Unexpected (Jerrie AU)

1.

*This book will always be in Perrie's POV unless stated otherwise*

(Hey! So to tell the story to the full extent, I have to take it way back. Currently, Perrie is 15, and has a best friend called Savannah. There will be a time skip shortly, just bare with me. Thanks for reading!)

"Mom! I'm going to Savannah's!" I shout as I race down the stairs, slapping a kiss on her cheek and heading for the door. She just nods and I head out on to the sidewalk. I walk the block before arriving at Savannah's home. I go inside without hesitation, we've been best friends for 13 years, it was no big deal. I walk quietly to her bedroom and open the door. I see her laying in bed and a tear streaming down her cheek. I sighed slightly, seeing that she was having a bad day. I rush to her bed and crawl in next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist without a word. I run my free hand through her hair and wait. This wasn't unusual, she had days like this all the time. It was hard seeing her like this, and even harder trying to help make it better. This was all I knew how to do, probably because there wasn't really a reason for her sadness. Depression was the only reason, and it was sucking the life out of her. This beautiful girl who was once so bubbly and energetic is now basically lifeless and empty. I don't know how long we laid there, but eventually she rolled to face me. I smile slightly at her and brush some tears from her cheek.

"Thank you." She sniffles, looking away. I nod softly and peck her forehead. We were closer than most friends, I guess you can say that I'm pretty much in love with her. I keep my lips pressed against her forehead as I squeezed her in a hug. She winced, I knew what that meant. I peeled back the blanket and lifted her shirt to reveal fresh, red cuts along her hips. I let out a deep breath and look up at her. She was avoiding eye contact.

"Sav, you promised me." I mumble, tears pricking my eyes. "Why do you always make this promise if you can't keep it?" I mutter.

"I'm-I'm s-sorry." She whispers, her voice trembling and her hands shaking. I take her hands in mine, rubbing them softly with my thumb.

"Hey, shhhhh." I whisper, using one hand to cup her cheek. "It's okay, I know it's hard." my eyebrows pinch together in empathy and I scoot closer to her, holding her close again. She pushes my hand away, and rolls opposite of me, inching closer to the edge of the bed. I furrow my brow deeper in confusion and sit up, backing away to give her space. "What's wrong?" I ask her in a quiet tone. She begins to sit up and rests her back against the headboard.

"You always do this to me." She says, anger laced in her voice. I give her a look showing that I don't understand. "You basically force me to make the promises you know I can't keep! And then you get upset with me when I break your promise, and expect everything to just be okay when you cuddle up to me. But it's not, Perrie! It's not okay, I'm still me, just because I'm broken and enjoy the touch doesn't mean that you can snuggle in like the lesbian you are and fucking fix everything." She growls. I was taken aback, that was all over the place, and so sudden. She'd never snapped like this before, and she pulled the gay card. She'd never done that either.

"What the actual fuck?" I start off, shaking my head. "Really? You want to pull the gay card? I have never done anything to you because I wanted to show affection in a romantic way and you know it. You asked me to hold you like that, do you want me to pull up the damn text? I honestly cannot believe you, but let me go ahead and say that I forgive you, because the Savannah that is my best friend would never say that. But this," I gesture up and down her body with my hand. "isn't my best friend. I'm not sure where she went, but this isn't her." I shake my head, refusing to let tears fall.

"See! There you go again? Did I ask for your forgiveness? No! I didn't!" She raises her voice slightly.

"I guess you could say that forgiving easily is my fatal flaw." I stand up, slinging my bag over my shoulders. "But I'm done. I'm over this. I've tried so hard to be empathetic and to understand! I've kept this from your parents and mine, I've tried my very best to help you! It just seems to me like you don't want help." I sniffle, slipping my shoes back on. "But I'm done now. I don't want this anyone. I don't need you like you need me. In fact, I don't need you at all." I shrug, letting a tear fall, wiping it before heading to the bedroom door. I turn to look at her one last time. "And Sav?" I say in a harsh voice.