*Bridge chapter to keep you entertained. Hold tight, mixers!*
**Alternative ending to be posted too, working off feedback here on whether I should keep it friendship, or turn it romantic. ;)** 

“Thanks for driving us mam! We could’ve gotten a taxi!”
Jade said as she and Perrie clambered out of the small blue car which her mother drove.

“A taxi from Newcastle? Don’t be silly! I know you’re rich now and everything, but I haven’t seen my baby girl in seven months. Come here and give your mammy proper hug now.”
Jade’s mam stepped out of the driver’s side of the car and walked towards the front door of her house where Perrie and Jade stood huddled together, sheltering themselves from the rain. She extended her arms and pulled Jade into a tight hug, kissing her on the cheek.

“I’ve missed your hugs so much, mam.” Jade whispered as she squeezed her mam tighter. “I love you.”
Jade felt safe and protected in her mam arms, just like she did in Perrie’s, but Norma’s hugs were always closer to home. She didn’t want to ever let get go of her mam, or open her eyes. She was too afraid that if she did, she would wake up from her dream in the London apartment which she shared with her band members and have to hide her stress and worry behind a fake smile yet again, wanting her mother more than ever. Jade slowly and reluctantly opened her eyes just as her mam pulled away from the embrace. She suddenly remembered that Perrie was right beside them, dripping wet with a cute smile on her face as she watched her best friend finally get the hug she had been wanting and needing for months. Jade caught Perrie’s gaze and returned an adorable smile. This time, it was a real smile and Perrie knew how truly happy the older Geordie was at that moment.

“And come here, you!”
Norma turned to Perrie and pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek just as she did to Jade. Perrie wrapped her arms around Norma’s neck and lightly rubbed her back.

“It’s so lovely to see you, mammy number 2!”
Perrie chirped as she swayed from side to side, still hugging Norma.
“Wow you Thirlwalls really do give the best hugs!” 

“Aww, mad to think how a bit over a year ago, I only had one daughter, now I have four!”

Perrie pulled away from the hug, but still kept her right arm wrapped around Norma’s shoulder and inhaled deeply.

“Ahh, it’s great to be home. Smell that good old Shields air Jadey! Thanks so much for letting me stay, Norma!”

“Don’t be silly, Perrie, anything for you! I owe it to ya after all. Thanks for taking care of my wee Jade, pet.”

“Aww, bless ya! Anything for your Jade!”
Perrie winked cheekily at Jade, who had her arms folded and a massive grin on her face.

“Right, c’mon in, I don’t want to be responsible for the pneumonia of our little pop stars!”
Norma exclaimed as she opened the door and stepped inside.

“Pneumonia? Which one’s that again?”

“The one that makes you sick, Perrie.”
Jade sighed and giggled slightly at the confused look on Perrie’s face.

“Ah, a bit of rain never hurt anyone! Especially Shields rain!”
Perrie ran to the middle of the cul-de-sac and threw her head back in fits of laughter as she spun around in circles.
“C’mere Jade! Feel it! Much fresher than that London rain! Very refreshing, I’m not going to lie!”

Jade chuckled and walked towards Perrie grimacing as the cold rain ran down her back. She took Perrie’s left hand and began dragging her in the direction of the house.
“C’mon you muppet! It’s bloody freezin’!”
Jade laughed, struggling to get a still spinning Perrie back to the house.

“Aw, man up Jadey! Soak up that Shields rain! You know you want to!”
Perrie stopped spinning and looked into Jade’s warm brown eyes, beaming. She took her fellow Geordie’s hand and bowed. “Care to join me, Thirlwall?”

“Oh go on then!” Jade couldn’t help but laugh at the hyper blonde, who took the lead and began spinning around in the rain. She didn’t want to admit it, but Perrie was right. The rain in South Shields was much more refreshing than London rain. She’d never noticed before. 

The two girls laughed and danced in the rain together. Being home with Perrie and her mam made Jade feel a hundred times better. She couldn’t help but smile. 

“Let me teach you the trocs dance, Perrie!” Jade said out of breath as she used her drenched sleeve to wipe the rain water from her face.

“The what dance?” Perrie stopped dancing and looked at Jade as though she was going mad.

“The trocs dance! We used to do it all the time. It’s the coolest dance in the world and I reckon we should add it to our choreography for the tour!”

“Go on then! Show us!” Perrie giggled and ran to stand beside Jade, watching her every move.

“Right, so first you pretend like you’re mixing a cake.” Jade extended her right arm and made a mixing motion, signaling for Perrie to join in.
“Then, you put the cake in the oven-“

“Mm… I’d love a bit of cake!” Perrie interrupted, still mixing her imaginary cake.

” I know you would… Anyway, so you put the cake in the oven, but it’s taking ages to rise, so you’re try to help it, a bit like that ‘raise the roof’ move!”
Jade put on her best angry face and pumped her hands in the air as Perrie did the same.

“Hang on! You did this before didn’t you? I remember something like this when we were dancing on the Xtra Factor!”
Perrie playfully pushed Jade and laughed.
“What a loser! And I thought I was bad!”

“Hey! The trocs dance is cool, man!”
Jade retaliated, pushing Perrie back.

“Are you starting on me, Thirlwall?”
Perrie squared up and moved closer to Jade, so that their noses were touching.

“What are you going to do about it, Edwards?”
The older Geordie scrunched her face up in an attempt to look agressive.

“I’ll show you what I’ll do about it!”
A smile began to appear on Perrie’s face as she looked into the purple haired girl’s eyes.
“TAG! You’re it!” She gently nudged Jade and darted off in the opposite direction.

Both girls played their new game ‘rain tag’ until the downpour began to turn into a light drizzle. Perrie stopped, out of breath and bent over, putting her hands on her knees as she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“HA! I caught you!” Jade shouted as she smacked Perrie’s arm.
“Out of breath are we? Never good for a game of chasing, Perrie… Now who’s the loser?!”

“J-Jade…. I…. Was t-thinking…”

“Oh, that’s never a good thing… Are you feeling alright?”
Jade placed her hand on a red faced and panting Perrie’s forehead.

“Oh sh-shut up! I was thinking… What if Craig…. Was here?”

“Craig? Craig Colton? What do you mean?” 

“Well….. It would be bad….. for all of us if he were here…..”

“Why? Craig’s lovely!”

“N-no… You don’t… Understand…. He’d set fire….To the rain and k-kill… Us all!”

“Oh god, you’re going delerious, Perrie. C’mon, I’ll run you a bath and make you a nice cuppa.”
Jade took Perrie by the hand and and dragged her towards the house.

“I was just joking Jadey! Honestly! But a bath and a cuppa does sound nice!” 

“The things I do for my friends….  Ahh, I’m absolutely soaking!” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll run you a bath too. With biscuits around it. You seemed to like it last time.”

Jade stopped and turned to Perrie, looking into her deep blue eyes.

“I really do have the best friends in the world, don’t I? I don’t think you know how much you mean to me, Perrie. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Aw baba!”
Perrie wrapped her arms around Jade’s petite shoulders and hugged her tightly. ”Don’t worry, I understand, because I feel exactly the same about you. I really love you Jadey.”

“I love you too, Perrie. Thanks for coming home with me” Jade whispered.

“Aw, stop!” Perrie laughed and broke away from the hug, but took her best friend’s hand in her own. “Right, we best be going inside. For real this time.”

Jade pushed her front door open and stepped inside her house, hand in hand with Perrie. She looked around and smiled. She missed everything about her tiny house and she couldn’t have been happier to be back. She walked down the hall and peered into the living room. Baby pictures of herself, her brother and her new nephew were perfectly placed above the fireplace and to her left, she noticed a brand new display case full her old trophies, medals, certificates, plaques and even pictures of the band were proudly on show. 

Jade walked towards the mahogany case and admired it.  Her thoughts were interrupted when Perrie whispered her name. She craned her neck and looked at Perrie, who was still standing under the door frame. The younger Geordie put her finger to her lips and indicated to the corner of the room, where Jade’s mam lay on the sofa in a deep sleep. Jade smiled at Perrie and tiptoed to her mam, before gently kissing her on the forehead and putting a blanket on top of her. 

“Nanite mam, I love you.”

“Aw Jade, stop being so adorable!” Perrie whispered across the room. “Now come on, we’re gonna die if we stay in these clothes for much longer! Bath then bed?

Jade nodded and left the living room, quietly closing the door behind her and following Perrie up the stairs.