**Shadows**

Lisa trudged through the school gates, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, her big doe eyes cast down at the ground. She hated mornings like this, when the darkness of her home life seemed to follow her to school. Her father's yelling, her mother's silence, it all swirled together in a toxic mix that made her stomach churn. As she walked, she thought about the part-time job she had to get to after school. She had to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet, to ensure that she and her father had food on the table. But it was hard, and sometimes she went to bed with an empty stomach. The memory of her father's drunk, slurred words and her mother's empty, distant gaze haunted her. Lisa pushed open the door to her classroom, and scanned the room for familiar faces. Rose, Jisoo, and the rest of their friend group were already seated, chatting and laughing. Lisa's heart lifted, and she made her way over to them. "Hey, Lisa!" Rose called out, waving her over. Lisa smiled, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her. For a moment, she forgot about her troubles at home. She took a seat next to Rose and Jisoo, and tried to focus on the teacher's lecture. But her mind kept wandering back to her father's angry face, and her mother's indifference. As the day went on, Lisa found herself zoning out, lost in her thoughts. She was so caught up in her own world that she didn't even notice Jennie, the captain of the soccer team, walking into the classroom. But when she glanced up, their eyes met, and Lisa felt a flutter in her chest. She quickly looked away, trying to brush off the feeling. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and before she knew it, the final bell was ringing. Lisa gathered her things and headed out of the classroom, feeling like she was walking on eggshells. She didn't know what the day would bring, but she knew she had to face it head-on. As she walked down the hallway, she was stopped by Kai, the star of the soccer team. "Hey, trash," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "What's with the ugly clothes?" Lisa felt a surge of anger, but bit back her retort. She knew that Kai was just trying to get a rise out of her. She kept her head down and walked away, trying to ignore him. But she could feel his eyes on her, and she knew she had to be careful. She made her way to her locker, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. But as she was switching out her books, she heard a voice behind her. "Hey, Lisa." She turned to see Jennie standing behind her, her eyes locked on hers. For a moment, they just looked at each other, and Lisa felt her heart skip a beat. "Hey," she replied, trying to sound casual. Jennie smiled, and for a moment, Lisa saw a glimmer of kindness in her eyes. "You okay?" she asked. Lisa nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Jennie. Despite their differences, Jennie had always been kind to her, had always looked out for her. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said. Jennie nodded, and for a moment, they just stood there, looking at each other. Then Jennie turned and walked away, leaving Lisa feeling confused and a little bit hopeful. As she watched Jennie walk away, Lisa couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. She had always admired Jennie from afar, had always been drawn to her confidence and charisma. But she had never thought that Jennie would notice her, that Jennie would care. But as she walked out of the school, Lisa couldn't shake off the feeling that something was changing, that something was shifting between her and Jennie. And she couldn't help but wonder what the future held.