Chapter 10
Jade - Present
B ursting through the front door, my heart is racing. I pull out my headphones, my running playlist still playing an absolute classic, “Pink” Most Girls. I can’t help but sing aloud as I transfer the music from my phone to the Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen, while I dance my way to get a bottle of water and start the coffee machine. The groan I hear from the couch tells me that Beck must have passed out when he finally got in from whatever trouble he got himself in last night.
My smile grows as I shimmy over to where he’s sprawled out, grabbing his hands, which are covering his handsome, tired face, and pull him up to dance with me. He comes reluctantly, but I see the glee in his dark brown eyes. He loves to dance, so I know he’s only putting on an act.
I continue to sing at his tired face until he gives in and throws his head back to join in with the next line while throwing shapes around our small living space. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up and escapes. At that exact moment, Lily and Trixie exit their bedrooms looking disheveled, obviously having been woken up by the loud music.
These three are my absolute world. When I moved to London with my mum when I was ten and started my first day at Greenbank, not only was I the new kid, but I was also the new principal’s daughter, so I thought making friends would be tough.
I grip the straps of my bag tight as I walk into my first lesson. The nerves are starting to creep up on me. Instantly, my eyes connect with a girl whose red hair is a little untamed and frizzy, but completely unique. She smiles and her whole face lights up. Her stunning green eyes shine bright as she waves, gesturing to the empty seat next to her.
As I sit down she leaps straight into telling me all about herself. How she loves her big brother, with all her heart but he’s so annoying and she wished he would stop kissing his girlfriend in front of her because she couldn’t for the life of her understand why anyone would want to kiss a boy.
“I mean, why would you? They look like they are eating each other. It can't be nice. No, thank you.” This girl has managed to knock all the worry I was feeling out of me.
“Ah, come on, Lily, not all boys are that bad. One day, who knows, you might actually enjoy it.” A young boy's voice echoes from behind us. Turning, I see a boy with dark brown hair which is a little too long, so it kicks out at the nape. He has the most peculiar dark brown eyes with flecks of gold, but only in the left one, and a cheeky smile, creating dimples. “Hi, I’m Beck. And Lily will let you talk eventually. At some point, she runs out of steam.” He waves and I do a little finger wave back, laughing at his remark.
“Urgh, seriously, Beck. If that happens, I give you the authority to kick my butt. Anyway, Jade, this numpty behind us is my neighbor. Unfortunately, even though I’ve tried for years to get rid of him, he follows me around like a bad smell.”
“I resent that. You’d be lost without me. We’ve been friends from the moment our mums put us next to each other in the cot and you grabbed hold of my hand.” He looks off to the side like he’s reminiscing.
“You’re ridiculous.” Rolling her eyes, Lily continues. “Our mums have been besties forever, so obviously, that meant we also had to be friends, but really, he’s more like another annoying brother.”
From that moment on, the three of us were inseparable. Wherever I went, Lily and Beck weren’t far behind. We’re a packaged deal.
Trixie transferred to Greenbank at sixteen, and once again, Lily pulled her into her orbit with her ability to get everyone to love her. Even with Trixie’s prickly attitude at the start, we wore her down. I’ll never forget the first time she smiled. It was small, but I saw it. Lily tripped Beck up with her hockey stick as he passed, showing off in front of the year’s ‘it girl’. He was so mad and chased Lily across the pitch. She was giggling the whole way until he tackled her, tickling her until she screamed for him to stop. At that moment, I knew I would go to the ends of the earth for these three.
Bringing myself back into the chaos that’s my living room. My crazy besties are now dancing on the tiny dining room table while Beck screams the final lines of the song at the top of his voice from his spot on the couch. He flops back as the song finishes, eyes closed and his arm covering his brow dramatically. “Okay, now can I sleep?”
After turning down the music, Trixie pours us all a drink. Lily and I sit down next to Beck. “Not here, Becky Boy.” Lily lightly slaps his knee as Trixie puts our mugs in front of us.
Beck stretches and I don’t miss when Trixie’s eyes drop to the display of tanned muscles as his t-shirt rises slightly. Snapping her eyes away, she catches my gaze and shakes her head. I also don’t miss Beck’s eyes trailing over her long toned legs in her short sleep shorts. Trying to hide the fact that he was just checking her out, he takes his coffee off the table, bringing it to his lips, groaning. “Lil, I’ve literally been back for all of forty minutes before this one,” he points an accusing finger at me and I gasp, “comes barrelling in, singing at the top of her lungs. Badly, I might add.”
I smack his leg playfully. “Don’t mock my vocal skills, Becky Boy. I've never claimed to be Beyonce.”
Lily eyes him. “Maybe if you left the bar at the same time we did, you wouldn’t be feeling so tender this morning.” These two will banter back and forth all day. Their friendship is unmatched. It’s more like a sibling relationship at times. Especially when Lily shows any type of interest in a guy. To be fair, he’s like that with us all.
“Yeah, but then I wouldn’t have met Crystal. She did this thing with her—”
Lily slaps her hand over his mouth. “Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t need to hear about your playboy antics with the latest woman with low standards, who unfortunately fell into your orbit. Thank you very much. Eww.” Pulling her hand away, she wipes it on her pajama bottoms. “Did you just lick my hand?” His eyebrows bounce mischievously. “Urgh, you’re such a weirdo.”
“You love my brand of weird.” Pushing up from the couch, he brushes his unruly hair out of his eyes, making his top ride up again and I catch the blush on Trixie’s face. His job as a firefighter means he has to stay in top condition, and I can see the attraction. He’s grown into most women’s wet dream. “Right, I'm going to try and get a few more hours.” I squeal as he picks me up off the couch like I weigh nothing, squeezing me in a tight hug.
“Jesus, Beck, what’s this for? Put me down, you idiot.” As my feet touch the ground, I gently shove his shoulder.
“Just wanted to say good luck for today, not that you need it. You're going to smash it.” He beams at me as he releases me from his embrace.
“Thanks, Becky Boy.”
Kissing me on the cheek and turning on his heel, he shouts and pumps his fist in the air like the fool he is. “You’ve got this Jade.”
“I swear that boy gets stranger every damn day.” I tuck my legs underneath me, cradling my coffee.
“Too true. He isn’t normal.” Lily sips her tea. “But he’s right, though. You’ll smash this new job.”
Both of my girls are smiling at me, making my heart soar. Today I’m starting my dream job, which to most would actually probably be their worst nightmare. I’ll be starting as a financial associate at Bright Investments . One of the world's biggest investment firms. I know most people don’t understand my drive and passion for this particular career path.
“You feeling good about today?” Trixie asks as she picks up her fashion magazine off the table.
“I’m okay… I think?” I chew on my bottom lip as the anxiety I’ve bottled up starts to brim to the surface.
“Stop questioning yourself. You’ve got this.” As she echoes Beck’s words, a huge sense of pride bubbles up inside, easing my nerves.,
“Okay, I’m going to go have a shower and woman up. You’re right, I have got this.”
Wolf whistles come from the living room as I walk through to get my tote and coat. “Very mature guys,” I mutter, but deep down, their enthusiasm and encouragement warms my heart.
“You look hot, own it.” Trixie shrugs.
“You know she’s right. Boss lady Wilde.” Lily chips in, her eyes never leaving the TV while she takes notes on the football game that she recorded last night. As an ex-professional footballer, she is constantly watching and re-watching matches analyzing everything.
“I like that. It has a certain ring to it. So, what are you up to today?” I check my appearance one final time in the mirror in the entryway.
“While you're schmoozing with all those handsome businessmen in designer suits?” Trixie fans herself with her magazine.
“She’ll probably forget all about us now she has her foot in the door with all those millionaires and billionaires trying to get her attention. She won't have time for us then, Trix.”
“Hey, don’t say that. You know I would never do that.”
“Just messing with you. I know you wouldn’t, but also remember we’ll never hold you back.”
“Well, once the playboy down the hall emerges from his pit, we’re going for a boozy brunch, hair of the dog and all that. Maybe catch an afternoon film. None of us are at work today.” Trixie stands from the couch placing her magazine down. Wordlessly she fixes a stray hair that I can’t seem to get to sit right. I smile at her through the mirror in thanks.
“Once I'm finished I'll call you. Depending on how it goes I could be needing a drink. I’m guessing this boozy brunch will turn into an all-day affair.” I raise an eyebrow at her.
Trixie gasps and puts her hands to her chest, as Lily pauses the TV and points her pen at me. “Trix, she’s mocking us. We would never do that, would we? We can restrain ourselves.”
“Exactly, Lily, I’m shocked she would suggest such a thing. We would never be so irresponsible as to drink all day and on a Monday, no less when we’ve work the next day.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Not sure who she’s taking us for?”
Rolling my eyes, I smile at their playful banter, knowing full well they’ll still be out when I finish. “I best get going.”
I pick up my bag before I slip into my coat. This is it.
For God’s sake, Jade, don’t fuck it up.