HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BIAS LALISAAAAAAA😍 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH❤❤❤💓

-

The first thing Lisa sees the next morning is her mother standing in the doorway with a massive smile on her face and a cupcake in her hand.

"Happy Birthday sweetie."

Lisa takes the cupcake graciously and smiles up at her mother. This is one of the few things Lisa likes about her birthday, the fact that she gets to eat cake for her breakfast. There's no other day in the year that offers that particular benefit.

"Thank Mum," Lisa says through a yawn, "you didn't have to do this."

"It's your birthday," her mother replies simply.

Lisa quickly places the cupcake on her bedside table, scrambles out of bed and pulls her mother into a tight hug. Lisa has to bend slightly at the knees to do so but the smile on her mother's face is worth it.

"Best Mum ever," Lisa whispers in her ear, "like seriously."

Her Mum lets out a small burst of laughter as Lisa releases her mom from her grip.

"Whatever you say, but just so you know, you're my favourite child."

"I'm your only child, the only competition is Mark and technically he's not yours.."

"Exactly."

Lisa shakes her head at her.

"Anyway I'll leave you to get ready for school," Lisa's Mum says, "enjoy your breakfast; it's only your birthday once a year!"

After demolishing her cupcake, Lisa quickly pulls on her clothes before heading out the door, not entirely looking forward to today. It's not that Lisa has anything against birthdays in general; it's more that she really hates the attention being on her. It just makes her feel uncomfortable.

As soon as Lisa walks into school she is greeted by a smiling Rosé and Jennie who instantly shout 'Happy Birthday!' when they spot her from half way down the corridor. Lisa tries to ignore the looks people are giving her after that.

"Here you go," Rosé says placing a massive badge into Lisa's hand, "that's for the birthday girl."

"Chaeng..."

"And you have to wear it," Rosé interrupts, "else I'll cry. And neither of us want that to happen."

"I don't know," Lisa replies, "that'd be a great birthday present."

"Heartless," Rosé mutters, "the girl's absolutely heartless."

Lisa elects to ignore her and before long a present is thrust into her hands, and Rosé offers her a smile.

"You better like this," Rosé tells Lisa, "you've been saying you want it for ages and it cost me fucking loads. So please dear god pretend you like it even if you don't, cause it nearly killed my wallet."

Lisa shakes her head at Rosé's mini speech before peeling back the wrapping paper, carefully placing it neatly on the table next to her. She can hear Rosé and Jennie sigh at how long she is taking but Lisa doesn't pay attention to them, it's important to her that she doesn't rip the wrapping too much, it makes her feel bad after they put so much effort into wrapping it for her.

Eventually Lisa is finished with her task and her jaw drops open.

"Chaeng, you didn't have to."

Rosé doesn't reply, she just smiles smugly.

"Like seriously Chipmunk, you have no idea how much I wanted this."

Lisa stares down at the copy of Sims 4 and feels like crying. She doesn't though; she doesn't need to give Jennie more reasons to stop being friends with her.

"I had an idea," Rosé says, "I mean you've only gone on about how amazing it looks since it came out. I actually thought you were going to explode if someone didn't get you it."

Lisa rolls her eyes although she knows that what Rosé is saying is probably true.

"Shut up," she mutters under her breath.

"Sorry what was that?"

"Thank you Rosé," Lisa says louder this time.

"You're welcome."

Lisa is beginning to tidy away all the stuff on her desk when a tin and then another present is placed in front of her. Lisa looks up to see Jennie staring at her with a sheepish expression on her face. When Jennie notices Lisa looking at her, the expression quickly disappears.

"I told you not to spend anything on me," Lisa says.

"I didn't," Jennie replies, "the present cost me nothing, just a bit of time and effort."

Out of the corner of her eye Lisa can see Rosé raising her eyebrows suggestively and Lisa's cheeks heat as she remembers yesterday's conversation.

"Promise?" she says.

"Promise."

Lisa opens the tin first and looks up at Jennie with a grin on her face.

"You made me a cake."

"Well technically Irene-unnie made the cake," Jrnnie admits, "I just decorated it and supervised the baking part."

"Oh," Lisa says, "and uhm, what the picture supposed to be?"

"Well it's supposed to be a cat," Jennie tells Lisa, rubbing the back of her neck as her cheeks flush, "but uhm, there's a reason I'm not doing Art for A-Level."

"It's great," Lisa enthuses.

"No it's not," Jennie sighs, "but it should taste good at least."

"And that's the important part," Lisa assures her.

"Shut up and open your present."

"Be patient," Lisa warns Jennie, "I've gotta open the card first anyway."

Lisa sees Jennie roll her eyes as he opens the envelope but she ignores her and looks at the card in disbelief.

"'Happy Tenth Birthday!'" Lisa reads.

She lets out a small giggle and finds that Jennie is chuckling too.

"The woman in the card shop got a bit confused and so I just went along with it."

"Now open the present," Jennie urges.

Lisa carefully unwraps this present too, again placing the paper neatly beside her so as not to make a mess.

When she finally opens it up all she can see is a CD case, and then she flips it over.

Playlist For Lalisa (alternatively titled 'A Load Of Fucking Great Music That Are Lalisa in Song Form')

Lisa stares up at Jennie, not entirely sure what to say.

"I know it's kinda lame," Jennie tells her, "but it was the only thing I could think to do."

"I love it," Lisa says, "like so much."

"I mean you don't have to listen to it if you don't want to," Jennie replies, "but y'know, it's a modern day mixtape and all that."

"Thank you Jennie."

"No problem."

xxx

Jennie is relieved to say the least. All morning she'd panicked that maybe Lisa wouldn't like the present and perhaps, Jennie muses, Lisa doesn't, but Lisa is saying she does and so Jennie will take what she can get.

They're sat in an empty classroom, and Lisa is poised with a knife hovering over the cake, offering Rosé a glare.

"I'm just saying be careful," Rosé says, putting her hands up in defence.

"And I'm just saying I'm not a toddler, I am perfectly capable of handling dangerous instruments."

"Can we just cut the damn cake," Nayeon whines.

Jennie was almost surprised to see her friend reappear again this break time. But Nayeon had joined them without a word and Jennie figured that if Nayeon wasn't going to make a big deal about spending time with them, then Jennie wasn't either.

"I'm doing it, I'm doing it."

A handful of minutes later and they're all sat on the desks, paper towels being used as makeshift plates and Jennie is relieved to find that Irene's baking tastes just as good as it did the last time she sampled it.

"Your sister is an amazing baker," Rosé says simply, "like can she make cake for us every day?"

Both Lisa and Nayeon nod in agreement whilst Jennie contents herself with rolling her eyes.

"Yeah she wants to be a baker or something," Jennie replies shrugging her shoulders, "if you think her cake is good then you should try her cheesecake."

"Can I marry your sister?" Rosé asks through a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, you're not really her type."

"What is her type?"

"Really hot muscled football players."

"Fuck that, maybe she could do with a change."

Everyone rolls their eyes this time, except Rosé that is who sits there with a strangely hopeful expression on her face.

"I already told you Chaeng," Lisa says, "me and Jennie can set you up with her co-worker."

"From what I've heard she sounds hella scary."

"She's not that bad," Jennie replies.

"Yeah," Lisa agrees, "I'm sure she doesn't bite."

"Well actually," Jennie says, "there was a time a couple of years back when we were fighting over who got the last scoop of the triple chocolate ice cream."

"Anyway," Lisa quickly interrupts, "I think you two would be really cute together."

"Why?" Rosé asks sceptically.

"Because then you wouldn't be moping around after Susy Bae all the time."

"I'm not moping around after her; I'm waiting for the right time to make my move."

"Darling," Nayeon interjects, "the right time was about three years ago."

Rosé opens her mouth to respond but Jennie quickly cuts her off. This is not an argument that Jennie really feels like right now.

"So any hot plans for tonight?" Jennie asks Lisa. "I mean it is your birthday after all. So what is it? A party? Rock climbing? Heading to Vegas?"

"Uhm, I'm actually just going to hang out with my grandma."

"Oh," Jennie replies.

Jennie didn't exactly expect Lisa to have the most thrilling plans, but she didn't expect plans quite so... normal as that.

"You're going to visit Grandma Grace!" Rosé says excitedly.

"You can come if you want."

"Yes!" Rosé replies, and then her face falls slightly. "Can't, I'm babysitting the horrors."

When Jennie and Nayeon look at Rosé in confusion she quickly explains.

"Eight year old twin brothers."

"Oh."

"That sucks."

"You can come if you want Jennie," Lisa suggests.

Jennie isn't really sure. To be honest the idea of meeting Lisa's grandma doesn't really appeal to her but at the same time she doesn't really want to let Lisa down.

"Uhm," Jennie mutters.

"You have to go," Rosé tells Jennie, "Lisa's grandmother is the coolest lady alive."

Jennie looks at Rosé in some disbelief, Rosé can be known to sometimes over exaggerate things and Jennie figures that this must be one of those instances.

But hey, what has she got to lose? Jennie knows that the only thing on her timetable for tonight is going home and doing homework, not exactly the recipe for a perfect Wednesday night. And sure Jennie doesn't like spending time with old people, but she sure as she'll likes spending time with Lisa, and so surely the benefits outweigh the negatives.

"Sure," Jennie replies, "I'll come with you."

Lisa offers Jennie a small smile in reply and conversation quickly moves on. Nayeon can't stop bitching about something her Biology teacher has done but Jennie isn't really paying attention.

Her mind is elsewhere, throwing her back to the days before Lisa, back when her break times were spent with a boy draped all over her and being involved with pointless conversations about whatever party was happening next weekend (or whatever stupid thing someone had done at the party last weekend). Sure there were more people, it was louder and Jennie felt happy, she felt content. She was popular, and back then, Jennie thought that was all she wanted.

But Jennie will readily admit that she is infinitely more happy here. Hearing Nayeon and Lisa bicker about their favourite Pokémon game. Because Jennie is starting to realise that there is a difference between the people who are friends with you because they think they should be, and the people who are friends with you because they actually want to be. And Jennie is just glad she's finally found the latter group.

And maybe Jennie is finding herself caught up in friendships that she doesn't entirely understand but she honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

Because as Jennie looks around at the three girls sat beside her, Jennie realises that she's happy. Truly, utterly, happy that she's with them and not sat in the canteen pretending to be someone that she is ultimately not. Back then Jennie didn't even realise she was playing a role, but now, Jennie thinks they might need to bring in her understudy.