Start from Scratch (JenLisa Adaptation)

26

'110 Percent'

Lisa's POV

The corridor of the courthouse, looked like it came straight out of Law and Order. As I sit on the bench, watching Jennie pace back and forth in front of me, I keep expecting to see Sam Waterston's, 'Jack McCoy' come around the corner.

"Jennie sit down, you're going to wear a grove in the floor if you keep pacing like that. Why don't you write in your journal?"

Other than a grunt, Jennie ignored me and just kept pacing. I then looked down at her open journal next to me, which she had started to write, but stopped.

Journal of Jennie's Haunted Head.

Day 78

I fucking hate waiting... I hate it, I hate it, I hate it... almost as much as I hate him...

That's where Jennie stopped and started to pace, some 2 hours ago.

Jennie stopped pacing momentarily, "How long has it been Lisa?"

I glanced at my phone, "2 hours and 13 minutes. Exactly 6 minutes after you asked me the last time."

With a dissatisfied huff, Jennie resumed pacing.

If you're wondering why Jennie is pacing, it's because we are waiting for the verdict in Kai's trial. The jury has been out for 2 hours and 13 minutes.

A lot has happened since that evening where we went out to eat at that Italian restaurant some 45 days ago. After that dinner in which a lot was said, I retreated back into my shell and sort of stayed there. It was comfortable in my shell. Jennie however, worked as diligently as ever on her recovery.

We talked a bit more than we did before, but not all that much.

A few weeks later, something happened.

Flashback

It's the day of the start of Kai's trial and opening arguments were scheduled to be heard. Jennie had gotten up before me and was out of the shower before I even got up. I knew that she was up early because she was planning on attending the trial.

I had come out of the bedroom, dressed for work and was about to head to the kitchen to eat breakfast when I saw Jennie.

She was sitting on the couch, dressed in a woman's business suit, staring straight ahead. She looked visibly scared.

I sensed something was wrong and walked over. "What's wrong?"

"I'm scared. I'm scared to go. I have to face him. If I don't go, I'll move backwards. The D.A. said I don't have to attend if I really don't want to. But I have to go. I can't go backwards, ever." Said the feline eyed girl with a quivering voice.

It was then, that moment, watching an utterly terrified Jennie gathering the courage to leave, that something hit me.

That Jennie is giving every ounce of herself into making herself better and even more than that, confronting Kai when she didn't have to. I knew that before but seeing the anguish in her eyes, really hit home.

On the flip side, I also realized, that while Jennie was giving 110 percent, I wasn't. I was barely helping myself let alone Jennie. Sure I cooked, cleaned and let her stay, but that was nothing. Here Jennie is going to court and did I even consider taking the day off to go with her as support. No, I didn't. Actually, it never occurred to me.

As I was standing there, half in shock from my realization, Jennie got up and mumbled. "See you later."

Before I knew it she was gone.