It has been a very long day for all four members of Little Mix. It started out with a Q&A, then an interview in which Jesy and Perrie were asked which one of them is going to get married first. It was the first time Perrie had to actually lie to someone's face about her engagement, saying that "it's finding the time." She felt bad for it, even though the alternative - which would be telling everyone about Zayn and her - seems a hundred times worse. From that interview, they went on to play a short performance and then headed to the airport. They took off to Sweden and landed when it was already dark outside. Right now, it is close to one AM and Jade and Perrie are in Perrie's hotel room. Tonight, they gave up on pretending they do not want to spend the night together.

The two women sit in front of each other at the small dining table. They are eating two pieces of chocolate cake they have ordered from room service, because what would be a better way to sleep than sugar past midnight?

Certain serious conversations can only take place in very specific situations. It being so late in a foreign country is perfect, and Perrie decides to bring up an insecurity she has begun to develop just recently. When things between Zayn and her were starting to go downhill, that is when some unfamiliar voices found their way into her mind, and they did not not shut up since then.

"When you said last night that I will find someone much better," she slowly starts. "Did you mean it? Like, do you really think that will happen one day?"

"I do," Jade replies. "I don't think he was your one and only or whatever. You're going to find someone else."

"Sometimes I'm not so sure," Perrie says as she brings the fork to her mouth, filling it with chocolate.

"Why is that?" Jade asks. She is looking at Perrie, who is wearing borrowed pajamas that do not fit her to the exact, and her blonde hair is far from tidy. The lightning is bad and dark circles are present under her blue eyes, but Jade can definitely say she looks beautiful. Anyone would be lucky to have her.

"It is just that..." Perrie says, but her words drift off. Then, she gathers her thoughts and tries expressing them again. "I know I'm only twenty two, and I really shouldn't be worried about this stuff, but I'm scared that nothing will ever work out. I don't want to be alone. I've done it for only four days now, and it's already really depressing."

"I know how you feel," Jade tells her with a sad, understanding smile. "I've been single for so long now I don't even think I remember what having a relationship is like. I keep wondering what I'm doing wrong, but it's no use. Sometimes I think I might end up alone, that this is up to fate, and this is my fate. Like you said, it's really depressing. But most of the time I do have a bit of hope that one day it will just happen, and I will forget all about how lonely I'm feeling right now."

"Jade, you seriously shouldn't be worried," Perrie replies. "You're Jade, the closest thing to perfection I have ever met. You're super nice and super sweet and no one could ever really dislike you. But me... That's a different story. I almost got married to someone, and then it ended. Do you know what kind of impression that gives off? That I'm scared of commitment, that I tend to run away and all sorts of bad stuff. And that's before we're even saying that that the man we're talking about is Zayn Malik."

"Pez, you have it the wrong way. You are Perrie, a literal goddess. You light up every room you walk into, people can't take their eyes off of you. And I... I'm Jeed. I don't even remember the last time I kissed someone."

"You can kiss me," Perrie says and shrugs her shoulders. Sure, she had wondered before what it would feel like to kiss Jade. It just seems natural since they are so close, and have known each other for years now. On top of that, no one could ever deny the fact that Jade is simply gorgeous. Perrie hopes that anyone who spends so much time with such a great person, no matter who they are, will eventually have some thoughts that are more than friendly. She cannot be only one feeling like this. Acting on these thoughts does not mean anything, it is just out of curiosity.

Jade's heart does not race the way it usually does when she is about to feel someone's lips for the first time. She is completely calm, thinking this is not a big deal, right? She lifts her body from the seat, leans over the table and puts her lips on Perrie's. It is very quick, almost unnoticeable. She sits back down, and Perrie starts laughing softly. Jade joins her, feeling carefree.

"The last time you kissed was at," Perrie says and checks her phone. "Three minutes past one, in Stockholm, Sweden."

"Ha," Jade replies with a smile. She picks up the empty plates and the cutlery from the table, then places them back on the room service cart. Perrie goes to brush her teeth, then lays on the left side of the bed. Jade goes into the bathroom as well, and quickly finds herself laying next to her bandmate on the bed. Unlike the past nights they have spent together, tonight they are not cuddling with one another. Only their feet are touching under the blankets as they stare at each other, mere inches between their faces.

Perrie feels like she did not see the best of Jade's abilities earlier. The kiss was too shy, too quick. Chances are that they will not ever do stuff like that again, so she should take the opportunity right now. She promises herself that this is out of curiosity, nothing more, when she comes closer to Jade. She gently kisses her, but this time, she makes sure it is not short. A second passes before Jade responds, but when she does, it awakens emotions in Perrie. The blonde is not sure what any of these emotions are - lust, surprise, or maybe satisfaction? Whatever they are, they feel nice, so she continues.

Perrie smiles into the kiss as they let go, and Jade matches her expression. If it was someone else laying next to her right now, she probably would have pulled that person closer, take their shirt off, because everything felt so good - but it is Perrie. Her bandmate, one of her best friends. So this is where she stops, not completely satisfied but definitely happy. The two say their goodnights to each other, and fall asleep not thinking too much about what happened tonight.

×××

"Please, guys," Leigh-Anne says, looking out of the van's window at the rain. "I can't walk this far, my shoes will get wet!"

"Come on babe," Perrie says and gets out of the car. The cold and drops of water hit her face, and it turns out to be worse than she thought. They are set to perform Black Magic in a few hours, and the stage is completely open. Rehearsal for tonight is supposed to start in a few minutes, and Perrie cannot stand the realization that they are going to have to do it in the rain.

Jesy, Jade and finally Leigh-Anne follow her and the four are standing close to each other. Their outfits definitely do not fit the weather, which they are not used to having back home in July.

"Let's get this over with," Jesy says and takes four microphones from the sound guy. She hands three to her bandmates, then the girls take the stage. It is one of those rehearsals fans are welcome to watch, and many are cheering for the four girls. The sound guy is setting up Leigh-Anne and Jesy's microphones as Jade notices Perrie's body shaking.

She goes off the stage and to the back, searching for a sweater in the dressing room. However, their stylist says that he does not have anything to offer her, as they brought along nothing but short performance clothing. Jade feels herself getting a bit angry. She spots Sam outside, talking to one of the producers, and walks over to her, interrupting the conversation.

"Sam, could you please go back to the hotel and get Perrie something warmer to wear? She's freezing." Jade asks. She does not usually request stuff from their manager, because Sam is always busy making sure everything is going well.

"It's bloody cold in here, I know," Sam replies. "But we're all freezing so I'm sure Perrie can manage. I don't have time to go back to the hotel now."

"Then I'm going," Jade says and turns around. She cannot see Perrie suffering like that.

"Jade, what are you doing?" Sam calls. "You need to be on stage, you can't leave."

"Either you do it or I will," Jade replies. She has never spoken to Sam that way, as their manager is a really nice person and is good friends with them, but today... Today feels different. Last night Jade saw an intimate side of Perrie, and she feels like things between them have changed, just a tiny bit.

"Fine," Sam says, clearly unhappy. She goes backstage, and Jade does not ask any questions. Fifteen minutes later, Sam is back with a green blanket in her hands. She silently hands it over to Jade, and Jade rushes to bring to Perrie.

"Jade?" Perrie asks, surprised as the blanket is wrapped around her. "You don't have to protective of me, you know," she continues.

"I know," Jade says and nods with a smile. Everything is set up and they finally begin the rehearsal.

A few hours pass, and both the rehearsal and the performance are over. The four girls arrive back at their hotel for their last night in Sweden. Today's performance went alright, and they are not as tired as last night. While Jesy takes a shower, Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne are in the hotel corridor, doing their version of gymnastics and posting videos on Instagram. They decide to have a sleepover, and as soon as Jesy is done showering the three girls go into her room. They order all sorts of sweets via room service, and sit on the bed in a circle to eat them.

"Jade, this is just like the chocolate cake we had last night!" Perrie says, her eyes lighting up.

"Yeah," Jade agrees while Jesy takes a photo of the food.

"Did you two spend last night together as well?" Leigh-Anne asks, a confused expression on her face. Jesy and her know Perrie spent a few nights at Jade's in London, and saw them being affectionate on the plane, and it all seems a bit odd.

Jade's cheeks turn obviously red at the question, and all eyes turn to her. She knows Perrie and her did nothing wrong, but it feels very personal, even private. Not once she had thought about how it might affect Jesy and Leigh-Anne. Because what they did does not mean anything, right? Therefore, it should not matter to anyone.

"Yes," Jade replies, wanting to disappear.

"We did," Perrie says and giggles, trying to turn the attention away from embarrassed Jade.

"And what did you do?" Jesy asks with a suspecting expression on her face.

"We just had fun," Perrie replies with a knowing smile and looks at Jade. The brunette still seems very uncomfortable; she was not prepared for this conversation. She hopes Jesy and Leigh-Anne will drop the subject soon.

"You naughty girls!" Jesy says with a disbelieving smile on her face and a surprised look in her eyes. Leigh-Anne is utterly shocked, moving her gaze from Jade to Perrie over and over.

"We didn't do anything!" Jade says, trying to convince herself she is not lying. It was just a kiss. Okay, maybe two kisses. It was nothing but... A one time thing. Nothing big. Perrie and Leigh-Anne accidentally kissed on stage the night they won the X-Factor, and no one cared. So how is this any different? She could label last night as an accident if that will make Jesy and Leigh-Anne understand it is no big deal.

"I mean, the fans are always saying you'd make a good coup-" Leigh-Anne says, but is cut off by Perrie.

"It was nothing serious," Perrie says and brings a spoonful of ice cream to her mouth, as if indicating that the discussion is over.

"So there was an it," Jesy points out. Neither Perrie nor Jade can deny it anymore. When Jesy does not get a response, she makes sure not to push too far. "Okay, we're not angry or anything, right, Leigh?" She asks and Leigh-Anne nods. "You can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't bother Little Mix."

"Okay, enough with that," Perrie says. "The cake is calling me!" She slices one of the pieces of cake using her fork, then brings the chocolate to her mouth. The girls start digging into the food, making sounds of enjoyment. Leigh-Anne lifts her spoon, and then begins speaking.

"To us!" She says, earning a yes! from Perrie. "To being the bestest friends, always being there for each other, to us to just being sisters, and I love you guys."

"Aww, I love you too," Perrie replies in an American accent. "Just not as much as this meringue."