Time Ahead

chapter thirty-two

Jesy's POV:

I opened our cabinet that we kept our snacks in for the few days that we're here. I rifled through it before pulling out the bread. I took out two pieces and put them in the toaster. I scrolled through Instagram while I waited for the bread to toast. When the timer went off I grabbed the bread and started putting some butter on it. I heard light footsteps behind me. Turning around, Sophie is standing in the living room with her teddy bear in her arms. "Hey, babe. How'd you sleep?" I asked her, reaching my arms out for her to hug. She ran over smiling. "Good," she said in my embrace. "Do you want some cereal?" I ask her. She nods and runs over to the Cherrio box sitting on the counter. I laugh and grab a bowl out of the cabinet. After I finished making her cereal I place it on the table and help her up onto the seat.

I look over at the clock. It reads 8:37. Everyone is still asleep besides me and Sophie. I got a text that our management has an announcement for us but we have to wait until everyone wakes up. "Do you like the other kids?" I ask Sophie as she eats. She nods excitedly. "Who's your favorite to play with?" I ask her. She thinks for a second before answering. "Jolie," she finally says. I smile at her. I'm happy she said that because Izzy is a little closer to Jaz than she is to Jolie, and I was concerned Jolie was going to get left out as she got older. Don't get me wrong, all of them are best friends, but they just get along better.

Everyone gradually woke up and ate breakfast to start their day. Once everyone was awake, I gathered them all in the living room. "So, the management texted me earlier this morning saying that they had an announcement for us once everyone was awake," I said. "What do you think it is?" Leigh asked. "I'm not sure," I say confused. "Well, should we call them?" Perrie asks. "Yes!" I say confidently. I tap on the manager's name in my contacts and the pone starts ringing. On the third ring they picked up. "Hello?" they said. "Hi, you said you had an announcement for all of us?" I say. "Yes, first, you've been nominated for a Billboard Music Award," he starts. All of us look at each other shocked. Sure, it's not the biggest award we've ever received, but in the USA that's a big deal, since we still haven't "broken" the US. "That's not all. You all have also been invited to perform on the show," our manager says. All of us practically jump up and down in excitement. "This is huge for us," Perrie says with a huge smile on her face. "Thank you," I say to the manger before hanging up. "When are we leaving?" Jade asks. "He just texted me all the details saying that we have to leave in two days, we can rehearse while we're there, considering the show isn't for five days," I explain.

*a few hours later

We all sat on the couch scrolling on our phones while the kids played in one of the bedrooms and the guys went out grabbing anything we needed for the US. We all sat in silence, it was a nice peaceful silence though, not a tense one. I decided to go look at the lineup for the Billboard Music Awards. I read familiar names on my screen. "Hey girls, Ariana's performing at Billboard," I say excitedly. "Really?" Leigh asked. "Yeah, she's performing, along with Post Malone," I say. "Wow, I hope everyone there is just as excited to see us as them," Perrie says a little nervous. "They will," Jade says. I continue to scroll through all the nominations and lineup, smiling at our name when I pass it. As I reach the very bottom, I see a familiar one. My heart drops a little as I read it. "Hey Jade, can I talk to you in the other room real quick?" I ask her. She looks up from Kaiden to me a little concerned. "Yeah, sure," she said. Perrie holds her arms out and Jade placed Kaiden in them gently and then joined me in her bedroom.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asks, still confused. "So, I was looking at everyone who was performing and..." I pause for a second, taking a breath. "The Struts are going to be there performing," I say. Jade looks from me down to her hands. "You okay?" I ask her after a few moments. She nods but I saw a few tears fall from her eyes. "Aw, come here babe," I say wrapping her in my arms. "Shh," I say trying her calm her. Even though Jade and Jed divorced a while ago, he's still been a touchy subject. Ever since he left her with two toddlers and pregnant, they haven't spoken more than a few words, forget ever seeing each other in person. "He's never even met Kaiden yet," she finally said. "I know, but there's good reason for him not to," I say. She nods and cuddles back into me.

Once she calmed down a little bit, we went back out into the living room. "Is everything okay? You guys were gone for like half an hour," Leigh said, not looking up from her phone. I nod, not realizing we were gone for that long. "Babe, are you okay?" Perrie asks Jade when she sees her in tears. She shakes her head and allows herself to melt into Perrie's embrace. "Jed's performing at the award show," I say somewhat quietly. They both nod in realization. "Don't worry babe, he'll regret everything he did once he sees you slaying up there," Leigh encourages.

This may not be what everyone was hoping, but it had to be done at some point.