On My Last Nerve (Jerrie)

Part Six

                  

It's a Friday night and Jade finds herself alone in the apartment, yet the brunette wouldn't have it any other way. Nine days have passed since the roommates' detrimental altercation, and the rigid tension summoned during their heated exchange continues to stifle the two girls whenever they both find themselves in the apartment at the same time.

Jade has come to cherish her time spent alone in the apartment, because it serves as a welcome break from the constant shame and irritation brought upon by simply locking eyes with her insufferable roommate. The two girls haven't interacted even slightly since their massive fight, yet they both can't help but feel extremely tense when they occupy a room together. 

The strained silence that constantly blankets the apartment serves as a frequent reminder of the boundaries the two girls crossed on the night of their scornful exchange, and their daunting lack of interaction worries yet soothes both girls to the contradicting point of partial insanity. Oftentimes, it feels as if their next screaming match is looming over them, yet both girls can't bear the thought of things sinking to a level worse than what they currently experience.

The roommates aren't necessarily giving each other the silent treatment, more so making it blatantly obvious that they want absolutely nothing to do with each other. On the rare occasions in which the two bitter girls make eye contact, tempers instantly flare up, scornful expressions adorning their features as they both display their blatant contempt for each other.

The oppressive atmosphere permeating the apartment has heavily taken its toll on Jade, adding onto the numerous stressors already burdening the exhausted brunette. As a result, the brown-eyed girl has begun to seriously consider subleasing her rent of the apartment because she desperately wants to eliminate at least one negative thing impacting her life. Jade hasn't disclosed her plans to Perrie, figuring that if she does move out and live somewhere else after winter break, she'll have the final laugh if her unexpected move leaves Perrie confused and struggling to adapt to living with a stranger.

In the meantime, Jade has decided to devote all of her time and energy to her studies, the art major trying to stay motivated by the prospect of the semester being over in a little less than a month. Jade sees the upcoming spring semester as a fresh start, and the brunette is determined to use her new classes as an opportunity to make friends and alleviate some of the loneliness that currently cripples her heart.

Since Jade hadn't made any plans for the night, the brunette found herself in her typical spot: perched atop a stool tucked away in a corner of the living room while she worked on her artwork. Jade felt as if she was struck by creative inspiration tonight, so she diligently slaved over her abstract piece with ease while "It's Strange" by Louis the Child bled through the speakers in the living room and gave the apartment a serene ambiance.

However, a quick glance towards her phone sitting on the windowsill next to her alerts Jade of the time, and Jade figures that her soothing solitude will be coming to an end shortly. The time on Jade's phone reads a few minutes after two in the morning, meaning that Perrie could return to the apartment from her night of partying at any given moment.

Jade ponders the idea of retreating to her room, yet finds herself rather hesitant to do so due to the impressive amount of progress she's managed to make in one night on her current project. Although the prospect of an inebriated Perrie barging into their apartment at any moment dissuades Jade from remaining in the living room, the artist ultimately decides to maintain her creative fervor and continue her endeavors with her project.

Jade's calculated focus hones in on the abstract piece situated in front of her, and the brunette loses all concept of time as her brush continues to make delicate strokes against the canvas. Jade's earlier concerns regarding her roommate become a faint murmur in the back of her mind, and the brunette finds herself contentedly humming along to the tranquil music that continues to float around the living room.