hey. it's been a while. sorry... I think I lost interest in little mix and then life yadayadayada. anyway I randomly remembered this story and ended up rereading a bunch of my old work. while I would definitely change things now, I don't think this is a bad story. I think at the very least the epilogue deserves it's light of day- it's been done for years at this point, collecting dust in an old google drive folder.
so, I present to you, the last (unfinished) chapter I wrote a few years ago followed by the finished epilogue.
While I was talking to Jackie, out of the corner of my eye I could see Jade re-enter the pod. I instantly smiled and expected her to make her way over to where I was sitting, but she rather bee-lined straight to her room. Jackie shot me a look and nodded in her direction.
"I think you might want to check on her," I nodded slowly and stood up, cautiously making my way to her door. Obviously, Jade wasn't granted early release, she wouldn't have gone straight to her room if she was. As I took my final steps towards Jade's room, I tried to figure out what to say. I stopped at the doorway of her room, knowing that if I entered, a CO would probably tackle me, thinking that I was about to start a fight or something. Just peeking through the doorway, I could see Jade sitting on her bed, her elbows resting on her knees and her head hanging low.
"Jade?" I paused, waiting to see if she would respond. When she didn't, I spoke again, "Did it not go well?"
"What do you think blondie?" She growled out. I've never heard her use that particular tone of voice with me before. When it was directed at other people to protect me, I was fine with it. However, being on the other side of it was completely terrifying. I suddenly understood why everyone left Jade alone for the better part of a year.
"I'll leave you alone then," I muttered and turned back around. Jackie was watching me from where we were talking earlier, but before I could go talk to her and tell her what happened, a CO entered the pod.
"Lights out ladies! Clean up and make your way to your room, count in three minutes!"
Jackie smiled at me sadly and made her way to her room as I did the same. I climbed up the stairs with everyone else and unfortunately met Rachel in our room.
"Hey there blondie," She said with a smirk as I shut the door behind me with a dull thud.
"I told you to stop calling me that," I muttered as I moved past her and hopped up onto my bed.
"How'd Thirlwall's hearing go? They releasing the animal back into the wild?"
"I'll let her tell you that," I replied, laying down and placing my sweatshirt over my eyes to 1- block the light out and 2- try and drop the hint to Rachel that I didn't want to talk anymore.
"So it was a fail then? She's gonna be here for a while longer?"
"I don't know," I muttered, praying for her to leave me alone and end the conversation so I could sleep. Eventually, after the CO came by for count and the lights turned off in the room, she left me alone.
Despite definitely being tired from the day, I absolutely could not fall asleep. Jade was swarming my thoughts and I couldn't settle enough to actually sleep. Before I knew it, the lights were turned on to wake us up for breakfast and I could already tell that I had intense bags under my eyes.
When I actually was able to drag myself out of bed and into the common area to eat, I instantly noticed Jade. She was seated where we normally sat, her breakfast tray in front of her. Her arms were folded on the table, and she was resting her chin on her arms, staring at her food tray.
