Welcome Back // Jerrie

7. Anywhere But Here

"Pez! Peez!" I heard a voice scream in a whisper. Still half asleep, I opened my eyes just to see Jesy in front of me, in front of the couch. That's when I realized. Oh.

Jesy just caught me and Jade.

"What is this?!" The fact that Jesy was whispering, although she didn't like Jade anymore, was very nice of her. Normally, Jesy would be throwing a tantrum, kicking Jade out instantly. But I guess a part of her still had a soft spot for her old friend.

"Long story, don't wake her up please.", I said to Jesy as I tried to loose Jade's grip on me, but she was holding my arm like a monkey. She looked so cute, not gonna lie. But right now wasn't the time to swoon over Jade's beauty.

Jesy sighed and went to the kitchen that was connected to the living room. "I don't really know why I'm whispering anyway, I forgot that Jade sleeps like a stone.", Jesy said in a normal tone now, making herself a coffee and a tea for me.

"Just make sure she leaves as soon as she wakes up.", Jesy added before handing me my tea and making her way to the bathroom. I sighed, but I knew she was right.

After Jesy left, I tried to loose Jade's grip once more to be able to grab my tea. Thankfully, Jade wasn't holding on to me as tightly before, which made it easy. Jade turned around and snuggled up to me, which made my heart skip a beat.

We cuddled for a few more minutes before I stood up to go to Jesy's bedroom. Jade was still asleep and I wasn't even sure how long she would still be sleeping. I arrived at Jesy's door and knocked three times. "Come in."

"Is she gone?", Jesy asked after spotting me.

I shook my head. "No, she's still asleep. Look Jesy-"

"Pez, it's not that I don't appreciate you being there for her, I just feel like it puts you in a vulnerable state again and I don't want her to take advantage of that.", Jesy explained.

"I know.", I answered, "But it's different this time. It's not some little stupid thing that happened. It's something only I can help her with. Trust me on that one, please."

Jesy sighed, but I think she knew I was right. "Fine. But go somewhere else. I just can't watch you two knowing how much she hurt you back then."

I nodded. I understood Jesy, I really did. If it were the other way around I don't think I would act any different.

And suddenly Jesy and I heard a door close. Of course, I thought. Jade probably woke up and regretted calling me and showing me her vulnerable side, so she ran. It was typical Jade.

This girl was more than stressful.

"It's different, huh?", Jesy asked, already knowing the answer. I decided not to say anything and sighed before leaving the room.

You did this to yourself Jade, I thought, grabbed my jacket and made my way to Jades dorm room. I wasn't sure if she was going to be there - or if I might see Lauren, which could go in two different ways - but it was worth a try.

As soon as I arrived at their dorm I knocked on the door. I wasn't surprised when Lauren opened the door and not Jade. Jade probably thought the first place I would search for her for was her dorm.

"Looking for Jade?", Lauren now asked me and you could clearly hear that she was pissed. I did feel bad and guilty. Normally, you wouldn't drop a date for your ex. This was indeed my fault and there was no talking out of it.

"Lauren listen, I'm sorry, okay? I already told you that yesterday like a million times before I looked for Jade. It's not.. What you think it is. Jade and I were together for two years and therefore we know each other very well. It wasn't about me or her and me. It was something private that of all people only I know about." I could see Laurens face soften a little bit. "I don't expect you to understand, but I wish you could respect that and trust me. If I could tell you what it is, I would. But it's not my place to do so."

Lauren took a deep breath. "I guess.. It's fine, I guess."

"You sure?", I asked, not totally sure if Lauren was so generous now because of my apology or because she just wanted to get rid of me.

"Yes, I am sure. Perrie look, I really like you, okay? I enjoy spending time with you, whether exclusively or not. You and Jade, that's your thing. I'm not a part of it and I totally understand and respect it, but I just want you to be honest with me if whatever is going on turns out to be a 'Jade and Perrie' thing, okay?"

I nodded. "Of course. I don't want to be unfair to you, don't worry about that. If anything changes, I'll talk to you. I really like you, too. Exclusively or not."

Lauren let out a light chuckle. "Okay good Miss Edwards. Then that's settled."

Lauren hugged me tightly to make sure I really knew everything was fine. She really was a perfect woman. And I wouldn't still be hung up on Jade I could probably see myself with her.

"Did she come back to your dorm today?", I asked now after Lauren broke the hug.

Lauren leaned to the doorframe. "No, actually. I haven't seen her today."

"I've been looking for her. She wasn't doing good yesterday and this morning she just left - ran for the hills, bascially. And I'm fearing that she's not doing well.", I explained, to which Lauren nodded understandingly.

"I guess you know her better than anyone, Pez.", Lauren said softly. "And as much as I sometimes wished you two wouldn't still have this kind of connection, she needs you right now. I'm pretty sure you will find her. I mean, you spent two years with this girl. You'll think of something."

"Yeah", I answered unsurely, thinking of places where Jade could have gone to. "Thank you for still being.. you. So sweet and generous and honest. I really don't deserve you, Lauren."

"It's all good. Come here." And to my surprise, Lauren pulled me softly towards her and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. And surprisingly, I wasn't mad about it.

"Maybe we could give our date a second chance as soon as you cleared the air with Jade. Only if that's still in your interest, of course.", Lauren said after the kiss.

With Lauren I felt like I could take on the world. Maybe it was because that's how you always felt like when you started to like someone or it was just the energy she was giving me. But I indeed already had a soft spot for her, whether it was platonic or not.

"That would certainly be in my interest. I'll call you, okay?" Lauren agreed with a nod before kissing me goodbye and closing the door.

Now we had to find Jade. Where could she be? To be honest, we were in London. There were like a million possibilities. But I already had a guess. Or more so, hope. I really hope she would be there. It would confirm that Jade and I were in fact not just a quick romance and that I didn't waste my time. Because that place meant a lot to her when we were together. It could give me the closer I needed. And it would convince me that Jade wasn't just looking for help last night, but that she was looking for my help.

I'll find you, Jade.