Three is a crowd

Chapter 32

Jade was with all her friends in Celia's apartment. They were talking and drinking Celia's terrible lemonade. They were celebrating love and life.

"To Celia's boutique," Lara toasted and they raised their lemonade glasses.

"To Lara's kick ass job," Jade toasted.

"To relationships," Celia toasted.

"To friendship," Nevaeh said.

For a moment, the thoughts of being goalless visited Jade's mind again. Her stomach twisted in knots and she blurted what she was thinking before it ate her up.

"I feel like I don't have it all figured out like you guys and that's sort of eating at me. I don't have that thing, that I want or that I have. I feel like I'm just walking aimlessly through life. I don't even have a goal I'm working towards."

Jade's friends stared at her in concern.

"I don't have it figured out," Nevaeh said and Jade offered her a small smile.

"It's okay to feel pressured but we evolve and grow at different paces. Just hold on for a bit, soon you'll find it. The thing that you want to do. You'll find it and it's all you'll think about it and it will be so amazing. For now, just enjoy the aimless walking, one day, you'll figure it out. This is college after all. We don't get to figure everything out here when we have the rest of our lives ahead of us," Celia said.

Jade felt better.

"I have one final toast," Jade began and her friends grinned. "To us sticking together, no matter what."

"To us," her friends all cheered.

For a moment, the thoughts of being goalless visited Jade's mind again. Her stomach twisted in knots and she blurted what she was thinking before it ate her up.

"I feel like I don't have it all figured out like you guys and that's sort of eating at me. I don't have that thing, that I want or that I have. I feel like I'm just walking aimlessly through life. I don't even have a goal I'm working towards."

Jade's friends stared at her in concern.

"I don't have it figured out," Nevaeh said and Jade offered her a small smile.

"It's okay to feel pressured but we evolve and grow at different paces. Just hold on for a bit, soon you'll find it. The thing that you want to do. You'll find it and it's all you'll think about it and it will be so amazing. For now, just enjoy the aimless walking, one day, you'll figure it out. This is college after all. We don't get to figure everything out here when we have the rest of our lives ahead of us," Celia said.

Jade felt better.

"I have one final toast," Jade began and her friends grinned. "To us sticking together, no matter what."

"To us," her friends all cheered.

"So, what are you going to do about Nigel?" Lara asked casually and Jade heaved a sigh.

"Nothing. He is leaving soon so what's the point?" Jade replied and her friends groaned.

"You'll regret not reaching out before he goes," Nevaeh whispered and Jade remained stoic.

She knew she would but it felt so good to ignore anything Nigel related.

"Call him, at least try then let go," Celia said and Jade nodded.

She didn't call him then. She waited until she was safe within the confines of her room before dialing his number. Jade's stomach twisted with nerves. What would she say to him? Would he forgive her?