"So now that you've heard my sob story, I think it's your turn."
"There isn't much to tell," she says whilst wringing her hands in the sleeves of her hoodie. "No matter hoe tired I am I find it difficult to sleep, so I try to do something productive, hence working the night shift at a 24 hour gym."
"Do you know why you're struggling to sleep?" I ask her, wondering if there's any way I can help.
She shrugs, eyes looking down. "My parents never wanted kids, so having twins was even more of a shock to them. They didn't really try to be parents. Me and Ethan basically raised ourselves with the help from our Grandma and Rosa. But that was fine, because I loved them, and they loved me, and that was all I needed."
She takes a deep breath, slowly releasing it. "In primary school, I made my first ever friend that wasn't my brother. I thought I was the luckiest kid in the world to be best friends with the prettiest, most popular girl in school. We would hang out all the time, tell each other everything. She was the first person I sang on front of that wasn't family."
She releases a sad chuckle, shaking her head. "I was so stupid back then to believe I was special. People started talking to me, hanging out with me, started being my friend. I wasn't that quiet nobody who hid in the corner anymore. I was confident, smiling, laughing, just living life. And then high school hit."
Jessica shifts, turning her body away from me slightly, like she didn't want to be seen. Like she was ashamed.
"Fucking high school. That summer, my parents worked on a three month cruise, so I didn't see them. My Grandma went to Mallorca, one of my favourite places on Earth, to visit my Aunt and her kids. Rosa's son was expecting his second baby any day durning the holidays, so she was very busy. Ethan, being Mr Popular himself, was constantly with his friends. I thought I would be too. I messaged: nothing. Called a couple of times: voicemail. Went round to her house. Gone. I thought she had moved away without saying goodbye. I didn't do anything that summer. But then school started, and there she was. My best friend, looking as beautiful as ever, laughing like there was nothing wrong, surrounded by all of our- her- friends. I went up to say hi and she looked at me with such disgust that I thought I had done something wrong. She just rolled her eyes and turned her back on me. That was it. No one talked to me unless it was to laugh at me. I have basically been bullied my whole life. No matter what I do, I'm never good enough for anyone. My parents never think I'm good enough. Georgia clearly didn't think I was good enough. Everyone just followed her by her word. And it left me alone. God, I was so alone."
She quickly wipes her eyes, sniffling slightly. My heart breaks for her.
"I struggle with depression sometimes, I have anxiety, specifically social anxiety, but my main problem is my insomnia. I work two jobs so I have enough saved up for uni so I don't have to rely on my parents, I maintain straight A's so I can hopefully get a scholarship somewhere outside of Scotland. I just need to get out of here."
I just stared at her, a wave of understanding passing over me. I didn't know what it felt like to be alone, but I knew what it felt like to be hurt by those you love. I knew what it felt like to want to just leave everything behind and start somewhere new.
I took her hand in mine and squeeze it reassuringly. "How do you feel now?"
"Better," she answers with a small smile. "I don't feel so alone anymore. I guess that's thanks to all you guys. I don't know how I would have coped so far this years if I didn't have the band or Azura. You all saved me. Thank you."
My eyes sting at the gratitude in her words. Of course I'm happy and relieved that she's doing better and that we all helped with that, but it shouldn't be like that. She shouldn't have had to feel like she was unwanted or unloved or alone.
"You'll never have to feel like that again," I promise, determination lacing every word.
A look of confusion clouds her face. "How so"? She questions, head tilting to the side slightly.
"It's like you said; you have us now."
The grin that spreads across her face is priceless. My heart flutters at the sight.
God, she's beautiful.
With that thought in mind I lean forward. Her eyes widen in shock, but she doesn't move away or say anything, so I take her face in my hands, and I kiss her.
***
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