Broken || Little Mix ||

Chapter 31 - E

A/N: Check in with your friends and tell them you love them. You never know when it's the last chance you'll get to do so.

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I flip through about fifteen channels before giving up and throwing the remote Aaron's way. Because I'm benched from public appearances, Paul has me holed up in the hotel with him while the girls do our scheduled interviews. I didn't think I'd mind having a couple days of rest but a few hours in and I'm going stir crazy.

I'm used to having a lot more freedom while on tour. Normally, I'd throw on a cap and some sunglasses and I can manage to go undetected on the streets of whatever city we are in. It gives me alone time while also being able to immerse myself in the everyday life of the local community. With the rules and restrictions that I've been placed under, I'm not allowed to go off by myself like that. Not that I ever was in the first place, our security team absolutely hates me for it, but it wasn't that big of a deal before. Now if I were to do that, it'd be the equivalent of me booking a one way ticket to London.

My idle mind drifts back to the conversation I had with my mum early this morning. By the time we got to the hotel it was already past midnight back home so I managed to push the conversation off for a little longer. In hindsight, I probably should've sucked it up and just called her from the bus because I got an earful the second the call went through.

First, it was about keeping her in the dark and not calling her as soon as I woke up. Then, it was about not taking care of myself and spreading myself too thin. Lastly, it was about not keeping in touch enough. By the time I managed to convince her that I was fine and that management was okay with me taking some time to recharge, an hour had passed and I had gone through a rollercoaster of emotions. She made me promise that I'd call her at least once every few days or so and not go weeks between contacting her.

Aaron picks up the remote and doesn't have much luck either with finding a decent program to watch. Just as we're about to give up, somehow he flips the TV to RuPaul's Drag Race and we both cheer. It's season two and in this episode, Ru is having the queens recreate a rock version of one of his own songs. Even though I've seen every episode and know exactly who is going to win, Aaron and I still note on which performance we like and who we think looks the best. Every time I watch this episode, I can't help but feel bad for Jujubee, who crumbles as soon as she gets out on stage.

The two of us manage to waste another three hours, watching the next three episodes, before the channel finally starts to air another show and we get bored. Luckily, that's all the time we seemed to have needed to waste as there's a knock on the door and Jesy barges in.

"Ugh, you are so lucky you didn't have to do press today," she says, dumping her bag on the floor by her bed.

"Rough day girlie?" Aaron asks.

She shoots him a look. "You don't know the half of it. Even though we put it on the veto list, every single interviewer asked us about you. I thought Paul was going to shit himself every time I opened my mouth to respond to a question."

"Paul always looks like that whenever you talk in an interview. We all do," I remind her.

"Does no one have any faith in me?" she whines, laying down in front of us and grabbing a biscuit from my stash.

"No," Aaron and I both reply at the same time.

"I'm not that bad!" she protests.

"Hmm? Let's see, shall we? How about 'Perrie's smug as a pug?' Or even better, 'Leigh likes to crack a whip in the bedroom,'" I tease.

"Hey! Those were all true statements!"

"Doesn't mean the world needed to hear them. I, for one, could've done without the sneak peak into Leigh's sex life. We hear her enough through the walls anytime Andre visits," Aaron  says, lowering the volume on the TV.

"Whatever. You guys love me," she says.

The room goes quiet as the three of us pull our phones out, scrolling and responding to necessary messages. Leoni got into another fight with Shireen because she wouldn't let Karl play games with her and her friends and he ended up crying. I promised her that I would try to talk to Shireen about her having some alone time with her friends but honestly I'm dreading the whole conversation. There is no part of me that wants to attempt to tell her how to parent her kids, especially now that she's a single parent, but I know that it's equally important for Leoni to be able to unwind with her friends.

I get pulled out of her predicament by Jesy nudging my leg.

"What?" I ask her.

"You've got your thinking face on," she notes.

"Leoni and Shireen keep getting into it. One of them is a hormonal teenaged girl and the other is a hormonal pregnant woman."

"Yikes. I'd stay clear of that one if I were you," Aaron chimes in.

I make a face and Jesy laughs. "You've already promised Lee that you'd talk to her, didn't you?"

Groaning, I nod which makes Jesy laugh even more.

"This is why you need to stop doing drugs. You're killing your brain cells," she adds, still dying.

"Fuck you," I shoot, giving her the finger.

"Sorry babes, only in your dreams. Aaron, Paul wants us ready to get to the venue in thirty."

"Alright, I better make sure all my supplies are ready to go. I'll see you girls in a bit."

With that, he gets up, giving us both kisses on the cheek and leaves.

"What are you going to be doing tonight? Paul said you're staying here with Danielle?"

I nod, putting my phone down. "Yeah. I feel bad that she's gotta miss the performance tonight too though."

"Don't. She doesn't seem super upset about the prospect of having a night off to relax and do nothing."

"I don't understand why she has to stay back with me," I say frustrated.

"Because you've proven yourself worthy of the need for babysitter. Sorry babes. You know it's because we love you," she responds, grimacing slightly.

I roll my eyes at this. "This wasn't your decision. I highly doubt the great and pompous Simon actually gives a damn."

"You know what I meant. Try to relax and have some fun tonight. Maybe unwinding with someone who doesn't know every single detail of your deepest darkest secrets will be helpful."

"Doubt it. Knowing Danielle she's going to want to workout or something and sorry but I'm not about that."

Jesy laughs. "You'll be fine. Rent some movies on the TV and order some room service. Your ass better be in bed by the time I get back."

"Whatever mum."