Happy Place || A Jerrie Fanfiction

XXIV - I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON

"Where is this coming from?" I questioned curiously, brows furrowed. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because!" She exclaimed, raking a hand over her face before letting it rest on the table, "Perrie likes you but she doesn't deserve someone who gives their attention to others so easily."

It felt like the air has been knocked out of my lungs, rendering me breathless and heaving.

It wasn't a surprise that Leigh told me that Perrie likes me because the blonde already fessed up about it. What shocked me is how Leigh thinks Perrie doesn't deserve me, or perhaps she meant the other way around.

"I —" I closed my mouth, unsure of what to say exactly.

But she doesn't deserve someone who gives their attention to others so easily.

Hearing her say that makes me wonder if she actually knew who I am from the get-go. Did she see pictures of me with different partners on a newspaper stand on a random Tuesday? Did she see a picture of me and Steve online? Did she know everybody in the world thinks I date everyone I see?

My cheeks felt like they're burning and from the look on Leigh's face, I knew she had seen how flustered I've become because of what she just told me; she knew that I'm guilty as hell.

Silence reigned, and I was left with thoughts that could consume me wholly. Leigh probably stayed quiet so I could have time to digest everything she told me.

"I was hurt when I found out that Niall wanted to ask you out." Her voice dropped down to a whisper. "But I was more hurt for Perrie because she really likes you, Jade. And I have never seen her so . . . so enraged when she saw you two alone. At least not since a certain incident happened," she mumbled the last sentence quietly, but I heard her quite clear though I opted not to let her elaborate on it.

It took every breath I could catch to finally speak up, "I like her, too. But I never got the chance to tell her yet."

"You should know . . . ," Leigh said, "With her condition, Perrie needs someone who's patient."

It was meant to be a warning, but to me, it's a challenge; as if Leigh's hinting that there were others who played Perrie's game but brutally lost along the way. The way Leigh said it perfunctorily was as if she'd seen it all unfold before her — Perrie's ex lovers being heartbroken at the end of the day by the infamous Perrie Edwards herself.

But I know I'm different from those people. I know I can be that person . . .

"I want to be that person," I said immediately.

Leigh's face softened at that, almost as if I had finally tore down the last remaining wall she'd built, and smiled warmly.

"Then what the hell are you doing here apologizing to me when you should be apologizing to your future girlfriend, hmm?"

That instigated my first smile for today. And with that, I'm out the door.

Perrie's eyebrows rose in confusion as she watched me stride over her direction. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but I pressed a finger against her lips to silence her.

"Mmph!" Her eyes widened in surprise at the action. But I was too busy drowning myself in her ocean eyes to even gauge what she's trying to say.

"I'm gonna put my finger down," I said, "But when I do, you have to be quiet and hear me out, clear?"

She nodded instantly.

Slowly, I put down my finger, and looked her in the eyes. God, she's even more beautiful up close, I almost forgot how to breathe for a moment.

Ignoring the fluttering in my stomach the moment we locked eyes, I finally spoke, "I don't like Niall. I don't like him at all. In fact, the only reason why I entertained him was because I was jealous of that woman you were talking to last night."

"What wom —"

I cut her off with a glare and raised my index finger threateningly. "What did I say?"

She rolled her eyes and breathed out a mere, "Sorry."

I couldn't help smiling widely at how annoyed she must be feeling right now. "Okay, I know you have short-term memory loss so I know you probably forgot whatever happened last night except for what happened between Niall and I . . . But I honestly hope you'll remember this moment when I say that I like you, too."

I watched as a small gasp escape her plumped lips. Several emotions flickered across her features but the only one that made me feel even more confident was the relief that showed on her face.

"Jade," she spoke softly, shaking her head and looking at me incredulously.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner," I quickly apologized, planting my hands on both her shoulders. "And I'm sorry I'm such an idiot for even doubting your feelings for me the moment I saw you with that woman."

"What woman are you even talking about, Jade Thirlwall?"

A laugh erupted from my throat because of how disoriented she looked right now.

The way she furrowed her brow, the way her lips pouted — everything that she's doing right now is what gave me the courage to do the only thing I've always wanted to do the moment I stepped out of Leigh's lost-and-found cabin and laid eyes on her beautifully cascading blonde hair.

"Perrie Edwards." My voice devolved into a whisper as I slowly leaned closer, switching my gaze down to her lips. A smile was threatening to appear on my face the moment I realized that Perrie was doing the exact same thing. "I am honestly so happy that you forgot about her, but I really hope you don't forget this a few minutes later."

A smile as wide as the horizon splashed across her facial features. And seeing her smile like that lit up a fire inside my chest because this is how it feels to be falling for someone like Perrie Edwards.

She rested her forehead against mine, her eyes boring into my own.

"Jade Thirlwall, I'll be damned if I did" were the only words I heard from her lips before they crashed onto mine.

a/n: uhm ... finally!