Jack took a moment to look at the padlock Jay had given him for Christmas again, and smiled, she couldn't have chosen a better gift. It was just perfect for their return trip to Paris, but it was the meaning behind it he loved the most. His Mum's living room had been filled with Selfridges bags full of expensive clothes, bags and shoes, yet nothing had meant as much to him as this little padlock.

He'd had a good day with Tasha and his family in spite of all the earlier drama though. After everyone calmed themselves down and began to get their heads around what he and Tasha were telling them things had almost felt normal again. Tasha was with his sisters being one of the girls, whilst Jack, Kevan and his Dad had been talking about serious stuff. About Villa.

He'd felt slightly awkward telling them that he was going to FaceTime Jay. His Mum had pulled one of her faces, letting him know that she still wasn't entirely happy with the situation, but he hoped in time she would be okay. For Jack, his Mum's opinion mattered a lot, and he hoped that she would like Jay and give her a proper chance, rather than just trying to push him back with Tasha, because that just wouldn't be happening.

There was a quick knock on the door and Kevan strolled in to join him.

'What's happening?' He asked, throwing himself on the bed next to where Jack was sat.

'Just been talking to Jay actually, and I opened my present. It's a padlock, love lock thing' Jack tried to explain without sounding too soft.

Kevan nodded. He could see from Jack's face that he was happier than he had been in a while.

'So, are you going to show me what she looks like properly then?' Asked Kevan, intrigued to find out who had turned his brothers head so much.  He vaguely remembered seeing her on tv with Jack, but hadn't paid much attention.

Jack opened Instagram and scrolled to her profile.

'That's her' he said proudly, showing Kevan the pictures she'd posted earlier that day.

'She looks nice, but Jack, ending it with Tasha, are you sure? She's been with you through thick and thin' asked Kevan.

'Yeah, but a lot of that was down to my behaviour wasn't it?' Admitted Jack.

'And what makes you think it'll be different with this Jay then? What's she got that Tasha doesn't that's going to keep you in line?' asked Kevan honestly.

'I dunno, but I just have that kinda feeling with her, you get me?'

'I just think it's a bit soon for you to be in another relationship. Why not just try being single for a bit. See all the girls you want and then if you still want to be with Jay, then go for it?' Kevan rationalised. He didn't want Jack ended up going through a messy relationship break up and ending all over the press again.

'Because she's way too classy for that bro' laughed Jack. 'And Fuck me, she's fiery, she'd have my balls for earrings if I mess up' Jack laughed.

'If she's who you really want to be with then you know we're all behind you. We just want what's best for you'

'Thanks bro' said Jack.

Jack pulled Tasha aside after his chat with Kevan. She'd been having a drink with Keira, but she knew why he wanted to talk anyway.

'I think it's time we post that thing the PR company wrote for us, what do you think?' he suggested, trying to be as sensitive as he could to how she might be feeling, but at the same time worried about the reaction Jay was receiving whilst everyone thought she'd been his bit on the side.

'I think you're right' she said, nodding. No matter how much she'd prepared herself for this moment, and felt ready within herself for it to happen, it still hurt. 'Can I have a hug first?'

'Course you can Tash' he said pulling her in. 'What me and you had, it was special and I'll always love you'

'I'll always love you too Jack' she said, giving him a final squeeze.

They sat next to each other on the stairs and copied the message that their PR company had provided them with.

'3..2..1..' they counted down together, before posting.

Statement from Jack and Tasha-
After 9 years together, we would like to confirm that we made a mutual decision to go our separate ways during the summer.
We will always be part of each other's lives and look forward to seeing what the future brings us both
J & T x

Instantly there were floods of comments and likes on both of their posts. There was definitely no going back now, even if they did want to.

*****

Whilst Jack and Tasha were going public with their split, Jay was on her way out. She was going to meet her friends Alana, Olivia and Cheryl in the Candy Bar on George Street. It had long been their favourite haunt when they went 'out out' thanks to its fabulous cocktail menu, and she was more than ready for a woo woo or two.

Jay had felt slightly more self conscious than usual and had a little longer with getting ready than normal. Since the news about her and Jack had broken, and she'd began to see the interest that had already developed in her online, she was starting to realise that being with Jack might not be as easy as she'd thought. Messages had been streaming into her inbox and after reading several of them, it became evident that she was the human equivalent to marmite. The people messaging her either loved her or hated her, there was no middle ground. For her own mental health, she'd already turned off the notifications.

Thankfully, as she'd got out of their taxi and headed into the bar, no one had said a word to her, but her friends had plenty to say on the matter.

'So' said Alana. 'After all this Jack Grealish scandal, I googled him and fuck me Jay, those legs!'

'They're quite something, aren't they' Jay blushed.

'And the bulge. Please tell me he doesn't stuff his tighty whiteys with socks' laughed Olivia,

'Nope, hundred percent real, that's why I'm smiling so much'

'He's just so not who I'd imagine you with though' said Cheryl. 'You've always been so career driven, so serious about things and now you're with a footballer who didn't know what an encyclopaedia was'

'Truthfully I'd be thinking the exact same as you, and in fairness I thought he was a total twat when I met him but most of what people think about him is completely wrong and fabricated by the press. Don't get me wrong, he's not squeaky clean, but I love him' she shrugged.

'Woah! Let me get this right. Are you, Jayme 'I don't need a man' Douglas, actually admitting you love someone?' Alana choked.

'Yup. He got me hook, line and sinker. Which is just as well because I don't know how it's all going to go down at work' Jay sighed.

'With a cock that size, who cares about work??' cackled Olivia. 'I'd literally stay in bed all day waiting for him to come home and fuck me'

After several cocktails, the girls decided to move on to their favourite club Lulu, which thankfully was only staggering distance away.

'I swear, the last time we all came here together was the night before I went to Paris' Jay reminisced.

'Yeah, and you pulled that guy with the ponytail, remember he was telling you he was a millionaire but he was wearing a primark t shirt?' Alana reminded her. 'And now you do have a boyfriend who is actually a millionaire, I bet Jack doesn't wear Prinark does he?'

' Shhhhh' said Jay. 'It's a girls night out. Let's not talk about my gorgeous, sexy, talented boyfriend for now' she felt her heart skip a beat at the mere thought of him.

'Blurgh ' said Cheryl, pretending to be sick. 'I think I liked the celibate version of you better'

It was packed in Lulu, it was like everyone had headed there for Christmas night. There were so many people that they knew and that Jay hadn't seen for ages. Everyone was hugging, and drinking, and dancing, and drinking, and talking, and drinking, and taking pictures. Even Jay took a few and absentmindedly posted them on her social media.

Eventually her bladder could hold no more, so Jay headed off to the toilets for a wee. She sat down in the cubicle, but soon she heard her name mentioned by someone just outside, she listened in.

'Yeah, she's the one that's been shagging that footballer, Jack Grealish. But have you seen the state of her? I mean honestly does he need his eyes testing or something because she is minging' said the first girl.

'I know, he could have anyone, literally anyone and he chose her. Mental eh?' Her friend replied.

'I give it a month tops and he'll be back shagging around'

'She just looks like she thinks she's better than anyone else. She's got a proper resting bitch face'

Both girls laughed, and Jay felt like her bubble had been burst. She waited until she heard them leave before coming out of the cubicle. She knew she had to be thicker skinned, but it still hurt to hear how people were judging her.

She fixed her lipstick in the mirror, and tried to pull herself together, but it was too late, her night felt like it was ruined. She gave it another half an hour and headed home under the guise of having to drive back to Manchester the next day, but really, she just wanted to go to her own bed and go to sleep.