I continued to make conversation, and I had to admit, I was warming up to her. She was sweet and funny, and I hoped maybe one day we could actually be friends.
But then again, hope was overrated.
I woke up on Saturday at around four in the morning, tossing and turning next to Lisa for what felt like forever. I didn't want to leave the room, in fear of waking up Ark, so I stayed in bed and studied the blonde's features. I could see how the situation might've appeared creepy had Lisa woken up, but I sat up against the headboard anyway and let my eyes travel over her face. She was fair-skinned, her only imperfection being the almost unnoticeable beauty mark under her eye, which wasn't really an imperfection at all. Her nose was long but slender, and its curvature suited her face well. I studied her long lashes and her plump pink lips, which were almost urging me to lean forward ever so slightly and just-
She stirred next to me and I pulled my knees up to my chest, waiting for her to awake and start to worry about why I was always up so early. But thankfully, her eyes didn't open and instead her hand tangled itself in her hair, her body moving closer to mine.
The door of her bedroom creaked open slightly, nearly driving me to jump ten feet in the air. I took my eyes off of Lisa's still face to see Ark slipping inside the room, squinting in the darkness.
"Jen?"
I looked over at the sleeping blonde next to me before sitting up and whispering back. "What is it?"
"I can't fall back asleep. Can you get me some water?"
I was already awake and Lisa was sleeping peacefully next to me, there being no signs of her waking up anytime soon, so I swung my legs over the side of the bed and ushered Ark towards the kitchen. I figured I didn't need to consult with Lisa to grab her niece a glass of water, so I did so and sat with the seven year old at the counter.
"Jen?"
"Yes?"
She looked at me strangely, "Are you Aunt Lisa's new girlfriend?"
I nearly choked on the water I was sipping on, and my eyes switched to hers in less than a second. "No, of course not."
"Why do you live with her then?"
I stuttered for a moment, before smiling tightly at Ark. "Well I needed a place to stay, and your aunt was nice enough to help me out."
"Are you um.. gay?"
I tilted my head, "Well yes, I am. Does that make you uncomfortable?"
"No! Mommy says that everybody is equal and that treating anyone differently because of who they are is wrong. Besides," she said, leaning towards me and speaking in a cute, hushed whisper, "I think Aunt Lisa likes girls."
I smirked. "You do, do you?"
She sipped at her water, shrugging. "I dunno, I think so. When will you and her be girlfriends?"
"What do you mean when? Ark I told you, your aunt and I are just... friends."
"But you both like girls."
I sighed, standing up. It was impossible to get frustrated with her because she was just too damn cute and she was looking at me with genuine curiosity, as if she had just made a really valid point. "Have you ever had a crush, Ark?"
Color almost immediately flushed to her cheeks. "Umm... well.. there's this boy.."
I smiled slightly, "Okay, so tell me, do you get a crush on every boy in your grade?"
"No of course not, that would be silly-" she stopped herself. "Oh."
I laughed, taking her empty glass and placing it in the sink. "Yes, oh. See Ark, just because we might both get crushes on girls, doesn't mean we automatically have one on each other."
"Well," she answered, slipping off the stool and taking me by the hand. The gesture was strange, something I wasn't at all used to, but it was normal for her. I got the impression that she was friendly with everyone. "I think you would be cute with Aunt Lisa."
I smiled tightly, leading her back to the couch. It was still only four thirty and she shouldn't even have even been up, so I figured I should try to put her back to bed. "I'm not so sure about that."
She sat down on the sofa, pulling me down with her. "I am, you make her smile. I thought I was the only one who could do that."
I already knew the answer, purely based on the time I'd spent with the woman in the past few weeks, but I asked Ark anyway. "Does she not smile often?"
"No.. I don't really know why, but I asked mommy one time and she said not to give her a hard time about it. I don't know, mommy says she's going through a hard time right now."
I didn't know why, but it felt wrong talking to her about Lisa. I felt like she was going to tell me something that Lisa didn't want me to know, and because of how much it meant to me, I tried to respect people's privacy. Then again, Lisa didn't seem very keen on returning the favor for me. Still, I smiled tightly and tried to put the seven year old to bed. "I see. Come on," I said, ushering her into a lying position. "You need to go back to sleep. You shouldn't be up this early."
"Neither should you."
"I know, I'm going to get back into bed as soon as you fall asleep."
She pressed herself against the blanket and pillow Lisa had gotten for her, yawning and staring up at me with large eyes. "Will you sing to me?"
"Um.. sing?"
She nodded lazily, "Yeah, Aunt Lisa always sings to me before I go to sleep."
That was news to me. I couldn't imagine the blonde in the room over singing, not to mention I had been here last Sunday when Lisa was putting Ark to bed, and I hadn't heard her. I guess she sung softly. "Um.. what do you want me to sing?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, whatever you want."
I was hesitant at first, but I decided that it couldn't hurt and started to sing the words my mother used to sing to me. I didn't remember all that much about my parents, after all, I was only five when they passed away. Still, I remembered very clearly what they looked like, and if I ever started to forget, I'd always have the picture Cate had given me of the four of us when she adopted me. I remembered a few of the little things, and I remembered both of my parents telling me they loved me.
I pushed the thought of them out of my mind, finishing the song. I was sure I didn't have the best voice, but Ark seemed to be pleased as I finished and brushed the light blonde hair off of her forehead. "Goodnight Ark."
I made to get up but she reached out and grabbed my wrist, looking at me pleadingly. "Can you sleep with me? Just until morning?"
I bit my cheek, really unsure of what to do. I didn't know how pleased Lisa would be with me growing close to her niece, but I sighed and sat down. I figured I would lie down with her until she drifted off again, and then I would slip back in Lisa's bedroom.
I settled against the armrest and stretched my legs out on the couch, Ark cuddling into me. She curled into a ball and let her head rest on my chest, her eyes already beginning to close. I readied myself to get off the couch, but for once in my life, I felt secure with Ark's petite hands wrapped around my neck, and I found that I couldn't have stopped myself from drifting into sleep if I tried.
I heard noises, and as I began to awake again later that morning, my stomach lurched forward and pain shot up my abdomen. I immediately opened my eyes to see Ark on top of me, scurrying up my body until her arms were wrapped around my neck. "Jen! Protect me!"
I tried to even out my vision and though I felt like I needed to throw up, I smiled through the pain. Ark had landed on my bruises, the ones that were still painful to touch, and I couldn't lie and say it didn't hurt like hell. I sat up slightly, turning back to see Lisa towering above me, flour on her face and in her hair. She pried Ark off of me, placing her down on the coffee table. "Ark! Come on, Jen was sleeping."
"Well she's not anymore.."
Lisa sighed, and even though I was in loads of pain right now, I still couldn't help but crack a smile at seeing the blonde looking an absolute mess. She turned to me. "Sorry, I tried to stop her."
I tried to stand, smirking slightly. "It's okay, I wouldn't want to miss whatever this is," I said, gesturing to her body.
She tilted her head and turned back to Ark, bringing her hands to the smaller girl's abdomen and tickling her. "That reminds me," Lisa said, paying no attention to the fits of laughter Ark was breaking into. "I still need to get this one back for the flour."
I admittedly enjoyed this side of her, even if her obvious happiness was directed towards Ark and not me. Ark tried to push her hands off, spitting through fits of laughter, "S-S-Stop Aunt L-Lisa, I'm s-sorry!"
Lisa pulled back satisfied, running a hand through her messy hair. I looked towards the kitchen, which was just as disheveled as she was. I finally succeeded in standing up, wincing and placing my hand on my stomach.
She took immediate notice. "Shit are you okay?"
Ark slid off the coffee table, looking at me worriedly. "Did I hurt you Jen?"
I smiled tightly, waving the seven year old off. "No Ark, of course not."
She shrugged and turned towards the kitchen, but Lisa shot me a doubtful look. I pulled my lips into a thin line, whispering, "My stomach hurts like a bitch."
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect her to jump on you. Do you need Advil or something?"
I nodded slightly, heading towards the stool by the counter and sitting down. I smirked, glancing at the kitchen, which was filled with random ingredients. "What is happening?"
Lisa groaned and picked Ark up, putting her on the stool next to me. "I promised her a couple of weeks ago that we would make cookies... the flour in my hair was not necessary though Iz," she said, turning to seven year old.
She smirked, "But now you look cute!"
Lisa cocked her eyebrow, "Was I not cute before?"
"I guess you were a little cute, but now you're even cuter and you have me to thank. Jen, tell her she looks cuter now."
I lifted my eyes to Lisa's, biting my cheek. "It's a good look for you."
Lisa shook her head, wetting a dish towel and wiping her forehead. "Thanks."
"I have to go to the bathroom," Ark said, before hopping off the stool and scurrying towards the bedroom. Lisa sighed and placed her hands on the counter, supporting her body.
"She's a pain in the ass."
I smirked, "But you love her."
She shrugged, beginning to pick up some of the bowls and place them in the sink. "Course I do."
I fell silent, taking the glass of water and Advil from her hands. She finished with the dishes and we waited for Ark to return to the room, but she was taking a pretty long time, which left us sitting in silence.
"So... how exactly did you end up on the couch with Ark last night?"
"Uh, she came into your room asking for water, and I was awake so I helped her. I guess I fell asleep after she asked me to stay with her."
"She made you sing to her, didn't she?"
"I don't know about made, I didn't exactly put up much of a fight. But yeah."
She smiled apologetically. "You could've woken me up."
"I was already up and I didn't mind, really," I answered, shrugging.
She frowned, walking around the island to sit down next to me. "You're always up." When I looked away and sighed, she got the point and didn't press any further. "Your phone was going off this morning. A lot. I think it was Charles."
I raised my eyebrow, "You think?"
"Okay, I know it was Charles. And Cate... and someone named Taemin."
"Do you normally snoop?"
She shook her head, "No, and I promise, I wasn't snooping intentionally. You weren't in bed so I figured you were in the kitchen or something, and I was going to give it to you. It was that or I sat there all morning and listened to it go off."
I picked up my phone from the spot she had gestured to, scrolling through the texts on the lock screen. "Whatever you say Lisa."
Charles had texted me sixteen times, Cate three times, and Taemin only once.
The first few from Charles were nice, simply asking me if I was okay and if I needed him to pick me up from anywhere. I assumed that he had begun to notice my absence, which took him long enough, because his initial tests projected worry. There was a time gap between the fifth text and the sixth, and I realized he must have start drinking around one in the morning because the texts got worse and worse as I scrolled down. How hadn't I heard these last night?
"Would you say Charles is clinically insane? Like I said, didn't mean to snoop, but.. how can he go from so.. concerned, to......"
"Animalistic?"
She shrugged, basically agreeing with me. I sighed, "I don't know, he definitely has issues. I'm not sure if when he's sober, he really doesn't know that he's abusive, or he just chooses not to acknowledge it. Either way..."
"Either way, I think he needs to be put in a psych ward."
"I'm hoping for prison, but I guess as long as he's locked up somewhere, I'll be fine in the long run."
"How long until your birthday?" she asked, Ark running into the room at almost exactly the same time.
"Six months, give or take."
"Wow that's uh.... that's a long time."
I nodded, "Yeah.. and... you really can't expect me to live here for that long. It's not that I mind, but I'm eating the food that you pay for and I'm putting you in harms way. Seriously Lisa, what if Charles finds out where you live and tries to-"
"Jen stop, I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself. I get that Charles could theoretically find me and hurt me, but that's a risk I'm willing to take, okay?"
"But it's not theoretical-"
Ark glanced up curiously, taking her eyes off the oven to cut me off. "What are you guys talking about?"
I immediately stopped talking, realizing that there was a child in front of us and that she could probably comprehend what was coming out of our mouths if she tried to. Lisa spoke up next to me, "Nothing Iz, grown up stuff. Are the cookies done?"
I found it interesting how easily Lisa could distract her niece. Ark smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I think so, look!"
The two directed their attention away from me, though I knew Lisa continued stealing glances in my direction. I slipped off the stool and sat back down on the couch, running a hand through my hair and reading Cate's messages.
I'm worried sick Jen, if you're staying somewhere else, can you at least tell me?
Come on Bec, are you mad? I'm sorry I didn't text you sooner, Charles said you were staying at a friend's...
Okay look if you're sleeping, text me when you wake up. If you're just flat out ignoring me, please realize it's driving me insane.
I sighed, finally going over the text that Taemin had sent me.
Jen, this is Taemin. It's done. I'll find a way to get to your school sometime soon. Be on the look out. Stay safe.
I wondered what phone he was texting me from, because I knew he didn't have one. Before I could get too deep into thought, Lisa's voice ripped my eyes away from the screen and I almost instinctively locked my phone and tossed it on the couch.
"You want any Jen?"
I looked up, seeing Ark stuffing her face with chocolate chip cookies and I smirked. "Looks like Ark's eating enough for the both of us."
She paused, the cookie she was holding centimeters from her mouth. Her eyes raised to mine and spoke through her full mouth. "Nomeh doznt lat meh eet-"
"Stop talking with your mouth full Iz, I'm sure whatever you're trying to say can wait a few seconds."
Ark rolled her eyes, finishing her cookie and sticking her tongue out at her aunt. Then she turned to me. "Mommy doesn't let me eat junk.. I need these cookies. Aunt Lisa is the best. Hey.." she said, narrowing her eyes. "You're not going to tell mommy are you.."
I laughed softly, shaking my head and holding my hands up. I stood up from the couch and walked over to the two, resting my arms on the counter. "My lips are sealed."
She smirked, reaching for another cookie but Lisa waved her finger, pulling the plate away. "Nuh uh, you've had enough. You can have another after dinner tonight, okay?"
Ark shrugged, walking away from the kitchen to play with her toys in the corner of the apartment. "Have any magical plans for the day, Aunt Lisa?"
She shook her head, picking up a cookie. "No actually, I don't. Can I drive you to work?"
I glanced at the clock, realizing I probably should have been getting ready by now. I'd actually gotten a lot more sleep last night than I usually did. "I guess so."
She nodded, beginning to walk off toward where Ark was sitting on the floor but I stood up straight, pulling at her wrist. She turned to me, shooting me a puzzled look.
"I don't get it Lisa, why do you do that?"
She shook her head. "What are you talking about?"
"You're not like this during the week... like, at all. Why are you so different Monday through Friday, even out of school?"
The blonde sighed. "Jen, I can't treat you like I normally would during the week, okay? I just can't. I'll undoubtedly slip up in school, and the next thing I know I'll be in handcuffs in the back of a cop car and even though I'm pretty sure I'd fucking dominate in prison, I really don't want to test that theory-"
"What are you talking about? You'll slip up? You're not allowed to talk to me during the week, even when we're not in school?"
She ran a hand over her face, leaning against the wall. "Jen, every time I talk to you, my conscience slowly starts to fade away and I find myself wanting to do everything that my mind tells me is wrong. Don't take that the wrong way because I don't mean sexually, I just mean..." she sighed, obviously frustrated. "Never mind. Look, you don't need to question it, just accept the fact that I have to act differently in school."
I groaned, separating myself a little bit and sitting on the arm of her couch. "And I'm a frustrating person. You are so difficult to understand."
She narrowed her eyes. "Then don't try."
I opened my mouth to speak, but then I realized I had no words to say. I stood up, shuffling toward her bedroom. "Whatever Lisa, I need to take shower."
She let me walk into the bedroom without speaking, and I immediately headed towards the bathroom. Obviously she should have been concerned about her own safety, I understood that. But the thing that didn't make sense to me was that even on mornings during the week, she seemed to force herself to give me the cold shoulder. Even when we weren't in school.
What the hell was that all about?
"Will you be here next time Aunt Lisa watches me?"
Ark sat on the couch, frowning at me. Lisa was in the shower, apparently trusting me enough to leave me alone with her niece. I had to admit, the fact that she seemed to trust me made me undeniably happy. I kind of figured that after I had lied to her a countless amount of times, trust probably wouldn't be something I could expect from her.
"I'm not sure how long I'll be here for," I muttered in response. Ark immediately frowned and I scooted closer to her, trying to muster up a smile. "But hey, I sure hope so. You're a pretty cool kid, you know that Ark?"
This time she grinned, unfolding her legs to jump on me and pull me into a hug. "You're cool too."
I laughed slightly, pulling away after a while. "Thanks."
Lisa came into the room then, wearing her slim pair of black shorts and a loose grey long sleeve that fell off her shoulder on the right side. She was drying her dirty blonde hair with a towel when she looked up to see Ark in my arms, and something in her expression shifted. "Iz, you can relax, alright? I'm certain you'll see Jen again. Mommy's next case is next weekend."
"I have to wait a whole week?"
I had to laugh a little bit, separating myself from Ark and sitting up. "You're going to miss me that much?"
She furrowed her eyebrows, as if it was a stupid question. "Well duh.."
It was weird, because with Lisa staring at me curiously and with Ark looking at me the way she was, I felt content. Aside from Taemin and maybe Cate, the few people that had shown me they cared weren't alive anymore. But I could tell that Ark held a sort of admiration for me in her eyes, and it melted my heart. It made me feel secure.
That was something I wasn't used to feeling.
Lisa's eyes switched from Ark's to mine. She nodded her head towards the kitchen and spoke, "Mind helping me with something real quick?"
I nodded and pulled away from Ark, trailing behind Lisa towards the kitchen. The seven year old got up off the couch and headed in the opposite direction, towards the corner of the apartment where her toys sat.
"What's up?"
Lisa offered me a slight smile. "I just figured you could use a break. She has been literally on top of you all weekend. I don't think I've ever seen her so infatuated with anyone in her seven years."
I sat down at the island. "Actually.. I don't mind at all. Believe it or not.. it's kind of nice to be around someone that actually does want something to do with me, and isn't burdened by my existence."
She frowned slightly, "You're not talking about me, are you? because that is not at all how I feel about you.."
I shook my head. "No Lisa, I wasn't talking about you. But that's uh.. well, good to know."
She shrugged. "I'll admit, I like having you around. This way I don't go insane from hanging out with a child all weekend."
I felt my cheeks growing hot for some reason. I silently cursed myself; the only thing she had said was that she didn't mind my company. Why was that getting to me so damn bad? "Well it's pleasing to know that you don't think of me as a child."
She pulled a pan out of the cabinet next to the oven, placing it on the stove. "Well to be fair, I'm trying to convince myself otherwise for me. It's hard for me to accept that we slept together, and I'd prefer not to have to think of myself as a child molester."
"I'm seventeen."
"I know."
With that, she turned around and started the flame on the stove. It was noon and I was surprisingly hungry, but I couldn't focus on what she was cooking because my eyes were glued to her backside. Her shorts didn't stretch down any farther than below her ass, revealing her long, toned legs. They were fucking perfect.
"Jen..."
I looked up to see her glancing over her shoulder, before she turned around completely. She crossed her arms over her chest, and even though I knew she was about to reprimand me for checking her out, I still couldn't help but find the fact that her shirt loosely hung over her shoulder ridiculously sexy.
"What?"
"You're going to check me out regardless of how many times I tell you not to, aren't you?"
I shrugged. "Most likely. Take it as a compliment and stop being so uptight all the time. Most people feel flattered when they catch someone else checking them out."
She sighed. "Yeah, I'm real flattered."
"You should be. I mean you've got my attention... and it's pretty damn difficult to do that."
"Is that right? Just how high are your standards exactly, Jennie Carter?"
I visibly winced and her face fell, her eyebrows contorting in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Please... don't use my last name. I usually force myself to be okay with it when people use my full name because they don't know any better, and they wouldn't unless I told them.. but you already know about me."
She shook her head. "I'm.. sorry, I don't understand."
I sighed. "Charles forced me to take his last name when he and Cate adopted me. He's normally a nice guy when he's sober... but I guess it was just something that mattered to him. If I was going to be part of the 'family', it had to be official."
She opened her mouth as if to say something, and I could tell that she hadn't even thought about the fact that Carter wasn't my real last name. Well now it technically was, but I would never lose track of my identity.
She couldn't form words, so I spoke again. "It just reminds me of him. It's usually not a big deal, but since you already know about Charles, do me a favor and refrain from using my last name?"
Lisa nodded absentmindedly. "Uh, sorry."
"It's fine, really."
She stayed silent for a while, pushing something around on the stove, before turning to me. "Can I ask.... what your real last name is then?"
I bit my cheek, turning away. It wasn't that I didn't want her to know, I just wasn't exactly excited about sharing more information about myself. Hadn't I told her that she wouldn't be able to get anything else out of me?
I watched as her face fell again and she nodded, turning around. I stayed silent for a while, before I finally sighed and spoke. "Kim."
"What?"
"My last name. It's Kim."
She turned the flame off, turning back to me. She smiled slightly, "Jennie Kim, huh?"
I raised my eyebrows and she just smirked. "Cute."
My cheeks flushed and I looked up at her. She was considerably closer now, bracing her arms on the island I was seated at. Her smirk was evident, and I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood, even if it made her uncomfortable.
The doorbell rang and Lisa took her eyes off of me, seeming to sigh as if the sound had interrupted something. She pushed the pan onto a cold section of the stovetop and headed towards the door, opening it to reveal a dark-haired woman nearly as tall as her, though she had the exact same piercing green eyes. I knew it was her sister, who I had yet to learn the name of.
Her sister's eyes immediately found mine and she smirked, whispering something to Lisa that I couldn't quite catch. Lisa appeared flushed, which was a strange ass sight to see. The woman pushed passed her sister and stalked into the apartment, immediately heading towards me.
She extended a hand, smiling almost teasingly. "Ashley," she said. "And who are you?"
I shook her hand and tried to maintain my eye contact with her, but it was admittedly difficult. "Jennie."
"You seem to be here quite often, Jennie."
I didn't know how to respond. Thankfully, Lisa jogged forward and pressed her body in between Ashley and I. "Quit it Ash."
The woman simply raised her eyebrows and put her hand on her hip. "Are you going to talk to me?"
"Not today, no."
Ashley smirked and turned back to me almost immediately. "So how do you know my sister? Where'd you meet?"
I stuttered, though I figured I didn't have to lie about that. "U-uh, a bar."
She clicked her tongue. "Classic. So, have you two slept together?"
Lisa groaned, "For the love of god Ashley-"
I smiled tightly, "We're friends."
Ashley tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Funny, Lisa said the same exact thing... though something tells me I'm not exactly getting the full truth and I'm a lawyer, a good one at that. I know when people are lying to me-"
"Mommy!" Ark's voice cut her mother off, and I breathed in relief, sinking against the back of the stool. Lisa appeared just as relieved as I was, and Ashley merely smirked and directed her attention towards her daughter. She picked Ark up, swinging her around before placing a kiss on her forehead and situating her in her arms.
"I missed you, baby. How was your week?"
Ark smiled, wrapping her arms around her mother's neck. "Awesome! Did you meet Jen?"
Ashley smirked. "Yes, I did."
"Isn't it cool? Jen's been living with Aunt Lisa and she's been playing with me every day-"
Lisa interjected. "Okay Ark, I think that's enough. Time to go."
Ark frowned, but Ashley seemed to have a shift in expression opposite her daughter's. "Jen has been living with Aunt Lisa, has she?"
"Yeah and she likes girls too! Isn't that awesome?"
Ashley's grin couldn't seem to get any wider. "Oh I think it's fantastic. Lisa, did you hear that? Jen likes girls too!"
I had absolutely no idea what to do with myself. Lisa took notice to my discomfort and shot me an apologetic glance, before grabbing Ashley's wrist and dragging her towards the door. She picked up Ark's bag of clothes and handed it to her sister, before ushering her into the hallway. "I hate you so much," I heard Lisa whispering.
Ashley rolled her eyes, looking at Ark. "She doesn't mean that Isabelle, she's just annoyed because she can't lie very well."
Ark smiled and hopped out of her mother's arms. "Wait, I didn't get to say goodbye to Jen."
She ran over to me and jumped into my arms, sending me stumbling back. I smiled slightly and hugged her back, a little uncomfortable doing so in front of her mother and aunt, when Ashley didn't even know who I was.
"See you next time, Iz."
"Bye Jen."
She ran over and hugged Lisa too, whispering to her so that I couldn't hear, before starting down the staircase. Ashley lingered, whispering something to Lisa that again caused her cheeks to flush, before starting down the staircase as well. Lisa forced her expression to harden, before closing the door and stalking over to me.
"Your sister is.. interesting."
"She's an ass is what she is, and she knows it too."
I smirked, "I can see how she'd make a good lawyer."
Lisa stayed silent and walked over to the pan, putting whatever was in it on two plates. She handed one to me and started towards the couch, sitting down and sighing.
"Does she really not know... about.. us, or was she just teasing you back there?" I asked, genuinely curious. I doubted Lisa would be excited to go around to her friends and family sharing the information that she'd slept with her seventeen year old student, but after Ashley had seen me last weekend, I wondered if Lisa had told her.
She shook her head. "She doesn't and I'd like to keep it that way because that's all she will do in the future, tease me, if she learns that we've had sex."
I sat down on the couch next to her. "You don't seem too bothered anymore by the mention of us having sex."
"Well I've had to get used to it because somehow it has come up in literally every conversation that I have had with you."
I smirked a little. "I actually don't think that's an exaggeration."
She pushed around her food, sighing. "Yeah, I don't either."
She turned on the TV and I settled into the couch next to her, picking at my food and trying not to become distracted by her distinct scent, which was quickly surrounding me. We both set our plates down after a while and though we sat in silence, it wasn't uncomfortable. I was fine with not talking, and she seemed okay with it too, so we sat like that for the remainder of the afternoon. I wondered if she usually spent her weekends like this, relaxed and uneventful, or if she just wasn't going out because I was here and she didn't want to leave me alone in her apartment. I hoped it wasn't the latter, but then I also considered why the first possibility could be. I suddenly remembered Jackson saying she didn't make friends anymore. Did that mean she didn't have any or she just didn't need to make new ones because she had enough?
No matter how many times I tried to stop my mind from wandering, I couldn't keep myself from thinking about the blonde next to me.
I was almost certain about one thing; she wasn't normal. She was different than anyone I'd ever met, and whether that was because she was closed off and strict one minute but open and concerned the next, or simply because she compelled me to want to talk to her about my past in a way that no one else could, I couldn't convince myself that it wasn't true. There was just something about her.
The question was, what was that something?