Maybe Time Can Heal This

Part 1

I burst out laughing at something Jesy said, and so did everyone else at the lunch table. Jesy was hilarious, always the one cracking jokes and making us all laugh. I looked around at all of my friends, and I started to get emotional. We were all graduating in around two months’ time and then we would be going our separate ways.

Now Jesy was explaining her most recent joke to Leigh-Anne, who seemed to be completely lost. I loved how she was so oblivious to some things; it was almost as hilarious as Jesy’s jokes.  I scanned the rest of the table at our other friends who I wasn’t as close with, and then I heard someone next to me whisper in my ear.

“Hey Jadey, take a look at this,” Perrie giggled showing me some video of a dancing cat on her phone. The simplest things amused her, and it was totally adorable. Out of everyone, I felt the closest to Perrie. When she moved here about four years ago, I was drawn to her and I invited her to join our group of friends, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I know I considered her, Leigh, and Jess my best friends, but Perrie was definitely my BEST friend. After I laughed back at what she showed me, my sadness set in again as I pondered our future.

Perrie and I had both been so excited when we realized we had a mutual university that we both wanted to attend. The university was number one on Perrie’s list, but it was second on mine. I was so excited that even though a new chapter in my life was beginning, I would still have my best friend by my side.

That was until I heard back from my number one choice. They wanted me to attend next fall, and they were offering me a lot of money as well. I was stuck, should I choose my best friend, or a better education from my top choice? The question had been troubling me a lot lately, and I still hadn’t told Perrie about it. I could already imagine the devastation plastered on her face if I were to tell her. I knew I would have to tell her eventually, but I just wanted to cherish the time we had together now.

——

We were all sat in Leigh’s living room watching a movie and gossiping about random things. Her parents were out for the night so she had invited us all over, us being Jesy, Perrie, and me considering we all mostly did everything together.

We always tried to fit on Leigh’s one couch, but as we got older it got more difficult. I was squashed between the arm of the sofa and Jesy, and Perrie was in my lap. Leigh was on Jesy’s side talking about her boyfriend Jordan and if she thought they could last even long distance after graduation.

Perrie turned to me and her bright blue eyes seem to look deep into my own eyes. She rolled her eyes playfully because honestly, Jordan literally came up in about three out of every five sentences that Leigh said. It wasn’t necessarily annoying, but when you’re trying to have a girl’s night, sometimes we just want to forget about the boys. Perrie and I were both single because we honestly spend all our time together, so we didn’t really have time for boys, and Jesy had a thing with a different Jordan, but they both didn’t want to take the next step and have a relationship because of the upcoming graduation.

Perrie cuddled closer to me in my lap and muttered a “you’re so cuddly Jadey” and I stroked her back. We were always this close; I always saw it as completely normal, until recently.  I was honestly just so stressed and I was overthinking everything I was sure of it. I just got such a big pang in my chest whenever I thought of not seeing Perrie every single day and being so far away from her.

Honestly though, I shouldn’t be thinking like this when she’s basically pressed up against me. Oh gosh, I’m spacing out again aren’t I? I focused again and all of them were staring at me…how awkward.

“J, are you gonna answer? Do you wanna make a sundae with us or not?” Leigh-Anne questioned me, a concerned look in her eyes. Jesy had the same look, and Perrie had her hand rested on my thigh, squeezing it lightly to get my attention.

“Yeah sure, that sounds great,” I muttered and we all got up. Leigh and Jesy were asking random would you rather questions, oblivious to what just happened, but I could see it in Perrie’s eyes; she was worried. I should expect as much, because she always could tell when something was off with me instantly. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it reassuringly as we made our way to the kitchen. Gosh, she was the perfect best friend, I’m so lucky.