Broken || Little Mix ||

Chapter 27 - E

Leigh-Anne and I both pull the tips of our caps down and yank up our hoods high as we duck out of the back exit of the hospital. As promised, our van is waiting literally right outside of the doors so I don't have to run to get into it unseen. I don't bother trying to be polite and climb into the back, instead I just collapse down into the first seat next to the window. The walk from elevator to the car has left me out of breath and dizzy.

Paul turns in his chair in the passenger seat and looks me up and down while the other girls jump into the car.

"Are you okay?" he asks solemnly.

"I'm not really sure," I reply honestly.

He nods and holds his hand out to me. I grab it, allowing him to give it a quick squeeze before he turns back around in his seat.

"Alright AJ. Let's get out of here," he says to the driver.

I lean my seat back a bit, resting my head on my hand that's propped up on the armrest.

"Is the bus still at the venue?" Pez asks.

"No. We got a hotel about thirty minutes away and then AJ went and parked the bus at a hotel a couple blocks out to try and throw the paps off."

I frown at hearing that he got us hotel rooms and that we aren't going straight to the bus and leaving for Boston immediately. It's at least a fifteen hour drive and we are supposed to do radio shows the morning before the performance but I don't dare ask about it. I can confidently assume that my actions are the reasoning behind this change of plans and this is hardly the time and place for this discussion. I don't doubt that Paul will come straight to me the moment he's ready to have it anyways. As nerve wracking as it is, all I can do right now is wait.

The ride to the hotel stretches on in an unsettling silence. AJ had the radio on for the first few minutes but when the broadcasters came on they were discussing yours truly and Paul jammed the off button so hard that I thought he would break it. Jesy even quipped at him on how it was a rental. My skin is crawling by the time we pull up to the service entrance of the hotel, itching to get out of the confined space.

"Hoods up," Paul instructs despite all of us already having them up. He leads us inside with AJ close behind us, bringing up the rear. We get led past the laundry rooms, doors to the kitchens and storage closets, until we get to the service lift. Paul punches the button for floor twenty-two and the lift takes no time in shooting upward.

"Jade, you're with Perrie. All of your girls' stuff is already up there. I've got emails to send and meetings to do. I'll come find you when a decision has been made and a statement is drafted addressing everything."

Before I was discharged, Paul came to us and gave us a run down. Our PR team was running defense on every tabloid that's been reaching out, trying to do damage control. Statements on my health condition and the status of our friendships have been deemed necessary things to address. Sam, and Paul via phone, have been in and out of meetings with execs and sponsors regarding how to go forward with the tour. My stomach hasn't unsunk itself since realizing that I'm probably going home.

Paul hands us the key cards with our room numbers written on them and as soon as the elevator doors open, he darts out down the hall and quickly disappears around the corner, already making a phone call.

"Sleepover?" Jesy suggests.

"Sleepover," Perrie replies.

Even though it's the last thing I want right now, I don't argue as Leigh leads us in the directions of our room. Her and Jesy break away, heading into their own rooms to change, leaving Pez and I alone. Someone dumped our bags on the two beds respectively and we struggle to get them off and over to the corner.