The Other Half || Jerrie

Chapter Eighteen

The summer after she graduated college, Perrie moved back to Washington D.C. to live with her mom and step-dad. When Fall came, however, she packed back up and moved to New York City to start a two-year art therapy graduate program at NYU.

She was two weeks into living in New York when she finally met up with Jesy. Both their schedules had been insane, Perrie starting school and Jesy starting her job, so it had taken two weeks for their schedules to line up.

They met up at Jesy’s alma mater and current place of employment, Columbia. As soon as they saw each other, they ran towards one another and ended up falling to the ground in a hug tackle.

When they finally stood up, Jesy turned and gestured to the field behind her. “So this is the lacrosse field,” she explained. “Which is basically the best place on campus and the only part that matters.”

“I wish I could have come to one of your college games,” Perrie frowned.

“Well that’s what happens when you go to college three thousand miles away from your best friend,” Jesy laughed. “That’s okay though, now I get to guilt trip you into coming to all the games now that you live in New York and I’m the assistant coach here.”

“That sounds like a fair compromise,” the blonde agreed. “So tell me, how’s it been, having your first real job? How’s the real world.”

“Hard,” Jesy groaned. “And a little weird considering the fact that most of my team were my teammates four months ago. Other than that though, it’s been great. Even living with Jade has been going surprisingly well.”

“Jade?” Perrie asked.

“My roommate?” Jesy spoke in question form. “She was the stuck-up b***h who was on my team in college.”

“She sounds like a real charmer,” Perrie laughed as she linked arms with her friend.

“She’s really not as stuck up as I thought,” Jesy conceded. “She’s actually a good friend. And she introduced me to Louis, so that’s a plus. She’s got a few skeletons in her closet, but the best people do.”

Perrie tightened her grip on Jesy, knowing that the brunette was referring to the both of them.

“She sounds interesting,” Perrie responded. “And I’m sure I’ll meet her at some point. But for now, lead the way, show me your school.”

The two friends spent the afternoon touring Columbia before getting dinner at the same diner Jesy had met Jade at for her birthday. As they parted ways, Jesy mentioned something about receiving a text from Jade asking for her to pick up wine on her way back, bringing the girl back into the conversation.

Perrie hugged her friend goodbye, as they promised to see each other shortly.

As Perrie walked away, she tested out the unfamiliar name on her lips for the first time. A name she’d repeat thousands of times in the coming years. She’d say it in whispered breaths and heavy breaths. Exasperatingly and annoyingly. She’d say it loud and soft. During meal times and bed times. To her parents and to her sister. She’d say it simply because she loved the way it sounded, and because her wife loved when she would say it.

Perrie would say the word, because it was her favorite word in the world.

But as she tested it out for the first time, Perrie knew none of this. All she knew was that the word was unfamiliar, and yet it sounded right as it spilled from her lips.

“Jade.”