Midnight Angel [Jenlisa FF]

~'~'~ Chapter 19 ~'~'~

All too soon for Jennie, dinner was over, and Jisoo had to get home before Jin began to worry about her. She walked Jisoo to the door, holding her friend's hand tightly. In the foyer, Jisoo turned and hugged Jennie, holding on slightly longer than normal.

"I'm so glad you came to see me today," Jennie told her.

"Me too," Jisoo agreed. "I promise to come by often."

Lisa, who had followed them out of the kitchen, leaned against the railing of the staircase. "You're welcome to come by anytime," she said to Jisoo. "Jin and Jackson, too."

"Thanks, Lisa." Jisoo paused, chewed hesitantly on her lower lip. With a sigh, she decided to spit out what was on her mind. "I didn't want to say anything earlier, but I started trying to get the information about...everything...from the Cambria PD's computer files."

Instantly alert, Lisa took a step toward Jisoo. They needed this information if they were to help clear Jennie's name. "Did you find anything?"

"I didn't have time to try much," Jisoo answered. "I just started poking around to get an idea of the security and encryption. I don't think I'll have much trouble getting into their files, though."

"That's good," Lisa said with a nod. "You'll let me know when you have something? I don't want to call my friend until we have all we can possibly get."

"I will. I'm going to work on it tomorrow," assured Jisoo as she glanced down at her watch. "Oh! I better go before Jin freaks. Thanks for dinner!"

~'~'~

From the doorway leading into the living room, Lisa watched as Jennie sat on the floor and played with Shadow. She was laughing and smiling, swishing the kitten's feather toy around. It warmed her heart to see her doing something so normal. If she didn't know about her past, she would have thought she was just a regular girl. Which, really, she was. She had just been through hell.

The difference in Jennie in only a short period of time was amazing. When she had first seen her at Kim's house, she'd been silent and non-responsive. Not surprising, Lisa thought. She had been kept secluded for four long years. But since the secret Mr. Kim had kept since the murders had been revealed, Jennie had come out of her shell. There were still shadows cast over her, but she could see some of her old glory being recaptured. It made her wonder what she had been like before everything had happened before the rape.

When Jennie looked up and smiled at her, Lisa felt the increasingly familiar pounding of her heart. Her smile was so beautiful. And she loved seeing it, loved that she smiled at her. What would have happened, she wondered, if she had met her years before?

"Hey," Jennie greeted her.

"Hey," Lisa returned. "Shadow seems to be having a good time."

"Yeah," she grinned, lifting the feather toy up in the air, which made the kitten raise up on her hind legs to reach it.

"So...umm," Lisa fumbled slightly. "I thought maybe...that we could watch a movie or something."

"That sounds like-." Fun, she had meant to say, but a knock at the door cut her off.

Lisa frowned. she wasn't expecting anyone. And with Jennie staying with her, she had to be careful. "I'll see who it is. Stay in here, okay?" she asked.

Jennie nodded her head, and Lisa walked out into the foyer. A peek out the side window made her groan. It was Mr. Kim. She knew Jennie's father had every right to stop by to see how her daughter was doing, but she knew it wouldn't be easy for her. It would certainly wipe the simple smile off her face. Unfortunately, Lisa knew that Mr. Kim needed to know what was going on, so she had to let the man in.