The Mask

Chapter Three

Jade's POV:

I looked up from my notebook to see a girl standing in front of Mrs. Killip's desk.

She had on tight acid wash jeans that hugged her curves. She had on a cute black crop top on, and some little black sneakers to match. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back in waves and I smiled, imagining that this would be what Rapunzel's hair would look like in real life. 

I quickly looked around the classroom and saw that the only open seat was next to me, go figure. She would have to sit next to me. My heart jumped at the chance to make a new friend, and  hopefully she won't tease me about my clothes and hair.

"Let's see...Miss Edwards, you will go sit next to Miss Thirlwall," Mrs. Killip said. 

The murmurs started up again. 

"She has to sit next to Patchwork? I feel bad for her already..." 

"Think she'll be able to handle the smell?" 

My eyes started to water, and Niall squeezed my hand again. 

"Just don't listen, Jadey. You're better than them," he said softly. I smiled at him. 

"Thanks Niall. I'm so glad that you're my best friend." 

Niall smiled, but I saw something strange in his eyes. Sadness? 

"No problem," he murmured, looking back down at his paper, not letting go of my hand. 

I looked back at Miss Edwards. She had turned around and...oh my god. She had the most beautiful eyes, a crystal blue color. I already loved everything about her. Her eyes, her nose, her smile, her lips...hold on...Jade what are you doing? You aren't gay and even if you are Miss Edwards probably isn't. 

I was so caught up in my thoughts, I didn't realize that Miss Edwards was next to me. 

"Um, hi, I'm Perrie, nice to meet you. What's your name?" she asked quietly. 

I looked over at Perrie who was sitting next to me. "I'm Jade," I told her, my insides fluttering. I hadn't talked to someone who actually was being nice to me for a while, and I was really nervous. 

Perrie smiled again, and I swear I melted inside, it's so beautiful. Then Perrie looked over at Niall and she brightened even more, if possible. "Oh, it's you, Niall! I just really wanted to thank you for saving me from Zayn earlier." 

Niall smiled lightly. "No problem. Zayn has been looking for a girl to play with since his last girl Gigi moved to another school. I'm just glad I was there to stop him when I was."

Perrie giggled and I swear my pulse sped up. Gosh her giggle is adorable.

"Jade are you okay? Your face looks flushed," Niall said, letting go of my hand to feel my forehead. 

"I'm fine, just a little warm. Stop worrying you big baby," I said, swatting Niall's hands away. 

Perrie's eyes sparkled, watching our antics with a smile. "Siblings?" She asked. 

"Nope, just best friends," I replied, patting Niall on the head, my eyes not leaving Perrie's.

Perrie opened her mouth to say something, but at that moment, the bell rang.  

"Finally! The end of first period yet again! I am now that much closer to the end of school!" I cried happily, jumping up out of my seat. 

Niall laughed. "Come on, Jadey, we have English next," he said. 

I grinned, grabbing Niall's hand and pulling him towards the door of the classroom, determined to get all of my things and get to Mr. Noreus's room before the populars confronted me.

"Wait! Please!" Perrie called. I stopped and looked back at her, running towards us. She looks so beautiful running, no Jade stop thinking about her like this.

As Perrie reached us, she put a finger under my jaw and moved it up, closing my mouth. 

"You'll catch flies," she giggled. Her laugh... I turned away so Perrie couldn't see my blush, and asked her, "so what locker number do you have?"

"B32," she answered. Once I was sure my blush was gone, I turned around. "Oh, that's co-wait!" I shouted, making her jump. "Did you say B32?" I asked. Perrie nodded, her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. My mind screamed, YES! "Well, my locker's B34! Our lockers are next to each other!" 

Perrie smiled, and again, I swear everyone could hear my heartbeat, It was so loud. "Awesome!" I smiled at her, and proceeded to drag Niall down the hallway toward my locker.

What was making me act this way? At school, I usually acted closed, and empty. I really only smiled around Niall, and that took a while. Why was I so quick to smile around Perrie, and I had only just met her today? I was never quick to smile! It made no sense!

What if I ... no, it's way too soon to know if I have feeling for her, right?

"Jade? Jadeeeeyyy," Niall said, waving his free hand in my face. I blinked, then smiled reassuringly at him. 

"I'm okay, Ni. Thanks." We walked the rest of the way to my locker in silence, hand in hand. For the first time, I swear I felt some little butterflies around him. 

When we got to my locker, I let go of Niall's hand to open my locker. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Niall lean up against what was now apparently Perrie's locker. He was watching me with a soft smile on his face, and I was pretty sure he had no idea I saw him. 

Suddenly, I felt my books get slapped out of my hands, and I got shoved against the locker next to mine. 

"Hey! Stop!" Niall cried. He tried to reach for me, but a large body blocked him from getting to me.

"Go ahead, do whatever to her, I don't care," Jesy said from next to Liam, watching with interest. Liam set me down, and punched me in the stomach. I keeled over, all of the air leaving my lungs. Liam started hitting me, Jesy joining in. I had no idea why they were doing this, they weren't usually this physical.

I lay panting on the ground, head swimming, body aching. Niall was held against the lockers by Zayn, his arms pinned above his head. Zayn smirked at Niall, clearly enjoying this. Liam raised his foot to stomp me, only to get suddenly knocked over by someone. I thought I caught a glimpse of blond hair as Liam fell, the other person landing on top of him. 

"Perrie," I groaned, trying to crawl over to her. I didn't get far, however, until I collapsed onto the cold tile of the hallway, my eyes rolling up into my head as I sank into unconsciousness.

Finally edited