Strangers No More || Jerrie

Chapter 18

Hours later, as Perrie sat on her couch while throwing a tennis ball across the room for her puppies to chase after, she figured it out. She figured out the second, and maybe more important reason why she hadn’t been able to kiss Jade.

And maybe lying on top of Jade, covered in paint, shouldn’t have been the catalyst, but it was. It wasn’t a noble catalyst, but it spurred Perrie into action nevertheless.

She threw the ball to Padfoot and Spike one last time and pulled out her phone. She opened a new text message and began to type, the words flowing out of her easily. Before she could rethink herself, she pressed send.

Perrie: Hi Leigh, I know it’s been a long time. Too long. And I’m sorry. It was selfish of me to cut you off the way I did. I wish I had reached back out to you sooner. I understand if you aren’t comfortable talking to me again, or never want to be my friend again, but I would love to have the opportunity to catch up at some point. Thanks, Perrie.

She collapsed back on the couch after pressing send and the dogs immediately climbed on top of her. She found petting them soothing and continued to do so until she had nearly fallen asleep. She was jarred out of her near-comatose state by the vibration of her phone on her chest.

Perrie quickly snapped up the phone and rubbed her eyes as she looked at the screen.

Leigh-Anne: Are you still the same Perrie who thinks ketchup is pronounced catch-up?

The blonde smiled at the response.

Perrie: And if I am?

This time, Leigh responded immediately.

Leigh-Anne: Then I know that you’re still the same freak who became my friend even after figuring out we were with the same guy.

Perrie: I guess I am :P

Leigh-Anne: I’m going to be up in New York in two weeks. Let’s meet up.

Perrie: That sounds great. Thanks Leigh.

When Leigh-Anne didn’t respond immediately, Perrie got up off the couch and headed towards her bedroom, puppies in tow. She collapsed on to her bed and pulled the covers over her body. Sleep had nearly hit her once again when her phone buzzed again.

Jade: My dad throws a big Memorial Day party every year at his house in the Hamptons. I’m going for the whole long weekend. Leigh-Anne and Ally have come in the past, but they’re not coming this year. Would you want to come with? I was planning on leaving Friday.

Perrie wondered if Jade had waited to invite her until after she had reached out to Leigh-Anne. She had to assume that Leigh must have immediately told Jade that she’d texted her. She wondered if Jade had thought that Perrie had finally crossed a barrier as well.

It was an easy answer for Perrie. She didn’t know what would happen that weekend, but she knew that she wanted to spend time with Jade.

Jade: Carson told me to tell you that you better come. But I’m just going to ask nicely.

Jade: And also point out the fact that it’s your fault I spent hours trying to get paint out of my hair.

Perrie grinned at Jade’s triple message.

Perrie: Count me in.

Perrie: But only because I want to see Carson, not because I want to spend time with you.

Perrie: And I’m just going to point out that you were just as much a culprit as I was :P

Perrie plugged in her phone and snuggled back into her bed.

Jade: I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree

Perrie: I can think of one thing we agree on though.

Jade: Oh?

Perrie typed her message and thought on it a moment before she finally decided to press send.

Perrie: I think cyan might be my favorite color as well.