Blue Eyes ~ Tays

~EPISODE THREE - PART THREE~

Jade was sitting outside on her own, her eyes fixed on the sky as though it might hold all the answers she couldn't put into words. The soft evening air wrapped around her, and the faint hum of laughter and chatter drifted from inside the house. The girls were tucked away in the bedroom... Heather bent over, carefully shaping Tay's eyebrows... while the boys were off doing God knows what, their voices rising and falling in a mess of banter. Out here, though, it was quiet. Almost too quiet.

She absentmindedly made little noises with her mouth, almost like a nervous tick, the sound filling the silence as her thoughts drifted far away. She was completely zoned out, so much so that the creak of the door startled her only slightly. Tomisin and Scouse stepped outside, their presence carrying the energy of the group with them.

"Oh... hi, Jade," Scouse said warmly, his familiar grin spreading across his face. But the blonde didn't react. Her gaze was distant, locked somewhere far beyond the stars overhead. "Jade!" Tomisin sang out, louder this time, his voice playful as he strolled toward her.

Blinking back into reality, Jade gave a little shake of her head before turning to them. "Oh, hello," she said with a small, sheepish smile, her voice quieter than she intended. "You okay?" Scouse asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied her expression. Jade only nodded, humming lightly in response, her smile flickering.

"You sure?" Tomisin pressed gently, though his tone was still light, the corners of his mouth lifting in a soft smile. Again, Jade nodded, almost too quickly. Her hands fiddled in her lap as she forced herself to meet their eyes. "You're free to sit and talk... I won't say much, but you're free to." Her words came out careful, almost hesitant, as if she wasn't sure she had the right to invite them.

Tomisin chuckled, breaking the tension with ease. "I mean... I was gonna sit anyway." His laugh rang out as he flopped onto the sofa beside her, stretching out and lifting his legs without a care in the world. Scouse Mali chose the opposite approach, sitting neatly and properly on the edge of the sofa, his gaze still lingering on Jade. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, softer this time, his Scouse accent giving his concern a certain warmth.

Her head turned toward him, and for a brief second she looked startled, like he had pulled her out of a dream. She plastered another smile on her face, nodding once more. "I'm fine," she murmured. "I don't think you are..." Mali said gently, watching her closely.

Jade shrugged, her smile remaining in place even as her eyes darted away. It was the kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, more of a mask than an expression. She hugged her arms around herself loosely, as though the gesture might hold her together. Breaking the silence, Tomisin leaned back against the cushions, his tone thoughtful. "I was just saying how mad it is, you know? That I'm here... with so many amazing people." His words hung in the air, light but meaningful, giving Jade something to hold onto besides her own restless thoughts.

Tomisin chuckled, nodding as though he'd just had the most brilliant idea. "Like the amazing Jade Langdon..." He flashed her a wide smile, his eyes crinkling with genuine warmth. Jade tilted her head, caught off guard by the sudden compliment. Her lips twitched into a small smile, but the way her fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve betrayed her uncertainty.

"I feel like me and you could be best friends, Jade," Tomisin declared with the unshakable certainty only he could pull off. His tone was playful, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words, as if he truly meant it. Before Jade could even think of a response, he gasped dramatically. "Like the yin to your yang!" His whole face lit up as though he'd just discovered the meaning of life. "That's perfect! We can be the best duo ever." He clapped his hands together in delight, unable to contain his excitement.