Jade's arch nemesis was exercise.

She hated self—imposed sweating and panting while her muscles burned with a passion which is why since her freshmen orientation Jade had never stepped foot anywhere near the gym. Despite her fierce hate of any exercise related activity Jade looked fit. She had the body of an athlete; tall and skinny with minimum curves and a proportional butt and boobs which was what further stimulated her NO EXERCISE campaign.

Currently Jade was faced with a dilemma.

It was Friday movie night, a tradition that Jade and her friends had started back when they were freshmen and it was always hosted at Celia's apartment. Celia's apartment was on the third floor which never bothered Jade because she always used the elevator but now on the elevator was a big poster written in messy block letters 'OUT OF ORDER'.

Jade was stuck. Missing Friday movie night was unheard of and yet if she was going to be there she needed to take the stairs not just any stairs though, stairs that took her three floors up. It was absolute torture!

Jade contemplated going back home and making up an excuse. She couldn't stomach the thought of trudging three floors up sweating with her calves burning while she gasped for air because her body wasn't programmed for any form of exercise worse she had a pizza box in her hand. There was no way she was going to be able to make that climb. Celia and Nevaeh would be disappointed but it would be just one night right Jade reasoned with herself.

Jade took a deep breath and nodded to herself with an air of finality. She was going to go back to her dorm and do something different. I mean she was breaking a tradition but, in her defense, it was just a one—time thing. So, she spun on her heel ready to head out when her phone buzzed as if on cue.

It was Nevaeh, one of her best friends. Jade almost grimaced.

"What?" Jade said into the phone not bothering with the pleasantries.

"The elevator is out of order," Nevaeh replied holding back a snicker.

"I noticed," Jade replied with a guarded tone.

She knew Nevaeh was baiting her, getting ready to mock her with Lara and Celia but she wouldn't give anything away. Not this time.

"So, are you coming or it's too much work?" Nevaeh taunted and Jade held back a scream.

It was too much work! But she couldn't tell Nevaeh that.

"It's just a flight of stairs, I'll live," Jade countered which earned her a bark of laughter from Nevaeh.

"See you soon. By the way I hope you haven't forgotten the pizza. Celia's 'we can't order pizza' rule is still a thing," Nevaeh said and Jade hummed a response.

After hanging up Jade realized Nevaeh had made it a challenge. It was impossible for her not to attend FMN now. Jade released a loud sigh before she began the long walk to Celia's apartment hoping with everything in her that she would make it to the other side alive.

***

Contrary to what Jade had assumed, she made it to Celia's door alive and surprisingly she hadn't broken a sweat but her calves were burning beneath her jeans. All she wanted was to slump herself on Celia's couch and take a nap for an hour or two or the whole night.

Her friends however were not thinking along those lines.

"Pizza's here!" Nevaeh screamed as soon as she spotted Jade walking through the door.

She swayed her curves toward Jade and took the pizza box from Jade with a big grin.

"I am shocked you are alive," Nevaeh commented hiding a huge grin and Jade rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"It was a tough battle but I made it," Jade replied making Nevaeh chuckle.

Jade's eyes wondered towards Lara and Celia who were in the kitchen sitting on the counter chairs. She flashed them a smile and they grinned before waving her over. Jade let out a relieved breath when she sat on a chair and her muscles seemed to hurt slightly less.

"How was the climb?" Lara taunted and Jade flipped her with a small smile.

"I am very tired," Jade replied after a while.

"You know my offer to be your gym partner still stands," Celia said gathering her shoulder length blonde hair into a bun.

Despite her tiredness, Jade found it in her to laugh. "Absolutely not but thank you. Today was enough for the next two years. When is the elevator getting fixed by the way?"

Celia furrowed her eyebrows with a shrug. "Maybe tomorrow, I'm not really sure."

That meant tomorrow morning Jade would be required to climb down the stairs again. Talk about absolute torture.

"I have to ask what's up with the no ordering pizza rule? I had to climb three floors up holding a box of pizza." Jade asked pulling Lara's wine so she could take a sip.

Lara raised her eyebrows questioningly but she didn't say anything so Jade took the reaction as a go ahead to drink the wine.

"It's actually a very funny story," Nevaeh shouted from the living room.

"What happened?" Jade asked resisting the urge to shout like Nevaeh had done.

"Well," Nevaeh began swaying her way to the kitchen.

She had a mischievous grin on her face that matched the amused look on Lara's face. Celia however looked passive. Jade was curious.

"Celia banged the guy from Pizza Palace; the delivery guy and then the guy may have made a comment on Celia's fluid sexuality," Nevaeh said and Jade raised an eyebrow.

She was definitely intrigued now. Celia's sexuality was something very sensitive to her.

"Celia chased him out naked might I add and he was arrested for public nuisance or something," Lara chipped in and Jade couldn't stop the gasp and chuckle that came out.

"Unfortunately, he wasn't fired," Celia groaned and Jade chuckled, "but I can't trust him or anyone he works with, with my pizza which is why the rule will remain until we find another pizza place with awesome pizza."

"If we do try not to bang the delivery dude yeah?" Lara asked with a sharp edge to her voice and Celia rolled her eyes.

"My mood will tell."

Jade wasn't shocked. Celia was impulsive. She acted without logic or reason and her emotions controlled what she did. Unfortunately, her emotions made her resort to violence nine out of ten times.

A tense silence had sort of descended on the room and Jade was the one to break it. "Let's get the FMN started!"

The blanket of tenseness seemed to lift. Everything was fine, at least for now.

***

Celia had played a hand in the picking of the movie. Jade didn't need to be told to know that was what had happened. The movie was all about feminism and women empowerment. The protagonist did not believe in love and did not believe in being bonded to a certain person and having to sacrifice or compromise for that partner. The movie was written Celia all over it.

Jade was bored but she didn't want to offend Celia by falling asleep on the one Friday she had chosen a movie so she kept stuffing popcorn and pizza into her face. She didn't worry about calories, she was one of those girls who just never gained weight.

Nevaeh who didn't worry about offending anyone was loudly snoring and Lara seemed to find it fun to criticize every aspect of the movie.

Jade's phone buzzed and she picked it up grateful for a distraction. It was Jack, her boyfriend. A smile graced Jade's lips while butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she opened the message.

I think u and I need space from each other

Jade blinked rapidly and reread the message. It was from Jack, her boyfriend but it surely wasn't addressed to her. Maybe it was a typing error or something. Her phone beeped again. It was another text.

It's not u…it's me

Jade almost scoffed out loud. What the hell? Was it some type of joke or prank? Before she could type back a reply Jack texted again.

Bye Jade

Jade frowned as she went over the last three texts. Was Jack breaking up with her? She went up the chat, they had last talked at 2.50. and Jake was saying he loved Jade. She had sent him back a heart emoji and that was just about it. There weren't any signs that pointed towards him wanting to break up with her then or before. Jade was pretty sure they were okay in their relationship, actually more than okay, they were happy.

Despite everything that was happening Jade felt numb. It seemed impossible for Jade to wrap her head round whatever was happening. Jack couldn't be breaking up with her, there had to be a mistake. The only logical thing to do was to call Jack.

Quietly Jade got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen where she dialed Jack's number. He answered on the second ring. When Jade heard his voice, her heart started pounding.

"Jade," he said, he sounded tired or exhausted, Jade wasn't sure which.

"What the hell is going on?" Jade asked.

Her voice sounded small, she was scared. Jade thought she heard Jack take a sharp intake of breath.

"We're done Jade. I'm done with you and our relationship."

Jade scoffed blinking away the tears that were coming with her sinking heart.

"What happened? You and I were fine this afternoon and now suddenly you want us to break up? Did I do something wrong or was it something I said?" Jade rushed through her words.

She was on the brink of a spiral hanging back by loose strands.

"It's not you," Jack began and Jade scoffed rapidly blinking back her tears.

She was slowly pacing, trying to grasp onto the last strands of their relationship.

"Then what is happening Jack? Talk to me, let's figure this out together. Please," Jade's voice cracked towards the end.

She could feel herself beginning to suffocate. It seemed the room was closing in on her.

"I have a lot on my plate Jade. I have been thinking about this for a while and I'm done. I need my space," Jack replied.

His voice sounded foreign in Jade's ears. He sounded cold and impassive, nothing like the boy Jade was in love with at all.

"Okay," Jade whispered before hanging up.

She slid down the floor unaware of anything not even her surroundings. It wasn't until Jade felt Celia wipe her cheeks that she realized she was crying.

"What happened?" Nevaeh asked sitting cross legged in front of Jade.

"I think Jack and I just broke up," Jade whispered with a sniffle and Celia took her hand before squeezing it in a reassuring way.

"Sorry baby," Lara whispered taking Jade's other hand.

No other words were said. Words were not enough to dull the soft pain that was gnawing its way into Jade's heart. The four of them just sitting in silence was enough.

"I am going to kill him," Celia threatened later, venom dripping from her voice.

"No," Jade protested but Celia shook her head vehemently.

She was determined and Jade knew her feeble attempts to stop her would be futile. So, Jade looked at Nevaeh conveying a silent plea. Nevaeh discreetly nodded before glaring at Celia.

"No one is killing anyone," Nevaeh argued which earned an eye roll from Celia.

"I am killing that boy," Celia countered and Nevaeh glared at Celia.

Celia ignored the glare and got up. "I'm going to find him."

"I'm coming too," Lara echoed.

Jade widened her eyes in alarm. Celia was not one for false alarms. Even though Jade was crying because of Jack, she didn't want him dead or crippled by Celia!

"Jade, our friend, needs us. Now sit your butt down and comfort her. It's the least you can do," Nevaeh said calmly but Jade didn't miss the authoritative tone in her voice.

Celia sat down with a sulk and Jade shot Nevaeh a small smile.

"Now that we are all calm let us come up with a rational and well though out plan for the homicide of Jack. We wouldn't want to leave any loose ends, would we?" Nevaeh said and the four of them laughed despite their situation.

Jade knew she was going to be fine, she had to be.