Midnight Angel [Jenlisa FF]

~'~'~ Chapter 17 ~'~'~

Lisa turned when she heard Jennie moving about to enter the room. She'd set her clothes down on top of the dresser and was now wearing her clothes. The sight made her heart thump wildly in her chest. Her t-shirt was huge on her, the neck hanging almost off one shoulder. It likely would have hung to her knees, but she had tied it in a knot on her left hip. The shorts, though, did drape to her knees. If they hadn't had a drawstring, she had no doubt they wouldn't have stayed up. For some reason, the look was incredibly sexy. And again, she told herself thoughts like that were completely inappropriate.

"I have to go in to work for a little while today, but I shouldn't be gone too long," she finally said in order to distract herself from lascivious thoughts of Jennie in her clothes.

"Okay," Jennie mumbled, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable. "I, um...thanks for letting me stay here. I'll try not to be a pain."

"Jennie." Lisa walked over and untwined her hands which had been twisting together in front of her. she held them lightly while she spoke. "It's not a problem at all. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want."

Jennie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled up at her. "Thanks."

"And you're free to have anything in the kitchen or watch the TV or whatever. I've got a few movies you can watch, or there are a bunch of books if you like to read. Just don't go...," Lisa paused, unsure of how to say the next thing without upsetting her or making her angry.

Reading her mind, Jennie gave a slight nod of her head. "Don't go outside, right?"

"Yeah."

"It's okay. I understand," Jennie replied. She wouldn't admit it, but she really didn't want to go outside. Not here in Cambria where everyone thought she was crazy, and a murderer. And dead.

"Well, I um...I guess I'll let you get to sleep," Lisa stated as she released Jennie's hands and started toward the door.

The loss of contact slapped at Jennie the moment Lisa let go of her. Her touch felt so natural. She hadn't wanted her to let go. But more, she didn't want to be alone right now. "Lisa?" she stopped, glanced at her. She said nothing for several seconds, unsure of what she wanted to ask, but finally went for it. "Would you...would you stay with me until I fall asleep?"

The softly spoken plea trickled down spine and set her nerves on edge, but she couldn't deny her. "Sure." Lisa slipped off her shoes and approached the bed, wondering how they were going to work this.

Seeing no other choice, since there weren't yet any chairs in the room, she sat down on the bed with her back leaning against the oak headboard. Not the most comfortable position, but it would do. Jennie hesitated for a moment. Did she really want to get into a bed with whom she hardly knew? She nibbled on her lower lip. This was Lisa, though. she was kind to her. she didn't think she was crazy or a killer. She didn't think she would do anything to hurt her, so she too climbed onto the bed.

"Thanks," Jennie responded gratefully, trying not to think about the fact that she was in a bed with Lisa. It was...strange. But not all that uncomfortable. For the most part.

Lisa was silent as Jennie lay down on her side, pulling the blankets up around her chest. The moment she'd settled herself in, a wave of exhaustion hit Jennie. It looked as though she would be able to sleep even though she'd thought she wouldn't. Blinking her eyes to fight off sleep, she tilted her head and looked up at the girl who'd offered her more than just a place to stay.

"Lisa?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah?" she shifted to look down at her blonde head nestled on the pillow covered in a soft green pillowcase.

"Why are you doing this?" Jennie questioned, needing to know the answer.

Lisa frowned, uncertain of her meaning. "Doing what?"

"Helping me," she clarified, then added, "Being nice to me."

It was a simple question, Lisa thought. Too bad she didn't have a simple response. she wasn't sure she even had a complete answer. Ever since the first time she'd seen her walking on the beach at midnight she'd been drawn to her. There was no way to explain why, when she didn't quite know herself. Even so, she needed to give her some kind of answer.

"Because you're a good person, Jennie, and I want to help you." Lisa winced. Lame answer, but it was the best she could come up with without sounding like an idiot.

Lisa wasn't sure if the answer was what Jennie wanted to hear because she said nothing. So, she watched as her eyes drifted closed. A minute passed in silence, and she thought she'd fallen asleep, but then she heard her say her name again in a sleepy whisper.

"Lisa"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you," she said, her voice muffled by the pillow and sleepiness.

Lisa smiled and settled back against the headboard. "You're welcome."

Lisa stayed awake as the sun continued to rise in the sky. It would have been useless to try to get any sleep now, not when she had to get up to go to work in another hour or so. Plus, if she had fallen asleep, she didn't have her alarm clock to wake her up. So instead, she sat on the bed next to Jennie, watching the sun inch across the room toward the bed.

She couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in the early morning sun. Her golden hair was spread out across the pillow, shining brightly under the sunlight. Her left hand was curled up near her head, shifting occasionally as she slept. The room was quiet except for the light sound of her breathing. She didn't snore. Lisa tucked that little fact inside her head.

Only a half hour or so had passed when a slight whimper from Jennie caught her attention. Gazing down at her, her muscles tensed. Her previously serene face was now marred with a furrowed brow and quivering lower lip. She whimpered again and her body twitched. The hand on the pillow clenched, grasping at the green pillowcase.

Should she wake her up? Or should she let the dream – nightmare? – run its course? she didn't know what to do. she didn't want to wake her up unless she had to, so she shifted closer to her and as gently as possible pried her clenched hand off the pillowcase. The motion never woke her.

Lisa held her hand against her chest, lightly trailing her thumb across her knuckles. The contact seemed to work because within minutes the tension left her body. Jennie breathing returned to normal, and her fingers loosened. she uncurled them further and laid her palm flat against her chest, all the while never stopping the soothing caress of her thumb on the back of her hand.

For the rest of the time Lisa was there, Jennie slept peacefully.