We Have to Make It

Meet Jade

Jade POV:

I looked into her eyes and saw the pain behind them as well as the bruises on her face. There was something else there that I haven't seen in a long time.

Compassion

For some reason I felt like I could trust her. She looked to be a few years older than me and like she'd been through hell.

"I'm good. My name is Jade."

"I'm Jesy." She held out her hand which I took and gave a light shake. "How old are you? You seem kind of young to be in a place like this."

"I'm 15."

Jesy POV:

"I'm 15." I couldn't even imagine what someone so young could've gone through to get here. I couldn't take care of myself but I knew I couldn't leave her behind.

"How about you stick with me and we'll make it together." I watched her face change from fear to skepticism to thinking.

"Sure, but I'm not alone."

"Where's your friend?"

She looked around making sure no one was listening to us. Most people were just focused on the hot food being served to care about two teenage girls.

"She's back at our hideout. She's hurt so I had to go out and get food for the both of us." I felt bad for the two girls. No one should have to fend for themselves at their age.

"How about this? We get food and then the three of us can split it." I offered. Her eyes lit up at the thought of extra food. She quickly agreed and pulled me into line.

~1 hour later~

We'd gotten the food and started the journey back to Jade's hideout. I could tell the small girl was afraid of the crowded, dark city streets.

"Are we close Jade?" I asked while placing my hand on her shoulder in hopes of comforting her in some way.

She seemed to visibly relax and turned to me. "Yeah! It's just around through these woods."

She led me towards a small tent set up under a few trees as a shelter.

"Pez!" She called out. I heard movement from inside the tent and then a blonde head peaked through the small opening of the tent.

"Jade!"

I watched as Jade ran over and hugged the girl. I stood behind them watching the little reunion, happy that the girls at least had each other in such rough times.

"Oh, this is my friend Jesy! She helped me today and I figured she could look out for us." Jade said turning to me. I smiled at the blonde and walked a little closer. I could see a makeshift cast on her ankle. I watched the blonde eye me skeptically.

"I've got the food!" I held it up so she could see and watched as joy replaced all past hesitations.

"I'm Perrie," she said looking at me. "But you can call me Pez!"

After rationing off a fair share of food to everyone, we sat back to enjoy the small meal. Perrier's food was gone in a little less than five minutes.

"Jess, Jadey I'm still hungry!" The blonde whined from next to Jade.

"I know baba, but there's no more." She said wrapping her arms around the pouting girl.

"Here you can have the rest of mine!" I offered her. I saw the longing and hesitation in her eyes.

"But I can't take your food!"

"Your not taking it, I'm offering it. Take it." I pushed the plate closer to her. She picked it up and with one last reassuring nod from me she started eating.