Exposure

Deafening Silence

For the first time since her mother had become the Dean, Jennie let herself into the mansion. Closing the heavy oak door behind her she was immediately hit with the sound of music. It was just like her mother to have live music playing. For ambiance darling. She could practically hear her mother and see the obnoxious hand gesture she would make at the comment.

And for once, Jennie was actually grateful for her mothers over the top, showy tendencies.

The soft and calming sounds of violin and cello filled the empty spaces of the house, like background music in a cinematic love scene. The music wasn't the main focus, but still, it guides your emotions. Had there been no music, or a different arrangement, this movie scene could be playing out differently.

Horror. Young girl enters old home rumored to be haunted to attend a party to save her love. But will she be able to save her in time? or will she too, face a grim fate?

Action. Heroic woman fights against her own blood to save the girl she loves. but will she be strong enough to stand up to the enemy that is also her family?

Fantasy. The brave hero faces her fears, hoping to prove her love as she faces the monster she's lived her life afraid of.

All scenarios were much too dramatic to be realistic, though. She was simply attending a dinner being held by the dean because the girl she was sort of dating had asked her to. With the unfortunate coincidence that the dean happened to also be her mother.

And, saving her from a monster? Jennie realized standing in the foyer of the home that, this was a situation she could have avoided had she only been honest with Jisoo in the first place. It was her who had been the monster. A hard exterior, hurting those around her in an effort to protect herself. But then again, love makes monsters of us all.

She let her coat fall from bare shoulders and placed it on the rack near the door. There was the sound of dishes clanking and muffled voices carrying through corridors of the large mansion as Jennie made her way towards the dining room. It was to the left of the main entrance, a smaller dining area, the same one they had used for thanksgiving.

Jennie made her way through the empty room, her hand brushing along the velvet cloth on the chairs pushed in under the long dining table. She walked to the opposite wall from where she had entered and stood in front of the door, taking a breath.

Clattering of dishes and glasses, food being put on plates and pulled from ovens. Jennie pushed the door open and strode into the kitchen carefully. It was her ritual. It had started when she was young— Dinner parties for her mothers friends, colleagues, bosses, whatever it was. Chaerin always wanted to make a good impression and paid good money for the best food and drinks she could get.

As a little girl, Jennie would sneak into the kitchen and hide under a counter. She was good at going unnoticed and would steal cookies, pieces of chocolate and any other treat she could find while hiding from her mother. When she got older it changed from hiding under the counter and stealing food, to making friends with the staff. She avoided her mother, knowing she would never enter the kitchen, while the serving staff snuck her wine or champagne and the best pieces of cake.

She took slow steps through the kitchen, the staff ignoring her and moving about as if she wasn't there. She grabbed a handful of chocolate chips from a bowl on the counter and tossed one in her mouth. As she made her way to the door on the other side of the room, the one that led into the formal dining room, she knew it was different this time. No more hiding away in the kitchen.

"Stealing chocolate again, are we?"

Jennie smiled, her hand on the door, and turned around. "Well if it isn't my favorite chef."

"Jennie." Taeyang offered a mock bow and smiled happily at her. "Do my eyes deceive me or were you about to actually join the party?"

"You saved me just in time." Jennie tossed a chocolate chip in her mouth and walked over to the counter we has working at, leaning her hip against it.

"You know..." Taeyang continued to stir whatever it was that waist the bowl in his hands, "You've been stealing my chocolate for years and never once have I seen you actually eager to attend one of your mothers parties."

"Maybe I'm in the mood for some thrilling conversation." Jennie tossed another chocolate chip in her mouth, glancing around the kitchen.

Taeyang looked at her, unconvinced, but nodded anyway. "You know we have better chocolate than that."

"Do me a favor?" Jennie grabbed a few more from the bowl, "If I get stuck in there, send me some." She threw a chip up in the air, catching it in her mouth, then winking at Taeyang before pushing herself away from the counter and walking to the door.

She walked through the door slowly, knowing by entering late and from the room where the servers came, she would most likely go unnoticed. She wasn't here to make a grand entrance or create waves. It wasn't about her or showing up for her mother. She was there for Jisoo. If it was possible for her to slip in, find the other girl, talk to her and leave without her mother even knowing she was there— thats exactly what she wanted to do.

The formal dining room was much larger than the empty one she had walked through earlier. Her mother had removed the dining table, converting it almost into what resembled a small ballroom. Tall ceiling, wood floors, chandelier and a large entryway that led to the library. The two room combined offered the perfect space for people to move about comfortably and uncrowded while Chaerin could show off her collection of antiques and books.

Leave it to her mother to take a dinner meant to highlight students and use it to make herself look better.

Jennie placed the last chocolate chip on her tongue as she looked around the room. Students, Professors, CEO's... Then there she was. Her back was to Jennie but she knew it was Jisoo the second she saw her.

Honey brown hair, loose curls. A maroon dress, neckline cut wide and barely hanging on her shoulders. The front dipping just below the collar bones and curving in a wide round shape across her chest. Sheer material that dipped in a V on her back, the curve of shoulder blades and path of her spine visible through the thin fabric, the point of the V ending at her low back. The fabric on her torso clung tightly, showing her thin figure and delicate curves, the dress loosening at her waist, relaxing and falling loosely, ending just above the knee.

Jennie let her eyes trail the length of Jisoo's body, her palms pressing into her thighs, an attempt to ignore the regret of not having her camera with her. She smiled at the nervous hand motions and shifting of her body weight as Jisoo stood with a small group of other people. She didn't recognize any of them, besides Lisa standing next to Jisoo with a plate of food in her hands. Jennie chuckled as Lisa lifted a chip with dip to her mouth only to have the dip drop and tumble down the front of their shirt.

Her smile faded when she saw her mother making her way towards Jisoo and the group of students standing together near a book case. Jennie stilled her shoulders and fixed her posture, taking a deep breath, she started making her way across the room.

Jennie cringed as she heard her mother speak to Jisoo. Her voice was cold and slick, the same tone she used when she was displeased with Jennie. It sent ice through her veins and she could feel herself getting angry before she had even joined the conversation.

"Well, Kim Jaesu." Chaerin pressed her hands together firmly, an unimpressed look on her face as she looked down her nose to Jisoo, "What is it you are studying?"

"Its Jisoo. And she's studying Journalism."

So much for slipping in unnoticed.

Jennie stepped up next to Jisoo and reached out for a glass of champagne as a server walked by with a full tray. She took a slow sip from her glass while her free hand reached out, a warm palm pressing gently on Jisoo's low back, her fingers softly sliding across sheer fabric, fingertips lingering before dropping back to her side. Her eyes trailed Jisoo's body over the edge of her glass before moving back to the stern woman in front of her.

"Hello, mother."

Chaerin shifted uncomfortably, her lips tightening and her eyebrow slightly arching. It was the first time Jisoo had seen her even slightly lose her composure, even if she corrected it immediately.

"Jennie." Her voice was frigid and controlled. "Do tell, how do you know Jisoo?"

Jennie took another slow sip of her drink, knowing the only way to beat her mother at her own game was to stay calm herself. So thats exactly what she was going to do.

"Well, Jisoo is the reason for my passing grade in psychology."

Chaerin look taken back by the statement and her eyes quickly fell back to Jisoo, "Is that true?"

Jisoo had been staring at Jennie until this point. Not just for the way she had flawlessly appeared out of nowhere, but her demeanor was that of someone there with purpose. Whatever uncomfortable energy she had when talking about her mother had disappeared, replaced by something else entirely. "Well, yes, technically. But thats not exactly—"

"Don't be modest." Jennie smiled, cutting her off and pulling her mothers attention. "She has me meeting her twice a week to study."

"Really?" The Dean looked from Jennie to Jisoo, a new expression on her face. Almost as if she was torn between being surprised and impressed.

Jisoo nodded hesitantly, "Yes. But it's really not—"

The Deans attention had already shifted back to her daughter as she ignored what Jisoo was trying to say "Had I known all it took was a pretty face, it could have saved us years of bad grades." Her tone was teasing, in a malicious way. Almost like she was challenging Jennie, trying to prove her superiority.

Jisoo wasn't sure how to take the comment but before she could even think of a response, Jennie was already speaking.

"Oh I assure you, she's more than just a pretty face." Jennie's voice was calm and matter of fact. Not letting the obvious backhanded statement get to her. This was all a game to Chaerin, and the only way to win was to play the same way she did. Unaffected and calm.

"Is that so?" The Dean rolled her eyes, her weight shifting and body language making it clear she was reaching the end of her patience with Jennie's attitude. It seemed her daughters ability to keep her cool was something new, and not at all something she was used to dealing with.

Jisoo looked between the two women, their eyes locked on each other intently. It was a staring contest no one would be brave enough to interrupt. She swallowed hard, not sure what to do in this situation. The rest of the people that had been standing there had already slinked away to other parts of the room at the very obvious yet controlled confrontation. That is, everyone except Lisa.

Lisa still had a plate of food in her hands that seemed to lift higher and closer to her mouth the more intense things got. Slow bites and wide eyes, as if she was watching her favorite dramatic television show. She couldn't look away, and for a good reason. This whole thing was unpredictable.

Jennie glanced over at Jisoo, the first time since stepping up next to her moments before, and her face softened as she looked over Jisoo's features. Her eyes looked determined, not angry, as she looked at her. Jisoo realized the initial touch, the soft hand on her low back was Jennie's subtle way of letting her know she was there for her. Even if they were on shaky ground.

Jennie turned back to her mother and gave her a satisfied grin. Almost like she was excited to rub in the fact that she knew more about Jisoo than the dean did. "Jisoo is at YG on an academic scholarship after graduating with honors and as her schools valedictorian."

The Deans unimpressed and slightly frustrated expression softened slightly as her attention fell back to the smaller girl who was staring at Jennie, now slack jawed. Chaerin's face wasn't as angry, more shocked, as if she felt she should have known that.

Jennie quickly continued before anyone else could speak. "She's pursuing a double major. Journalism and Communications. She's already been accepted for an internship at one of the most popular newspaper office next semester and currently writes for the school paper here."

The Deans lips pressed together tightly and her posture became more rigid as Jennie continued.

"Among other great pieces, she has a column I'm sure you've read. The weekly highlight of your esteemed professors." Jennie's tone was almost smug, but not to the point where it was sarcastic. She just sounded proud.

"That's your column?" The Dean asked raising an eyebrow.

Jisoo was pretty sure she looked just as stunned as the Dean did. She had to mentally tell herself to close her mouth as her jaw had dropped at Jennie's list of her accomplishments.

"Um, yeah, I write. I- I write." Jisoo nodded, fumbling over words. She wasn't sure what was making her act that way- being intimidated by the Dean or the incredible way Jennie was so simply sticking up for her. She didn't even know Jennie knew all that about her. Sure she probably mentioned it over the course of them spending time together, but she was sure she was mostly talking to herself and that Jennie wasn't even listening most of the time.

"That's been a great addition to the paper. I must admit I'm impressed." Chaerin's voice actually seemed genuine as she looked down at Jisoo. Even if Jisoo's inability to string together a coherent sentence at the moment was giving her her doubts. "I am curious though, how do you decide who to highlight every week?"

Jennie's lips twisted up into a half smile before she brought her glass up for another drink. She turned to look at Jisoo, letting her answer for herself this time, as the Dean had shifted from arrogant to actually interested.

"Oh, well.." Jisoo licked her lips, hoping the words in her head would actually come out of her mouth in a way that sounded like English. "It's an open poll for the students. They submit teachers names and at the end of the week we tally them and see who was nominated the most."

Words. Actual words. Great job Jisoo.

Jennie smiled before turning back to her mother casually, "Students usually nominate teachers that are, you know, making a difference and actually furthering their education in a way thats uplifting and positive."

The Dean smiled like it was thanks to her that there were teachers among them considered to be such an influence on the students at YG.

"I've read every single one of Jisoo's articles and don't recall seeing you being highlighted. Curious." Jennie paused, taking a sip of champagne as her mothers smile dropped and her eyes narrowed angrily at her. "I'm sure you'll be nominated though. Eventually."

The Deans face hardened immediately and Jisoo watched as her and Jennie stared at each other. Lisa's jaw dropped and her eyes widened even further, if it was even possible. It was a blatant insult and Jennie's voice had been completely smooth and calm as she said it. It seemed being on the receiving end of her mothers game for so long had taught her how to play well enough to keep up.

The Dean turned to Jisoo and pressed her lips together in a tight smile, her expression shifting to hide her annoyance of Jennie. "It seems I didn't give you enough credit Miss Kim." She clasped her hands in front of her, falling back into the formal air she had entered the room with. "It's clear the reason you were chosen to join us tonight. I'm proud to have students like you here at YG."

She turned to Jennie, her features hardening immediately, "You, however. Won't you join me for a moment? In private." Without waiting for a response she turned and walked away stiffly .

Jennie chuckled quietly and rolled her eyes, taking another sip of champagne. Jisoo noticed the slight tremble of Jennie's hand as she finished what was left in the glass and handed it to her. It donned on her that Jennie had just gone toe to toe with the same woman that had left her a trembling and silent mess on thanksgiving, without showing an ounce of nervousness or intimidation until just then.

Jisoo slowly took the glass from her, a stunned expression still on her face. She couldn't decide if what had just happened was real or not. Jennie saying all that to her mother and the dean actually saying something nice to and about Jisoo in the end.

Jennie's shoulders relaxed slightly as she looked Jisoo up and down once more, "Well don't you look..." She finished her sentence by licking lips as she looked up at Jisoo through long eyelashes.

Jisoo swallowed heavily at the look in Jennie's eyes, "I'm not the one in a corset. Which, wow."

"That. Was awesome!" Lisa stepped forward and shoved Jennie's shoulder excitedly. "I can't believe you said all that! You make Chu sound like a bad ass!"

Jennie sighed frustratedly and turned to look at Lisa, "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Lisa looked between the two girls and realized she was probably interrupting something, "Right. My bad." She shoved another chip in her mouth as she turned and walked away awkwardly.

"By the way-" Jennie called after Lisa, waiting for her to turn around, "That dip in of your shirt? Snail eggs."

Lisa's mouth opened immediately, her tongue sticking out of their mouth and half chewed food dropped onto her plate. "Not cool." She frowned before taking off towards a server with a tray of drinks to rinse out her mouth.

Jennie turned back to Jisoo with a smirk, "You look surprised, cupcake. I do listen to you sometimes."

Jisoo's eyebrows came together worriedly and she leaned in close to whisper, "You didn't have to say all that. You can't just lie—"

"What part of that was a lie?" Jennie whispered back, raising an eyebrow.

Jisoo pulled back, her face confused as she tried to replay the conversation. Technically everything Jennie said was true. She does meet her twice a week to study. It was a requirement to raise Jennie's grade. Just because the Dean probably took it differently, wasn't really her fault.

"Jennie." Chaerin called her impatiently, giving her a stern look.

"Duty calls." Jennie's voice was sarcastic but the heavy breath she took gave away her nervousness. She gave Jisoo a small smile before taking a step backwards towards her mother. "Breathtaking, by the way."

"What?" Jisoo asked, not sure what Jennie was talking about.

"You look breathtaking." Her smile was small but sincere as she looked at Jisoo before turning and joining her mother in a private corner.

—

The night seemed to turn into a game of cat and mouse. The only problem was, Jisoo wasn't sure which part she was playing. She would think she was about to catch Jennie, then would find herself in a trap the dark haired girl had set for her instead.

Since their first interaction that night, they had remained almost a room apart. Sharing glances across the room, subtle looks and private smiles. Jennie moved about the room like it was what she was made to do. Drawing eyes and captivating whoever she spoke to. Jisoo watched her, just as entranced as everyone else keeping her company.

Jennie was speaking quietly with a few professor, polite smiles and carefully chosen topics, when Jisoo caught her eye. A sly smile and casual nod invited the brunette to join them. Slowly Jisoo made her way across the room, not recognizing the people Jennie was talking to made her a little apprehensive to join them. All eyes turned to Jisoo as she stepped up next to Jennie with a slightly nervous smile. Jennie turned to her with an expression that calmed her immediately.

"Professors, you know Jisoo right?" Jennie asked, gesturing to the girl next to her. She had a way of stating it like they would be stupid not to know her without it sounding rude. She went on to introduce the professors to Jisoo. One from the Philosophy department, another from the Business Department and one over Environmental Studies.

"We were just discussing the long term effects economical advances have on the environment and how if the way we approach business development doesn't change we will be facing major struggles environmentally in the near future." Professor Park (environmental studies) turned to Jisoo casually for a response.

"Seriously?" Jisoo chuckled humorlessly, glancing at Jennie, internally glaring at her for bringing her into a conversation she would have absolutely nothing intelligent to add to.

"Yes, seriously." Jennie smiled and looked back to the professors, "Jisoo actually shared an idea with me the other day that would probably be beneficial from both business and environmental standpoints."

"I did?" Jisoo asked slightly confused. When Jennie gave her a pointed look she turned back to the professors with the best smile she could muster, "I mean, yes. I did." She looked back to Jennie, hoping for some sort of guidance as to what she was talking about.

"The bike thing." Jennie gave her an encouraging nod before turning to look at the server that had just appeared at her side.

"Oh that!" Jisoo chuckled, remembering a rant she had gone on a few weeks before, "That was just a silly idea."

Jennie thanked the server as she took the small dish from the tray, "Tell them anyway." She gave a courteous nod to the professors and picked out a small piece of chocolate from the dish, "If you'll excuse me." She placed the chocolate on her tongue before turning and leaving them there with their attention now on Jisoo.

Jisoo looked back to the professors, all giving her expectant looks. Before she had the chance to over think it, she started talking, "I was just telling Jennie about an idea I had to start a non profit organization that would accepted used or broken bikes and hire people to fix them by sharing parts between bikes. But instead of being paid monetarily, they could earn a bike of their own." She paused briefly and was shocked to find the professors listening like they were actually intrigued. "It could provide a mode of transportation for people that can't afford cars or bus passes while cutting down on pollution caused by public transportation."

"That's actually quite an interesting idea." Professor Park nodded thoughtfully. "I could see it being especially useful in towns like our own. Where students are a large majority of the population."

Jisoo was stunned that these professors had actually considered her random idea something worth discussing. It was also surprising how easily she fell into conversation with them after that point. A few minutes later and she was walking away feeling more confident than she had all night. She caught sight of Jennie across the room and quickly made her way to her.

Once again, thinking she had caught Jennie— she actually ended up being the mouse again, falling right into the trap Jennie had set for her.

Just like the time before, Jennie introduced Jisoo to the people she was talking to, and somehow brought up a topic that Jisoo could talk about with them. And just like before, a server appeared at her side with another plate of chocolate and Jennie excused herself from the group and walked away with a coy sway in her hips.

After the third time this happened, Jisoo was trying to decide if she was more impressed with Jennie's ability to somehow start a conversation Jisoo could actually contribute to no matter who it was with, the fact Jennie had actually heard and remembered enough stuff Jisoo had talked about in the past to make that possible, or how easily she set it up then disappeared, always with some new piece of dessert that Jisoo was sure wasn't being offered to everyone else (Lisa had basically raved over every food available to them by now).

Jisoo was grabbing a new glass of champagne after yet another successful chat with a new group of professors, feeling pretty good about herself and how the night was going, when she saw Jennie and Lisa standing together on the far side of the room. They were standing with one other person, an older man with facial hair and a bowtie. He must have been another professor that Jisoo hadn't met yet, but it was interesting to watch them interact. Jisoo wondered what Jennie and Lisa could be having a conversation about. They barely talked when they were hanging out socially, and she couldn't imagine their classes overlapping at all to make for easy course work conversation.

Then it happened. A server landed at Jennie's side with a smile, offering her yet another small plate of chocolate pieces. Jennie took it with a quiet thank you before excusing herself and leaving Lisa and the older man to continue their conversation without her.

"Miss Kim."

Jisoo nearly choked on her drink when she heard the Deans voice directly behind her. Doing her best to gain her composure she turned around quickly and saw the Dean approaching her with another woman.

"Yes. Hello. Again." God, this woman made her lose her cool.

The dean turned to the other woman, "This is the student I was telling you about."

The woman held other hand to Jisoo, "Its nice to meet you Jisoo. I'm Nina Ahn."

"Nina Ahn?" Jisoo took her hand with wide eyes, "As in, Editor/Photographer of The Herald , Nina Ahn?"

Nina chuckled, "Yes, that would be me."

"Oh my gosh! Its so amazing to meet you!" Jisoo shook her hand enthusiastically, "I mean, I heard you might be here tonight but its amazing that you are and even more amazing that I'm actually meeting you and shaking your hand and I should probably stop that now." She let go of Nina's hand and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Nina just smiled at her and gestured to Chaerin, "Dean was just telling me you've been accepted for an internship position at The Post for this next semester."

Jisoo just nodded, knowing if she opened her mouth she might end up in a never ending rant again.

"That's a great opportunity, especially given the fact that you'll only be a junior." Nina turned to the Dean with a smile, "They usually only offer those positions to students about to graduate. She must really be talented."

The Dean smiled at Jisoo proudly and it took everything in her not to roll her eyes. Just earlier that evening she was pretending not to remember her name and now she was showing her off. Sure it was working in Jisoo's favor too, but still. Stupid.

"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Jisoo." Nina held out her hand again and laughed when Jisoo took it, shook twice and immediately let go with a wide smile. "I'll keep my eye out for you. I hope to see your name come across my desk after your graduation."

"Of course. That would be— I mean, it would be amazing to work with you." Jisoo was beyond excited and just trying not to ramble. She offered an awkward wave when Nina turned to walk away but stiffened slightly when she noticed the Dean had chosen to stay, and her eyes were locked on Jisoo thoughtfully. "This has been... a really great dinner. Everything was amazing."

"It seems there are a lot of amazing things happening tonight, no?" Chaerin looked amused and on the verge of annoyed. Like she hadn't decided if she actually liked Jisoo yet or just liked that she was able to use her to show off her schools achievements.

Jisoo looked around nervously, wishing she had some magical server to pop up at her side with chocolate and make a quick exit easy like Jennie had gotten all night long. She would even settle for Lisa throwing dip on her at this point just to get the Dean to stop looking at her with her cold and contemplative eyes.

"Jisoo."

At least she was getting her name right now.

"It seems I misjudged you earlier, and I apologize." Chaerin held out her hand with her palm in the air, her eyes still on Jisoo, and immediately a glass was being placed in her hand seemingly out of nowhere. "You are quite impressive and its clear from the amount of times I've heard your name tonight among my professors and guests that you are someone to keep an eye on. You are going places."

"Wow. Thats— thank you." Jisoo was blown away by the candidness of the conversation happening, but couldn't help but feel there was something else attached to it that wasn't entirely praise.

Chaerin took a sip of her drink and nodded tightly, "I would hate to see that go to waste because of poor choices in who you associate with."

"I'm sorry?" Jisoo hoped this wasn't about to go where she thought it was. "I don't think I understand."

"I can appreciate your willingness to help my daughter. Heaven knows, it probably wasn't an easy task." Her expression was annoyed as she spoke about Jennie. "I just hope you're as smart as you seem and aren't playing into her games and wasting time that could be better spent improving your future opportunities."

Jisoo was completely stunned. Besides the initial hand on her lower back, her and Jennie had seemed nothing more than acquaintances the whole night. That was actually thanks to Jennie. Every time Jisoo tried to spend time with her, Jennie had somehow found a way to leave without Jisoo being able to follow.

Suddenly she wondered if that was on purpose and possibly because of something the Dean had said to her when she first pulled Jennie aside when she first showed up.

"Jennie is actually extremely intelligent and so, so talented—" Jisoo started, hoping to be able to stand up for Jennie like she had for her earlier but was quickly cut off.

"Darling please." Chaerin waved her free hand dismissively, "I know where this is going but you should quit before she ruins you."

Jisoo's eyebrows pushed together. Theres no way she was saying what Jisoo thought she was. Right?

"She's a diamond. And stone cannot love flesh." Chaerin's eyes bore into Jisoo's. Her smile was tight, her features cold.

Jisoo understood immediately why Jennie had shown up at her door on thanksgiving. The woman standing in front of her was uncaring and something about the way she looked at you made it feel like the blood in your veins was freezing. How she had gone from praising her 2 seconds ago, to now subtly telling Jisoo to keep her distance from Jennie was astounding. What was strange was that Jisoo felt that the Dean was telling her that she wasn't good enough for Jennie— even if the things she said about her daughter were less than loving.

Jennie was the diamond. The stone. Jisoo was flesh. Stone cannot love flesh.

Jisoo nodded slowly, not sure how to respond. It was a strange crossover of Dean and her non-girlfriends mother and she wasn't sure what to do or how to navigate the situation. She glanced away from the woman in front of her and caught sight of Jennie. She was leaning against a book case, small dish in her hand, placing what looked like chocolate chips in her mouth one at a time. It was the first time all night that Jisoo had seen her by herself and she wished more than anything that she could be standing with her.

"Aww, darling." Chaerin rested her hand on Jisoo's shoulder. It was a sign of comfort, of reassurance. But it was empty. "Take my advice. Take a step back before you become just another one of her many short lived distractions."

Jisoo looked back to the Dean with a straight face. The worst part about it all is that everything the dean was saying, was things Jisoo had thought herself. Was Jisoo just another girl on the long list that have fallen for Jennie already?

Was it fair to think the Dean cold an callous when Jisoo had been worried of the very things she was using to try and push Jisoo from her daughter?

"Thank you, again." Jisoo's voice was quiet and her smile polite, "It's been a lovely evening."

Chaerin must have accepted that as an agreement between them, offering Jisoo a tight nod before turning and walking away. The sound of heels clicking against hard wood as she crossed the room gracefully.

Jisoo glanced back over to Jennie, still leaning against the book case, eating one chocolate chip at a time. Although she had made conversation with practically every person there that night effortlessly, it was clear she preferred whatever solitude she had at the moment.

Jisoo hadn't actually had the chance to talk to Jennie all night. Honestly, she was still trying to get over the initial shock of her showing up in the first place. She had been completely against the idea of attending this event from the beginning, then after the way things went earlier that morning Jisoo was stunned that not only had Jennie shown up- but she had gone to bat for Jisoo against her mother and helped Jisoo shine in front of all these influential people.

Jisoo saw Jennie's posture stiffen. She set the dish in her hands down and brushed her hands together as Chaerin approached her. It was interesting to see the way Jennie held herself in different situations.

Around Jisoo she seemed relaxed, her smile was genuine and was actually something that happened often. Her eyes were softer and movements more gentle. That night Jisoo had noticed when Jennie was talking with professors and other guests, her posture was strong and confident. Her features tighter, not cold but careful. Just like her words. The way she spoke was different. Practiced. Deliberate.

Then with her mom the confidence struggled to remain. Her whole body seemed tense, as if she was bracing herself for a physical blow when really she needed a shield from the verbal lashings and mind games that seemed to happen instead. Her shoulders curved forward slightly, the way you would expect prey to curl in on itself when faced with a predator they knew they couldn't outrun. But her eyes remained determined and her jaw set. What she lacked in physical confidence against her mother, she gained in the fierceness of her eyes and the careful words and controlled breathing.

"I can't believe this night." Lisa stepped up next to Jisoo with a glass in each hand. She handed one to Jisoo before taking a drink from her own. "I don't know what you did but you're like famous tonight."

"What are you talking about?" Jisoo asked, finally looking away from Jennie and the Dean.

"If I had a quarter for every time I heard someone mention you tonight, i'd have, well, a bunch of quarters."

Jisoo chuckled and shook her head, "You're exaggerating."

"No. Really." Lisa nodded, "I would have been upset about it if Jennie hadn't saved me too a minute ago."

"What do you mean?" Jisoo was now paying better attention, curious if they were talking about the scene she had caught earlier.

"I was talking with one of the head scientists of Polar Industries and I was tanking. Like, talking about fish with feet, tanking. It was bad." Their face looked mortified at the memory as they were telling Jisoo about it, "Then like some conversation super hero, Jennie showed up and asked me about my theory of being able to turn plant material into what could become a usable fuel source, which was something I was talking about with Chaeyoung between classes once. And sure, Jennie was sitting there but she was waiting for you so I figured she wasn't even aware we existed. Cause you know how she is. Broody and antisocial and-"

"Lisa." Jisoo interrupted, "you're getting a little off track."

"Oh. Right." She took another drink and wiped their lips before continuing. "So she asked me about the experiment, which the Polar Industries guy seemed interested in. Then she just left. But less like a super hero into the night, and more like someone who just got handed a plate of something that looked delicious before she walked away."

"Yeah, she's been doing that to me all night too." Jisoo looked down into the liquid of her glass. She would have understood if Jennie helping her was an apology of some kind for how things had gone that morning- but helping Lisa would have been purely because she wanted to.

"Once I realized how easily Jennie had turned things around for me just by changing the topic of conversation I realized what a waste of time those cards were." Lisa shrugged and finished her drink, "Screw cue cards, I need to get myself a Jennie."

Jisoo chuckled, her eyes scanning the room where she had last seen Jennie, but the spot was empty. Her eyes widened, worried after having to deal with her mother again that maybe she had left.

"Glad she could help stop the fish feet talk." Jisoo responded without much thought. She was more focused on finding the dark haired girl.

—

Jennie took the plate that had just been brought to her and excused herself from the conversation with the mad scientists. How she ended up there in the first place was a mystery. But she wasn't going to watch the red head talk them self into a grave with 'fish with feet' longer than she had to.

She changed the subject to something less mortifying for the girl but she knew the truth; Taeyang was the real hero tonight. How he managed to send someone over with a new treat for her at just the right time all night was amazing. And every time it was a small taste of something new and delicious. Becoming friends with him was quickly becoming her best decision ever.

He must have run out of creative things to send her because this time I was a small dish of chocolate chips. Jennie made her way over to an empty space against a book shelf and relaxed against it.

She had forgotten how exhausting playing nice and actually trying to make a good impression was, but she wasn't about to ruin this night after what her mother had said to her earlier.

-

"Jennie." Chaerin called her impatiently, giving her a stern look.

Jennie looked at Jisoo, wishing she could stay, but the tone of her mothers voice made it clear now was not the time to ignore her. Her fingertips still burned from the memory of thin fabric covering Jisoo's back. The way Jisoo's eyes lit up when she realized who was stepping up to her side had given Jennie hope that she hadn't ruined everything. That if she could just be honest with Jisoo, everything would be ok. They would be ok.

Standing there, she felt herself take a calming breath for the first time since Jisoo had gotten out of her car that morning.

Just as quickly, her lungs emptied and she felt a tightness in her chest and knew she couldn't fight it any longer. She was in love with Kim Jisoo. And she had to tell her.

"You look breathtaking." Her smile was small but sincere as she looked at Jisoo before turning and joining her mother in a private corner. She knew right away it wasn't good, just by the slow tap of Chaerin's fingers on her upper arm as they sat stiffly crossed over her chest. "What is it mother?"

"Don't play games with me, Jennie." Chaerin's voice was quiet but biting. She was smiling, in case anyone was paying attention to them, but the look in her eyes let Jennie know she was serious.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You wanted me here, and here I am." Jennie was less confident than she was a minute ago when talking about Jisoo. Apparently she was fine with helping someone else shine in front of her mother but felt it was useless to try to make herself seem worth being proud of.

"I don't appreciate you trying to make me look like a fool at my own function." Chaerin watched Jennie roll her eyes, only making her more angry. "Make no mistake, if you continue to behave this way I have no issue making things for your little... pet, difficult."

Jennie met her mothers eyes quickly, "I don't think thats necessary." She tried to shift her demeanor from worried to careless, "honestly, she's just some persistent girl that won't let me get away with ditching her at the library. I couldn't care less."

Chaerin raised an eyebrow, challenging Jennie's claims. "You know a lot for her to be just 'some persistent girl'."

Jennie stayed quiet, a simple shrug to try and sell the lie. She knew there had to be a way to please her mother and keep Jisoo out of her cross hairs at the same time. "So what do you want? I'll play nice, make you look good, whatever." She acted annoyed, hoping it would come off as her usual effort to get her mother to leave her alone instead of trying to keep Jisoo out of it.

Chaerin smiled, satisfied with Jennie's willingness to behave. "Remember. She'll be fine so long as you play your part tonight. Go against me... all bets are off." Her smile fell to a serious expression and her eyes narrowed at Jennie.

Jennie clenched her jaw, knowing her mother saw around her attempt to make it seem like she didn't care about Jisoo and would have no problem making things difficult for her if she didn't play by her rules. "You've made yourself clear."

"I should hope so." Chaerin turned and walked away without another word.

Jennie took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair. She glanced over at Jisoo, laughing and talking with a few other students and felt an ache in her chest. The whole reason she came tonight was to make things right with Jisoo, and now she wasn't sure that was possible with her mother watching her every move. Maybe there was another way to start making things right without her mother even knowing it was happening.

-

Just like before, her mother pulled her from her thoughts of Jisoo as she approached purposefully. Jennie quickly set aside the dish of chocolate chips and brushed her hands together nervously.

She had spent the entire night trying to soak up the seconds she was able to steal with Jisoo while also trying to keep her distance. It had been torture to walk away from her every time she was standing close, but she knew it was part of keeping her mother pleased. Her purpose had changed from making things right with Jisoo to making sure her mother stayed happy that night.

She felt her shoulders tense as her mother stepped up in front of her. Jennie's eyes sharpened, determined to keep up with her mother in the never ending game of superiority Chaerin loved playing so much.

"Shouldn't you be socializing darling?"

It was posed as a question but Jennie was smart enough to know it wasn't. It was a command.

"I've talked to every one of your guests by now. They all think I'm the brilliant and doting daughter of our great institutions fearless leader." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm and she knew instantly she had struck a nerve.

Chaerin's lips twisted into an un approving frown, "The night is not yet over, Jennie. Until you walk out that door, you know what I expect of you."

Jennie sighed, "Yes, I know."

"Good." Chaerin looked at the server that had just appeared at their sides and frowned.

Jennie took the plate and gave the server a look as if to tell them to hurry away.

Chaerin looked back to Jennie, "Is that chocolate cake? Honesty, how you always manage to find things not even being served at these functions astounds me."

Chaerin rolled her eyes and walked away as Jennie gripped the plate tightly, once again sending a silent thank you to Taeyang for having perfect timing. She set the plate down on the nearest surface and started walking across the room, opposite of where her mother had gone. The sounds in the room felt like they were getting louder by the second. Clanking of dishes and glasses. Pouring of liquid, vibrating strings from the instruments in the corners. Clicking of heels on the hard wood floor, chatter from guests about money, grades, jobs, futures. It was all too much and Jennie needed to get away from it.

Luckily her path to the door that led out to the back porch had been clear and she was quickly pressing her hand against cool glass of the door. She glanced back into the room quickly and paused with her hand on the door knob. Jisoo was standing with Lisa but looking almost franticly around the room. The sounds that had only seconds before been overwhelming Jennie started to dull, now only muffled background noise as warm brown eyes met hers.

A smile spread on Jisoo's lips and Jennie felt her own turning up to match. An entire night spent in the same room as her without being able to touch her, or kiss her, had seemed impossible. But as soon as she saw her smile, Jennie knew if thats all she was able to have for the rest of her life, it would be enough to mend her fractured heart.

Jisoo's eyes never left Jennie's as she started making her way to her, her smile growing with every step. Jennie felt a loss of air and the same feeling from the earlier that night filled her chest. Breathless and in love.

Jennie pressed her back against the cool glass of the door that led outside and watched Jisoo continue to approach her as the thought played over and over in her mind. She loved her. And she had to tell her.

She had to tell her how she felt even if it made her throat burn and swallowing impossible. Even if her hands were shaking, even though she's mastered holding them still to get the perfect photo. She had to tell her she loved her, even if the last time she let herself love was the same moment she broke. She had to tell her she loved her, even if it terrified her to even hope the shattered pieces of her heart could be mended—

"Hey." Jisoo's smile had turned shy, as she stood in front of Jennie, alone for the first time all night.

"Hey." Jennie smiled back, her eyes staying locked on Jisoo's. "Come with me?"

Jisoo smiled at the vulnerability in Jennie's voice. It seemed circumstance had made them skip over the part where the last time they spoke they were angry at each other. And although it was probably something they needed to talk about, Jisoo was glad it hadn't seemed to ruin the intense feelings that lingered between them.

After receiving a smile and nod from Jisoo, Jennie pushed the cool door open and led the brunette out onto the back porch. The door shut quietly behind them and Jisoo was surprised at how warm she felt in the open air.

The deck was large, wrapping around the entire back side of the house. Wooden railing lining the edge, it was lined with heating lamps hanging from the overhang above them. A few steps opposite the door into the house led down into the back yard. A cover of white snow covering grass, untouched and perfect.

Jennie led Jisoo down along the house, out of sight form the door hoping for some privacy. The only sounds escaping the house was the soft melody being played by the string instruments. Gently Jennie took Jisoo's hand and held it in her own, lifting it up and twirling Jisoo underneath them before letting her other hand land firmly on her lower back. Jisoo immediately fell into place, resting her free hand on Jennie's shoulder and stepping in towards her closely.

Bodies pressed together innocently, they swayed in the dim light outside, with shy smiles and hesitant breaths. They had yet to talk, and it was as if they were both afraid to speak and shatter the silent happiness they were sharing with one another.

Jennie let the hand that was holding Jisoo's drop to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer and holding her tightly. Jisoo's arms wrapped around Jennie's neck as their swaying slowed but didn't stop.

"Look." Jennie licked her lips as she broke the silence. Her heart was pounding and she was searching for the words to explain the things she felt. "I know i'm not so good with the feelings thing but.. I'm sorry. for what I said earlier."

"No, its ok." Jisoo cut her off, looking down to the nonexistent space between them and shaking her head gently, "I really shouldn't have said anything. Its ok if you're not ready to—"

"Jisoo." Her name tasted sweet in her mouth and caught Jisoo's attention like she was hoping, "Let me finish." Jennie smiled warmly at Jisoo and watched as a pink hue spread over her cheeks. "I shouldn't have said what I did earlier. Thats not what I want. You aren't just whatever."

Jisoo sighed, almost like she was relieved. She let herself smile but was caught off guard by the softness of Jennie's eyes. It was like she was fighting a battle with herself, trying to make a decision. As soon as she spoke again, Jisoo understood why. She was fighting the mask she had put on for so long and was trying to be the real Jennie.

"That may have been how I did things in the past but—" Jennie paused, taking a deep breath and trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She wanted to tell Jisoo she loved her but the words just wouldn't come out. So instead of saying the words I love you, she tried to find a way to explain it without them.

"Everything is just different now. I can't look at a sunrise without thinking about your laugh. And the stars. God, I used to love the stars." She chuckled softly, a sentimental smile playing on her lips, "The constellations and the order within the chaos. But now I look at them and I just..." She brought a hand up slowly, letting the tips of her fingers graze along Jisoo's collar bone, tracing along its length and leaving goosebumps in their wake. "...I just think how much more I love your skin. Your own constellations that make me want to get lost trying to map them with my lips."

Jisoo's mouth hung slightly agape, her eyes watching Jennie's as they scanned her skin thoughtfully. Following the line of her collar bones, the curve of her neck, and lingering on her lips. Jisoo licked her lips unconsciously, feeling the intensity of Jennie's stare as it lingered on them.

Dark eyes lifted slowly to meet Jisoo's, a gentleness and seriousness mixed within them. "I only want this with you." Jennie breathed it out in barely a whisper, their lips merely inches apart.

"Wow." Jisoo exhaled sharply, caught off guard and not sure what to say. It's what she wanted to hear, but now that she had, she wasn't sure what came next. "That's.. I mean.."

Jennie smiled at Jisoo's clear speechlessness and closed the gap between them, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips to silence her further. She tasted like chocolate and made Jisoo's head spin more than the champagne she had been drinking.

When Jennie pulled back slowly, Jisoo kept her eyes closed and a breathy chuckle escaped her lips. Her eyes widened at the sound of it, realizing how flustered she must seem. Her eyes scanned Jennie's face and saw nothing but adoration in the way she was looking at her and immediately her heart started to beat faster. "I'm really glad you decided to come tonight."

Jennie offered a crooked smile and pulled Jisoo's body tighter against her own. She took the opportunity to place a few quick kisses to Jisoo's neck, feeling her breathing start to quicken slightly.

Jisoo's heart thumped heavily in her chest, her mind swimming. Trying to think of words while remembering to breathe. "And I know it wasn't just for me but—"

"Don't be an idiot." Jennie pulled back quickly, looking Jisoo in the eyes, "of course I came for you."

And she had. She would do anything for her if she only asked.

"Leave with me." Jennie spoke quickly. The feeling in her heart quickly consuming her entire body, wanting to be closer to Jisoo in every way possible. "Stay with me tonight. Wake up with me tomorrow."

Jisoo felt her own pull towards the other girl, wanting the same thing she was asking for. But it was more than just an invitation to spend the night. It was an invitation to wake up together. An invitation to spend the early hours of morning wrapped in each other, long after heart beats calmed down and sweat had dried. To stay, after heavy breathing turned into tired sighs and frantic hands turned into gentle fingertips.

The weight of Jennie's words hit her chest, stealing her breath. She nodded quickly mirroring the smile that spread on Jennie's face. "I just— I need to tell Lisa. And my coat. I need my coat."

Jennie nodded, "I'll wait for you at the door." She smiled into a kiss, not believing how lucky she was when she heard Jisoo giggle against her lips. "Take your time."

Jisoo knew she meant it by the look in her eyes. Like she had said before, she wasn't in a rush. It felt right, and she would take her time to keep it that way. She bit her lip at the sudden excitement she felt at the idea of being with Jennie. This night hadn't gone anything like she thought— everything about it was so much better.

Their hands held tightly to one another as they made their way back to the door, reluctantly letting go of one another as they entered the large room with guests still behaving as if they had never left. Jennie watched Jisoo speed walk across the room to Lisa before she slipped back through the door to the kitchen.

"Have enough of the party already?" Taeyang asked with a smile.

"You could say that." Jennie smirked in his direction but kept walking, calling over her shoulder as she walked out the other door. "Thanks for the chocolate by the way."

She found Jisoo's coat and put her own on while she waited at the door. When Jisoo came rushing around the corner with an excited smile on her face she couldn't help but chuckle. She helped Jisoo get her coat on and carefully zipped it up. She paused briefly, watching Jisoo's eyes shine as she waited to follow her out the door.

She thought back to the self portrait she had chosen. The look in her own eyes as she looked up at Jisoo and wondered if they were lighter now like they were then. Jennie had always loved the stars. But everything was different now. Now she preferred Jisoo's skin and the sparkle in her eyes.

For the stars in Jisoo's eyes, brightened the darkness in her own.

——

It didn't take long before they were stumbling into Jennie's apartment. Messy kisses and frantic hands. Shoes were kicked off, jackets dropped on the ground as they made their way back towards the bedroom.

"Wait, wait. Jen, wait." Jisoo pulled back panting, feeling like she hadn't breathed since they stepped through the doorway. "I just need to breathe.. for a second." She licked her lips, tasting chocolate and smiling when she noticed Jennie's heaving chest.

The tempo hadn't been rushed, just needy up to this point. Enough time had been spent without being together, it seemed stupid to waste another second that way. The apartment was dark, except for the light coming through the window from the full moon. It cast a soft glow about the room, highlighting Jennie's pale skin.

Jennie smiled and took a deep breath, stepping towards Jisoo as she exhaled slowly. She lifted her hands and cupped Jisoo's cheeks gently, leaning in and pressing their lips together slowly. She pulled back far enough to look into Jisoo's eyes as her fingers moved to trace across collarbones and settle on her shoulders.

Jisoo took in a shaky breath as Jennie's fingertips slid underneath fabric clinging to her and slowly moved it to expose delicate shoulders. Her hands moved slowly down Jisoo's sides, barely brushing against her breasts before dragging over ribs, sending a shiver through her body. Jennie was setting a new pace, the air around them filling with electricity with every carefully placed touch.

As her hands continued to slide further down Jisoo's body, excruciatingly slow, Jennie placed slow open mouthed kisses along her now bare shoulders, across her chest and along her neck.

Jisoo had been standing still, trying to catch her breath as she mentally followed the tingling sensation that prickled beneath the skin wherever Jennie touched. She wasn't sure what turned her on more- the needy way things had started, heated and consuming. Or the slow and deliberate pace Jennie was now keeping.

She brought her hands up to hold gently to dark curls as Jennie continued to place her lips on exposed skin. Jisoo was sure every inch of her shoulders and neck had now been touched by warm lips. She felt a needy pull low in her stomach when she felt Jennie's fingers slide around to her low back, and continue down to grip firmly on her ass.

A quiet gasp was cut short by Jennie meeting her lips again, hungry but slow. Jennie pulled on Jisoo's body, pressing their hips together then walking her backwards to the bed as they kissed. Her hands gripped Jisoo tightly, a soft moan escaping as their hips pressed into each other again.

Slowly Jennie's hands moved down further, gathering fabric carefully until fingertips were brushing against the back of Jisoo's thighs. As the dress now fell over Jennie's hands, she dragged them up the back of Jisoo's legs, over her ass until her fingertips were pressing firmly on Jisoo's lower back, fabric bunched and gliding smoothly against the back of Jennie's hands.

A heat filled Jisoo's body, tingling traveling from Jennie's fingertips and through her body straight to her core. The gentle grasp she had on Jennie while they kissed wasn't enough. Her hands were on Jennie's hips quickly, fingers tucking under the waste band of leather pants, traveling from her sides to her stomach. The breath Jennie pulled in as Jisoo's fingers moved closer to her center, a clear sign she wasn't the only one feeling the electricity surrounding them.

A moment later clothes were dropping on the floor, hands returning to their quick and nearly frantic pace from before. It seemed the more skin that was touched, the more it begged to be touched. Jennie lifted Jisoo's dress up and over her head, loose curls falling over her shoulder and framing her face.

Jennie tossed it aside before rushing forward, pressing her body firmly against Jisoo's, hands gripping her tightly around the waist while Jisoo's hands made quick work of undoing the clasps that held the corset around Jennie's torso. Jisoo paused as it dropped to the floor, stopping their kiss to take in the sight of Jennie standing in front of her.

The look in her eyes was vulnerable and warm, the slight barrier that she kept up to guard herself was gone. It was beautiful, "You're so beautiful." Jisoo's thought broke through her lips in a whisper. Her eyes trailing Jennie body.

Jennie smiled, a smirk returning to her lips as she saw the look on Jisoo's face, "See something you like?"

Jisoo's eyes snapped back up to Jennie's, her face turning crimson, a heat in her cheeks that matched the heat already spread through her body. "You are unbelievable."

Jennie laughed playfully as she stepped forward and pressed both hands on Jisoo's hips. Jisoo's stepped back, her legs hitting the bed before she fell backwards onto the mattress, a few wayward feathers from the down comforter puffing into the air. Jennie following quickly, climbing up along Jisoo's body until she was hovering above her, legs straddling her waist, and hands on either side of Jisoo's head, holding her above Jisoo's body.

"A little warning would have been nice." Jisoo smiled, her hands reaching up to wrap around the body lingering above her in an attempt to pull her down and on top of her.

Jennie chuckled lowly as she moved a hand to Jisoo's hair, plucking a feather from it and twisting it between her fingers to show Jisoo. The brunettes giggle switched to a shuddering breath when the feather started to trail lightly against her skin. Goosebumps chased the feather down Jisoo's neck and across her shoulder before they trailed down slowly along her chest.

Jennie traced the feather slowly across Jisoo's collar bones, watching closely as Jisoo's chest began to rise and fall more rapidly. Slight trembles as the feather drew lines on soft skin, following the curve of her breasts, circling the expanse of her stomach and following the bend of hip bones.

Underwear still sat low on her hips, the only clothing both girls still had on otherwise bare bodies. Jisoo's eyes fluttered shut, her head pressing back against the pillow as she captured her bottom lip between her teeth. Jennie was drawing circles across thin fabric, dropping the feather low between Jisoo's legs.

The barely there sensation pulled a whimper from Jisoo when Jennie let her fingers drag gently along the cloth with the feather. Jennie moved her hand up Jisoo's body again, lowering herself onto her once her hand had left— their hips, stomachs, chests, pressing together. Jennie's eyes mesmerized by Jisoo's tiny movements and the seconds she would hold her breath before her lips twitched into a smile as she let it out slowly.

Jisoo's eyes opened wide, pupils blown as she looked into the dark eyes studying her, memorizing curve. The unhurried pace of Jennie's movements had only added to the rapid pace of her heart beat and the pull deep in her stomach. Hands that had been gripping Jennie's sides, slid along soft skin, running over the swell of breasts and up to tangle in dark hair as she pulled Jennie down on top of her completely.

Lips connected in a messy, needy kiss. Jisoo no longer able to remain patient. Jennie hips rocked into Jisoo's, a moan mixed between them, neither one sure who had started it and who was finishing it. Jisoo rolled over, rolling Jennie onto her back and straddling her hips. Pulling back to sit up, Jisoo dragged hesitant fingertips along Jennie's body as she took in the sight of her between her legs. Her hands found Jennie's and lifted them above her head, pinning them against the pillow as she leaned down to kiss her again.

The sensation of high voltage in her lips sent a chill through Jisoo's body, an addicting feeling that she knew she would never quite quench.

"Jisoo..."

The whispered sigh filled Jisoo's ear as she moved her lips slowly down Jennie's body, covering Jennie with wet lips just as she had done for Jisoo second before. She left a lingering kiss just above Jennie's navel, before looking up to Jennie's face. "Is this ok?"

Jennie nodded quickly, out of breath and hands shaky. Her fingers threaded in her own hair as she pushed it from her face and fragile lungs tried to keep up with the heavy breaths she was taking. The feeling in her body was consuming, tingling and heated in a way she had never felt before.

A surge of electricity shot through Jennie's body, pooling between her legs. Jennie gasped at the same time Jisoo let out a moan at the taste of wet heat on her tongue. The silent shudders and involuntary twitching of Jennie's body urged Jisoo on as she explored the girl laying underneath her. Jisoo trailed her hands up along Jennie's body slowly while her mouth made quick work between her legs.

Gasps and moans filled the room, each cry sounding more and more like a plea for release. Jennie's hands dropped to grip Jisoo's as they massaged her breasts. A gravely moan echoed through the room as legs twitched and Jennie's hands gripped Jisoo's tightly. Her lungs held tightly to the breath trapped in her chest as her back arched off the bed and her muscles tightened.

When her breath was finally released and her body dropped back down to the bed exhausted, she kept her eyes closed, spots dancing on the back of eyelids and a dizziness filling her head. She flinched at the gentle lips placing kisses near her core then sighed as they made their way up heated skin.

Jisoo licked her lips, the lingering taste of Jennie on her tongue, mixed with the salt from beads of sweat spread out over exposed skin. She took her time making her way back up Jennie's body, timing her movements with the rise and fall of Jennie's chest. Her lips met her hip bone, then dragged gently over heaving stomach muscles, a tongue pulled slowly over an erect nipple before twirling gently around the other. A kiss at the base of her neck, just below her ear then meeting her lips just as she pulled in a heavy breath.

"You ok?" Jisoo mumbled against Jennie's mouth, her body lowering slowly to rest on top of Jennie's.

"That.. was..." Jennie breathed out a heavy breath, bringing a shaky hand to tangle in Jisoo's hair as she kissed her back.

Jisoo smiled against warm lips, their messy needy kisses now slow as Jennie still struggled to catch her breath. Jisoo pulled back, smiling when she saw the look on Jennie's face. "Really?" She chuckled quietly, feeling nervous and shy for the first time that night. The softness in her voice causing Jennie to finally open her eyes.

"Really." Jennie smiled warmly, a reassuring look in her eyes as she changed their positions. Moving Jisoo to lay on her back while Jennie settled over her.

The soft glow of the moon and the look in Jisoo's eyes once again stole Jennie's breath and she wanted nothing more than to say the words she had been struggling to say all night.

I love you.

She wanted to tell her, but the butterflies in her stomach swarmed her throat and the words got caught their wings.

Not able to say it with words, she found a different way to get it out. The words etched in Jisoo's skin with swollen lips. Fingertips spelling them out with shapes along the curves of Jisoo's body. Silently spoken by the careful movements of a warm tongue and the matching rhythm of heart beats as heaving chests pressed together.

Jennie laid with Jisoo, her body buzzing with every sound she made beneath her. She had memorized Jisoo's body with her lips, getting lost in areas she was exploring for the first time. Taking her time to map the constellations laid out across her skin and committing to memory every spot that drawn out a new sound of pleasure.

Jennie felt her body move with Jisoo's, a rhythm set by heart beats and rapid breathing. Her hand moved expertly between Jisoo's legs, her pace quickening as the sounds escaping Jisoo's lips became more needy and she could feel Jisoo inching closer to her own release.

Jisoo's head pressed further into the pillow as the pressure built, becoming too much. New galaxies formed on the inside of her eyelids as she came undone. A gasp mixed with a whimper escaping swollen lips as Jennie's fingers curled inside of her and her legs trembled. Her back arched off the bed and her hands gripped tightly to Jennie's body, sure that if she let go she would float off into oblivion. The only sound louder than the pounding of her heart beat was Jennie's voice, calling her beautiful like it was her name.

—

Jisoo's hand traced lines along Jennie's arm as her ear pressed against her chest. She had listened as a frantic heart beat slowed, her own heart calming with the steady rhythm against her ear. She was curled against Jennie's body, under the thin cover of a warm sheet and wrapped in Jennie's arms. The promise to wake together in the morning grew closer, as they had spent most of the night wrapped up in each other and she could feel herself drifting closer to sleep.

Jennie's fingertips drew shapes along Jisoo's back, as her cheek rested against her head. Everything about this moment felt perfect as she listened to Jisoo's breathing slow and the movement of her hand brushing along her arm still. She smiled to herself before turning and placing a gentle kiss on Jisoo's forehead, earning a sleepy sigh from the girl in her arm.

Jennie hadn't told her she loved her, but the flutter in her chest and the way their bodies fit together gave her the feeling that she would have time to gain the courage. She hadn't felt this way before, everything about it was different. From the way her body felt under Jisoo's fingertips, to the way her heart ached every time she saw her.

She had never known such an ache to be a good thing.

She watched through the window as snow began to fall, glistening in moonlight as it floated to the ground. The sound of Jisoo breathing breaking the peaceful silence around them. Warm breath swept across her chest and she found herself drifting to sleep as slowly as the snow outside her window.

The comforting ache in her chest cemented the feeling that once again her heart had broke, and this time it was by her own doing. That night she ripped apart the armor she had made to mend the pieces from the last time her heart had shattered. But she hadn't really mended it at all.

She just closed it off and locked it away. Like keeping the tiny shattered pieces in a shoe box under the bed. Knowing they were there. Knowing she hadn't fixed it yet and not knowing if it was even possible.

Then Jisoo walked in and gave her the courage to uncover the box, remove the lid, and lay out every piece of her heart she had gathered and hid away. And every time Jisoo brushed her thumb across the back of her hand, or twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, told her she was beautiful and didn't let her pull away, she was encouraging Jennie to find the pieces that matched up and piece them back together.

She laid there feeling like her heart was finally whole again, but the scars from fractures splayed across her heart, still there. But Jisoo saw the marks and called them beautiful and touched them with her fingertips, her lips and her heart and suddenly Jennie's scars didn't feel like wounds. They felt like badges- earned from battles fought, and struggles faced, against herself and others, until she found Jisoo.

Loving Jisoo had ended the war and somehow made broken beautiful again.

——

*click*

Jennie took silent steps around the bed, holding the camera up in front of her. She had woken up having felt more rested than she had in weeks. The warm body in bed next to her probably having something to do with it. She had always preferred to sleep alone, but waking up next to Jisoo made her want to never wake up alone again.

It was still snowing outside but the heavy comforter covering them both kept them warm. Jennie rolled to her side and let her fingers ghost across the curve of Jisoo's spine. She was spread out on her stomach, brunette hair splayed across the pillow that both her arms were hidden beneath. Her legs were laid out across the bed, with the comforter dipping low on her back.

They had fallen asleep, naked bodies pressed together, in the early hours in the morning. As they slept they moved to find their own space of comfort. Jennie could remember waking up to a leg thrown over her body or a hand intertwined with hers, as if Jisoo was trying to maintain some closeness even if it was only a slight touch while they slept.

As Jennie's hand reached Jisoo's low back, she felt the familiar tingle in her fingers at the desire to capture a moment. She climbed out of bed as gracefully as she could, trying not to wake the sleeping girl next to her. Clothes were a mess covering her floor. The pile of laundry she had washed the night before but never got around to folding had been pushed off the bed hastily while trying to make room for... other things.

Bare feet padded on the floor as she found a pair of underwear and slipped them on. The search for the rest of her clothes stopped when she heard Jisoo take a sleepy breath and shift slightly on the bed.

Instead of grabbing more clothes, Jennie grabbed her camera.

*click*

The light coming from the window wasn't the typical morning sun, a thin layer of snow falling from heavy clouds blocking the light of the sun that had already risen fairly high in the sky. The room was still light and warm, the air thick with the memory of the events from the night before.

Jennie smiled as her eyes focused on Jisoo's body. Faint marks scattered across soft skin, the memory of moans and gasps replayed through Jennie's mind with every new star that had been left by Jennie's mouth the night before.

*click*

The covers pooled at Jisoo's waist, her back exposed and slightly curved as she lay asleep on her stomach. Her face turned to the side and resting peacefully on the pillow bunched in her arms. Jisoo's features were relaxed but somehow warm as Jennie let her eyes linger. On eyelashes, on pink cheeks, slightly chapped lips and the slight curve of a smile.

*click*

She's sure she's never seen a more beautiful sunrise.

*click*

Jennie lowered the camera with a smile, walking to the dresser and setting it down, the lens pointed towards the bed. She adjusted the focus before starting the cameras timer.

With quiet steps she made her way back to the bed, kneeling on the mattress and lifting the sheet up and over her shoulders. As she crawled towards Jisoo, the sheet slowly slid down smooth skin, catching just under shoulder blades.

*click*

Jennie heard the shutter and smiled, knowing the camera had captured her back as she moved towards Jisoo. Hovering above her, she slowly lowered herself down, her bare chest pressing against Jisoo's back. She placed a gentle kiss on Jisoo's spine, letting her lips follow its trail upwards.

*click*

Jisoo shifted slightly and hummed sleepily, a smile spreading on her face as she pulled in a large breath. Jennie moved some stray hair from Jisoo's neck, lowered herself into the space behind her and kissed her gently below the ear.

*click*

"mmm, morning." Jisoo's stretched her legs, arching her back slightly as the rest of her body followed in the stretch.

"Morning sunshine." Jennie rasped in Jisoo's ear before taking hold of her earlobe between teeth and pulling gently.

Jisoo's smile grew at the surprising playfulness and she couldn't help but giggle as a cool nose nuzzled against her neck.

"Don't move." Jennie whispered as she slowly climbed over Jisoo and got out of the bed.

This was the moment Jisoo decided to open her eyes for the first time and was surprised to find Jennie walking towards the bathroom with nothing but underwear on. When Jennie stopped the doorway and turned to look over her shoulder with a smirk, Jisoo felt the familiar flutter in her stomach and bit her lip to contain her smile.

*click*

"When I come back you can tell me if you'd rather have pancakes or waffles." Jennie smiled as she stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She chuckled softly to herself at the look on Jisoo's face but stopped when her eyes caught her reflection.

Somehow she looked different. She was smiling without having to think about it, her hair was a mess but she couldn't even bring herself to care. Jennie's eyes were pulled to the dark marks left on pale skin. Littered across her chest, near her hip and low on her neck. She brought her fingers up to touch bruised skin, a tingling in her fingers as they smoothed over the space where Jisoo's lips had been.

She sighed happily as she turned on the sink and splashed cool water on her face.

-

Jisoo rolled over, pulling the sheet up to cover her body as she sat up and looked around the room. She chuckled at the mess she hadn't noticed until now. Clothes were scattered across the floor, the comforter pushed down towards the foot of the bed.

*click*

Jisoo's eyes snapped to the camera pointed towards her and she narrowed her eyes, keeping her attention on it to see if thats where she had heard the noise come from. She was so focused on the camera, when Jennie's phone started to buzz and vibrate across the bed side table, it made her jump in surprise. She rolled her eyes at herself while she leaned over, reaching for the phone. She figured it was an alarm going off and pulled the phone from the table and looked down at the screen. By the time she realized it was someone calling and not an alarm, it was too late to not pay attention.

'Seulgi' was written across the top of the screen as it lit up with a picture of Jennie and another girl.

Jisoo's first instinct was to smile. Jennie looked so happy, a wide smile, a shine in her eyes that Jisoo recognized as the one that had been showing up more often lately when they were together. But the sight of another woman with her arm around her shoulder and her lips pressed to Jennie's cheek made her heart sink and stomach drop.

Their arms were around each other and even through a photo Jisoo could feel the sense of familiarity between them. The photo wasn't that old, she could tell that much, and even though Jisoo had never seen the other woman before, she could feel herself getting jealous.

Everything Jennie's mother had said to her the night before came rushing back into her mind.

"I know where this is going but you should quit before she ruins you... She's a diamond. And stone cannot love flesh.... Take a step back before you become just another one of her many short lived distractions."

Jisoo tried to ignore the tightness in her chest and the worry that was creeping into her mind. When the ringing stopped and the picture faded from the screen she let out a heavy sigh.

*click*

Jennie's phone lit up again with a single vibration. Jisoo couldn't help but look down at the screen, immediately regretting it.

Seulgi: Kitty cat, don't tell me you forgot about our date last night. I was looking forward to it all day....

The rest of the message was cut off, the only way to read it would have been to unlock the phone and open up the message thread. Jisoo knew she had already done too much. The simple thought to stop an alarm had lead to something that twisted her gut and fogged her thoughts completely.

She knew she didn't know the whole story, or who the woman calling Jennie and texting her about dates was. But it was too late. The tiny seed of doubt that was lingering unnoticed had suddenly taken root and was over growing the closeness and trust Jisoo had built with Jennie. It's vines had twisted around her heart without her knowing and now they were tightening, clenching it with unbearable force.

*click*

Jisoo scrambled to the edge of the bed, clutching the sheet to her chest as she scanned the floor for her dress. When she couldn't find it she grabbed the nearest tshirt and pair of sweat pants she could find and pulled them on quickly.

The shirt had just fallen over her torso when she heard the bathroom door open behind her.

"Aw, clothes." Jennie pouted playfully as she climbed back onto the bed, sliding under the sheet and pulling it just high enough to cover her chest.

"I um, I need to go." Jisoo stammered without turning around.

"What about pancakes?" Jennie asked in a teasing tone.

When Jisoo didn't respond and her head dropped slightly, Jennie realized she was being serious. She scooted towards Jisoo slowly, not sure what to say. How could things go from giggles and good morning to Jisoo rushing out awkwardly in the time it took Jennie to wash her face?

"I just- I don't think..." Jisoo pulled in a deep breath, realizing no matter what she said, it wasn't going to be easy and she might be ruining everything. "I think we may have rushed into this and I just... I think maybe you weren't ready and—"

"Don't do this Jisoo."

Jisoo finally turned her head, surprised by Jennie's tone. It was steely and quiet. She had never heard her sound so serious before.

"Do what?" Jisoo spoke quietly, not even convincing herself that she wasn't panicking. "I was just expecting too much from you and it wasn't fair and I realize that now. And it's ok, it's ok if you weren't ready or got caught up in a moment and..."

"Stop." Jennie dropped her eyes to her lap, her shoulders slumping forward as the single word cracked quietly as she spoke it.

"...and the pressure of your mother and school or whatever just got to your head and you didn't mean what you said. It's ok. Really. I should have been more patient—"

"Stop!" Jennie's gaze snapped up quickly. Her heart clenched when she saw Jisoo jump in surprise by her voice, but she couldn't take it back. Everything about this was wrong. She clenched her jaw and forced herself to be honest. She wouldn't let this happen without saying the truth and putting it all out there. She had come too far to stop laying her heart out on the line now. "Don't you dare make this my fault."

*click*

Jisoo shrank slightly, averting her gaze again. Her heart was pounding, a painful thump that made her ache for the frantic flutter she had felt only the night before. Her gut twisted and her mind felt foggy but the panic kept rising, the vines clenching harder. "You got a phone call. While you were in the bathroom."

"And?" Her response was quick. She couldn't let herself think of the sound of hurt in Jisoo's voice or the hesitance in her eyes. It would ruin her reserve and she knew she would give in and do anything to make her smile again.

"And I thought it was an alarm so, so I picked up your phone. But it wasn't an alarm."

Jennie reached for her phone, lighting up the screen and seeing the alert list.

2 missed calls: Seulgi

1 new message: Seulgi

Jennie knew it didn't matter who it was. Sister. Ex. Hell, it could have been her gynecologist for all Jisoo knew. And immediately she had decided no matter who it was, an explanation wasn't worth waiting for. Who Jennie used to be, she would always be.

Jennie wasn't sure if she was more angry or hurt and at this point she didn't even want to explain herself. Explain that Jisoo was worried over nothing. If all it took was one phone call to scare her away, then it wasn't really about Jennie at all and there was nothing she could do, anyway.

"Were you just waiting for something to give you an excuse to bail?" Jennie asked, trying to keep her voice from sounding too harsh.

"What? No!" Jisoo twisted on the mattress to face her. In her mind, she was giving Jennie the easy out. It was Jennie who wasn't ready for something serious. It made no sense for Jennie to blame her for leaving.

"It's obvious this isn't something you're used to doing and it wasn't fair for me to force you into it."

"This isn't something I'm used to doing?" Jennie scoffed, "What? Sleeping with someone or having it be more than just sex?"

Jisoo let out a sigh of frustration, "That's not what I'm saying—"

*click*

"No. I get it." Jennie gripped the sheet tightly to herself. "But I don't believe for a second this is about me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jisoo's voice was defensive and her eyes narrowed slightly. "It's not a secret you have plenty of experience with sleeping around."

No, no, no. This was going all wrong. The words were out before she could stop them and she hated herself for it.

Jennie's jaw clenched, but less out of anger and more because it felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest.

"Jen, I— I didn't mean that." Jisoo shook her head, panic written all over her face.

"No." Jennie shook her head slowly. Her expression was blank and it gave Jisoo an uneasy feeling. "You're right."

*click*

"Jen, I just.." Jisoo ran a hand through her hair, "What am I supposed to think when I've walked in on who knows how many make out sessions and girls are constantly falling all over you?"

Jisoo was right to some extent. That was who Jennie used to be. But she hadn't been that person in a while.

"That's not who I— My past is part of who I am Jisoo. You can't expect all of that to just evaporate because I love you."

Her throat clenched and she felt sick. She had finally said the words but everything about it felt wrong. They weren't supposed to be said out of anger, they weren't supposed to taste bitter falling from her lips. They were supposed to taste sweet, and sound like the song her heart had been singing since she realized how she felt. It was supposed to be soft and special and different.

But just like that her heart was no longer hers. She had ripped it from her own chest and thrust it into hands that were clenched and hurt. The quick rhythm her heart had been keeping beat to, slowed to a near stop. It felt like her heart was giving up. Broken one too many times to continue to keep beating.

*click*

Jisoo's mouth dropped open, the frustration disappearing from her face as she heard the pain etched in words that should have been full of happiness. It's what she wanted to hear, at least she thought so. So why did it hurt so much when Jennie said it?

The silence that followed was deafening. Their eyes were locked on one another. Both wishing to go back in time to take back words that would never be forgotten.

Jennie sighed defeatedly, looking down to her lap. "You keep asking me to jump and ok, maybe it takes me a minute, but every time— every time I fucking leap, thinking you're going to catch me." She paused, taking in a shaky breath and looking up at Jisoo, desperation in her eyes. "But at the very last second you pull your arms back and I crash to the ground."

Jisoo swallowed hard, feeling her eyes start to well up with tears.

Jennie's voice broke as she continued, "So either stop asking me to jump or meet me half way."

Jisoo was speechless. Jennie was right. It was her own apprehension that had started this. She hadn't even waited for an explanation before jumping to conclusions and practically bolting. She had always seen Jennie as the guarded one, but as she sat there and saw the desperation in the dark haired girls face and a tear make its way down her cheek she realized— it wasn't Jennie that had been holding back. It was her.

It had been Jennie that had stepped up every time Jisoo wanted more. Jennie had given her practically everything she asked for. She had faced demons and made changes just to make Jisoo happy. And what had Jisoo done?

She had panicked at the first sign of trouble. Stepped back the second she got nervous, instead of facing her fears like Jennie had done for her.

Jennie sprinted to the edge and leapt without even looking where she would be landing. And Jisoo wouldn't even step up to the edge.

"I think you should go."

*click*

"Jen, I..." Jisoo breathed out, feeling her own tears start to fall.

Jennie looked up at her, an emptiness in her eyes that silenced Jisoo completely. There was nothing else she could say. So she let silence take over and fill the space that surrounded them.

*click*

But it wasn't silent. At least not to Jennie.

She sat in her bed, clinging to the sheet and feeling more exposed than she ever had in her life. It wasn't because of her state of undress, but because she had opened herself up and given everything she had to Jisoo and it just hung there. Words and feelings and tears, floating through thick air made up of regret and fear and heartache.

She could hear the sound of the sheets rubbing on her skin, the slow dripping of water from the bathroom faucet, and the hum of the heater trying to counter the chill from outside. She heard the sound of steps moving further and further from her down the hall, the turning of the door knob and the click of the lock as the door opened and closed painfully slow.

*click*

Her knees drew towards her chest and her hands covered her face as she tried to stop the tears building in her eyes. Every deep breath hurt worse than the last and every silent sound echoed loudly in her head.

*click*

Her eyes moved slowly to the camera on the dresser, another blow to her already aching chest. She slowly lowered herself on her side, unable to care about the heartache being captured on film.

*click*

She heard the click of the camera, the shudder in her breathing and the faint echo of a sorrowful heartbeat.

She heard the silence that filled the room around her, impossible yet consuming as she laid there curled in on herself.

*click*

She heard everything, felt everything. Everything she had tried to protect herself from had come crashing down on her more violent than she could have ever imagined.

*click*

The only sound she couldn't hear was the sound of her heart breaking.

*click*

But God, could she feel it.

*click*

*click*

*click*