The show must go on

Chapter 20 - let's talk about the kiss

Jade POV

A loud crash snaps me out of my sleep. I wince in shock and sit up before I can even form a clear thought.

"Sorry, girls. I didn't mean to slam the door like that," I hear a voice as I slowly open my eyes, rubbing the sand out of them, and see Sam standing in front of me.

"Jesus, what the hell is this? What time is it?!", Jesy complains loudly and a glance over at them confirms to me that they have just been woken from a very deep sleep as well. Jesy pulls the covers over her head, grumbling, while Leigh sits upright in bed, but stares at the wall, which makes me wonder if she is even really awake yet. Only one person hasn't woken up from the loud crash.

"It's six in the morning," Sam explains and Jesy only groans louder. "So we got a whole three hours of sleep", she says angry.

"I've been awake for an hour myself, I flew in last night as well and was at the Brits and the aftershow party too. So don't complain," she says and just by her tone I can tell she is even more tired than I am right now. She looks at me and sighs loudly. "Jade, can you wake Perrie up."

Smirking, I look to my favourite blonde. I can remember falling asleep with my head on her chest. But now she's snuggled up against my side, seemingly unawakened by me sitting up. Her hair is all over her face and she lies in a position that can't possibly be comfortable. I can barely stifle a laugh.

"Babe, wake up," I say softly and shake her by the shoulder. She moves a little but doesn't open her eyes.

"Jade, no," she just says into my shoulder.

"Sam needs to talk to us," I say more seriously, but she still makes no move to sit up in any way.

"Tell her to come later."

"I don't think that's an option."

"Baby, make her go away," she mumbles and I can't hide my giggle.

"Perrie, get up, now. We don't have all day," Sam then says sternly, which takes the smile off my lips. Perrie actually opens her eyes and we share a worried look as she sits up and leans against the edge of the bed. Normally, Sam is our friend. We've spent so many moments together that she's basically part of the band. But in some situations she is first and foremost our manager. Sometimes she has to be serious and strict. Sometimes she has to give us the bad news from the label, boss us around and give us the runaround. One look at Perrie and I know she's thinking the same thing. We're the reason she's so stressed and that she's only had two hours of sleep.

Perrie POV

Grumbling, I get up and sit down on the couch opposite Sam, as do the others. She looks at us seriously and thoughtfully, in total manager mode. It's rare that she has to speak harshly and honestly to us, wearing that look on her face, and when it happens, it's never good. I'm counting on that today too. Not for a second have I regretted the kiss in front of the cameras and I slept better tonight than I have in a long time. But I always knew that there would be consequences. I am ready to face the public, the label and everything that goes with it. I just hope Jade is too.