The show must go on

Chapter 6 - what's going on?

Narrator POV

The next morning couldn't be more stressful. Jade was unable to lift a finger in the evening. All the strength left her as soon as she walked in the flat and she slumped down on the couch, exhausted once again. Worry spread in her, wondering if it wasn't just a common cold after all. Before she is overcome by the fear that she alone, without the help of her pills, will not survive the day tomorrow. Before she can even think of packing a single thing, the tears are already streaming down her face, which only exhaust her further and eventually knocked her out, so that without really realising it, she cried herself to sleep before the alarm clock wakes her at 5am. With a pained face she slowly gets up, gritting her teeth and she packs everything she could possibly need on tour into her suitcase before she already has to leave because her limited movement took her much longer than usual. So she is the last to arrive at the studio.

"Nice of you to join us," Jesy quips, already wearing one of the costumes. The first thing on today's agenda is the final fitting of the costumes, before they go over the whole tour schedule again with the management afterwards, followed by the general dance rehearsal, dinner break and at the end of the day they fly to Los Angeles.

"Sorry, guys. Packing took longer," she explains, out of breath from her little sprint here. So out of breath, in fact, that she has to prop herself up on her knees, panting.

"You packed this morning?" asks Leigh incredulously, knowing full well that Jade is usually the first to finish packing, and also usually days before departure.

"Must have spent too long at the dentist yesterday," Jesy says with a wink, to which Jade looks at her in confusion before remembering her white lie from yesterday.

"That'll be it," she says with a laugh, which comes out more as a gasp due to her still shortness of breath. Without comment, Perrie hands her a water bottle, which Jade gratefully accepts and takes a few sips.

"Jade, come over here, we don't have much time," she is called by Jamie, whereupon she groans, puts down her things and hurries to them.

"What the hell is that on your neck?!" Leigh asks irritated as Jade undresses. She looks at her, puzzled, then checks in the mirror what she's actually talking about, startling herself when she sees the bruises around her neck and shoulder that she can't place as she thinks back to the doctor's question. Probably two bruises.

"I don't know," she waves it off quickly, hoping the girls will leave it at that and not bombard her further with any questions. But it doesn't go on well.

"Um Jade, have you lost weight?" asks Jamie carefully, but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "That costume slides down all the time, you can't possibly wear it like that," he states in shock.

She knew something like this was coming. She is not stupid, she knows exactly how little she has eaten in the last few days, if not weeks, and she also looks at herself in the mirror. But to her surprise this remains uncommented. Nor does she see the girls giving each other very worried and almost knowing looks.

After trying on all the costumes and hearing Zack and Jamie groan that every single one of Jade's costumes needs to be tightened, Jade is already on edge.