Welcome Back // Jerrie

5. The Night Is Still Young

It was Friday. I was going out with Lauren tonight. Nervous? Definitely. But only because I haven't been on a date for a quite while. We decided to keep it casual and to go to a bar near our Uni today. I was very glad about that because enjoyed drinking, but I didn't enjoy big ass clubs. I loved Uni parties and bars. It was way more comfy and casual. Jade was more the wine and club kind of girl. Why am I thinking about Jade again? Concentrate Pez.

Thankfully, I didn't see Jade the whole week. Although I was kind of worried because she was missing from History class, I tried not to get too invested. It was probably just a problem with her Dad. And I'm saying just, because Jade's family life regarding her father wasn't the most emotional connected bond you would imagine a daughter to have with her father. He basically payed for her whole tuition but when it came to Jade's life he wasn't really interested.

I figured they must have had a fight again. It did worry me. But I knew it wasn't my place to take care of it. I used to do that all the time while Jade and I were together. Her father loved me for some reason, but Jade was always relieved when I joined them for dinner because she knew then the conversations would be peaceful and in some ways, funny too.

I did hope she was alright though.

I went to my closet to find the perfect outfit for tonight, since Lauren was going to pick me up in an hour and I had to get ready. Jess was way too excited for me. I kind of felt bad, because I knew I was never going to be able to give Lauren what she deserved. Or maybe I built up a wall after all these years and maybe it's just my subconscious tricking me into thinking I wasn't able to give her what she deserved.

God, how much I hated feelings.

After Lauren picked me up with her Porsche? which by the way surprised me because I didn't think Lauren was, and I hate to say it, rich, we went into the bar near our uni. We had a few great conversations and even held hands.

„Beer?", I asked after we sat down at a table for two. Since Lauren was friends with Jesy I figured she probably was a beer kind of girl, too.

„Actually, I'm more of a wine girl." Are you kidding me. Okay, Perrie calm down, many people can like wine more than beer. I knew I always tented to be way too dramatic.

„Sure thing. White or red wine?", I asked casually, not letting her sense that her answer just caught me off guard. And maybe I wanted to test something out.

Lauren eyed me, kind of getting what I was trying to do. „Red."

I nodded, a slight smile creeping up my face, my gaze back on the menu. Jade was the white wine kinda girl.

„What is this? Are we playing twenty questions now, Miss Edwards?", Lauren teased, her gaze stuck on me. I could feel her eyes burning on me, basically.

„I never intended for it to be, but now that you suggested it-", I got a giggle from Lauren,"-why not."

I took a deep breath. „Favorite color?"

„Blue. Like your eyes." That did make me blush, I had to admit. „Yours?"

„I love Blue as well.", I answered with a smile, but immediately started to think of Jade's blue dress she wore to one of her family gatherings where I was her date.

And like she could read my thoughts, my phone suddenly started buzzing. It was Jade.

"Who is it?", Lauren asked, probably noticing how I was furrowing my eyebrows questioningly.

"Jade.", I said simply. Yes, I still had her number saved but to be honest, I didn't expect for it to be her current number anymore.

"She probably just wants to interrupt us." But that wasn't something Jade would do. As much as she maybe hated the thought of me and Lauren together, she'd never interrupt our date. So something must have been going on.

"Jade wouldn't do that. Believe me.", I took a deep breath and a second thought before deciding, "I gotta take this real quick and then I will be back."

In front of the bar, I accepted her call. "Jade?", I asked questioningly. Silence. I could hear someone sob quietly on the other side of the phone. "Jade?", I asked again, but with more pressure.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to call you. I know you're mad and I don't have any right to ask you for help, but you're the only one I can talk to about this." It was about her dad. I immediately sensed it.

"What happened?", I now asked with a more softer tone.

"My dad died, Pez." I could feel my heart stop beating for a second. Even though Jade and her Dad had a lot of problems, they loved each other. They were a family. A family with many problems, but a family.

And in a matter of seconds, being on a date right now didn't feel right. Not just because Jade's Dad was gone and Jade asked for help, but also because I just couldn't keep on going on a date with someone while the love of my life was hurting tremendously.

"I'll be there in 30."

"Perrie, don't. Aren't you on a date right now? You should enjoy yourself." I could hear Jade's voice crack at the end.

"See you in 30 Jade." And with that I hung up. I wasn't quite sure how Lauren was going to take it, but even if it wouldn't be Jade we're talking about but instead  Jesy or Zayn, I'd immediately cancel just to be there for them. And if Lauren knew me enough and liked me enough she'd understand.

When I came back inside, I did have to admit the look of Lauren in her black top and red leather jacket was a treat for the eyes, but there was nothing stopping me from going to Jade.