Everything After (3) *editing in progress*

Chapter 4: Late Night (Excursions)

Leigh-Anne's POV
"Leigh?"
"In the kitchen."
"When are you going to Perrie's?"
"In a few, why?"
"I've got to pick up some things before I head out, could you take me?" Jade's voice asked from around the corner as I finished making a sandwich. "Of course baba, are you ready?" I was relieved she was talking to me some more. We slept for most of the day, I woke up a couple of hours ago and wrote down some possible lines and messed with my mixing board for a while, I took it slow today, it was necessary to be honest.
"Yes, whenever you are. Thanks Leighly." The Geordie sounded less hoarse, and more relaxed than I'd heard her in a while. I noticed she was freshly showered, her hair in a bun and had makeup on, she was still set on going out.
I understood why, in a way. She needed her own space, as did anyone. She deserved it after the past few months. "Still going out I see?" I decided to test the waters a little, watching her bite her lip and nod. "Yeah, I've got into a funk lately, I want to just try and do something normal, but previous normal. It'll be...hopefully fun." She shrugged a little. I knew what she meant in a way, I understood. "I get what you mean babes, maybe this is something that's going to be good for you, regardless of what happens, as long as it's a good and safe thing that is!" I bit my tongue almost, because clubbing could go either way when the two of us were involved. I remembered back when the four of us would go out, Jade and I would always have to fend off lads at the bar, and even a couple of gals from Jade every once in a while, but mostly the lads. Even then, we had fun getting rid of them, and occasionally Jesy would get in on it and then Perrie would and it would be all kinds of chaos.
I missed it back then, the four of us together. I hated the situation we were in right now, I hated what happened to us. We weren't the same anymore, we had changed. But I couldn't tell how much we had done so.
"-alright, Leigh?"
"Sorry." I noticed Jade was in front of my soundboard, head tipped to the side adorably. "I was asking if you're set." She shrugged. "I am, sorry pop, let's go." I squeezed her hand lightly and went to grab my keys, shaking the negative thoughts from my head.

Perrie's POV
"Let the good times begin!" The front door opened after a couple of knocks, I watched Leigh waltz in with some takeaway and her favorite hat. "Leigh's here!" I called to Jesy and laughed at my friend.
Another person emerged behind her, Jade. I waved, seeing her smile a little bit at me before waving back and heading up the stairs. "She's still going out?" I asked Leigh as I walked into her hug. "Mhmm, I think she needs this too actually. We all need to take some time and go out really." The curly haired woman answered. "Maybe we all should then?" I asked, unsure of why I'd asked. Leigh studied me a bit. "She will be fine, Kyle's going with her. And modest put out the breakup notice, let it rest for a bit okay?"
Right.
Jade and I had officially broken up according to management, there were no details as to why, but the fandom was a wildfire after hearing the news. I still felt like a liar since it hadn't come from myself or Jade. But I was also just a little less overwhelmed.
According to Annecka, half the mixers were in disbelief and the others were hailing the newly single Jade. Maybe Leigh-Anne was right, we needed to let it sit.
"My darling Wilma!" Jesy emerged from the hallway, I couldn't help giggling as the two girls in front of me reunited again. "Betsy! It's been ages." Leigh called back in her hillbilly accent.
I remembered a car trip with those exact accents. We were in a car-a taxi, heading to the airport. But there wasn't enough luggage for the four of us? I reached for my phone and went to YouTube. How would I...?
I sat down at the island table of the kitchen while Jesy and Leigh prepped some snacks, I wasn't sure what to look for. Did those videos even exist? Leigh liked posting our antics to social the last thing I remembered, but did she even have a youtube? I started first by typing out 'little mix ' in the search bar and was momentarily shocked by the amount of headlines that popped up
Little mix in trouble
Little mix Jade Thirlwall
Little Mix Leigh-Anne and Jesy flat
Little Mix Perrie Edwards AWOL
Little mix DNA
Jerrie LM
Little Mix X factor finale
Little Mix funny
Little mix denying rumors
Everything but what I was looking for unless wait-funny moments? I looked through the search results, and I clicked on a video that was talking about our X factor days. I didn't exactly remember much from then, but. Maybe it would help. While the two older girls were catching up excitedly I decided to search for our 'funny moments' and was a little shocked by the barrage of videos that ended up on my YouTube search. I watched the first few minutes of a video marked a year ago, sniggering a little at the interview pictionary moments of Jesy and Leigh, and watched in wonder when I realized we had been going back to back on several of these different interviews. Then it switched to a scene in a taxi. I gasped a little bit in shock, seeing a familiar memory. Leigh had sat next to the cabbie with Jesy nearby as they began to speak...in their hillbilly accents. I found it. I snorted at their antics, and when I heard the two other voices, I was shocked to hear myself and Jade join in too. The cabbie wasn't really having it, but he let us do what we wanted to nontheless, the energy in the video was so high. We must've been flying somewhere exciting. But it wasn't until I heard the faintest-"she won't tell me where we're a-goin' mates! I'm dyin' here!" From Jade and Leigh and Jesy shared a look before cheering in excitement. "Best stay tuned babes! Bam-bam's going to show our precious gal the best time for her birthday this year!" Jesy and Leigh crowed to the camera, before the video clip skipped on. I didn't focus on much after that.
So it was real.

Jade's POV
"Bye hon, please be careful." Leigh kissed my forehead gently before I tried to swat at her and blushed at the motherly affection. "I will Leigh, I promise." I answered. She looked at me again, narrowing her eyes but eventually she let me go. Kyle nodded, opening the passenger seat of my jeep. I can't even drive?
Grumbling under my breath, I sighed as I sat into the passenger seat, the shot of tequila I'd downed before leaving the flat raced through my veins a little, I watched the car go through traffic, I ignored anything and everything that wasn't necessary to listen to until we had pulled up to a familiar London hole in the wall club. I thanked Kyle and was careful as I stepped out of the car, grabbing my phone and wallet, instantly hurrying towards the line and tugged at my hair a little, praying I'd be let in before being noticed. Kyle wanted to go talk to the bouncer but I shook my head, it would be more discreet this way. I doubted I'd be able to get away with it the whole time, but I could try. At least I'd taken the edge off a little, just to help me get back into it.
I almost caved after five minutes of waiting in line, but eventually the bouncer took one look at my ID and waved me in, I noticed Kyle slip in a few people behind me.
The man was stubbornly annoying in being able to keep up with me, but he let me be for the most part. The club was dark, the music was loud and the ambiance was energetic. I let myself revel in the anonymity for a moment, breathing in and out. I had chosen a more low profile club to go to, just to avoid the hassle and cameras and it was slowly starting to become a good choice when I was able to order a round of tequila shots.
I took in the neon lights, the rhythmic colors, the feel of the atmosphere as I sat. The music didn't quite reach my ears though, and that was something that currently had me hung over some lyrics. I couldn't figure out how to make them reach my ears in a way. I downed a shot, watching the dance floor and its inhabitants. It would be an interesting night to say the least. I could feel the tequila starting to make its presence known and swallowed a little, letting myself breathe.
I could feel eyes on me, I had worn a hat over my hair and foregone a dress today, opting for some tight black pants and a grey top instead, and neutral heels. It wouldn't be easy to identify me, hopefully. I shook my head when a man began to walk over in my direction, catching him directly by the eyes. He raised an eyebrow as a challenge, I just felt my gaze harden and I turned my back after deciding he wasn't even worth it. After all, Kyle wouldn't let that happen.
I let the bartender kept me company more than any other stray person, sitting near the end of the bar and downed my shots slowly, licking the salt and sucking on the lime as I let my eyes wander again.
A flash of pale skin and blonde hair had me do a very subtle double take. Someone nearby, a woman. She was in a tight dress, moving with a brunette on the dance floor. My heart stung. It looked like us. Perrie and I, when we were happy.
Except if I'd been a little taller. The two women danced close together, laughing and smiling, joined by two men after that, being offered dances but they politely declined. I turned away and drank some more, letting the sting of the alcohol take my mind off of everyone and everything, at least for a little while. I just wanted to dance, with my blonde. It wouldn't hurt to go and have a dance myself.