“We’ve found our house!” I yell happily down the phone to Ali when she answers.
“Ok, yell a little louder Jade, I don’t think the neighbours heard,” she grumbles and I giggle.
“Sorry, I’m just excited Ali!”
“I figured that one out for myself,” she mutters.
“We saw it today and Brian’s just signing a few things and then it’s ours!” I ignore her distinct lack of enthusiasm. “Oh Ali, it’s beautiful. I can’t wait for you to see it!”
“Where is it?”
“Marathon. It’s like a ten minute walk from the water and it has the BEST pool!” I tell her and start to describe the house to her. When I’ve finished, she laughs slightly.
“The benefits of marrying a multi-millionaire huh?! Seriously Jade, I’m real happy for ya.”
“Thanks Ali. You have to come and see it soon!”
“I will do. I get back from Brooklyn in two days.”
“How is that going?” I ask.
“Real good. My mom still adores Nick and he’s gettin’ big-headed from all the attention. He’ll get a shock when he’s back in Florida and there’s nobody to do his washing!”
“I bet!” I laugh.
“I saw Brian on MTV this morning. The whole marriage thing is finally out huh?”
“Yeah. We called our parents last night and they were ok about it,” I tell her. “The idea of a church blessing kinda made them feel better.”
“That’s good,” she says. “Look, I better go. I think I’m holding up dinner.”
“Oh sure. Say hi to everyone for me.”
“Ok, same to Brian. See you soon. Bye,” she hangs up.
“Ugh,” I mutter as I hang up the phone. Nick is sat across from me watching a repeat of Brian’s MTV interview. It seems to be playing every other hour so far. It’s kind of annoying. I think I know everything he said off by heart now.
“What’s up?” Nick looks up at me.
“That was Jade. Her and Brian have found a house in Marathon.”
“Cool!” he grins. “That’s where I live!”
“Good for you,” I mutter.
“What’s your problem Ali?” he asks. “They’re married. They needed a house. They’ve found one.”
“I know,” I admit. “I just don’t want Jade to move out. Dumb I know but I’ll miss her. And living on my own? Ugh.”
“Come and live with me then,” he offers seriously.
“You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not,” he moves so that he can hold my hand. “I would love for you to live with me.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You’d just get bored of me if I was around all the time.”
“Uh, hello? You’ve been around me all the time for the past nine MONTHS.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Uh…” I struggle for a response and then give up. “It just is!”
“Well, think about it,” he says and turns back to the TV. We sit in silence for a while.
“Nick?”
“Yes?”
“Are you mad at Brian and Jade at all?”
“What for? Buying a house?” he looks confused.
“No! For gettin’ married without telling you.”
“Uh, not really. I guess I would’ve been but finding out just after he told me he was scared of dying kinda put it into context. Anyway,” he shrugs. “They’re goin’ to get married in a church soon.”
“Oh.”
“Why? Are you mad?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “I can’t believe Jade couldn’t tell me!”
“Well, it WAS kinda romantic. Just something for the two of them.”
“But I’m her BEST friend Nick!” I exclaim. “And I hate that Brian made her…”
“Brian MADE her?!” Nick stares at me. “Ok, Ali, I think I see the problem. You are jealous.”
“I am NOT!”
“You are,” he says smugly.
“I do NOT have a thing for BRIAN!”
“Not of Jade!” he chuckles. “You’re jealous of Brian.”
“Don’t be so dumb,” I fold my arms.
“It makes sense. You’ve known Jade since you were both 17. You’ve lived together for five years and you’ve shared everything. Well now she’s married to Brian and he knows things about her you will never know. Instead of running to you about stuff, she’ll go to Brian. It hurts but it’s also natural so you gotta get over it. Plus, you got me. A definite bonus I think,” he smirks.
“Wow,” I stare at him. “Mr psycho-analysis.”
“Hey,” he shrugs. “I watched too much Oprah last week.”
My cell phone rings as I hang up the phone from calling Ali. I pull it out and answer.
“Hey.”
“GIRL!” Britney squeals and I wince slightly.
“Ok, I don’t think you burst my eardrum. Wanna try again?”
“I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!”
“Ow,” I complain. “Lower the voice!”
“YOU’RE MARRIED?!” she continues yelling.
“OW!” I yell back at her and she laughs.
“Ok, sorry. Calming down now. So?!”
“Yes, I’m married,” I giggle.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“I know, sorry. We didn’t tell anybody.”
“So I heard. I’ll let you off cos it was pretty romantic,” she sighs and I laugh.
“Why, thank you,” I tell her.
“But you BETTER invite me to the blessing thing,” she warns.
“Consider yourself invited,” I giggle.
“Thanks! So, I wanna know ALL about it! Starting with what you wore.”
“Ok…” I grin and sit down to tell her about our Vegas wedding.
“Wow,” she sighs when I’m done. “You are SO lucky.”
“I know. How are things with Justin?”
“Ugh, I don’t know!” she exclaims. Justin had called Britney a few weeks back, begging for forgiveness. They had met up one night and talked things through and ended up kissing. “Same as before I guess. I still love him Jade, but he hurt me.”
“Make him work girl!”
“I am, don’t worry,” she laughs.
“Brit, we have a new house!”
“You do?! Tell me ALL about it!” she orders and I laugh.
“You can see it for yourself. We’re having a party next Saturday.”
“Like a housewarming thing? Cool!” she giggles. “Lemme just look through my schedule…” I hear her flicking through a book. “Aw, I can’t Jade. I have a performance that night on the Jay Leno show.”
“Never mind. You’ll see it some other time.”
“Definitely. But until then…descriptions please!”