Our Turn

Chapter 3

- PERRIE -

I wake up in Jade's bed wearing only underwear. Jade is lying next to me, sleeping. I roll over to the side so I can see her face. Her brown hair is covering parts of her face, and when she exhales, air makes a strand of hair move. She looks peaceful and relaxed. I smile, because she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

As I sit up I instantly feel the headache kick in. Oh my god. This is not what I need today. We're going to a radio station to give an interview and sing a song from our album. A hangover is definately not suitable for a day of work. Luckily for me, the other girls will probably feel just like I do.

I go into the bathroom to brush my hair. Jade's brush is lying on the shelf and I start to brush my hair as I look at myself in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes. Pimples all over my face. Smudged lipstick all over my cheeks. I hope I can get a good make-up today to feel a little better.

After I've peed and brushed my hair I walk back into the main room where Jade now is sitting on the edge of the bed. She's rubbing her eyes out of faitgue and yawning.

"Good morning, Jade." I say. She turns her head and meets my smiling face. She smiles back at me which makes my heart skip a beat. She walks over to me and kisses me softly.

"Morning , Pez." she says with a smile before she walks into the bathroom. 

-

"And here in the studio we have Little Mix ready to perform a song from their latest album, take it away girls!" the host says.

I fix the microphone stand again, just to be sure it's in good position. I take a deep breath and get ready to sing. It's a little hard to focus with a bad headache, but I just have to try to ignore it. Aspirin didn't help, but at least I look good and fresh.

The music starts and Leigh signs the first verse. It goes well, I think, and after we've sung, the host asks us a few questions about our album. With a new one out, it's always good to promote it. After another applause we walk backstage to change into other, more comfortable outfits. Because of the 'emergency meeting' that Jones called us to, we need to fly back to London tomorrow morning. We'll go right back to our hotel and hopefully get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow will be a long day.

-

Luckily for us, we get to fly with a private jet since there were no tickets available for a flight to the UK today. Jones sent us management's own plane, and that's always a plus. I'm thankful, because Jade and I get to spend some hours together in peace and without worries.

We land outside of London in the afternoon. Immediately we are escorted to cars that will take us home to let us change into more appropriate clothes and get something to eat after the long flight.

When I arrive at my apartment building I thank the driver and walk into the apartment building. The elevator takes me to the right floor and I go into my home. Home sweet home. Since I travel a lot, I get a really special feeling when arriving here after some months away. The smell and my own furniture makes me calm and happy. Also, I can do whatever I want, such as inviting Jade over.

The rest of the afternoon I spend unpacking my bags and doing some laundry. After a quick dinner I put some nice and professional-looking clothes on and walk downstairs. The same car and driver that dropped me off here has arrived again and will take me to the management's office.

I arrive last and find the rest of the girls waiting in the lobby. I walk up to them and say hello, and I give Jade a quick peck on the lips. One of the armchairs are empty, so I sit down to join the conversation.

"Do we have a plan on how to get out of this?" Leigh asks us. Jade and I shrug.

"Honestly, I don't think we can come up with a plan. We don't know what Jones will ask us." Jesy says.

"Hmm. Yeah." Leigh says while in other thoughts.

"Maybe he already has a plan..." Jade sighs, and right then an assistant comes to show us where we'll meet Jones and his crew.

The room we're escorted to has huge glass windows on one side, the one we meet when we walk in. The two on the sides are painted in a light beige colour and each wall has a big, colourful painting hanging on it. A long table is placed in the center of the room. Jones and two other employees are sitting on one side, and four empty chairs are placed on the other.

"Welcome. Please sit down." Jones greets us without looking up from his phone. We do as he asks us to and sit down in front of him and he two other men. Jade and I sit in the middle with Jesy and Leigh-Anne on each of our sides.

It's quiet, nobody dares to say a word. We're nervous, scared but also hopeful. Maybe we can fix this. Then Jones speaks.

"I understand that you girls have put yourselves in a... situation." He pauses for a moment. "Now we need to fix it. We need to repair the damage you caused for your reputation as a group and as individuals. You know I don't want this, so why did you put all this extra work on me?"

When none of us answers, he waves with his hand for us to speak. I don't know what to say, and apparently neither of the girls.

"Well? Why have we ended up here? Aren't you girls supposed to be in the US? Aren't you supposed to have sleepovers in your tour bus in LA? Wouldn't that be funnier?"

The look he gives us is uncomfortable. His voice sounds like he's talking to 8-year-olds who only like dolls and still belive in the tooth fairy. We don't dare to talk.

"You girls are lucky to have someone like me to take care of you. You certainly cannot do it yourselves." I turn my head slightly to the left and meet Jesy's eyes. She feels just like I do.

"I know how to get you girls out of this. You'll be back in the US and it will be like this never happened. Does that sound good to you, girls?" Jones eyes meet all of ours. We nod in unison. 

"What is your plan, Mr. Jones?" Leigh asks him in a soft voice.

"We'll have to get someone new into the picture. Someone who will help the girls in the middle to keep their hands, eyes and thoughts off of each other."

What the hell is he thinking?

Jones continues, "I was thinking about a man. He's quite handsome actually. Oh, and you girls all know him already."