Best Thing In Town

“I can’t find anything!” I groaned.

My phone was currently wedged between my ear and my shoulder as I moaned down the line to Alex, after yesterdays encounter with his friends he was adamant he was going to do something for me and my only instructions were ‘wear something dressy’ – unfortunately, I had nothing dressy, I was a tramp; ninety percent of my clothes were pass downs from nineteen oh four.

“I’m sure you have something Jade,” Alex responded.

Boys, boys! They never understood that when you said you either didn’t have anything, or you couldn’t find anything you meant it and wanted a hole to swallow you up to save you from going through the stress of finding anything –breathe–

“I’m sure you have something Jade,” I mocked “Really, I thought I did but I had a shower and then started to look but I really don’t,” I sighed.

“If you’ve just had a shower… does that mean you’re naked?” His curious voice travelled down the line, disgusting – was that the only thing boys were able to think about nowadays.

“No, Alex.” I scoffed “I’m in my underwear; now see you at seven sharp.” I was about to put the phone down when he shouted ‘stop’ “What is it?”

“Dressy, remember dressy!” He called “See you at eight, Jade – that kinda rhym-”

I put the phone down and threw it onto my bed, rolling my eyes. I attempted to look through my wardrobe again, then my drawers and still found nothing.

Growing increasingly frustrated, I threw my self down onto my bed and screamed into my pillow as loud as I could. I couldn’t understand why I was stressing over finding an outfit so much; it wasn’t like I was actually trying to- Oh who the hell am I kidding anymore; of course I want to impress him. An idea suddenly struck me like a lightning bolt to a tree, minus the electric shock, I had a roommate, I had a flat mate who constantly went to parties and who constantly dressed up for her boyfriend…

“Robin!” I shrieked. I jumped up from my bed and ran into the living room, not bothered that I was only in my underwear. “Robin!” I shouted again, finding her lying on the sofa… engrossed in a book, again.

“Jesus Christ Jade!” She cried shielding her face “Where are your clothes? I don’t want to be seeing things like,” her hand appeared waving in the direction of my barely covered body “that!” she faked a gag.

“Shut up,” I whined “at least they’re matching!” I then added, because I actually did have matching underwear on which was a huge shock for me “I need your help,” I continued “I’m going on a date and I have nothing to wear and the only instructions I have is to wear something dressy, but I don’t have anything dressy and you do…”

She sighed and threw her book down. With no word, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me into her room. The next thing I knew, she’d threw me down onto her bed.

“Jesus Robin, I know we’ve been friends a while but I’m not ready for this!” I exclaimed wide eyed, but she didn’t find me funny and shot a glare over her shoulder whilst rooting through her wardrobe.

Suddenly, I found myself trapped under a massive pile of clothes

“Can’t breathe!” I cried, trying to find my way out but it began to prove being useless.

“A-ha!” I heard her exclaim, making me genuinely curious.

Careful not to rip any clothes or to ruin them, I dug around finding a loop hole to get out

“Yes!” she chirped.

Finally! I came up for air and spotted her stood there holding the most beautiful dress, a dress I would never be able to pull off… I was an idiot, not someone who could wear… that floral, pretty, womanly thing! I had the body of a twelve year old child, with boobs and a reasonable bum. It wasn’t going to happen and Robin was deluded to even think that it would.

“Up,” she demanded.

“Up? What am I dog,” I scoffed “I am not wearing that, I’ll look ridiculous. As beautiful as it is, I am a tramp and we both know it. Tramps don’t wear things like that!” I gestured to the item in her hands.

Rolling her eyes Robin sighed, “You’re not a tramp Jade… maybe you could do with showering a little more and maybe you are in need of a whole new wardrobe, but a tramp is a little far!” hey for once she was being nice? “Plus I like Alex, he gets you out of my hair – he’s a good guy,” she smiled genuinely.

Was there anyone that didn’t like Alex?

I frowned and jutted out my bottom lip, but Robin was having none of it and dragged me up of her bed by my limp hand.

“You need to try new things out every once in a while,” she muttered to herself as I wasn’t paying attention “It’s all good having a routine and way if you like, but spicing things up is always good.” She yanked the dress over my head and zipped it up, still mumbling to herself “Just try to let your walls down a little, I know that’s hard but it’s the only way you’ll get somewhere, trust me.” She mumbled softly.

Funnily enough, I did trust her and maybe she was right – I mean, she was twenty and had been in a perfectly stable relationship since she was eighteen… me? I’ve been in none.

“Fine,” I grumbled “but not yet okay? Because I don’t know Robin,” I trailed off honestly.

“It’s fine to feel like that, things have to happen slowly without rushing but you need to make an effort too, it’s not fair letting Alex make all the decisions. Step up and text him or call him first, invite him round and make an effort because I swear to god if you let him go, or let Freya-” Robin stopped herself and it was a good job she did “Sorry,” she sheepishly sighed stepping back a few inches, she then cocked her head to the left and pushed me back.

“What-” I screeched, hoping the floor was soft before I hit it. The hit never came though as I landed in her desk chair. “You idiot, you’re so lucky that was there!” I shrieked, trying to gain control of my breathing. Idiot, she just nearly murdered me!

“I knew it was there,” she flipped me the hand and then turned me around so that I was facing the mirror; however being a midget I couldn’t actually see into the mirror.

“OW!” that was me? My hand flew up to my head; Robin had literally just attempted to pull a massive chunk out?!

“Sorry, your hair is mental…” she trailed off in thought, her hands then pushed mine away and she started to work on my hair again, twisting it and twirling it into positions it had never been in before, all this was happening whilst I was grunting and moaning in disapproval and pain. “I’m only trying to help,” Robin repeated over and over again until she’d finished.

Finally.

My pain wasn’t over though as she spun the chair back around so that I was facing her, also making me seasick. Suddenly my face was being attacked from all different angles by different kinds of make-up brushes and tools.

“Robin,” I muttered when she was doing something fancy with my eyes “he’s seen me without make-up, he won’t care…” I honestly knew he wouldn’t, because if he did he would be long gone I’m like a replica of Godzilla in the mornings.

“Sh,” Robin muttered and for another five minutes I ‘shushed’. “Done,” Robin finally stepped back and admired her masterpiece, AKA – Me “You look beautiful Jay," she smiled proudly and quickly retrieved a pair of heels from her wardrobe and slipped them onto my feet to ‘make my legs look longer and give me some height’ apparently.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Eight,” Robin smiled.

Just as the words left her lips the doorbell rang and I looked up into her calm eyes with my own panicked ones.

“Don’t panic,” she soothed “you look beautiful, look in the mirror and then come out – I’ll let him in.” she then left the room and I stood up moving quickly over to the mirror.

Whoever that was in there was not me, for she had lovely legs and her eyes were big and bright and she did not look like a child. She was copying everything I did though and she was wearing my dress.

“My god I don’t believe it,” I stuttered – Robin was a miracle worker.

“Jade, someone’s here for you,” Robin shouted.

Her voice made me nervous, in fact the whole Alex thing made me nervous and I didn’t know why. I drew in two big breaths and then let them out slowly, tousling my now curly hair before turned and walking out of Robin’s room. Just as I walked out, she walked past me, dropping a wink on her way.

“He looks hot,” she stated slipping past me and into her bedroom.

I rolled my eyes at the comment, Robin was dumb, and sauntered into the living room to find Alex looking at the pictures we, and by we I mean myself, Robin and Freya, had put up on the mantelpiece when we’d all moved in together. Despite the arguments, Robin never had the heard to taken the ones with Freya in down. Oh and Alex looked hot.

“Eight on the dot,” I smirked folding my arms across my chest.

“Shame the same couldn’t be said for you,” Alex responded and turned around, once he was facing me his jaw dropped and almost hit the floor, his eyes trailed from the tip of my head to my feet and then from my feet back to the top of my head. For once when looking at him, I didn’t see a kid, I saw a man. This was a shock to my systems. “I, you, wow Jade, you look beautiful.” He stumbled upon his words and I blushed.

I blushed? Honestly, why?

“I told you you’d find something!”

“Thank you, it’s Robin’s” I kicked my foot sheepishly “you look good too,”

He smiled widely which was starting to make me feel soppy, gross someone open up a can of funny.

"For someone that probably doesn’t know how to operate a shower,” result.

Alex just rolled his eyes “Come on,” he sighed and I walked forwards, following him out of the apartment and down to his car.

Soon enough Alex had parked the car and we were on foot route to wherever this date that needed me to dress ‘dressy’ was. I strolled happily down the street whilst Alex constantly apologised for his friends behaviour, despite the fact I really didn’t mind. Except Jack, I don’t like Jack… yet.

“No,” I said.

“No?” Alex frowned.

“No!” I confirmed looking up at the big familiar restaurant, uh-uh; there was no way I was going in there. I was a commoner and that was a posh place. Commoners and posh places do not mix “I’m not fit for a place like that,” I pointed to the restaurant in disgust.

“Yes you are,” Alex sighed.

“Nu-uh,” I disagreed and he should have learnt by now that arguing with me was not something he should do because I always win no matter what as I am simply the best person in the whole entire world-

He’d got me in the restaurant.

He’d got me at a table.

And he’d got me ordering food.

“You’re supposed to be stubborn,” he winked across the table.

“Shut up,” I snapped back scanning over my menu.

To be honest, I hadn’t a clue what anything on there said, the only thing that looked vaguely edible was Spaghetti Bolognese; so I ordered that and Alex ordered the same – apparently it’s cute when couples order the same foods; this is according to the under-aged employee.

“I really am sorry about the way my friends acted,” Alex said for the thirtieth, maybe fortieth time?

I groaned, I groaned and let my head fall onto the table. “For the last time, stop saying sorry!” I cried, the table cloth muffling my voice.

“Sorry,” Alex sighed.

I sat up quickly and glared at him, his eyebrows shot up in panic and he mouthed the word sorry, which made me shake my head in disgust. Silly polite boy.

“You’re an absolute idiot do you know that,” I chuckled… Robin’s words running around in my head, I needed to ‘let my walls down’ and by that she clearly meant I needed to be nicer right? I was a nice person deep down, but I was like an onion. I had a lot of layers. “But it’s cool and I really did have fun with you and your friends, more with you, your friends were just a bonus I guess, but I’m definitely not mad or upset. You did well, honestly.”

I managed to get through a full sentence without a harsh comment, or a silly jab or even a stutter. This led to a full on gaze war with Alex, neither of us wanted to break it as I blushed and his eyes sparkled.

We had to break it though, when the brat of a waitress plonked my Spaghetti Bolognese in front of me on the table, almost getting tomato sauce on Robin’s beautiful dress.

Soon we fell into a comfortable silence as we ate, probably because we were both starving and it’s rude to talk with your mouth full – especially in a restaurant full of posh people, that would be a bad, a very bad in fact, idea.

“Jade,” Alex started placing his fork down “can I ask you something?”

I placed my fork down too and resisted the urge to tell him he just had asked me something. “Go for it,” I smiled warmly playing with the glass of whatever the hell it was on the table.

“In those pictures on your mantelpiece,” he started “there’s another girl… other than you and Robin I haven’t seen before… did something happen to her?” he started sympathetically.

“No,” I exclaimed “god no, that’s Freya.” I laughed “Oh, she’s my other best friend.”

“How come I’ve never seen her?” Alex asked confused; please don’t be developing a crush over a girl you’ve only ever seen in a photo, please Alex.

“Urm,” let your walls down girl, let them down “well… she used to live with us, Robin and I that is, until around three or four, I don’t know, months ago… when something big and dramatic happened between us all and we all fell out… I urm, I forgave Freya but Robin didn’t and kicked her out. I mean it was a bit drastic, because it had nothing to do with Robin, but I’ve known her a long time you know but she was just looking out for me and I guess yeah… they haven’t spoke in a long time, I reckon she misses her though otherwise she’d have took the pictures down?” I sighed, realising I’d just rambled… again.

“Was it something bad?” Alex frowned.

“I don’t know… I got over it?” I tried to laugh, but I sounded like a dying hyena and sighed.

Alex's hand crept across the table and he carefully placed it on top of my own, his thumb immediately massaging my knuckles. I looked up to find his eyes full of sympathy and frowned.

“Hey,” he mumbled softly “you can tell me when you’re ready, alright.” He smiled and I was grateful he wasn’t pushing me into anything; I smiled back and diverted my eyes as I felt the heat start to burn on my cheeks.

I think we just had another moment? Oh god.

“Oh, urm yeah… I really like your friends though, maybe sometime we could all do something together that would be cool, though you’d have to invite Jack because it wouldn’t be fair to leave him behind but I’m not a fan of him yet so he’d have to stay far away from me, unless you’re by my side.”

Alex laughed at my rambling and shook his head. “Something cool together huh?” he smirked “I’m sure I could plan something sometime,” he smiled warmly and I nodded.

“Good, yep, good!” I said a little too enthusiastically.

“Cute,” Alex smirked “but don’t trade me in for them!” he pouted.

And honestly, I wouldn’t ever consider it.

Notes

So how is everyone liking Jade so far? Let me know ^_^
And, do you all like the new banner? It took me like, 30 god damned minutes. Ugh.

Also, this is my last update before my hiatus where I'll be on tour, MUCH E X C I T E