The two masks

Chapter 15

Chris POV:

„Well...she wouldn't talk to me about anything. She just uh blankly stared at the floor, fiddling with her sleeves...I may need you to help me figure out what's wrong with her." I gulp and nod „Well three months ago her mother was killed...that really dragged her down, which I understand. The first three weeks she was very silent and did nothing apart from crying which, again, is understandable. But since then she has been really snappy like really snappy. She would immediately yell at you and she even would throw stuff around. Her friends told me she skipped work, cancelled plans and has had really bad struggles learning the choreo, which is really concerning since she normally is the first one to get it." I scratch my head as she nods and writes down everything. „Thank you Mister Hughes that really helped me...uhm did she talk about harming herself or even death?" I gulp „N-no she didn't." „Concerning the throwing things...has she thrown things at you or someone?" „No either the floor or the wall." She nods again and scribbles everything down. „Well the signs are quite unclear to be honest with you. It can be either her way of dealing with the trauma she experienced from losing her mother so unexpectedly and in that way or she is spiralling back down into her depression because of this." I gasp and she immediately grabs ahold of my wrist „No Mister Hughes calm down. I said the signs are really unclear on why she behaves like this. The one thing I am definetely sure about is, that it has to do with the trauma she's experiencing because of the murder. But I'll try my best to find out really soon what it is so we can treat it okay? Now please don't worry too much now because I have the impression that you'll take good care of her. And you and her friends always keep a good eye on her so I'm not that worried about this factor. But as soon as her condition gets worse, call me again and we'll figure it out okay?" She lets go of my wrist and I nod, choking out a faint „Thank you Dr. Ritchie." „My pleasure." She leads me out and I see Jesy like I left her. Turned away from me, looking at the floor. Dr. Ritchie says goodbye and I clear my throat as she finally looks at me „Ready to go?" She gets up and walks ahead of me. Outside, she walks even faster, and past the car. I try calling for her but she is too far gone. „Let her go Chris. She needs her space." I whisper to myself as I get in the car, driving home. At home, I sit down on the kitchen island and fill a glass with water.

From Chris: Oi Jade we're back...well more certainly I am back

From Jade: Huh? Only you? What's with Jes?

From Chris: Well she didn't talk to Dr. Ritchie so she called me in and I had to talk to her. The signs aren't clear on what she has. She thinks that it's either still the sorrow and her way of dealing with death or that she is spiralling into her depression again. But one thing is clear, that it's because of the murder. When we finished, she just walked away and I didn't have any chance on catching her. When I drove home, I still looked for her but couldn't find her.

From Jade: Right I've had enough. This isn't normal anymore. We've said this so often but this is not our Jesy. If you wanna or not, me and the girls will be comin over and we'll have a calm talk together okay?

From Chris: Oof thanks Jade. I don't know what I'd do without you girls.

From Jade: Well we don't know what we'd do without you. You take such good care of our Jes. I don't even know why I've been so nasty to you in the beginning tho.

From Chris: Awww come on Jade we talked about this a million times. It was understandable because of what she's experienced. Now stop blaming yourself

From Jade: Ight sorry. We'll be there in a few minutes alright?

From Chris: Yep. Noted.

From Jade: See ya

I shut down my phone as I hear our door open and Jesy comes around the corner with her hood up, head hanging low. She looks up at me and clears her throat „Chris?" I hum and she comes to me, pulling a little flower bouqet from behind her back, handing it to me. „Jes what are you doing?" „Apoplogizing for behaving like such a cunt. You only did good things for me while I only brought you pain and sorrow. That's not fair for you." „But Jes you didn't have to buy flowers. A simple talk would have been enough." I open my arms and she immediately jumps in them. I sigh and relax, clearly having missed the feeling. I pick her up and I scoot back so we both sit on the island, cuddled into one another. We pull away and she smiles. After not seeing her smiling for so long, her smile seems even more beautiful. I stroke her cheeks „You're still so god damn beautiful Jes." „You don't hate me?" „Why shall I Jes?" „I'll say it again, because I behaved like such a greedy brat because you only wanted to help me." „Jes it takes more than that to make me hate you. I completely understand your condition. You won't get rid of me so easily though." We chuckle at the same time and she looks at me „So we're good?" „Well of course we're good Jes. I still love you for infinity." She leans in and kisses me. I place a careful hand on her cheek and smile against her lips, enjoying the moment. She pulls me closer and sits down on my lap as I hold her waist. I didn't hear the door open until I hear someone gagging. We pull reluctantly apart and see the three girls standing there, smirking and Jade faking gagging noises „Get a room you two." Jesy rolls her eyes and purposely pulls me in for another kiss, this time using our tongues as well. Jade keeps fake-gagging „Jes and Chris if you keep plunging your tongues into each others throats Imma glue your lips together and cut off your tongues. Get a frickin room" Jade giggles and Lerrie burst out laughing and we pull away again, reluctantly though. „Well Jeed how about you tell us about your sultry Facetime happening hm?" she immediately turns red, looking down while Leigh, Perrie and I gasp and look at Jesy „I said what I said." she shrugs, smirking devilish. „Moving on." We get down from the island and gather around the table. I get us coffee and tea for Jade and we just started off with a normal convo. Jesy suddenly raises her voice „Guys...uhm...I have something to say to you..."