I Hate U | Jenlisa

Chapter 11

Fuck it.

Three weeks was too short. Way too short. As annoying as it was, Lisa made it clear to her often enough that she didn't want to give Jennie a chance.
Lisa was more polite by now, but dismissive, and it was driving Jennie insane.
She had done her best.

Jennie had greeted Lisa every morning with her widest smile, and in contrast had received only questioning looks from her confused classmates after Lisa just left her standing each time.
The more effort Jennie made with Lisa, the more amused the younger girl seemed to be.
Worst of all was Lisa's arrogant smile while dismissing Jennie.
No, the sassy looks Lisa gave her in class afterwards might be worse.

And it didn't get any better. Jennie could literally feel her time running out.
And the less chance she had of making friends with Lisa, the more Jennie wished she had a little more time.

"Are you okay, Jen?"

Jennie's head shot up, and she glanced at Irene, who was looking at her almost worriedly.

"Yes. Sorry, just thinking."

She glared at Irene, hoping her friend wouldn't inquire further. Unsuccessful, of course.

"Spill!",

she demanded.
Jennie sighed. Irene may have seemed cold, at least to others, but she always seemed to notice when Jennie had something on her mind. And she was really good at listening to her without judging.
So Jennie told her everything.

She told her that she didn't like Lisa. Disliked her because she was a potential danger to the school, which was under Jennie's responsibility as student representative.
She told Irene that she had been trying to find ways to somehow catch Lisa in the act when she broke school rules again, hoping to get rid of the potential danger and have Lisa expelled from school.
She told about the cigarette, and that she punished Lisa by working in the student council.
That Lisa actually had good ideas, and got involved in the discussions, although she was behind on protocol for doing so. That Lisa seemed to enjoy the work.
Jennie shared that Lisa was much friendlier when talking to other classmates who were not Jennie.
That Lisa was much more likeable than she often seemed, and how broadly she smiled.

Jennie didn't notice that she was smiling by now, too.

She explained to Irene how she had begun to enjoy the teasing between Lisa and herself, begun to miss it.
Lastly, she told her about her plan to somehow redeem Lisa's reputation, to prove to herself and her classmates that Lisa could be a good person if she wanted to.

"Maybe there's a reason why she beat up the boys back then...",

she whispered now, because some students had come into the class. Irene smirked.

"Hospitalized, don't forget that."

Jennie hesitated, then nodded.

"Still. I have a feeling she's a great person! Can be. Maybe she didn't even do it."

"But?"

Jennie looked at Irene and sighed.

"She hates me. She thinks I'm a conceited, arrogant, rich snob with no emotions!"

Irene blinked before laughing softly. Jennie rolled her eyes.

"What's so funny?"

"Of course she thinks that about you. She's not the only one, dear. You're not called the Ice Queen for nothing.",

she explained, looking at Jennie seriously.

"But that's not how I am!"

"You don't have to convince me, Jen, I know you're not like that. But I also only know because I know you personally."