The season is almost over and Jennie thinks she's starting to like spring, despite the crazy weather and the spike of hay-fever and allergies.

Spring brings the beginning of new life.

It symbolises the beginning of her friendship with Lisa, like a flower in bloom.

Speak of the devil, Jennie thinks fondly as a familiar voice calls her name. She turns around to see Lisa in her parking space a few feet away, wearing her charming smile as always.

"Running late, can't stop," Jennie says with a grin as she resumes walking, though at a slower pace.

Lisa gradually falls into step beside her.

"Yo, yo, yo, what's up?"

The brunette rolls her eyes at the girl's silliness, though she couldn't help smiling.

"Other than the fact that we're both late to class," she says, "not much."

"Well, I have a good reason, so..."

"What a coincidence – I do too," Jennie jokes.

"Which is?"

"The professor doesn't give a ."

Lisa feigns shock. "And here I was thinking you just really liked long, romantic walks on campus."

"Well, that too," Jennie plays along. The blonde hums in assent, and they share a short laugh.

As they walk in companionable silence, Jennie lets her thoughts wander and takes in the scenery that the university has to offer – the flowers, the buildings and the busy people that pass them by.

She has been trying a little more at school lately, putting in more effort into her work and her attendance. She tries not to let today's tardiness bother her, convincing herself that it really is going to be the last time this time, and that her professor really doesn't care.

As much as Jennie hates to admit it, her stepfather's words really did sting and she couldn't help but let them get to her.

She doesn't realize she had started unconsciously trailing behind, until Lisa links an arm with hers and she's coaxed back to a relaxed pace.

"Earth to Jennie," the blonde says with a small smile, obviously concerned.

Jennie makes a static sound with and mimics talking into a radio. "Jennie to Earth."

"There you are," Lisa beams. "You feeling okay?"

The brunette looks at their linked arms. "Super."

Lisa has been a caring and supportive friend from the beginning. She's been someone that Jennie came to rely on. She always made time to help Jennie out with her workload despite having her own, even going so far as to sacrifice her breaks at work for a whole week to rendezvous with Jennie and help her finish a paper. Lisa has a tendency to be very empathetic, always seeming to be sensitive to Jennie's emotions and offering her support and comfort; whether it be through words or touch. Like their friendship, Lisa's affectionate disposition came naturally. It can't be denied that they've grown closer, especially since the sleepover a couple of weeks back.

What is it about falling asleep together that makes people closer?

"Maybe the fact that none of us tried to kill anyone in their sleep," Lisa offers.

Jennie starts, realizing she had spoken out the thought.

"Yeah, maybe."

She also realizes that they've reached her class.

"Jen, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," she says dazedly.

"Alright, well, I gotta run." Lisa smiles apologetically. "Talk later?"

Jennie nods mutely. "Thanks for walking me to class."

"Oh, don't mention it," Lisa says with a wave of her hand.

"Hey," she says, like an afterthought, "you know you can just call when you need anything."

Jennie thinks she truly appreciates Lisa as a genuine friend, not just because she's someone she sees five days a week.

"Duh." Jennie grins. "Catch you later, dork."

The morning goes by in a blur for Jennie, going through her classes attentively. She meets with Jisoo and Rose for her two-hour free period by their usual spot in the sports field and decides to lie down on the grass and rest her eyes for a little. After all the morning lectures and activities, she's explicably tired.

Jisoo's stern voice snaps the brunette out of her trance.

"Stop that, you're going to take somebody's eye out."

Jennie opens her eyes and groggily watches Rose and Lisa arguing over a butter knife. She's not surprised to see the blonde; having Lisa around just feels natural. From beside her, Jisoo swears under her breath before taking a sip of tea from her thermos bottle. Jennie's sleepy eyes lazily wander the quiet field they're in.

She sits up and stretches her arms. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah, it's been an hour," Jisoo says.

"Sorry for crashing on you guys."

The redhead waves her off dismissively. Jennie looks at the blanket spread before her, where a bag containing a variety of food lay.

"I can't believe you brought all that," she remarks.

"Yeah, I know, I'm amazing."

"Sure."

"What's up with you lately? You act like you just found out somebody died," Jisoo says, pushing a blueberry muffin towards her. "You look like it, too."

"I'm fine," Jennie grouses, "That's just my face."

To her surprise, the muffin is still warm enough to eat; her friends' thoughtfulness never fails to amaze her sometimes.

"Yeah right," Jisoo replies sardonically, raising her voice slightly over the argument going on from across them. "Man, my back is killing me. We had to buy a new bedframe for our apartment, and Chaeyoung practically did nothing to help m—"

The butter knife flies into the middle of the picnic blanket.

Lisa and Rose wilt under the redhead's glare, sinking into their seats with sheepish grins. Jennie herself bites back a smile at Jisoo's annoyed expression.

Jisoo scoffs irritatedly. "Oi, I took the liberty of preparing and packing all this, you pair of toddlers."

"We are eternally grateful," they say in an impression of the Little Green Men from Toy Story, earning an amused smile from Jennie.

"You okay, Lisa?" Jisoo says. "You barely ate anything."

Lisa nods vigorously. "Yeah! I'm fine. Just trying not to overeat."

"Why?" Rose asks, concerned. "What's up?"

Jennie snaps her fingers in realization. "Oh, right, you have the auditions."

Jisoo scratches her head. "That's today?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Can we come?" Rose asks. "We have to support our Long-Legged Lisa!"

"Thank you," Lisa giggles. "I'm not sure about that, though."

"I can't believe you're going to be a model." Jisoo laments, "I'm doing nothing with my life right now. I should get a job too."

"Your parents probably won't like that," Jennie says, although deep down her friend's words resonate with her.

She isn't particularly happy that her heritage is the only thing she's got going for herself (she thinks), but she supposes it's better than nothing, in case her life ever really goes to .

They do come from well-off families, with Jennie's and Jisoo's parents running their respective businesses and hospitals all over the country, Rose's family residing and working in Australia, and with Lisa's step-father being a world-renowned chef.

However, Jisoo's parents used to be hell-bent on her focusing on studying medicine to maintain their legacy of success in the field. Jisoo is the first in her family to stray from tradition and pursue a career in arts. Though it isn't what her parents wanted for her, they continue to show support for her dreams and push Jisoo to work hard in order to succeed in her chosen career path. Hence why Jennie thinks they would disapprove of Jisoo dividing her time juggling her schoolwork with a job.

"Right, I guess I have to stay reliant on them," Jisoo sighs. "At least until I come out of this with a stable career."

"And you will," Lisa pipes up encouragingly.

"Mm-hmm," Jennie hums affirmatively.

Rose nods. "You make art, you sing, dance, and act – you're not even a triple threat, you're a quadruple threat!"

"Oh, stop," Jisoo huffs while her cheeks turn pink, flustered by the praise. "Everyone here can do that. At most, I'm average with those things."

"How's the singing thing coming along, by the way?" she continues, addressing the brown-haired girl.

"It's going great!" Rose says enthusiastically, launching into a story about a vocal coach that she adores.

Rose has always had a passion for music; she can play the guitar and compose, but she's particularly talented at singing. Maybe it's the sense of purpose she gets from it, but it seems to Jennie that lately, Rose has been more confident with herself and letting her talents shine, and she only seems to be getting happier.

Jennie smiles as she watches her friends talk animatedly, genuinely glad for Rose's happiness and newfound energy for life.

"Mm," Jisoo sighs as her watch beeps. "That's our cue to go."

They help Jisoo pack up their picnic and head to their respective destinations. Jennie sits through the rest of her classes with what energy she had. That afternoon, she spots Rose and Jisoo by her car. She wears a dubious expression as she walks up to them while they watch her, seemingly impatient.

"About time," Jisoo says. "Put some pep in your step, granny."

"What are you weirdos doing?" she asks. "Where's Lisa?"

"Looks like she already left," Rose points at the girl's vacant parking spot.

Jisoo nods. "So we need you as a ride to her stupid casting call."

Jennie raises an eyebrow. "Didn't she say she wasn't sure if anyone's allowed?"

"It's a 50/50 chance," Jisoo says simply.

That's how Jennie finds herself in a hotel lobby, with her two friends walking around like headless chickens.

"Ah, I feel so out of place," Rose says worriedly as she checks her reflection on a mirror near the elevator area, referring to her casual getup.

"You look perfectly fine." Jennie takes a seat on an armchair nearby. She's wearing a mustard yellow oversized tee with sneakers, yet she doesn't feel out of place one bit.

Jisoo is taking full advantage of the fact that she blends in with the guests milling around, every once in a while picking up finger food from trays held by hospitable staff passing by.

"Where is that girl?" Jisoo groans as she approaches the two. "I'm getting thirsty."

"She didn't actually specify," Rose says defeatedly. "In hindsight, we probably should've thought this out better."

Jennie sighs for the nth time. "I knew this wasn't a good idea. You gotta listen to what she—"

One of the elevators open and out steps Lisa, unaware and candidly beautiful. She's made up like a blank slate, in plain yet form-flattering clothes and light makeup, her hair pulled back in a loose, low bun.

Jisoo elbows the brunette in the ribs. "You dropped something."

"What?"

"Your jaw," she says with a teasing grin.

Jennie rolls her eyes. "Shut up."

Rose calls out Lisa's name excitedly as they rush to her, laughing at her stunned expression. They ask questions as they make their way out of the hotel into the fading afternoon sun.

"Okay, most importantly," says Rose as they stop at a busy sidewalk, "how did it go?"

"I'm assuming it went well," Jennie says, taking notice of a folder held in Lisa's hand.

"Yeah!" Lisa enthused. "They said they usually don't hire on the spot, but they want to get me signed as soon as possible."

Jennie wraps an arm around the blonde as they congratulate her in unison.

"This calls for a celebration!" Jisoo cheers.

"I need to get changed if we're celebrating," Rose pouts.

"Fine," Jisoo sighs. "See you guys tonight?"

Lisa opens to speak, looking unsettled, but the redhead interrupts her.

"Nuh-uh," Jisoo says. "You better be there or I'll set your house on fire."

Lisa chuckles a little, but then she puts on her best apologetic expression. "I can't, I have work."

Jisoo scoffs in disbelief. "Work? You can quit that job now! I don't even know why you're doing it in the first place."

"Give me your phone," she demands, not waiting for answer as she snatches the device from Lisa's hand.

"What?" the blonde furrows her brows in question. "You're not going to—"

Jisoo puts a finger to her lips, Lisa's phone already held up to her ear.

"Now I regret telling you my passcode," Lisa sighs.

Jisoo startles suddenly and swiftly delivers a hard kick to the girl's shin. Lisa yelps in pain, dropping to the ground. Rose lets out a small scream and Jennie gasps, alarmed, as they immediately rush to the blonde's aid. A few passersby even stop to check out the situation.

While they fuss loudly, Jisoo turns her back on the three and begins talking on the phone, putting on a slightly frantic voice. "Hello? No, sorry, I'm a friend of hers. Yes, everything's fine! It's just – there's been an accident just now and she's hurt. Huh? Oh, she sprained her ankle. Yeah, it's pretty bad. I just wanted to let you know she can't come in tonight..."

Jisoo turns around after she hangs up, a triumphant smile on her face. "You're free!"

"You're crazy!" Lisa says with an angry pout. "That really hurt."

Rose laughs, and once her shock wears off, Jennie laughs along, exhilarated.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," Jisoo says playfully. "Hey, I had to improvise, okay?"

"You really couldn't think of anything else?" Lisa grouses.

"Aww, come on, it can't be that bad," says Jisoo, nudging the blonde. "Jennie can kiss your oo better if you want."

"And you can kiss my ," Jennie quips with a flick to Jisoo's forehead, making Rose and Lisa giggle.

As her friends laugh, Jennie looks up at the glow of the afternoon sunset, cherishing the good times.