shake the dust // JENLISA

Chapter 20

Lisa was really trying to be more patient, but she could feel that she was getting overly agitated, and if Jennie didn't fucking stop already, she was going to explode.

"Make sure everything runs smoothly!" Jennie yelled into her phone. "I don't care, just do it!" She ended the call, continued to pace across the lounge and dialled a new number. Lisa watched her pace four more times before her temper won.

"Will you please sit the fuck down? I'm trying to watch something."

Jennie's head snapped up and she looked at her as if she'd forgotten Lisa was even in the room. "I'm sorry, I just need to get all these things done. The caterers should be here."

Lisa's eyebrows shot into her hairline. "You ordered caterers?" She set the remote aside and stood, grabbing Jennie by the elbows and forcing her to stand still. Jennie only half-heartedly struggled. "Jennie, it's just dinner with your parents."

"I know, so it needs to be perfect."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Come on, you're being ridiculous."

Jennie tugged out of her grip, glaring. "I care what he thinks, Lisa! I know you don't give a fuck, but that doesn't mean I should roll over and embarrass myself. I don't even want to be doing this!"

Lisa felt a tick at her eyebrow, so she decided to leave it. Jennie was so fucking insufferable when she got frantic like this. Anything regarding her father sent her into a full blown panic. Lisa didn't like this either, but Chaerin's steps were absolute, and step 6 was dinner with the parents. Tonight was Jennie's, and tomorrow would be Lisa's. She didn't remember the last time they'd had dinner with either of their parents, though Jennie's parents usually wouldn't be caught this side of the city. Lisa was still surprised that they were even coming.

"Look, why don't you just try to enjoy yourself?" Lisa asked her. She didn't want this to turn into a massive fight, which it was heading to. Instead she grabbed Jennie's hand and rubbed a thumb along her wrist. "Relax, Jennie."

Jennie stopped fidgeting and closed her eyes to inhale and exhale deeply. She was shaking. Lisa pressed her thumb down and found that her heart was racing too. "I'm sorry," Jennie told her softly, voice barely above a whisper.

Lisa sighed. "It's alright. I know how you get."

The doorbell rang, and Jennie's eyes flew open. She rushed to let the caterers in and Lisa could only stand aside and watch as groups of people flooded in to decorate the place and start cooking. Lisa hated this. Why couldn't they just order food, or just make a roast themselves or something? If that wasn't good enough for Mr Kim, then he could fuck off. But Jennie didn't want to hear any of it. She was running around coordinating, and Lisa decided to leave the lounge to sit out back with the dogs. They were happily wrestling in the sand until they noticed her and bounded over in pure joy.

Lisa must have been outside for a long time before Jennie eventually found her.

"What are you doing?" Jennie hissed, eyes wide. "You need to get dressed!"

Lisa looked down at her jeans and t-shirt. "I am dressed."

"No! In the new dress I got for you. Go shower and change, please."

Lisa pressed her lips together. For a moment she merely stared at Jennie, feeling familiar irritation in her chest, but eventually gave in and stood. She brushed by Jennie and resisted the urge to throttle her. "You're fucking ridiculous," she growled at her. Jennie didn't even seem to hear her, because she was already flitting back into the kitchen to check on the food.

Lisa took her time in the shower just to annoy Jennie, then dressed in the crisp, new dress hanging by the cupboard. It fit her perfectly, and she was surprised that Jennie had been able to get one made so well. She knew it was newly made and not just bought, because Jennie was like that.