Perrie’s POV:
An ear piercing scream filled the air, causing me to jump from my spot on the floor. I turned to see Jade trembling, with a stream of tears squeezing through her tightly shut eyes. A sob escaped her mouth and racked her body as Leigh-Anne reached over and shook her.
Jesy started calling her name, trying to wake her and I found myself stroking her hair and whispering in her ear, assuring her that it was just a dream.
After a few seconds Jade’s eyes opened and she looked at the three of us. A sigh of relief escaped her lips but that was soon followed by more tears. I held my arms out to hug her from the floor and she jumped off the sofa, into my arms.
Jade’s POV:
I felt my shoulders shake as I sobbed into Perrie’s shirt. Her arms were draped around me, rubbing small circles on my back. Jesy and Leigh soon made their way over and stroked my hair, whispering to me, softly saying that everything was going to be okay.
I just snuggled closer to Perrie and held on to her for my life. I could feel her gesturing to the girls as they tried to make silent conversation, attempting to understand what was wrong with me. I could tell they were confused. None of them had seen my nightmare.
I felt Perrie tighten her grasp on my as she whispered into my hair, “baba, do you want to tell me what the nightmare was about?”
I pulled away from her and shook my head, now feeling all the girls’ eyes on me. Leigh-Anne shot me a concerned look and went to the kitchen as I felt Jesy’s warm hands slowly wiping the tears off my face. My right hand was still attached to Perrie’s, and that was the only part of me that felt secure.
It wasn’t long before Leigh returned from the kitchen with water which I quickly gulped down. I heard Jesy clear her throat before she spoke, “Jadey, what was the dream about? Was it Sam” she inquired, “Did he hurt you?”
“No…” I replied, my voice coming out small and squeaky. I shook my head and looked down at my lap, wishing she’d drop the topic.
“Are you sure, Jadey?” asked Leigh-Anne as she eyed me up and down.
I nodded, and it was true. The dream wasn’t about Sam. It was about my dad.
Perrie’s POV:
Jade didn’t look like she wanted to talk about it, so I just continued to rub her back, hoping it would comfort her.
Jesy opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off, “don’t make her talk about it if she doesn’t want to” I said, secretly hoping Jade would open up to me later. I knew she hated it when all the attention was on her and honestly, I just wanted her to get some rest.
Jade shot me a grateful look and smiled slightly.
“Do you wanna go back to sleep?” I asked
“Yeah” came a slightly apprehensive response.
She leaned against me and shut her eyes as I draped my blanket around her. She shifted slightly and suddenly, she was curled up on my lap. I took deep breaths to calm my heavy breathing and pounding heart, which went a little crazy at the sight of the most beautiful girl asleep in my arms.
I had to remind myself to stay calm, and that she only thought of me as a friend. Meanwhile Jesy and Leigh had restarted the movie, curled up with blankets and the bowl of popcorn between their knees. I barely paid any attention to the movie although it was good. Most of my mind-space was occupied as I marveled at the small Geordie sleeping in my lap.
The movie ended after an hour and Jesy began to get up, picking up the bowls and glasses. Leigh-Anne yawned sleepily and smiled at me.
“We have to wake up at seven tomorrow, we have afternoon promos” she mumbled sleepily.
Jesy came back from the kitchen and tried to sort out the sleeping arrangements. Her voice washed over my head as I began to worry.
I didn’t think I could let Jade go but I knew I couldn’t’ sleep in the same room as her. I had already held her for half the night, and I didn’t want her to suspect anything. It would destroy our friendship, and I needed her in my life, even if it meant she was only my friend. I could feel Jade stirring at the sound of Jesy’s voice and I absentmindedly stroked her hair.
I shook my head; I needed to stop doing that. I needed to stop yearning for her touch or the sound of my name coming out of her mouth. It felt like Jesy read my mind as she scooped the sleeping beauty from my arms and took her into Jade’s bedroom while Leigh-Anne followed me into mine.
