Everything After (3) *editing in progress*

Chapter 11: I'm Sorry (don't think we should)

Jade's POV
The paparazzi, of course they have the greatest timing on earth. Con-fucking-gratulations they honestly deserved a bloody Grammy for driving me fucking insane. Perrie froze in shock. I tried to block her from the cameras, feeling disappointment when her hands dropped from my waist. I was seething on the inside, but I didn't turn my back; I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing my face. "Pez, I'm so sorry these little fuckers track our every move." I sighed and took her hands, squeezing them in apologies.

"It's literally their job Jade. It's fine. But can we leave?" She sighed silently whilst still shrinking behind me. "O'course Perrie. Just stay close to me." I nodded swallowing my disappointment and frustration. The paps were starting to gather; this would be intense. "Jade-" "It's okay. Just stay close." I stopped her and wrapped an arm securely around the blonde to keep her with me. We swiftly turned to walk away, I placed a hand instinctively over her head to shield her eyes from the camera flashes. Her arm locked around my waist trembled as we tried to make our way around the paps. I could hear them calling our names, demanding, asking, but it didn't register in my brain.
"What does this mean for you two?"
"Are you back together?"
"Jade! Can you look over?"
"The fans want to steal your girlfriend Perrie. Does that make you upset?"
"Why'd you break up, did Jade cheat on you?"
I just kept shielding the blonde as we passed by. The media was far worse than last month now that Annecka had released a couple of facts to the public. The cameras have been tracking Jes, Leigh, Perrie and I like crazed fangirls almost. I felt a cold rage go through my body at the last comment. How dare them accuse me of ever dishonoring Perrie like that. I could never.

Perrie still wasn't used to it really, she still got nervous and shrunk into her homebody shell. But it made me want to protect her more; she's precious to me in that way. After what seemed like hours we were finally able to get away, especially after one of the cameras tried to grab my jumper. I squeezed my way out and had to tug my poor Pez with me. We made it back to my car in a heartbeat; I had us out of there in a matter of seconds; the paps faded away after a few minutes. I glanced over to see Perrie looking out of the window-not saying a word.

I tried not to think much about it and focused on getting us home. The drive was fast and silent; we both made our way inside and locked the flat shut after us and then that's when she turned and grabbed a hold of my wrist before I could leave the landing. "Jade, l-listen please. I know what I'm doing. It's almost all back. I-I remember us." She pleaded with me; my mind was still clogged with the cameras. The waitress, the park, the girls. "Jade Amelia Thirlwall! Are you even listening to me?" She snapped her fingers in my face. I came round after a while.
"Perrie, I...don't think we should." I breathed realizing she was still right in front of me; trapping me between the door and her body. "I know what I'm doing Jade. I promise." She inched forwards and rested her palms on either side of me on the door. My actions were being held back by literally a strand of doubt-only a few inches of warning kept me from surging forwards. The ring I wore around my neck, I never took it off and that was part of the reason why I didn't move forwards entirely. She gave it to me so quickly, I wondered if she even remembered it now. Our foreheads connected; we entered a staring contest. I lost myself in her eyes. To see the crystal blue shining brightly in her gaze. Beautiful.
"Perrie, I..."
I meant to gently push her off, I really did. But out of habit, I rested my hand on her shirt collar, fiddling and knew I couldn't be the one to make the move.
"Jade."
And I wasn't.
Perrie had gently pushed forwards some more, my hand turned into a vice grip when she pressed her lips to mine. I couldn't help melting, tugging her closer to me. God I'd missed this, her, her strawberry Chapstick. I just couldn't believe it.
A brief thump from the living room came and in seconds; Perrie was the one trapped against the door and I regretfully broke the kiss. My mind was racing; it could be anyone. "Stay here." I whispered to Perrie, touching her cheek gently before making me way down the hallway after grabbing a spare broomstick. There was shuffling coming from inside; my heartbeat was drumming in my ears. And as I rounded the corner with the stick in hand-the sight in front of me was quite a surprise. Leigh and Jesy were...kissing. Well that made sense...and it didn't.
Why were they in our flat? And what the bloody hell were they thinking? I motioned for Perrie to come to where I was standing; she rounded the corner and let out a small squeak of surprise. "W-hi." The other two shot apart like fucking bullets to other ends of the couch. "Well that answered my assumptions." I snorted at them as they blushed hard and ended up staring at the ground. "Sorry we would've told you both today if you didn't walk in at the wrong time." Jesy poked her tongue out at me. "Uhuh, the wrong time. Well, how long?" Perrie was besides me and eyeing the pair like a curious Casey. "Well, almost a year now. Although we took a rather long break to help you two." Leigh said after a while. "So technically, maybe seven or eight actual months." Jesy spoke up secondly. Another moment of silence passed.

"Well, that explains a lot then." Perrie shrugged and hopped onto our couch with the idiot couple, bringing them both in for a hug. "I'm happy for you both! But you shouldv'e said something to us earlier idiots. I'm sorry for straining your relationship." She warbled and whacked the two up the head. "Yeah honestly guys, we would have done fine." I nodded and then grinned weakly at my best friends. Looking at Perrie she met my gaze and we shared a silent agreement, we would talk later.
I could live with this. Even though well, Little Mix was definitely changed now, we have matured more as people, grown together; been through well-some life changing abduction that we didn't need honestly, and of course-held out together. I crossed the parlor in a few strides and ended up hopping ontop of a pile of Little Mix after that. The other girls started squealing and complaining; I didn't budge so easily so we ended up having a big pillow fight.

About an hour later; Tulisa randomly popped in and we went ballistic. Let's just say that she was rather amused before getting hoarded with pillows and feathers. The rush I felt in my veins was coming back to me again. It felt just like always; happy and hyped. My bandmates all looked at each other and I knew we all felt the same sensation.

"We're ready."

Tulisa didn't need to be told twice before nearly bursting into happy tears and gathering us all up for a large wholehearted group hug. It felt complete.