Jade could not work up the nerve to get out of bed so she was still in pyjamas.
The only thing she got up to do was to pee and drink water. Other than that she was just like a part of the furniture.
There was a lot on her mind but she was kind of just seeing dull colours as she lay around. Jesy . . .
Her door opened suddenly, frightening her a little out of the fiftieth nap she was going to take.
The person who came in closed the door behind them and then walked up to her bedside.
Jade's eyes widened once she looked up at them.
"Todd's not gonna be a problem for you anymore babe. He literally has nothing."
Perrie was here, after that horrid fight they had and how awful Jade had been to her.
The blonde girl smirked at her. "We set his house on fire for you. No one messes with my Jadey and gets away with it."
Jade did not know what to say.
"Don't just stare at me that way. Say 'thank you' or 'sorry' or 'f*ck you' or something."
Jade started to bawl her head off.
Perrie's eyes widened. "Uhhh what?"
"Perrie!" Jade sat up and opened her arms as if she absolutely needed a hug.
Perrie sat next to her and held her dearly. Well this is certainly out of character. She's way worse off than I thought.
Jade buried her head into Perrie's chest. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I don't want anything to happen before I say sorry! I'm sorry! You're not just . . . you're not just some insignificant sex toy! You're me girl! I love you!" She was sobbing hard and squeezing the girl tightly.
Perrie had even wider eyes now. Wow. . . never thought I'd see the day. And now her eyes were watering as well. "Jade . . ."
Jade looked up at her pathetically. "I'm sorry! I never want to hurt you Perrie! I was just scared alright?! I didn't want to be the way that I was because I was afraid. I'm a coward! I wanted to be the perfect one since Jesy had . . . I didn't want to disappoint them and . . ." Perrie really just showed up in her life again and a quarter of her worries vanished. "I hate men and dicks!"
Perrie pouted. "Baby . . . I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I guess I was really wrong. You care about Jesy above all else. I mean, I wouldn't suck dick for anybody. Like ew."
Jade chuckled though she was quite traumatized from being basically raped twice. She had not known what to do with Todd so he'd basically assaulted her and yelled out orders. "Perrie . . . thank you."
"Ah don't sweat it. Anyone could destroy a boy's life for their bestie."
"G-girlfriend."
Perrie was surprised. "W-wait we're making it official?" Her heart was soaring.
Jade sniffed as more tears spilled. "I just need somebody to love at this point."
"Awww . . . wait what? Are you using me?"
Jade groaned. "No!"
Perrie jumped a little. "Wait so you love me and want me for keeps and all that?"
"Yes. Wasn't it clear? I need you. I need to love you. I'm a piece of shit and I need you to help me get through this. There. I spelled it out."
Perrie thought of this. "Hmmm so you won't want me after they find Jesy?" She narrowed her eyes at the girl.
Jade frowned. "What? I never said that."
"You're making it sound like you only want me now because you suck."
Jade swallowed that insult. She clearly wasn't very good at expressing her feelings. "Okay, okay look. I love you and I want you. How's that?"
"Ah that's better." Perrie nuzzled her. "Don't worry Jade. We'll find Jesy on our own. No one knows how to find her but us. We're her closest friends so we'll be able to sniff her out and bring her back."
Jade did not know where this was coming from but it sounded stupid. "Shut up." She murmured in irritation.
Perrie thought she was being comforting. "Well okay." She said with attitude. "So . . . how you feeling? I can tell you feel like shit but I want your words."
Jade sighed. "I'm just worried I guess." She was still holding onto the girl. "I mean, Jesy's really not in a good way. I didn't tell yous but she cut-"
"We know, we know." Perrie sighed. "I know how she got the way she is but it still freaks me out when I think of it." Jesy had been such a sweet little loser when they were kids. "Poor loser."
Jade smiled though she was still worried. "I just want her back. If I had her and you I'd feel complete again."
"Awwww . . . so you don't like Leigh anymore?" Perrie wanted to make sure.
Jade looked up at her. "I never- fine. I'll leave her for Jes."
Perrie smirked. "Okay."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sorry. I tend to do that without thinking." Perrie rubbed Jade's back. "I feel like Jesy's okay where ever she is. Well not okay but at least not dead. She wouldn't die like that."
"Well . . . I don't know." Jade remembered all the fun times she had with Jesy when they were little. "I just want me big sister back."
"Me too. She was my sister too you know." Perrie kissed her forehead.
Jade found Perrie so weird. She's not your sister you ninny she's mine! "Yeah . . . I hope they find her."
"They will. Trust me." Perrie smiled at her.
Jade found everything Perrie said to be bullshit. But I won't say that now. She sighed and looked into Perrie's eyes.
They stared for a while before they got into that mood and started to kiss each other.
Jade liked kissing Perrie. It felt safe and correct. She's not ugly and nasty like that disgusting germ who barely had lips to kiss. Ew. Todd was just . . . I need therapy after that one. She hoped that Perrie wouldn't mind taking a break from sex for a while. This kiss felt a lot different than the others they'd shared. It wasn't an angry make out or a lust filled frenzy. It wasn't a drunken display of passion either. It was soft and lingering and just so sweet. It kind of reminded Jade of her single kiss with Leigh-Anne and she felt like she could definitely get used to this slow softness from Perrie. It felt new and thrilling and beautiful. She's mine . . .
The door clicked open suddenly and they were aware that they were being watched.
The two girls stopped their kissing abruptly to look at who came in and then froze.
Jade's parents had come in to check on her and met this . . .
Jade blinked for a while before she began to cry. "Nooooo!" Her life was the worst thing on earth about now! She suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe! Years of internal denial and mistreating Perrie in an effort at self preservation for it to all come down as soon as she gave in, as soon as she was honest. If her stomach wasn't completely empty she would have hurled.
Perrie did not know what to do. Awkward . . . Would they kick her out?
Norman and Janice both had wide eyes.
Jade hid her face in Perrie so she wouldn't have to look at her parents. Go away! Don't . . . don't look at me! It's not me I swear. She was trembling and gasping sobs onto Perrie's chest.
Perrie was just smiling awkwardly while trying to figure out Jade's reaction. When she said she was scared I guess she wasn't kidding . . . It was up to her to save their asses. "Um . . . we . . . are very close friends." Nailed it!
Norman blinked. "It's. . ."
"Okay." Janice said while wearing a strained smile.
The father closed his lips then nodded. "Just don't have sex. Stay pure till you're adults."
Perrie could have died! Stay pure. Bitch I masturbated in my car before I got here. Hmm you know what? I have a serious problem.
Janice nodded. "Yes . . ."
The parents then left awkwardly.
Perrie did not want to laugh but that had been pretty funny.
"A-are they gone?" Jade peeked up with wet eyes. She was still shaking. She blinked at the fact that Perrie was still here and even smiling. And no one hit me . . . right? She touched at her cheek to make sure it didn't sting. She'd felt like she was out cold a while ago and Perrie's soft laughter had pulled her up from the darkness.
"I think everything that's been happening with Jesy has scared them so now they're afraid to be homophobes." Perrie smiled. "You're free to be with me Jade! Yaaay!"
Jade didn't know what to think or do. "O-okay . . ." This was very strange to her. At least she seems happy. She thought this as she watched Perrie's little happy dance.
__________
Leigh was lying down on her dad's lap and watching TV with him in Sairah's living room. She would have been thinking about her mum and if she knew that she was here or if she was okay with it but she was too . . . worried.
"It's alright pumpkin. I'm sure that Jesy's car being in water only means that she was going for a swim." Her dad tried. He just felt bad that he only learned that Jesy was here through the news earlier. Why had no one filled him in? He didn't really know if he was supposed to support her and Leigh's relationship or what. Are they in a relationship? He'd tried to get some stuff out of Sairah but she didn't seem to want to explain anything to him.
Sairah came into the living room with a cup of tea now. "Alright, here's your tea, I hope it makes you feel better Lee-Lee." She sat next to the girl and her dad, holding the cup.
Leigh sniffed, not wanting anything at the moment. "Rest it on the table."
Sairah did so gently. "I hope you know you're gonna have to drink it and eat your dinner in a bit. You've had no lunch Lee-Lee. You can't treat yourself like this. You'll get sick."
"Sairah's right. I know you're anxious about Jesy being gone but it doesn't mean that you should just let yourself fall apart at all." The father kept rubbing his daughter's back.
Leigh closed her eyes, not wanting to hear any of what they were saying. Jes if I'd run off with you what would have happened? Would Jesy be okay now? Would they be in paradise? Or would it have all gone horribly?
Sairah sighed. "Having a nap now are we?"
Leigh made a small sound.
"I'll take that as a yes." Her father kept rubbing her back. He then looked to Sairah. "Are she and Jesy dating or what?"
Sairah put on a tight smile. "They love each other but they're only allowed to be in the friend zone because of homophobes like you." She gave him the finger.
The man gasped. "Hey I'm not a homophobe . . . whatever that means . . . what does that mean? What's a homophobe?"
Sairah could have broken her own neck. "How can you not know what that means? You silly man!" She shoved him.
"Hey! I'm not as young as I used to be Sairah." He felt insulted.
"Ugh! I know but it doesn't give you an excuse to be ignorant!" Sairah kept pushing him.
"Hey! You're gonna wake her up! Why do you insist on fighting with everyone in this fami-" He was trying to get her to stop when . . .
"Lee-Lee?"
Sairah's eyes bulged. "What the- I left the door open?"
Leigh's mom was the person who entered, asking for Leigh.
Sairah got up as soon as she saw the woman walk into the living room. Hoooly shit. She looked down at their dad.
Debbie frowned at her. "Sairah why didn't you-" She turned to look where Sairah's eyes were and she froze.
Her ex-husband froze too.
And now this was a room filled with frozen people.
"Okay, I know you all hate each other and some of you are traumatized but you can't make any noise alright? Leigh is asleep." Sairah whispered while moving her eyes from her mum to her dad.
Debbie could not stop staring at the man she had deemed worthless.
John could not stop staring at his absolute worst nightmare.
Sairah saw that this wasn't going to work. "Alright go off."
The man screamed and lifted Leigh off him before climbing out of the seat by jumping off it from behind.
"Hey! Where are you going?! Where did you even come from?! Get back here!" Debbie chased him up the stairs.
Sairah ran to the foot of the stairs to look up. "Guys come on! Why do you always act like cave men?! You're so embarrassing!! F*ck both of you!"
Leigh-Anne woke up due to all of the noise. She looked around and was now aware of familiar sounds of screaming and yelling coming from upstairs. "Sairah?" She got up from the seat and went to meet her sister at the staircase. "What's going on?" She could tell what it was but she hoped that it wasn't. Now she started to feel anxious.
"Leigh you're awake? Oh um . . . I just . . . I left the TV on upstairs and that's the noises you're hearing alright? Just go back and lie d-" Sairah heard something break upstairs and the smile she was wearing for Leigh dimmed down. "Hey!" She looked up the stairs with a frown. "What the hell are you maniacs doing?!" She started running up the stairs to stop those idiots.
Leigh screamed high-pitched and started looking for somewhere to hide like she usually did when she was a kid but something told her that she should try to stop a three way fight from happening up there. Oh boy. She gulped before running up the stairs as fast as she could.
Leigh met her folks yelling at each other in Sairah's bedroom. She stood in the doorway watching them with curled fingers to her chin.
"You're disgusting! Didn't I tell you to stay away!? What are you doing here?! Why did I see her head on your lap! What are you doing here???" Debbie was holding up a vase which looked half broken already. She stood at one side of the bed while Leigh's dad was at the other, holding up a pillow as a shield.
"I-I couldn't stay away from my girl forever! Sairah told me to visit, Leigh said she missed me so I came! I'm sorry! Don't kill me! Don't hit me! Don't skin me alive you crazy woman!" The man said sounding terrified.
Sairah stood at the foot of the bed with arms stretched out. "Mum come on. You don't have to get on like this every time you see him. He's harmless. So what if he's made more mistakes than done things right? He's still Leigh's dad and you two should learn to get along. You've learned to get along with me so this shouldn't be hard. He's not as difficult as I am." She told.
Debbie frowned her way. "Who says I get along with you?"
"Hey we're getting there." Sairah pointed out.
"I'll leave if you agree to not hurt me. I just wanted to see my daughter. Don't do this!" John shouted from behind his pillow.
Leigh didn't like the sound of that. "No! Mummy don't make him go!" Why did these things happen? She had been feeling a lot better about herself since her dad and sister were here and her mum was trying. Why did her mother hate her dad so much?
Debbie looked to where Leigh was. She had not noticed her there. "But Lee-Lee he . . . sweetie go down stairs. Don't watch this."
"But Mum I can't let you hurt Dad this way. St-stop it, please! It's my fault. I wanted to see him so he came. Mum don't hurt Dad please??" Leigh said with hands clasped to her chest and a sad yet scared expression on. She was breathing kind of hard about now.
"But-" Debbie started.
"Mum you're looking like the bad guy again." Sairah jutted her lips out.
Debbie screamed then threw the broken vase at her.
Sairah luckily ducked but she, her dad and Leigh still screamed.
"It was only the truth! Psycho bitch!" Sairah ran to her TV stand and picked up a little statue. "If you wanna play that game we can play it all day! I don't mind breaking things oldy!"
John decided that this was an opportunity for him to leave. He started to step backwards slowly.
"So you're willing to destroy your house just to fight me? What even is your- hey! Don't leave! I have a few bones to pick with you!" Debbie picked her shoe up and tossed it at him.
The man screamed as he felt his pillow get hit. He held it down to look at his ex. "For someone with a broken wrist you got great aim!"
"Shut up!" Debbie yelled.
He stuck his tongue out.
"Oh so now you're going to act immaturely in front of our youngest?? This is just how you are isn't it?! You're immature and you don't know how to act in front of your kids! Weed smoker!" Debbie cried out.
"What's so bad about weed eh?! I act more stable while I'm high than you do on the regular! Psychopath!" The ex-husband yelled.
Sairah started laughing. "Maybe I should record this."
Leigh was holding her chest and breathing hard while watching this. "Guys don't fight. W-we should try to get along for once don't you think? D-don't . . ." Her stomach hurt.
" . . . you only have one shoe left! One shoe left and those don't hurt as much as vases!" John shouted.
Debbie picked up the lamp on the bedside table. "One shoe left eh?"
He screamed. "Put that down! Put it down!" His pillow couldn't protect him so much from something like that.
"I will not! Run little man!" Debbie climbed onto the bed and started to chase him.
John screamed and started running out the door passed Leigh.
Sairah shook her head and chased them.
Leigh gulped before she chased them too.
And now they were in a guest room.
"Mum come on! Don't throw that! It was expensive!" Sairah said once she caught them. They were standing in some kind of circle near the bed. The older people were yelling at each other.
"Oh so that's all you care about?? What about me? I'll die if she throws that thing!" The father said while still holding the pillow up.
"Ah this won't kill you. You survived way worse than this." Debbie told him.
"See that??? You're abusive! If I had to name all the things you've thrown at me we'd be here all year!" He shouted at her. "You're no good for our innocent Leigh-Anne! She shouldn't have a mum who dubs as a psycho!"
"Hey! I am not psychopath! You're just a pain in the ass!" Debbie pointed out.
"The court is gonna love this. Heheheheh." Sairah was recording them.
"Hey put that away!" Debbie threw the phone down angrily. "Why do you want to take the only person I have left in my life huh Sairah?! You're just that evil!"
"Uh no! It's because you're insane and you'll kill her! She's afraid of you!" Sairah gestured to Leigh at the door. "Heck I'm sure that in some way you contributed to Jesy being missing now Mum!"
"What?! How can you blame me for that!" Debbie was offended. Sairah didn't know about what she'd told Janice which resulted in Jesy cutting did she? Did Leigh tell her?
"Because you're the blame for everything wrong with everything! Psychopath!" Sairah threw her little statue at the woman's forehead and she fell back. "Oh shit!" She and her dad ran to her.
Leigh gasped and ran to her too. "Sairah noo! First you broke her wrist and now this!"
The statue was broken on the woman's face and she lay there unconscious.
John started to panic. "Oh my God! I mean she's crazy but she doesn't deserve to die so young! Debbie nooooo!" He held her by the collar and cried in her face.
"Die so young?? She's like what? Eighty?" Sairah was trying to figure out what to do. "Is she really dead??"
Leigh started to dial nine-one-one while starting to breathe hard.
"Hey no!" Sairah took the phone.
"Sairah we need to get her help!" Leigh tried to take it from her with shaking hands.
"B-but . . . it'll look bad." Sairah sounded nervous.
Leigh-Anne frowned. "Wh-what?"
Sairah shrugged.
"Sairah give me my phone so I can get help for my mother! Give it!" She grabbed for it but Sairah threw it. "Sairah this isn't funny!" Leigh started to get up to get her phone back.
The father brushed the little pieces of the statue off the mother's face and saw that there was a cut which was bleeding there. "Oh gosh. Sairah how hard did you throw that thing??"
Sairah gulped as she looked where Leigh picked up her phone. "Leigh-Anne wait! We can just take her to the hospital and not tell them that it was me! Heck it was dad! He's a psycho too." She gestured to the man who seemed to be getting ready to do mouth to mouth.
"Me?? I didn't do a thing. I'm a victim in all of this." John was offended here.
"Ha! You're the man. No one's gonna believe that!" Sairah said seeming a tad bit crazed. Sure she and her mum fought a lot but never in her life did she want to kill her. Heck if the woman died one day she would actually be sad. I mean . . . I guess I . . . love her still . . . She was nervous here.
Leigh-Anne was not sure what to do now. "Sh-should I call them?" She didn't want her sister in trouble but her mum needed help. "G-guys I'm scared. I wanna puke." She said through her strained breaths and blurred vision.
"Relax Leigh I think she's coming to." Said the father. He shrugged and started doing mouth to mouth anyway.
"Ew!" Sairah covered her eyes.
Leigh-Anne screamed then covered her eyes too.
Debbie woke up with wide eyes wondering why someone was blowing hot air into her mouth. She started to scream once she saw who it was.
"I'm saving you!" He pulled away then did it again.
Sairah uncovered her eyes and was disgusted to see this. "Oh my God you can't just do that out of nowhere you twat!" She went to drag him off but it seemed that he wasn't really doing mouth to mouth anymore. "Dafuq?" She watched this with a cringe. "You Pinnocks can never make up your minds! You're a divorced couple! Act accordingly!"
Leigh uncovered her eyes and saw her parents . . . making out? "Ewwwww!" She wanted to puke even more now!
They stopped and then stared at each other.
Sairah was gagging. "Okay enough!" She pulled her dad away from behind and made him sit in front of her.
Leigh gulped and crawled up to her mum. "Mummy? You alright?" She looked at her face from above.
The mother squinted before beginning to sit up.
Leigh backed away and watched her rub at the side of her head. "Are you okay? Can you hear me? How many fingers do I have- How many fingers am I holding up?" She held up four fingers.
Debbie started to shake her head. "Oh for the love of-" She looked where Sairah was. "Are you insane! You could have killed me!"
"Sorry okay? I had it in my hand and I wanted to throw something so it happened." Sairah pouted. "Ah Mum. You look like an abuse victim." She was looking at the cut which bled out a little and left sticky blood on her mum's forehead. "Sorry." That had been scary. She kissed her mother on the cheek.
Leigh relaxed a bit after seeing that. "Aww. Sairah you love Mum again?"
"It was an apology Leigh-Anne. Don't get excited." Sairah said while blushing.
Debbie was blushing a bit too. "I suppose it's alright. I probably deserved it." She now realized that she had probably been a bit too harsh when she would throw things at her husband. She had passed out a while ago after all. "John?"
He held arms up to protect himself. "Uh-huh?"
She sighed. "Sorry mate."
"Eh?" He didn't understand.
She growled. "Take it or leave it!"
"Ahh! Okay, okay it's . . ." He held his arms down. "It's okay." He was not quite sure of what she was apologizing for. "Why are you sorry?"
She face-palmed but it really hurt and she nearly lost consciousness again. "Oww . . . I'm sorry for everything. I messed you up."
John couldn't believe he was hearing this. "What? You admit that you were wrong?"
She rolled her eyes but nodded.
He smiled. "Aww it's alright. Not too much harm was done." His eye twitched a little to show that he had a lot of issues because of her currently.
Debbie shook her head. "Sorry. For real." She looked at him.
He smiled a bit. "It's okay."
Leigh observed how they looked at each other. "You guys are married again?" She asked in a little voice.
They all laughed.
"No Leigh. But I feel like they may be f*ck buddies. Right?" Sairah nudged her dad in the back with her elbow.
"Sairah don't say things like that in front of Leigh-Anne. She's just a child." The man said through his teeth.
"Yeah but she did walk in on you two when she was ten." Sairah started to laugh. "Scissoring!"
The parents groaned in embarrassment while Leigh giggled a little.
Her mum looked at her. "Sorry Lee-Lee."
Leigh was not sure what the apology was for but she accepted it. "I'm just happy you're okay now Mummy." She hugged her.
"Aww. This is so sweet." Sairah held her chest.
The father couldn't resist so he joined in.
"I never said you could touch me!" Debbie shouted.
He backed away.
"Come on Mum don't be like that." Leigh told.
The woman rolled her eyes. "Fine."
The dad came back with a smile.
Sairah decided to join them. "Aww we're all crackheads who f*cked Leigh up aren't we?"
"When you put it like that you make it sound like she should be taken away from us." John said.
"No one is taking Leigh away from anyone. We're all going to work together and try to make up for all of the mistakes we've made. Agreed?" Debbie told.
"You mean the mistakes you made Mum?" Sairah just had to.
Debbie growled.
"Sorry, sorry." Sairah said quickly.
They stayed hugging that way, taking each other in.
"Um . . . I'm losing consciousness. I think I need to go to the emergency room." Debbie said.
"Oh shit." They all started getting up and helping each other up as well.
The mother started to lose balance and fall over so the dad had to support her.
Leigh was trying to help too but she was kind of panicking and making it worse.
Sairah told their dad to try to carry their mum but he complained that he was too old for that until she puked and really passed out so he decided to actually do it and then started carrying her bridal style out of the room.
Since he was incompetent, he ended up making her hit her head in the doorway and Sairah started yelling and cursing before it eventually worked out and they got to the car and started driving to the hospital.
______________________
"Thank you all so much for agreeing to do this. I mean, the police are on it, we've got a search squad on it and all of that but if we, the people closest to her, pitch in then we're only gonna have a higher chance of finding her." Norman was speaking to the people in his living room the next evening.
Up to now, the police had not found Jesy, causing anxiety and fear to be the main emotions of all of Jesy's closest friends and family members. The police had said that if they did not find the girl tonight that they would start searching the waters, a very terrifying thought for everyone. They agreed that if tonight would be the last night to search for Jesy's living body then they would give it their all to help find her.
The people in the room were Jade, her mum, Leigh's mum, Leigh's dad, Sairah, Jimin, Jesy's friends, Perrie and of course, Leigh-Anne.
They all agreed with what Norman said.
"It's really no problem. I mean in a way, Jesy's like a daughter to me and Debs as well." Leigh's dad said while nodding his head.
All eyes fell onto him.
Norman pointed his way slowly. "Are you high?"
John looked offended. "Um . . . no. Why would I be high? I don't just get high randomly you know. I've got a schedule thank you."
Perrie tried to hide laughter behind her hand. "Leigh your dad is the real deal." She was standing behind the girl.
Leigh was not even focusing on that stuff. What was on her mind was simply worry. She was terrified that tonight would be the last night in a way? She didn't even know how to put it but her chest had been aching all day and she'd been unable to sleep last night or concentrate on anything what so ever. Jesy don't tell me you're gone for good before I even got to have you. Please . . . If what the police said might have happened was actually true then searching tonight would not change it but Leigh would not be able to live comfortably knowing that she didn't try. I should have tried harder but . . . She had to rub her chest for the pain became too great a while ago.
"So are we ready?" Janice asked them.
Everyone agreed and then started heading out to their cars outside, not one person felt an ounce of ease.
_________
"Jes! Jes! Jesy!" Perrie called out the window while driving slowly on the outskirts of London.
"Oh boy. I feel like we've been searching for hours." Jade was in the passenger seat of Perrie's car, also sticking her head out the window. They had been assigned to check outside of London and anywhere near it as well. The police were searching inside, in all corners and dark places, the squad hired was dispersed all over the surrounding places, searching where they could and their parents, Leigh's parents, Sairah and Jesy's friends were checking where they could in the large city as well. They would make sure that every single place was searched before they gave up.
Jimin sat in the back seat with Leigh. He checked the time on his watch. "It's been a while for real. About two hours actually." He continued looking out the window. "How many people have we asked about her?"
"Too many to count." Perrie shook her head thinking of the picture they'd been passing around with. "Jesy's as obvious as day, if we can't find her then-"
"Don't say it." Jade stopped her strictly. Her head was still out the window. "Tonight is the last night of hope alright? Let's be optimistic and keep an eye out." She kept her eyes focused on the changing scenery now, feeling loaded, worried and all other words which meant she was uncomfortable with how this was going. Jesy why?
Perrie didn't want what she was now thinking to be true but it really didn't seem as if they would find her alive at this point. She loved Jesy with all her heart as well but the girl was most likely . . . People who go missing don't usually get found. She sighed. A squad of police had been basically camping in Brighton searching for her and they still didn't find her. What were they, inexperienced people, expecting to accomplish from this? It was kind of depressing right now. Or maybe it's my hunger talking. "Chim pass a snack."
Jimin tossed a packet of chips to the front before continuing to look out. "I know it's looking bad now but I feel like we'll get somewhere. I mean . . . if she was you know, wouldn't her body have surfaced on the shore of a nearby beach by now?"
Jade sighed. "Probably, I don't know honestly." While they drove all she was doing was searching and praying. She needed divine intervention to get her sister back at this point. Jes, sixteen years with you isn't enough. I need the rest of me life with you as well. She bit her lip to try to fight the tears which wanted to crawl out of her eyes. Hadn't she cried enough?
Another hour went by and they decided to stop close to a beach. It wasn't the beach that Jesy and Leigh-Anne usually met at but a different one. The teens were parked in a parking lot near to it, trying to regain their strength by drinking sodas and taking in more chips and other snacks.
"I've had five packs of these and I still need more food in me. Mmm . . ." Perrie stuffed her hand into Jimin's bag of chips behind her.
Jimin sighed, allowing her to take what she wanted.
"Thanks babe." Perrie returned to the front seat to gorge on what she had taken. "Anybody tired yet?" She looked at Leigh in the rear-view mirror. The very quiet Leigh-Anne who probably had not spoken since she stepped foot in Jade's house earlier. "What about you sleepy head? Feel like sleeping with your Mammy?" She started to laugh.
Jade rolled her eyes. Perrie was most likely trying to lighten the mood here but it was honestly annoying. She's not lightening the mood. She's a jackass. "Shut up."
Perrie kept laughing. "It's okay Leigh, a lot of us still sleep with our mams."
Jimin watched her laugh and then turned to the mute Leigh. Leigh-Anne was not eating. "I feel like you may be a little jealous that she can do that with her mother." He looked at Perrie who suddenly stopped.
Perrie's cheeks went pink before she frowned hard. "F*ck off! You're ugly!"
Jimin blinked his eyes. "Are you okay?"
Perrie groaned then faced forward. "What time is it anyway?"
Jade checked her watch. "Close to eleven. Everyone's been sending on the group chat that they've been finding nothing." She really did not want it to end this way. Finding Jesy's body under water . . . Flashes of the happy moments of their childhood attacked, bringing a lump to her throat with it.
"Are they ready to retire?" Jimin asked after sipping from his red soda. He turned to his side to check on Leigh. This must have been killing her.
"I dunno." Jade looked at her phone. "I think they're still at it. Something tells me no one will stop until the sun rises."
"How sweet." Perrie told boredly. She checked on Leigh in the mirror again and saw the girl keeping her eyes out the window, staring at the beach. "Wanna go for a swim?" She asked tiredly.
All heads turned to Leigh.
The girl blinked her eyes then looked to them. "Swim?"
Perrie didn't think she was still with them. "Aye is that really what you were thinking?"
Leigh blew out air with her eyes out the window once more. "No but I was using the water to calm me down a little bit."
Jade peeked at it. "Hm . . . nothing can calm me down now and that's that."
Jimin suddenly chuckled. "It would be nice to act crazy and go out into the frigid water."
Perrie cackled. "And then the rest of us will go missing after that."
Jade glared at her. "No missing jokes please." At first she sounded irritated but it quickly turned into a whine. Pez is such a jackass . . . my jackass but jackass non-the-less.
"Sorry, sorry, I'll cool it." Perrie rested her arm on the window sill. "But for real, someone would have to be pretty damn insane to go for a swim now. F*ck this cold weather man. F*ck it."
They all grew quiet after that.
Leigh-Anne hopelessly looked out at the dark beach. The moon was out so it helped give light to the sea. She had seen this before, a silver path on the water made by the light of the moon. It's pretty I guess. But the world was too dull for her to use it as something to forget her worries. This view could not save her from her own pain, like others usually did.
A good few minutes passed on Leigh staring out in that hopeless fashion. She could do nothing else now for she was too limp to try anything at all.
Her eyes started to feel sleepy at a certain point but anxiety kept them open. She would give anything to see Jesy right now. Anything.
The silver path made by the moon was not something people were supposed to walk on. It was just light, not a real floor. If someone tried to walk on it they would fall into the sea and drown if they did not swim well.
That's all true but why . . . why am I seeing this right now?
Leigh's half closed eyes was seeing an individual walking on the light path, moving as if they could really walk on it without falling. Wh-what? An angel?
This was too much.
She rubbed her eyes and then looked closer to see but now that she was more awake . . .
"Oh my God that girl is insane! She's swimming in the frigid water!"
Everyone had dosed off. Why was there noise suddenly?!!
"Leigh?" Jade sat up as she heard the door opening.
They were all awake now.
"Where is she going?" Jimin opened his own door and started to try to follow her.
Perrie groaned but ended up following him and Jade came out after.
Leigh-Anne jumped off the parking lot rising and landed onto the sand clumsily. She did not know why she cared for this girl whom she did not know but something was pulling her towards her so she could save her from hypothermia.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Leigh must have sounded pretty darn insane.
The three others chased for long but stopped at a certain point, just staring.
"What is she even doing?" Perrie was frowning.
"I don't know? Chasing that girl?" Jade wondered if Leigh knew who she was . . . She's . . . She stepped closer and frowned while trying to figure out what was really going on here.
The girl was in the water, drifting off far now.
"It's f*cking cold! Stop! Get back here or you'll die! Don't you value your life??!" Leigh was now running into the water. She kept running until the sea demanded her to swim in order to keep moving. "Stop it!" The freezing water held her body, causing her to shudder. "Stop! Get back here!"
The girl kept drifting off as if she did not care.
Leigh screamed at the top of her lungs before a powerful strength possessed her and allowed her to swim fast enough to get to the girl who was basically in the really deep end now.
The girl's eyes were closed. Was she awake?
She probably slept walked. Leigh held her and was now swimming back to her friends with her, feeling satisfied to have saved this girl in this darkness. At least something good came out of tonight.
Jade, Jimin and Perrie had never seen Leigh act that way. What was going on?
Leigh's hands were holding the girl under her arms and dragging her to the sand now. "I got her! I saved her! She's alright I think! Guys come help!"
Jimin started running up to her to help and then carried the girl in his arms to the drier sand.
And now, they were all looking down at the trembling girl who did not seem to be fully awake.
"Someone get their phone out. We need to see her." Jade was searching for her own phone in her pocket, hoping that what she thought was correct. Who else could it be? She was both nervous and excited.
Leigh was trembling while watching the girl. "She's not in her right mind. That's for sure."
"Clearly not." Jimin shone a light on her and they were all dead silent for a moment.
Eventually, Leigh-Anne screamed. "JESY!"
They all started to make happy remarks. What was Jesy doing out here swimming into cold deep waters? Was she mad or what? Well . . . they kind of knew that already.
Jimin kept his light on her face. "Oh God. She's all bruised up."
Jesy had purple marks at different parts of her face and cuts on her forehead and what not. Her hair was shorter in length and looked to have been cut by her. She was wearing a coat over her pyjamas, one she never owned before and also had a pouch on that she had never had. Her clothes were not only soaked but also filthy. She looked like a run down version of herself really, paler too.
"We need to tell everyone we found her." Perrie started dialling numbers. She moved off to speak to people.
Jade could cry but she would save her happy tears for later. At least Jesy was alive. Praise God. Maybe he is real. But was Jesy okay upstairs? "I-I should call our parents." She stepped aside to speak to the people as well. "Get her warm!"
Jimin told Leigh to take care of that and keep an eye on her while he called Jesy's friends. He pulled off his two top layers for Leigh to dress Jesy in.
Leigh barely knew what to do but she got down on the sand and took Jimin's clothes up. "It's okay, it's okay now. You're alright." She lifted Jesy into a sitting position using all the strength she had and then started to pull the girl's wet coat off. If she keeps these clothes on she'll get sick for sure.
With much struggling, she managed to remove Jesy's clothes to put Jimin's hoodie and jacket on the girl.
"You're alright, you're alright . . ." Leigh kept saying as she held Jesy against her and rubbed her arms. Leigh was still in wet clothing but nothing could bother her now. She found Jesy and the girl was alive, that was all that mattered.
Jesy suddenly made a noise of pain.
Leigh gasped and held her away from her. "Jesy! Y-you're awake."
The girl's eyes were barely open. She seemed exhausted.
"Jes . . ." Leigh really wanted to know what was going on through her head. "Jesy it's me . . . I'm here. W-we're all here. We were so worried about you babe. Wh-where have you been?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the battered person she loved. In truth and in fact, Jesy had been this way inside for a while, they could just see it now.
Jesy squinted as if trying to figure out what she was looking at.
"Jes?" Leigh hoped that she was not in pain. The girl's entire body had injuries on it from what Leigh had seen while changing her. "What is it? Talk to me." She would save Jesy a million times if she had to because forever she would love Jesy. If people accepted it or not, if she and the girl were broken or not, if they were in the same location or not, where ever, whenever, however, she would love Jesy because her heart had chosen Jesy since it could recognize the deep love of romance and it would never change its mind. Right now she was staring at Jesy in the most vulnerable position the girl could be and all she could think of was how much she loved the girl. This was more valid than something could be wasn't it?
"Ch-Chubs . . ." Were Jesy's first words since being found.
Leigh's tears fell. They were so warm compared to the cold outside world.
Jesy's shaky hand lifted and she brushed at some of Leigh's hair with a tired smile spread across her face.
Leigh was sniffing. "Jes . . ." She whispered lovingly like she always did. Sometimes she just said Jesy's name didn't she? It just felt right in her mouth.
"I-I found them . . ." The broken girl said in her weak voice.
Leigh did not know what she was saying. "Wh-what Jesy? What did you find?" Was Jesy hallucinating?
Jesy's eyes started wandering around even while still half closed. She eventually seemed to find what she wanted so stretched for the pouch which she had been wearing which was now on the ground. Leigh had removed it to get her warmer.
Leigh kept hold of Jesy's shoulders as the girl unzipped her pouch slowly on her lap with hands that shook.
Leigh-Anne watched this carefully, truly wondering what Jesy had gotten.
Down to Jesy's fingers were covered in small cuts. She pulled out what she wanted Leigh to see and then smiled while holding it up. "T-ta-da . . ." She blinked a few times as if she was lost but then looked happy again.
Leigh-Anne watched with a look of stun.
Jesy started to giggle weakly. "Y-you can eat candy now s-so . . . it's alright . . ."
What Jesy held up to Leigh's face was two heart shaped lollipops, just like the ones they'd bought in that small candy store when they were little girls. Leigh knew they were exactly alike because she could never forget them as long as she lived. They kept showing up in her dreams and in her fantasies because they meant a lot to her. Where did Jesy get those? They were . . . exactly the same.
Jesy kept giggling. "J-just for old time's . . . sake. Here." She pushed one to Leigh's face then looked around for a bit while squinting.
Leigh-Anne had fresh tears running down her face now. "Jesy . . ."
Jesy looked back at her and giggled more. "You always say that . . . JeSy." She mocked.
Leigh started to full on cry now.
Jesy seemed extremely confused. "Don't you like lollipops anymore Chubs?"
Leigh released her and then took the treat with a strong nod.
"Don't break your neck." Jesy said, seeming very happy to be near Leigh despite the state of herself.
Leigh-Anne started to unwrap hers.
Jesy unwrapped her own slowly and then held it up.
Leigh clicked hers with Jesy and then put it in her mouth at the same time as the girl.
They both stared at each other and giggled. "Show me your tongue." Jesy said in a small excited voice.
Leigh did so.
Jesy smiled then showed Leigh her own.
Both their tongues were red.
Jade, Perrie and Jimin came back and saw Jesy . . . eating candy with Leigh?
"Jes you're awake!" Jade jumped onto the girl and hugged her tight.
Jesy fell back with a small scream and then started feeling kisses all over her. "Aye relax, relax . . . I haven't showered in months!" She squealed.
Perrie laughed. "It's only been three days you imbecile. I can see that being away hasn't granted you anymore brain cells. Dumb ass!" She cackled and hit Jimin's back while doing so.
Jimin felt so happy to see Jesy acting as herself. Even though she looked very weary, to him she was almost brighter . . . "Have you cleared your head?"
Jesy's eyes opened up more as she sucked her treat. "Mhmm . . ." She pulled out more stuff from the pouch.
Jade frowned at what Jesy gave her. "Deodorant and mouth wash?" The mouth wash seemed nearly empty.
Jesy nodded. "I kept that stuff to smell good . . . I'd been gone for months and I . . . It reminded me of you Pickle. You . . . like clean smells . . ." She giggled softly.
"Awww." Jimin, Leigh and Perrie said.
"So what? You went on a shopping spree? First you bought candy and now that stuff?" Perrie gestured to what Jade held.
Jade was acting like this was a grand gift. She was tearing up. "Jes . . . thank you." She hugged her sister.
Jesy laughed more. "No problem."
"What have you been eating while away Jesy? You must be starving." Jimin was thinking of heading to the car to get her a slice of pizza.
Jesy fanned him off. "Food ain't nothing but a number."
Perrie found that offensive. "You must have lost it if you think that that makes sense."
Jesy shrugged slowly before continuing to eat her treat. "How did you guys get here? Last thing I remember is saying that I wanted a swim."
"Jes we saw you going into the water without thinking. Your eyes had been closed and you'd been drifting off. Of course we came in and saved you. Who swims when it's this cold?" Leigh-Anne seemed very worried for her. She sucked on more of her treat.
Jesy blinked her eyes. She looked past Leigh. "I'd been in the water?"
"Yeah." They all said.
"Don't you remember?" Jimin gestured to her clothes. "I gave you my outfit so that you'd be warm. You were all wet. Your hair is still wet at the ends." He paid attention to the hair cut. "When did you cut your hair?"
Jesy looked very lost. "I cut my hair?" She felt for a strand at her shoulder but nothing was there. "Huh . . . does it look bad?" She somehow didn't seem too concerned.
Jade made a face. "It's . . . we'll work on that."
Leigh breathed out. "We're just glad we found you and you're okay. You're ready to go home right?"
Jesy looked to her. "Home?"
Leigh nodded slowly. "Are you sure your head clear now Jesy?"
Jesy kept the lollipop in her mouth as she held the side of her head. "Uhh . . . I . . . guess so?" She looked to her lap. "I don't know."
They were quiet for a while.
"And that's okay." Jade rubbed the girl's back. "You don't have to know. We can work on it." She smiled.
"Yeah. Nicole can help Jes. Everything will be fine. We'll all be there for you. E-even your parents, my parents. Everyone came out to look for you." Leigh informed with bright eyes.
Jesy seemed to find that strange. "Your parents are looking for me?"
"Yes Jes. My family kind of made up? I don't know but we're all helping." Leigh smiled.
Jesy looked to her lap as if thoughtful. "Mum and Dad . . ." She held her cheek.
Jade rested a hand on her sister's shoulder. "They're coming around."
Jesy turned unsure tired eyes to her.
"They saw me and Pez making out and didn't freak so . . . I think you're safe."
Jesy's eyes bulged. "What?" She and Leigh asked this at the same time.
Perrie winked. "I'm that bad girl who does what she wants under people's roofs."
Jimin covered his face. Perrie was too much sometimes.
Jesy was not sure what to make of this. She seemed completely lost. "They're okay with it? They love you regardless?"
Jade seemed to not know exactly how to respond. "They-"
"JESY! MY BABY!"
They all turned and saw a flood of people running towards them.
Jesy stiffened up. "M-my friends? Mum and Dad . . . Leigh's high dad?"
Leigh started waving her arms. "We found her!"
Jesy did not even see when they all appeared around her. One second they were yelling from afar and the next they were surrounding her. "I . . ." Someone hugged her tight against their body and started to kiss her everywhere.
"I was so worried about you! Where have you been??" This was Jesy's mum.
Jesy saw her mum looking at her now.
"Dear goodness she looks like she'd been captured!" Norman fainted.
They all turned around and some of them decided to try to revive him.
Janice was inspecting Jesy's arms. "Are you alright darling?"
Jesy did not know what to think, where to look or what was going on. Slowly but surely she started to feel as if she was falling. "I don't . . ." Black dots started to swim across her vision. She was . . . so hungry . . .
And then everything stopped and she was out.