Stay

The Visa

A/N: I bent the law a bit for plot purposes, so if it's not 100% accurate, don't mind.

2020 Jade's pov

I woke up with the light from the window piercing through my eyes, and after contemplating a bit, I decided to get up. I tried to untangle myself from Perrie without waking her up, which was proving to be a little difficult with the tight grip she had on my waist. At the end, I managed and went to do my morning routine.

It's been three years since I moved to England, and Perrie became my best friend. We were really, really close. People assumed we were a couple, especially since Perrie was bisexual and almost everyone at college knew.

You may be asking why I was sleeping cuddling with Perrie on her bed; the answer may seem pathetic, but I believe my room is haunted. Perrie's room is always nice and warm, while mine is always freezing cold, and sometimes my TV turns on by itself. I would be scared shitless when stuff like that happened and go to sleep with Perrie. Eventually we both gave up and mutually decided that I would sleep there every day.

I was preparing breakfast when I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind. "Good morning, babe" Perrie said.

"Morning Pez" I said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I have to agree that we do act like a couple sometimes.

"I smell some chocolate pancakes" she said excitedly.

"Perrie, you can't smell" I replied, laughing.

"Hey! Let me dream, alright. I saw them on the pan, but that way it is no fun" she whined, and I laughed even more.

"Oh, my poor baby! "Sit down, and I'll get you a plate."

We sat and enjoyed our breakfast together until we were interrupted by our friends bursting into the apartment. They had access for emergency purposes, but they never used it for any emergencies.

"Hey bitches" Leigh-Anne and Faouzia said.

"Hii!" Perrie and I said

Leigh-Anne was Perrie's former roommate and best friend; we also grew very close, and she is now a great friend of mine. She also went to Cambridge, but she studied business.

Faouzia studied music with Perrie, and now they work together at a record label and independently, Faouzia writes and Perrie produces songs. They used to date, but the relationship ran its course. They are great friends still, and she also became my best friend after Perrie. She was Moroccan, so we understood each other culturally, and that helped us create a bond.

"I picked up your mail" Faouzia said, putting the pile on the coffee table.

"Thank you. So what brings you guys here?" I asked

"I was bored and wanted to hang out, so I invited Faouzia, and we came to invite you too" Leigh said.

"That's cool. Where do you guys want to go?" Perrie asked while I got up to sort through the mail.

One envelope in particular caught my eye because it was very official-looking. When I opened it, I noticed it was from the UKVI immigration center.

"Fuck!" I exclaimed and got the attention of the girls.

"What happened Jay?" Leigh asked.

"I'm about to be deported." I answered in shock.

"What? No, that can't be right." Perrie said rushing to console me; she wrapped her arms around me, and the other girls also came closer.

"What happened? What is the reason?" Faouzia asked.

"It says here it's because of RLMT" I replied.

"Dumb that down for me, baby" Perrie said.

"Failure to carry out Resident Labour Market Test. As you guys know, I was just about to start working at that law firm. Before they can hire a visa worker, they may need to show they were unable to find a suitable worker from within the UK. Failure to meet the RLMT requirements may result in the application being rejected or removal from the UK."  I explained.

"And you needed that work visa to stay here because your student visa expired" Leigh said.

"Exactly"

"Shit! "Is there anything else you or we can do?"Faouzia asked.

"I really don't know right now. I'll ask a girl from my former class; her dad is an immigration lawyer."

"That's a great idea; you should do that" Leigh said.

I noticed Perrie was really quiet and staring into space.

"Pez, are you ok?" I asked, turning to her. She hugged me tightly; when we pulled apart, she said looking into my eyes.

"I can't lose you; we'll do whatever it takes to keep you here. Do you hear me?" I didn't even realize that tears were running from my eyes until I felt Perrie wipe them with her thumb.

We stayed there a little bit, taking in the news. After I calmed down, I contacted the girl, and she spoke to her dad.

"So what did he say?" Perrie asked nervously.

"He said that I can't apply for a work visa again while still in the UK; I would have to go back to Egypt and try to enter the UK again and get a new work visa, most likely from another company. I could apply for another visa that I have eligibility for without leaving, but I don't think I'm eligible for any other one." I replied.

"I'm screwed" I said, running my hands through my hair, frustrated. We stayed silent for a couple of minutes, trying to come up with a solution.

"You could apply for a spouse visa" Leigh-Anne said.

"Leigh, I don't even have a boyfriend..." Faouzia interrupted me:

"Oh my god, Leigh, you're a genius" she said.

"Guys, help me, I'm lost" Perrie said.

"You and Jade can get married!" Faouzia yelled excitedly.

"What?" Perrie and I said in unison.

"Think about it, guys; correct me if I'm wrong, Jay. For a spouse visa, you need to be in a genuine relationship that can be proved by the fact that you have lived together for 3 years. You need to prove that you can financially support yourselves. Perrie is rich, so she can be your sponsor. You need to have suitable accommodation in the UK, which is where we are now, and Jade, you need to meet the English language requirement, which you do" Leigh explained. "Am I right?" she inquired.

"Yes, but..." Once again, I was interrupted. This time by Perrie

"We'll do it." She said it firmly, but then she saw the hesitation on my face and said, "Only if you want to, Jay."

I looked in her eyes, and I saw all her determination to keep me here. I couldn't let that go to waste, not for her or for myself.

"We'll do it" I said.

"All right, so the operation Jerrie Married begins now."Faouzia said