was really it. After three years in Bath, she was now going back to Essex for good. Back to the same old haunts she used to go to, seeing the same old faces she hadn’t seen in a long while. She didn’t even know if she’d fit in any more. It sounded silly, but she really had grown up. She was different. Her once bright blonde highlighted hair was now toned down with caramels and chocolate browns, her bras were no longer filled with gel and her make-up was subtle to the point of being almost non-existent. Would it be easy to fit right back into where she left off? Or would she be the odd one out now? The outsider? It was a scary thought. At least she had her two best friends, who would love her no matter what.
*
Jade’s first night at home felt strange. Her mum had fussed around her, made her favourite meal of roast chicken, and even her older brother Simon came to visit with his wife and two sons. Jade put on a brave face and pretended she was fine, that she was happy to be home. Playing cops and robbers with her nephews had actually taken her mind off Tom for once. She’d last seen them six months ago, and was amazed by how different they looked now. They had grown so much, even though they were only just four and six. It was nice that her family were happy to see her and have her back home. After feeling nothing but pretty rubbish about herself, heartbroken at what Tom had done to her, it was lovely to feel wanted again, even if it was also weird climbing back into her old bed, knowing this was where she would live for the time being. As much as she loved her parents, it would be hard to get used to living under their rules again. There would be no going back to Bath in a few days like normal. This was it.
Jade had woken on the first morning at five a.m., and it took her a while to remember where she was and why. She was sick to death of crying, but couldn’t help it when she realised the reality of her situation. She preferred to sleep, where she was happy in her dream world. Why did she have to wake up? She missed Tom already. She hated herself for it after what he’d done, but she knew she was going to miss everything about him. Their long chats for hours about nothing, his silly jokes, his amazing body. Would she ever meet someone she loved as much again? After all, in all her twenty-one years, Tom was the only person that had made her knees go weak. What if she never got that again? She had to get over it, Jade told herself sternly. Had to stop crying all the time and move on with her life. He’d cheated. Tom wasn’t the person she thought he was – she had to keep thinking of things she hadn’t liked so much about him rather than all the good things. Like the way he and his friends often made fun of her Essex accent.
‘You alriiight babe, you look branna today than last week, you been on a sun bed?’ they’d mocked her at times. ‘I’m just gonna go to Saffend in me eye-eels.’ Then they would all burst into laughter.
‘Ha ha,’ she’d usually replied, not really finding it at all funny and feeling self-conscious every time she spoke. They made her feel ashamed that she was from Essex and she hated to admit it to herself but, looking back, she realised she was always trying to impress Tom and be the person that he wanted her to be.
He hadn’t been perfect and she had to stop believing he was.
After four hours of tossing and turning, Jade sleepily dragged herself out of bed, had a shower and got dressed into her black skinny jeans and a short leopard print blouse. She studied herself in the mirror, satisfied that her outfit could pass for both day and night. Today, she was going to make an effort with her appearance for once. She straightened her long hair with her GHDs, which she normally just left wavy, and applied her make-up carefully, adding a lot more bronzer than usual – after all, she was back in Essex, you could never wear too much. She felt better already. She packed her bag with make-up so she could touch up later if she went out with the girls. She couldn’t wait to see Kelly and Lisa. Spending the day with them was going to be great; it didn’t matter that they had no idea where they were going yet. If anyone could make her laugh right now it was them.
*
Kelly was in her dressing gown, relaxing on the couch in the lounge. Her hairdresser, Amy, had already been this morning and as usual, had blow-dried her hair to perfection, so all she had to do was apply her make-up and she was ready for the day. Amy was the only hairdresser she trusted to get her hair just right and she had her round to the house at least twice a week; she didn’t know what she’d do without her. It was all about the big hair, Kelly thought as she caught sight of her reflection on the mirrored coffee table. She’d made Amy backcomb for England this morning and was very pleased with the outcome.
Her mum’s chihuahua, Lord McButterpants, jumped up at the sofa and she scooped him up and placed him on her lap, much to the dog’s delight. He was a gorgeous little thing; he had long, soft, creamy-coloured fur and was no bigger than a kitten. Her mum was out today and Kelly promised she’d look after him. He hated walking because his tiny legs got tired so quickly, so she would take him out in her mum’s Louis Vuitton dog carrier, she decided as she spotted it on the floor in the hall.
She was so glad her best friend was finally back in Essex – she’d missed her more than she’d ever realised. Going out was never the same without Jade. Yes, she always had a good time on nights out, but not in the same way she did when Jade was there. She did go out with Lisa sometimes, but she was always with her boyfriend, Jake, which was a bit annoying, so Kelly usually had to resort to going out with some girls from her salon.
She had been gutted when Jade had told her she was going to university, especially when she said it was all the way down the country in Bath. She felt like she’d be left behind and forgotten about. Then Jade had said she was going to live in Bath for good with Tom, and Kelly had seriously thought she’d lost her friend forever. Secretly, Kelly had never been too keen on Tom, as he seemed to look down his nose at her, and Kelly also believed he was the reason Jade was changing so much. Jade always wanted to impress him and never did things she thought he wouldn’t approve of. It was hard to watch your best friend changing for someone else, especially when you thought they were pretty much perfect just the way they were.
There was no way that she could ever have gone to university – she hated writing essays and had barely passed her GCSEs. Kelly was certainly not academic and had decided a beauty course was definitely the thing for her. She loved making people feel better about themselves and their appearance and it was amazing how a spray tan could really lift your mood and make you feel a hundred times better. Everyone should have them in her opinion; even men, and her male client list was getting longer by the day.
She went up to her room to start on her make-up and wondered what Jade would be wearing for their day out. She’d almost given her a heart attack when she went out last time she was back in Essex, as she was only wearing mascara and no fake tan! For Jade’s last birthday, Kelly had bought her a St Tropez gift set, hoping she would take the hint, but to her surprise she still went out looking as white as a sheet. She just looked so different and even sounded strange too; her normal accent was slowly fading away. She felt like all her friend’s Essex traits were disappearing and if she’d have been with Tom any longer, he would have made sure they were gone for good. Jade would be back to normal soon, Kelly told herself, it wouldn’t take long; she’d make sure of it.
She was just finishing applying her Benefit lip gloss when the doorbell rang and she jumped up excitedly. As she answered her front door she screamed. ‘Ahhhhh! My Essex girl is home!’
She hugged Jade tightly.
‘Hi, Kel.’
‘Come in, babe. Lisa will be here soon. It’s so nice to see you! I’ll put the kettle on.’
Kelly glanced at Jade. She was wearing bronzer, so that was a good start. Still no fake tan or eyelashes though. There was only one thing for it; she needed an Essex make-over.
*
Jade
