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June 25, 2015
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"And by midnight, you'll be a distant memory
One that'll fade from me
And never come back.
And by midnight, I promise to go
And I'll never show
What you mean to me, anymore"
I put down the microphone and waited until the piano faded to nothing. I could hear the applause from the other side of the wall and it made me smile.
OVER THE INTERCOM: "Jade," my manager/best friend Jesy said, "that is the best that has ever sounded. I'm going to make sure this gets sent out to tons of agencies and you'll be sure to get signed."
"Thanks, Jes." I turned to look at the band. "Thanks, guys. It sounded really great." They all murmured their agreement and started to pack up. Once they were finished Jesy walked through the door and into the studio.
"Jade," she exclaimed, running over to hug me. Her newly-dyed ginger hair rested in a nice French braid on her pink blouse. The black skirt flitted in her wake and her black heels echoed within the studio. "I'm so happy for you. Everybody is going to love you! You're a double-threat: singer and songwriter. I just wish your parents were here to see this. "
All through middle and high school I was very involved with band and choir, and in all those years my parents never missed a concert. On the night of our Christmas show my junior year my parents were hit by a drunk driver. My mom died instantly, whereas my dad died later in surgery. My brother, who was 19 at the time, continued going to college so my grandma moved into our house to take care of me. She lived alone so it worked out better that way. She moved closer to the city and I continued going to the same high school.
I hugged her back. "I wish they were here too, but I've got great friends that show me the same love and support I know they would. And everybody's going to love me because you're such a great manager, Jes. Thanks for setting this up."
"You're welcome, sweetie. You know I'd do anything for you." She paused. "You know I also can't promise anything, right? Don't get me wrong, I love the song. I'm sure someone is going to want you. However, these things take time. Don't expect anything right away."
"This is what I love about you. You've been completely honest with me since the third grade," I laughed. She would always joke and say that if she didn't tell you the truth her eyes would. It was true, her emerald green eyes gave everything away.
She stood back and put her hands up in a 'what do you want from me' gesture. "That's what best friends are for, right?" She started to walk off. "I'll see you later at the rehearsal dinner, okay?"
"Um...about that," I started. She quickly whipped around to stare at me. "I'm not going."
"What," she exclaimed. "You have to go. You're the Maid of Honor for crying out loud! You can't just bow out."
I sighed. As much as I loved Jesy, I didn't know how to explain this to her. I wish I could've just fallen for her. I'm Jade Amelia Badwi Thirlwall, a plain Jane lesbian that had to go and fall in love with my best friend, Perrie Louise Edwards. When I say plain Jane, I mean I'm totally average: long brown curly hair, brown eyes, petite and average build. I'm going to be conceited for a second. I'm not hard to look at, there's just nothing spectacular about me. Now, with Perrie, I'll admit I was shallow. In the eighth grade, when I first met her, her looks drew me in. She had long, soft blonde hair; blue eyes that occasionally changed color depending on her mood; the cutest dimples ever; she was a dancer so her body was in great shape and she had gorgeous, pouty lips. After I got to know her, I knew I liked her because of who she was. And over the years I fell more in love. Of course, the only problem that could arise, and did, is she's completely straight and I told her I loved her, five days before her wedding.
