Chapter Thirteen

“What are you?” asks Jessica as she walks beside Taeyeon watching her sister and Yuri walking ahead of them.

“A girl. Or at least I think.” She pretends to unbutton her pants and looks at Jessica, “Want to check and make sure? And then when you’re done I check you?” retorts Taeyeon with a grin. Jessica groans while mentally face palming herself.

“I didn’t mean that. I want to know what you are. Who you are.”

“I’m Kim Taeyeon. A girl who’s older than you,” states Taeyeon.

“Quit walking around the bush and avoiding the answer.”

“But there is no bush.”

“Do you want me to hit you?” grits Jessica becoming annoyed.

“Only if it resorts to a kiss like last time,” answers Taeyeon truthfully. Jessica shoves the shorter girl and stalks off ahead. “Wait!” shouts Taeyeon as she runs to keep up.

*****

Hyoyeon enters the video game shop to see Sunny preparing to close. “What did Taeyeon do this time?” asks Sunny.

“What do you mean?” responds Hyoyeon confused.

“I saw Sooyoung and Yoona running the other day in a rush. And the last time something like that happened was when Taeyeon slipped. So what did she do this time?”

“Jessica,” states Hyoyeon while browsing the games.

“Did she dump her on the porch like you guys did me?” Hyoyeon smiles and nods her head. “Are you guys ever going to let her in on anything?”

“Tae wants to sort of. She’s still unsure,” explains Hyoyeon. “She doesn’t want to hide anything but then she doesn’t want Jessica to treat her differently and become disgusted.”

“As if Jessica’s not already disgusted with the pervert,” mutters Sunny.

“Whatever…are you ready to go?” asks Hyoyeon.

“Yeah.”

*****

“Yuri, try this,” states Tiffany as she holds her chopsticks in front of Yuri’s mouth. Yuri opens her mouth allowing for Tiffany to feed her, “it’s good huh?” The taller girl nods her head while chewing. Jessica rolls her eyes at her sister and Yuri before turning to Taeyeon who was sitting quietly.

“Why are you so quiet?” asks Jessica.

“Nothing,” answers Taeyeon as she looks at her phone.

“Are you bored?”

“No.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“Why won’t you feed me?” asks Taeyeon.

“You can feed yourself.”

“Some girl friend you are.”

“Who said I was your girl friend? Besides you owe me the date. I think you should be feeding me instead.”

“Okay.” Taeyeon picks up some food with her chopsticks and places it in front of Jessica’s face. “Open.”

“I was joking.”

“Open,” demands Taeyeon while poking Jessica’s lips. Jessica reluctantly opens her mouth and allows for Taeyeon to feed her.

“They’re a weird couple,” whispers Yuri to Tiffany as they watch the two older girls across from them. Tiffany nods her head in agreement and feeds Yuri some more food.

“Jessi’s only acting like that because of what Taeyeon said,” states Tiffany. Yuri turns and gives her a confused look, “Taeyeon said she would get Jessica to want to be her girl friend. And I think Jessica wants to but is in denial.”

“What about you guys?” asks Yuri.

“Huh?” Tiffany gives her the confused look.

“Nothing…was thinking of something else.” Tiffany nods her head and turns back to her sister who was now threatening to stab Taeyeon with a knife.

“Jessi!” Jessica turns to her sister with a brow raised, “put the knife down. I’m sure Taeyeon didn’t do anything bad.”

“You’re siding with them?” asks Jessica in disbelief.

“They’re not as bad as Sunny says they are. Once you get to know them that is.”

“Yeah I’m not bad!” pipes in Taeyeon while scooting her chair in closer.

“How about we leave you two alone?” comments Yuri.

“No,” answers Jessica.

“Yes…go spend some time with Taeyeon,” shoos Tiffany, “go…Yuri will pay for this, right Yuri?” Yuri nods her head, “good now go!”

“Fine,” mutters Jessica as she stands up and stalks out of the restaurant with Taeyeon following behind her.

“I think we just set your friend up for an early death,” states Tiffany as she shoves more food in Yuri’s mouth.

Yuri chews and covers her mouth before stating, “If so then your sister is going to follow behind closely after Hyo hears about it.”

“Should we follow?”

Yuri shakes her head no. “We’re supposed to be on a date remember?”

*****

Taeyeon walks beside Jessica looking at the scenery of the city unsure of what to do next. She looks over at Jessica to see the girl shivering. “Always without a jacket,” mutters Taeyeon as she removes her jacket and drapes it over Jessica’s shoulders. Jessica freezes and looks at the jacket before turning to Taeyeon, “you were shivering.”

“Thank you,” states Jessica as she continues walking and sliding her arms into the sleeves.

“See I’m not bad,” states Taeyeon.

“You have your moments and this happens to be one of them,” responds Jessica.

“What are you saying?” questions Taeyeon.

“I’m stating that you’re an idiot but there are times when you can be a genius and this is one of those times,” answers Jessica.

“Why are you so mean?”

“I’m not mean.” Taeyeon gives up and returns to silence as they continue on their walk. The area begins to fill with people and so Taeyeon reaches out and grabs Jessica’s hand. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to lose you in the crowd,” answers Taeyeon while looking at the shops. Jessica nods her head and watches the older girl as they continue on their walk.

“I want to know,” states Jessica. “Can I at least get a hint?”

“About?”

“You. You family. Something.”

“Um…okay…My family isn’t exactly good. But they’re not fully bad. They just do what they have to, to get on top,” states Taeyeon, “and that’s why I don’t like the profession set out for me.” She turns and gives Jessica a smile, “Is that enough?”

“For now,” answers Jessica with a smile in return. Taeyeon nods her head.

“So what about you?” questions Taeyeon.

“Huh?”

“I want to know something now. I told you about myself.”

“No.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Life’s not fair.” Taeyeon releases Jessica’s hand and huffs before crossing her arms. Jessica laughs at how childlike Taeyeon’s appearance becomes before walking off.

“Hey!” shouts Taeyeon as she watches Jessica disappear within the crowd. She begins pushing through the crowd trying her hardest to find the slightly taller girl. Standing on the tip of her toes, she tries looking over people but fail since she was already shorter than most people to begin with. With a grunt of disapproval she leans back against the wall of a shop and crosses her arms muttering incoherent things.

“Here,” she looks up see Jessica standing in front of her with an ice cream cone.

“What makes you think I like ice cream?” mutters Taeyeon upset.

“Fine, I’ll throw it away,” responds Jessica walking to a nearby trash can.

“Wait! I do want it!” exclaims Taeyeon running after Jessica and snatching the ice cream cone from Jessica’s hands and bringing it to her mouth. Her tongue slides across the frozen treat as a smile spread across her face. Nodding her head, Taeyeon places the ice cream against Jessica’s lips. “Taste,” she demands.

Jessica sticks her tongue out tasting the frozen treat before smiling herself, “Good right?” She nods her head, “Good we can share,” Taeyeon grabs Jessica’s hand and they continue their walk sharing the delicacy.

*****

“Do you think she killed her?” asks Tiffany as she stands in the parking lot with Yuri.

“I hope not,” mutters Yuri, “or Hyo will be after her.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say that Taeng is a very important person,” answers Yuri. Tiffany nods her head not trying to press for anymore information even though she was curious. She links arms with Yuri and leans her head against the taller girls shoulder. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“Yes and thank you,” answers Tiffany.

“Well I’m happy you did.”

“I think I like you,” states Tiffany. Yuri turns and looks at her, “I mean I sort of liked you before but I was in love with someone else. But now that’s all ending and I think I like a little more.” Yuri smiles as laughter fills the air. Both girls turn around to see Taeyeon running away from an upset Jessica.

“What did you do now?” asks Yuri as she watches the older girl gasp for air knowing that she wasn’t fully physically fit.

“She touched my butt,” states Jessica as she swats Taeyeon on the head.

“I couldn’t help it,” responds Taeyeon as she looks at Jessica with a smile, “I was feeling a little touchy.”

“A little? You gave it a squeeze and everything,” corrects Jessica.

“Fine…fine,” Taeyeon stands in front of Jessica and sticks her hands into one of the pockets of her jacket. “But you liked it,” whispers Taeyeon as she pulls out her car keys.

“What makes you think that?” questions Jessica.

“You didn’t leave a bruise this time.” She gives Jessica another smile and takes off to unlock the car.

*****

Once again Taeyeon finds herself by her car with Jessica standing in front of her and Yuri with Tiffany by the front door of the their house. “Uh…” states Taeyeon unsure of what to say. She closes her mouth and pouts, confused. Jessica giggles a little before leaning forward and kissing Taeyeon on the cheek. “Y-you-“

“Here’s something about myself. I might have a slight bit of interest in a midget. Keyword might and that doesn’t mean I want to be your girlfriend or anything else,” states Jessica as she backs up and heads to the front door leaving a glowing Taeyeon by the car. “Goodnight Yuri.”

“Goodnight Jessica,” states Yuri watching Jessica enter the house. She turns back to see Tiffany smiling at her. “Well I guess I’ll see you later.” Tiffany nods her head and places a kiss on Yuri’s cheek before entering the house and closing the door. Yuri walks back to Taeyeon who was still glowing.

“Score one for us!”

*****

Tiffany trails after Jessica up the stairs, “You were much nicer this time,” comments Tiffany.

“Sure I was. You were just imagining things,” responds Jessica.

“No really. You're becoming more comfortable with her. You're no longer hostile and wishing to kill her frequently and can hold a semi converstaion.  I think you should admit you like her. You guys are cute together but weird at the same time.” Jessica stops in her tracks and turns to Tiffany, “what are you getting at?”

“What?” asks Tiffany confused.

“You’re standing her saying that I need to admit to the midget that I have feelings for her. That is if I have feelings. So what are you getting at? You’re supposed to be in love with me,” states Jessica.

“Why?” asks Tiffany lowering her head, “why should I hold onto my feelings for you when you make it obvious that you think of me as a sister now?” She raises it and looks Jessica in the eyes. “You can’t have both Jessi. You can’t have me hold on to something that will never be a reality again. And you can’t have Taeyeon chasing after you. So you have to make a choice.” She walks past Jessica to her room slamming the door shut, “stupid Jessica. Ruining my perfect evening.”

*****

Jessica paces back and forth in front of Taeyeon’s ‘house’ unsure of whether or not she wants to do this. After what Tiffany had told her last night and this she came to the conclusion that she would admit that maybe she does like the girl. Just a little. Just because she gets jealous easily and has a need to have the girl speak to her whenever they meet means nothing. She looks at the oak door before turning on her heel to see a grinning Taeyeon, “what are you doing here?” asks Taeyeon.

“What are you doing outside this early?” retorts Jessica.

“I can ask you the same thing since you live on the other side of town.”

“I was…um…” was all Jessica could say.

“Yeah?” asks Taeyeon leaning in closer.

“I have no clue why I’m here,” answers Jessica.

“Well let’s eat while you figure it out,” she heads to the front door unlocking it and stepping inside.

“Where’s your family?” questions Jessica as she looks around.

“Hyoyeon stayed the night somewhere and Father’s at work while mother’s probably shopping,” answers Taeyeon truthfully sort of. Hyoyeon was back at the other house. Her dad was off doing something and so was her mother. She enters the kitchen and heads to the fridge. “So what would you like?”

“I thought you stopped chasing me,” states Jessica taking a seat at the small island in the middle of the kitchen.

“I did. I’m just fixing two friends some food, right? We’re just friends.”

“Yeah.” Taeyeon smiles and turns her attention to making a meal.

“So what would you like?”

“Whatever.” Taeyeon nods her head and begins cutting and dicing ingredients. “Has Sunny ever magically woken in her room?”

“Plenty of times,” answers Taeyeon.

“Anybody else?”

“No.” Jessica rests her head on the palm of her hand watching the short girl move around the kitchen. The smell of the food invades her nose.

“How much longer are you going to wait to see if I come after you?” asks Jessica.

“Hyoyeon and everyone thinks I should give up at the end of the month seeing as I made no progress.”

“Are you?”

“Maybe…I don’t know. One minute you’re nice to me and that makes me believe that you like me. And the next it’s the total opposite. But some of the girls who are lining up to be with me are kinda cute.” Jessica balls her fist and glares at the back of Taeyeon’s head. “But half only want me for my looks which I can’t figure out or the fact that I have a trust fund.” She turns some knobs and grabs the plates that were on the counter piling food onto them. Turning to face Jessica, she walks over and sets a plate in front of her. “We just had a normal conversation. That calls for a celebration.”

“And what kind of celebration is that?”

“Ice cream, but that comes later.” She picks some food up and places it in front of Jessica’s mouth, “open.” Jessica opens her mouth and allows for Taeyeon to feed her again.

“Would you date them?” asks Jessica while covering her mouth. Taeyeon shrugs her shoulders.

“I like you,” states Taeyeon.

“I know that.”

“Are you about to turn me down and admit that you’re in love with someone else?” asks Taeyeon.

“Why would you ask that?” questions Jessica taking another bite.

“You’re asking me all these questions and it seems like a subtle way to approach things.”

Jessica pauses and wonders if she should tell the girl before her this. “Well no. I was actually in love a while ago but things didn’t end well between me and her.”

“Oh…is that why you don’t want to date me?” asks Taeyeon. “Because you still have feelings?”

“N-no. All feelings are gone or nearly gone. I only see that person as a close family member now and when I think about it I get grossed out.”

“Oh…”

“I don’t like secrets. Secrets ruined the relationship.”