One Wild Night

As Tom and Lucy pulled into the compound after their stroll that evening, they found Harry's car parked in front of the house, with Harry and Jade standing beside it.

Tom pulled over beside them. "What are you doing here?" Tom asked Harry as he got out of the car to join them.

"What? You're not happy to see me?" Harry asked dryly.

"I'm always happy to see you. The question is why are you here," Tom said, giving Jade a questioning look as he wondered if Harry was there because she had not gone to meet him as he asked her to.

"He brought me home. We were out all day, so he came to drop me off," Jade explained just as Lucy joined them.

"Hello, HaHa! Hey, Jade!" Lucy greeted with a pleasant smile, "How did the visit go?" Lucy asked Harry and he shrugged.

"She shed tears…."

"Tears?" Lucy echoed in disbelief.

"It was unexpected. She seemed sort of regretful after seeing Candace," Harry said and Lucy snorted.

"She was probably feeling regretful that she lost her opportunity to find Candace before you did," Lucy said and Harry chuckled.

"Candace said the same thing," Harry said, while Tom looked at Jade with a frown.

"Are you both just getting back from the office or did you go somewhere?" Harry asked curiously.

"Tom finished late, and we both went on a stroll afterward," Lucy said while Tom kept his gaze on Jade.

"What I don't get is why Harry is dropping you off here. I mean, you've been at his place for a while now, so how come you are coming back here now when you should be with him? Or did Harry ask to be left alone?" Tom asked, looking from Jade to Harry.

Jade looked at Harry, unable to explain what had prompted her decision to Tom, and Harry shook his head at Tom, "I'm fine. She did more than enough already and I'm feeling much better," Harry assured Tom.

"Take a look at all those shopping bags in the backseat. She got me all of that. I never knew shopping could make someone feel better," Harry said and Jade grinned.

"Welcome to the world of therapeutic shopping," Jade said and Lucy giggled.

"Or maybe you're just too exhausted from the experience to feel anything else," Tom pointed out jokingly, earning laughs from Harry and Lucy. Jade scowled at him playfully.

"No. It was actually the company. Being with her always makes me feel better. Thanks for asking her to cheer me up," Harry assured Tom.

"I didn't need to be asked. If you had come to me first instead of Tom, I would have cheered you up right away. But it's fine you went to him first. At least I got to show you I can cheer you up faster than Tom," Jade said with a wink and they all laughed.

"Why don't I go in and leave you guys to talk? You will call me when you get home, right?" Jade asked, and Harry smiled at her, impressed by how much effort he could see she was putting into being less clingy.

"How about I call you as I drive out so you can keep me company all the way till I get home?" he asked and she smiled happily.

"That's fine too. I love you," Jade said as she leaned forward and kissed him.

"I love you much more," Harry said as Jade stepped away from him.

"I should leave you guys to talk as well. Give my regards to Candace and Andy. I will be looking forward to seeing the interview tomorrow," Lucy said to Harry before turning to Tom, "I will be in the bedroom," Lucy told Tom.

"Don't freshen up without me," he said with a wink and she grinned.

"That was too much information," he said and Tom raised a brow.

"I didn't say anything…"

"You said a lot without saying nothing," Harry said and Tom snorted.

"I wasn't talking even to you," Tom pointed out and Lucy giggled as she walked away with Jade while Harry shook his head.

"How are you getting ready for your vacation?" Lucy asked Jade excitedly as they both walked inside the house.

Jade shrugged. "Everything is in place. All that is left is for Harry to wrap up all that he is doing," Jade said but she didn't sound as excited as Lucy expected so Lucy turned to her.

"Are you okay?" She asked with a slight frown.

"Yeah," Jade said as she continued walking.

"Are you sure? You don't sound like yourself," Lucy said and Jade arched a brow.

"And how do myself sound? Childish, immature? Making everything about myself?" Jade asked, her voice tinged with irritation.

Lucy frowned as she stopped walking. "I only meant you don't sound excited as usual. Where is that coming from?" Lucy asked, completely taken aback by Jade's outburst.

"Isn't that what you think of me?" Jade asked as she stopped walking and turned to look at Lucy.

Lucy raised a brow, "Why would I think that of you? If this is about what happened on the yacht, I already apologized and made it clear to you that I wasn't referring to you. Looking at you when I made the statement was a coincidence. I really don't know what else you want me to say," Lucy said, irritated by Jade's insistence to hold on to an offense she didn't commit.

"Really? Was it a coincidence? Why do I feel like you all must have discussed about how Jade likes to make everything about herself and your subconscious made you look at me at that exact time because it was embedded in your mind?" Jade asked and Lucy took a deep breath.

"I see no reason you'd think I have nothing better to do with my time than to gossip about you. And who are the people you think would sit down to discuss you? I will take it that you had a rough day and you're taking it out on me," Lucy said in a tight voice and without waiting for Jade to respond, she resumed walking and climbed up the stairs.

Jade sighed as she watched Lucy go, and then she hurried after her, "Lucy…"

Lucy took a deep breath as she turned to face Jade, "Jade, I really don't want to argue or fight with you. Maybe you haven't noticed it, but I don't particularly like being on bad terms with people close to me. So, please, whatever this is, leave me out of it. I didn't discuss about you with anyone. I didn't direct my statement to you. If it were your party, I would say the same thing to all the guests present. I thought you would be excited about your vacation and when I noticed you didn't seem excited I wanted to know if you were fine. It's not my business. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry…"

"I'm sorry," Jade said, cutting off her diatribe.

"I was upset. I just don't like the way you've all been treating me…."

"And how have I been treating you?" Lucy asked, giving her a pointed look.

"You shut me up in front of strangers when we were getting ready for the all white party," she reminded Lucy.

"I didn't do it because I disrespect you. I shut you up because we were all talking too much and even though you all didn't notice, the makeup artists and stylists were not exactly pleased that we were slowing down their work. I'm sorry if that offended you. It was nothing personal. I would have shut up any of the others too had they spoken when you did. And I remember very well that you shut Sonia up too," Lucy said and Jade looked at her for a moment.

Jade sighed. "Can we talk for a moment? In my bedroom?" Jade asked and Lucy shrugged.

Lucy followed Jade as she led the way to her bedroom, and after they were inside and seated, Jade looked at Lucy.

"I want to ask you a question. I want a sincere response," she said and Lucy gave her a nod.

"Do you think I'm spoilt? Clingy?" She asked and Lucy couldn't help but wonder who could have spoken to her. She doubted that Harry could have said all that to her.

"What do you mean by spoilt?" Lucy asked, wanting to understand where she was coming from in order to answer her question.

"I don't know. Maybe I always make things about myself… no, I'm not referring to the statement you made," Jade corrected quickly when Lucy rolled her eyes.

"I honestly don't know what you mean by that. But I don't think you make things about yourself. I think you are cool. I love how you are always excited," Lucy said but Jade eyed her doubtfully.

"I'm not saying there aren't times that it would be best you calm down, but overall, you're not bad. You're cool," Lucy said, giving her a thumbs up.

"And clingy? Do you think I'm too clingy and jealous when it comes to Harry? Like how I asked to join him and Mia?" Jade asked and Lucy laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I would do the same if I were in your shoes. Maybe I'm clingy too, who knows? But if Harry isn't complaining why are you worried? Or did he complain?" Lucy asked and Jade shook her head.

"No. He didn't. I was just thinking about it. I want to tone it down," Jade said with a shrug.

"Honestly, Jade, if you ask me, I think you are doing fine and shouldn't tone down anything unless Harry wants you to. You are more expressive of your feelings than the rest of us, and if you ask me, I think it's a good thing," Lucy said and Jade looked at her hopefully.

"Do you really think so?" She asked, and Lucy gave her a nod.

"Of course. I wouldn't say what I don't mean to you. But I have one advise though. Or you can call it a suggestion," Lucy said and Jade nodded.

"Go on."

"You know how Harry is. Don't give him reasons to speak to you harshly in public," Lucy said and Jade nodded thoughtfully.

"You mean like how I asked to join him when he wanted to speak with Mia alone, right?" She asked and Lucy nodded.

"Yes. I think as long as you understand your partner, you'd know how to handle your relationship. But other than that, I don't think you're spoilt or clingy," Lucy said and Jade smiled.

"I'm sorry I assumed you thought of me that way," Jade said, meaning it.

"Can I ask why you thought so?"

"Andy and Candace talked to me on Saturday. Although, I already trashed things out with Candace. I assumed that you and Sonia might also think I'm immature…"

"They said you were immature?" Lucy asked with a slight frown, unable to imagine why they would say that to her.

"Spoilt was the word used," Jade said and went on to tell her all they had said.

When she was done, Lucy reached out a hand to pat her hand.

"That must have stung a little. I'm sorry. I'm sure they didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Lucy said and Jade shrugged.

"It' stung more than a little. I was just going to withdraw from you all and keep to myself since I'm too immature to hangout with you guys," Jade said and Lucy nodded.

"I can understand why you'd make such a decision. But we all can't be expected to act the same way. Can I ask you a question?" Lucy asked and Jade nodded.

"Why did you confront me that way in front of others during the party on the yacht?"

"Well, I thought you were picking on me," Jade said and Lucy nodded.

"Why did it have to be right there, at that time in front of the others? Why didn't you do it later in private?" Lucy asked and Jade frowned.

"If you could pick on me right there in front of them at that time, why do I have to wait until later to confront you in private? I should do so in front of everyone too so they know it's not okay to pick on me. I won't let anyone walk over me," Jade said and Lucy nodded.

"I thought as much. You're a reasonable person, Jade. As much as I didn't like it because I really wasn't picking on you and the argument was sort of affecting the mood of the party, your reason for doing what you did is valid too. You are not immature or spoilt," Lucy said and Jade smiled.

"Thanks, Lucy. I feel much better. Although I'm still going to work on myself, but I'm glad to know I'm not as unreasonable or silly as I've been feeling for some days now. Although Harry tried to reassure me, but he's my boyfriend. It's only normal that he would try to make me feel better. But hearing this from you also helps," Jade said and Lucy squeezed her hand.

"I'm glad I could help. And I can assure you that Sonia doesn't think you are spoilt either. And now that I know how you feel, I promise to be more mindful of my words to you and to not shut you up in public ever again," Lucy said and Jade smiled.

"I will appreciate that. Thanks," Jade said and Lucy rose to leave.

"And, I'm very much excited about the vacation," Jade said with a wide smile before Lucy could leave.

Lucy grinned, "I'm sure you are. Good night, Jade," Lucy said before walking out of the bedroom.