(Lisa pov)
The alarm went off, ripping Lisa from her dream. And she was just about to see the person's face too! It was Monday morning and Lisa had to get ready for school.
Yesterday was fun. Lisa and her mom had gone to the ocean like they had planned. Finding shells and filling buckets. Bringing them home to make things with them.
As Lisa brushed her teeth, she thought back to her dream. She has it at least once a week. Has for as long as she can remember.
She's running down an alley, being chased by someone. Then another person leaps down from a building, landing between Lisa and the scary guy in a black hood.
The person from the building then begins to turn, but before Lisa can see her rescuers face, she wakes up. So stupid right? And it makes Lisa mad.
Because she wants a happy ending.
~
Lisa parked her car and eagerly went to first. She ignored several people who wanted to talk with her. Instead rushing to class.
She wanted to be early. Chaeyoung had to be back in today, right? And Lisa wanted to see her enter, whenever she would.
As her classroom came into view. She could see a couple of students enter. Lisa was bummed she wouldn't be first but she couldn't be too far after.
Lisa entered through the door and began walking to her seat. She looked up from her feet and stopped dead in her tracks.
There, sitting in the back corner, was Chaeyoung. She beat her there?
Chaeyoung had her eyes closed and head leaning back as she slouched low in her chair. Resting the nape of her neck on the seat.
Lisa cleared her throat audibly, watching as Chaeyoung's eyes fluttered open. She took a deep breath, preparing for Chaeyoung to make eye contact with her.
She put her hand in her pocket and felt the shell her mom had given her last night.
"Pranpriya. This was the prettiest and biggest shell I could find today. Could you give it to Chaeyoung when you see her again? I think she would like it. And she'll know that I, well we, are thinking about her."
Lisa looked at the shell her mom handed her. She had written 'Feel better Chaeyoung, love - Ami' on it.
"Can I write my name on it too?"
"Of course! Yes, write her something too."
She found a fine point sharpie and wrote her own note on the other side. The smooth one.
'There when you need me, yours - Lisa'
Lisa took it out and looked down smiling at it. When she looked back up she was met by Chaeyoung's eyes. They stared for a second, Lisa raising her hand and doing a small wave to her.
Chaeyoung nodded lightly before looking left and out the window. Lisa decided to approach her though, taking another breath as she stopped in front of her.
"Hi Chaeyoung."
Chaeyoung turned her gaze back from the window and looked to Lisa.
"My mom and I went to the ocean yesterday and walked the beach. She thought of you when she found this... and I was thinking about you too."
Lisa held out the shell. Chaeyoung looked at it for a second before slowly raising her hand. Lisa placed it in her opened palm and smiled.
"I'm glad you're here." Lisa said softly. She meant it as in Chaeyoung being in class, but also as in 'I'm glad you're on this earth'.
Lisa then returned to her seat. She badly wanted to turn around and look at Chaeyoung. But she didn't. Instead she waited for BamBam so he could help keep Lisa's mind off her.
At least Chaeyoung seemed healthier. Being back at school and in class on time.
~
(Chae pov)
She looked at the shell in her hand. Ami had thought of her? And her daughter, Lisa. She said she was thinking of her too?
Chaeyoung read the text on it. 'Feel better Chaeyoung, love - Ami'. Ami would be happy to hear that she did feel better. Thanks to her.
She then flipped the shell over, wanting to feel it. But was surprised to see another note. 'There when you need me, yours - Lisa'.
Her eyes shifted up from the shell and to Lisa, who was greeting her friend who walked in. Did she mean it? That Lisa would be there if she needed her?
Or was she just being nice and didn't want Chaeyoung to feel bad? No. Lisa cared right? She seemed to at the hospital. And when they were in the restroom?
Still, It was hard for Chaeyoung to understand why. What if she was thinking Lisa cared but really, she wasn't like her mom at all? Just pretending to be?
Chaeyoung's head started to hurt. She hadn't had taken anything since her injection yesterday afternoon.
Usually she would take something before school. But Chaeyoung wanted to get there early today. Mostly, because she didn't want to be stared at when she would walk in right before the bell.
She knew the rumors. People thinking she had died. Nothing knew. But, another part of her wanted to see Lisa when she came in. Chaeyoung remembered they had class together after the hospital.
But that ended up being a bust because she rested her eyes the second she must have walked in. Typical Chaeyoung. Messing even the simplest shit up.
Why did she even want to see her? Did Chaeyoung care for Lisa now too?
She knew she did a little for Ami. Since she actually helped her during her episode instead of telling her to 'suck it up'. But Lisa helped her too. She couldn't forget.
Should Chaeyoung tell her thank you? No. No, she didn't want to talk. That would be an open invitation for friendship.
Would that be so bad though? Someone to call a friend? She hadn't had one of those in years.
Chaeyoung simply closed her eyes. Trying to grasp her thoughts.
Nothing else eventful happened in that class. Chaeyoung put the single notebook she had back into her over the shoulder bag and went to second.
She found the bag left behind at the campgrounds. And bought the one composition book that she shared for all of her classes at the dollar store.
Chaeyoung saved every cent, every dollar, anything she could find. Either from the campground or school.
Unfortunately that wasn't always enough though. She would steal food from people or their wallets. She never took everything. Only a little. Only enough.
It was hard living in a run down trailer with no job and no way to get one because no one wants to hire a druggie.
~
After second, Chaeyoung went to third. And from third to the bathroom. She needed something. Now. Her head was pounding.
She locked herself in a stall. Making sure no one else was in there before taking out the rolled paper. Unveiling the white powder.
It stung as she breathed it up her nose. Feeling it attack her nostrils. Her eyes watered a bit.
You would think she would be used to it by now.
She left the restroom and entered the lunch room. Walking to her table. As Chaeyoung sat down she noticed Lisa staring. It looked like she had mouthed something to her.
Chaeyoung didn't understand her though. Her head was still hurting as she waited for the cocaine to set it. Lisa quickly pointed then made the 'okay' sign with her hand.
Chaeyoung just lied. Nodding her head slightly. Lisa smiled at her then returned to talking to her friends. Her two friends were pretty. Lisa as well.
But she didn't think much on it.
Everyone was pretty compared to Chaeyoung. She was nothing.
(Lisa pov)
All she did was nod. Her face was always so hard to read. How would Lisa be able to know Chaeyoung was actually okay and not just lying.
"Earth to Lisa?" Jennie said snapping her fingers.
Lisa shifted her spaced out gaze from the lunchroom table to her. "Sorry Jen. I was just thinking."
"About her?"
"How'd you know?"
"Lucky guess."
"So your mom wants to help her too?" Jisoo asked as she slurped up a noodle.
"Yeah she does. A lot actually. I think she feels the same pull to Chaeyoung as me."
"Well if you wanted to find the hardest person to help I think you found them." Jennie sighed. "Good luck though."
"Thanks, but I think we're already making progress."
"What?!" Jisoo said setting down her noodles. "Progress?"
"Yeah. She actually spoke."
"Wait she's not a mute? I thought she was?" Jennie questioned.
"Mute no. I think she just doesn't like talking. Not that she can't. Which she proved she could when she asked about my mom."
"She asked about your mom? At the hospital?"
"Yup. Then she left, but still. She asked for her."
"That's... that's actually cool." Jisoo said with a smile. "There's hope then."
"You guys support this right? My mom and I helping her?"
"What's not to support." Jisoo reached out and squeezed Lisa's hand.
"Yeah. We're on board." Jennie assured her.
"Should I buy her lunch?" Lisa asked aloud. It was more of a thought. She had noticed Chaeyoung never had one.
Lisa had actually never seen her eat... Could she not afford it? Or did she not want one?
"Maybe tomorrow Lisa. You can't rush these things." Jennie said softly.
"Yeah Lisa. You could make her uncomfortable. Be happy she even responds. Even if they're just in nods." Jisoo returned to her noodles.
"I guess you're right. Tomorrow then." Lisa turned her gaze from them back to Chaeyoung. She had her head down on her bag.
Probably sleeping. Or trying to at least. Lisa wondered what she could be dreaming about.
~
After fourth, a Chaeyoungless gym class, and sixth, Lisa went home. She started her homework then greeted her mom when she got back from the hospital.
"Mom! I gave it to her!"
"Oh the shell? You did!?" Ami smiled brightly. "Annnd?"
"Well she didn't say anything..." They both frowned. "But she did give me a nod. Twice! Because I asked if she was okay at lunch."
"Did she not seem okay?"
"Not really. She was pretty out of it. But I saw that she didn't have lunch. Honestly, I don't think she's ever had food there."
"Well there's no parents in her life. Her address is a campground. I'm going to assume she has no money."
"Then how does she get her drugs?" There was a silence after Lisa asked this. How does she get drugs?
"Never mind that. What should we do about her not eating?" Her mom asked.
"I was thinking of buying her lunch at school."
"I think that sounds wonderful. I can help pay too."
"Okay! I was thinking of doing it for her every other day. Then seeing where it goes from there. I'll start tomorrow."
Ami and her talked about Chaeyoung a bit more before making changing the subject to other things.
One being dinner. Her mother decided to make theirs tonight. Even when Lisa said she wanted to.
Lisa went to bed that night looking forward to the next day. She was going to see Chaeyoung and do something nice for her. Then she was going to dance.
Tomorrow would be a great day.
~
(Chae pov)
Chaeyoung got to school at her usual time again. Stumbling a bit as she walked in. She stopped to catch her breath.
She couldn't sleep last night. Her nose kept bleeding and some kid kept throwing up, meaning she had to clean the restroom multiple times.
He obviously could never make it to the toilet. Chaeyoung could be high as shit and still make it to the toilet if she had to throw up.
Where as her bloody nose reminded her why she hated snorting drugs. But it always helped with the affects so she just needed to remember to take a pill earlier. Or five.
When she walked in and sat down, Lisa had watched her. Chaeyoung didn't care though. She immediately put her head down, feeling the coolness of the table on it.
Chaeyoung sensed a shadow beside her. She looked up expecting it to be Lisa, but instead was looking at her teacher.
"You need to pay attention in class Chaeyoung. You're failing." He stated annoyed. Before walking back to the front.
Students were looking at her. Chaeyoung simply laid her head back down. Purposely not looking to Lisa.
She was still conflicted on what to think of her.
Chaeyoung woke up to the bell, like normal. She drug herself to her next couple classes. Repeating the same routine as before.
Head down, eyes closed.
When Chaeyoung made it to the lunchroom, she noticed a plate at her table. She looked around before walking up to it. Was someone sitting in her spot.
That's when she noticed her name. 'For Chaeyoung :)' was written in big letters on the milk carton.
She sat down and looked at the plate. It had some rice, an orange, grapes, and of course, the milk. Chaeyoung was confused. Then she noticed there was something black under her orange.
She lifted it up to reveal another note. 'I hope this isn't weird lol. And if it is then sorry. But still eat it okay?'
Chaeyoung looked up to the only person who would do this for her. Lisa was talking to her friends again. The one boy from class joined them today.
Lisa glanced over and noticed her staring. She gave Chaeyoung a smile, holding her gaze for awhile.
Chaeyoung wanted to say thank you. But she felt frozen. She couldn't will her lips to move. But she didn't want to leave Lisa hanging.
She panicked when Lisa's smile started to fade. Chaeyoung do something with your stupid face! Why did she always have to look so dead? Say thank you, anything.
Chaeyoung looked down at the orange still in her hand. She brought it up to her chest, holding it to her heart.
When she looked back up to Lisa, the banged girl was smiling again. Lisa knew what it meant.
Chaeyoung felt relieved. Still not showing it, but she was.
She couldn't remember the last time she had this much food in one sitting. Even though it still wasn't much.
But she was taken back yet again by Lisa's kindness. Maybe it wasn't that bad to consider having a friend.
Just one friend.