Vive la Résolution

You know, if someone had told me when we all sat down that I'd be the first to bring an end to my problems... I'd have probably believed it, since the only other people in that conversation were Elise and Rouge and they're much smarter than me. That's not the point though.

"Hollywood? Seriously?" I scoff in disbelief. "I know Gene's a bit aloof, but packing up and moving to LA is a big decision, and he was just going to leave you here?" I continue.

"Oh, no, Jasper had already made the offer for me to stay here, Gene asked if I wanted to go, but... Well, everything I know is here. Packing up a leaving? Maybe I'd have been fine, but my therapist said it's better to avoid uncertainty wherever possible." Jenny answers, continuing to scribble in her diary.

After our fight I offered to stay a while, keep her company, I dunno, I felt guilty. Even more so as I look at the black eye forming on the side of her face that I struck her. "You should really get some ice on that, it'll swell up." I remind her.

"I will, just got this to finish. " She answers. Now that I've sat down with her... I get what Mum was saying, this Jenny barely resembles the one from my nightmares, she's quiet, reserved, but... I'm not sure how to describe it. It's like she's just grateful to still be alive. Makes sense, I guess, but it's an odd feeling to be around. "I'm just grateful it was you, Amanda lost teeth when Elise punched her." She smirks.

"Good." I react immediately. "Sorry, I know she was your friend, but she deserved it." I clarify.

"No arguments here. I did too. Difference is I'm trying to be better. Hence the diary." Jenny concurs, finishing her page.

I feel like now's the time to ask, it's been bugging me ever since she came back.

"Hey, so, why do you speak so... Properly now? You sound like royalty, you never used to." I ask. I'm genuinely curious, we live in a pretty middle-class area, and even from that Jenny's in the rough end, but she sounds like something out of a period drama.

She smiles at my question, closing her diary. "I... Used to have a speech impediment, I got around it through reading old books on eloquence, so my accent changed to this. Problem was, Amanda thought I sounded stuck up, so I used my old accent around her, add in the slurred speech from the things my parents were doing... Well, needless to say, my natural voice was a well-kept secret. Gene saw through me when I started staying with him though. Said acting that bad offended him, so I had to stop." She explains with a giggle as she recalls Gene's words.

A speech impediment? I don't remember that... But then it has been a long time, I don't really remember exact words... I remember Amanda did most of the talking, maybe I just never picked up on it? As an aside, has this girl had any luck whatsoever? Poor thing couldn't even talk. Jenny makes her way to the freezer and retrieves a bag of frozen peas, placing it against her face. Wow, this sight makes me feel like a complete arsehole... Guess we've got plenty of time to make us even though.

I reach for her phone and proceed to enter my number. "Hey, I've added my number to your phone, if you need anything... You know, while Jasper and Minnie are away... Or just... I dunno, just anything, you can call me." I offer awkwardly. I was trying to avoid straight up saying 'We should hang out again, I feel a bit shitty for punching you.' Somehow my actual words were weirder.

My half-sister seems to appreciate them though. "Thank you, I'll call you if I need any 'anything'" She grins. And now I see what was making me so conflicted, it's that smile.

She has Rouge's smile.

*

I sigh with comfort as I walk through the front door, greeted by the barking I missed for so long. I take the time to pop my head in the living room to reassure Mum that everything went okay, but I'm way too tired to go into it with her. I proceed up the stairs to find Elise pacing back and forth in our room, who rushes over to hug me as I enter.

"Lapin!" She exclaims, wrapping her arms around me. "Are you okay, she didn't do anything to you, did she? I swear, if she even looked at you wrong, I'll end her." She continues frantically. Oh, guess Mum told her where I was going, can't say I blame her, I'd want to know if Elise was visiting someone with murder in her eyes.

"I believe you! It was fine, she was fine... It was actually kind of a relief to get it all out in the open. She told me a lot of stuff... I guess I'm still processing, but we're on better terms. We've got ways to move forward now." I reassure my girlfriend as we break our embrace. She takes me by the hand and sits me on the bed. "But, that's one down, two to go, how's things going with William?"

Elise's eyes roll at the mention of his name. "Urgh, I tried calling him but he didn't pick up, can't say I'm surprised." She growls. She's not angry anymore, not really, she's disappointed, disillusioned, but not angry.

"Maybe he's got a new number?" I try to argue. I'm not exactly a fan of William, but as someone's who's dropped their phone in the sink, it's not impossible. "If you can't get through to him by phone, what are you gonna do?"

Elise groans at the thought. "In that case, there's only one way to make sure I catch up with him." She admits, flopping back on the bed in a huff.

"I've got to go home."