Chapter 1: Secrets
So basically, in case one really needed to know, it takes an hour and four minutes from Manchester to Bradford by car. That is, if there weren't any traffic jams, torrential rains, road accidents or rush hours. Her fingers tapped against the steering wheel and her feet tapped against the gas pedal. Jade closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath and then opened them. Sadly for her, there was a traffic jam due to the torrential rains, which caused an accident, which hence caused a traffic jam. To add to the insult, it was rush hour so cars were honking like mad and making her head pound painfully. The urge to get out, climb onto the roof of her car and scream for everyone to shut the hell up was overpowering so instead she sighed, muttered a few choice words under her breath and hoped the traffic would clear up. From Manchester all the way to this highway (which she had not bothered to name) drivers had given her strange looks. Wondering what a teenage girl was doing driving so far away from home. Well, Jade was a rebellious kid and if anyone had really asked her, she'd have shouted at them. But the silent words their faces said were what really pissed Jade off. People were cowards these days. Honestly, they chose media to show their hate to others. Social networking sites were so commonly used that it almost seemed as if it was a personal diary. Which was flashed for the entire world to see.
By the time Jade reached the house it was almost twelve in the afternoon. Her head was spinning and her stomach was churning. She so hated motion sickness. Jade got out of the car and then stared at the large house that towered over her. It was big- for one person to live in it. She sighed, muttered a thank you to her grandmother and then turned to the right. An old woman stood by her painted white fence, staring at Jade with an oddly peculiar expression. Jade cleared her throat and smiled. Or maybe it wasn't a smile because the old woman laughed and then motioned for Jade to approach her.
Old people were nice right? Like they weren't the type to attack you right?
"And you are?" the old woman asked, her eyes travelling down Jade 's body as a silent inspection.
She cleared her throat, "Jade . Jade Donners."
"From?"
"Manchester." Jade licked her lips, "I'm no harm to this neighbourhood miss..."
"Mrs Williams."
"Mrs Williams." Jade repeated, nodded, "I'm not going to disturb anyone in this neighbourhood."
"Did I say you were going to?" she raised a brow then held up a bunch of keys, "The keys to the house. Your grandmother told me about you."
Jade 's lips parted at that.
"If you need anything you have me."
Jade nodded, a smile pulling at her lips as Mrs Williams regarded her with her dark green eyes.
Somehow Mrs Williams reminded her of her own grandmother. Maybe it was the warmth that Mrs Williams gave out, it seemed to fill her and patch up the holes she had in her soul. Jade reached out and took the keys. When her fingers closed over the cool metal and it gave her a slight shock- she realised that this was indeed real.
Zayn stared out the window, his brows were pulled low over his face and his lips were pressed into a grim line. "We have a new neighbour." he announced, keeping his eyes on the woman who was speaking to Mrs W.
Someone sighed, probably Liam.
"Are you going to keep stalking everyone that passes by?" Harry asked then added, "Where's the food?"
Zayn's eyes narrowed. "She isn't local."
"She, you say?" Louis got up and stood next to him, "Ay, it's a girl. Finally, a female."
