The trouble with Debbie

chapter 2

"Babes, she's amazing and I showed her your photo and she definitely wants to see you. Of course I would have spoken to you first but it wasn't planned, it just came up..." Matt smiled his dazzling smile and bit into his toast.

"Why are you showing my photo? How does a conversation like that 'just come up'..." Debbie pulled her hand away, "oh," she said, "I'm so dumb. You're f*****g her. You're f*****g both of us and you want to try us together. I'm such an i***t. You are using me. You've been using me for two years. You don't care about me, I'm just here for you to squeeze in a quick shag when no one else is available..."

"Debs, don't go all soft on me. We're not together, we've just been having a bit of fun. You knew what this was..." Matt sipped his tea loudly, "we've both gotten what we want from this."

"No!" Debbie shouted making the other customers look over at them, "YOU got what you wanted. I haven't been with anyone else. I deserve better than this. I deserve better than you. Enjoy your breakfast." Debbie picked up her bag and stood up from the table, her chair dragging. She looked over to the waitress who gave her a soft smile and a nod. She looked back at Matt who was also standing by now, "Goodbye Matt." she hissed and walked out of the small café.

He hurried after her "Debs, let me give you a lift. Wait! Let's talk."

It took literally every single muscle in her body not to turn and look at him, but she kept walking. "I'm done." she told herself out loud and walked away as fast as she could, stopping a few streets away before calling a cab.

The cab ride was longer than she hoped it would be but it gave her a chance to calm down. She had called her cousin and told her she was on her way. Matt had called. And called. And called some more. She hadn't answered. How could she let this happen? How could she waste two years with this situation? She's turned down others. What a waste!

The cab stopped outside her cousins house. She paid the driver and got out, watching him drive away before pulling out her joint and lighting it again. Her cousin, Klara, wasn't home yet. She'd been out when Debbie called and told her to meet her at the house. Debbie held the joint loosely in her mouth and walked up the drive and sat on the doorstep. About 20 minutes later, a silver Mercedes pulled in and Klara stepped out.

She looked at Debbie with a tilted smile and raised brow.

"Why are you high on my doorstep? Where's your key?" she snatched the joint from Debbie took a long pull of it herself.

"In my other bag," Debbie replied, "I forgot."

Klara opened the door and they both headed straight to the kitchen.

"Where's your car? Why didn't you just ring the doorbell? Tony is home." Klara asked as she threw down her handbag and keys, "Did you break down? Are you ok? Have you been crying? What..."

Debbie raised both her hands up in surrender, the joint she had taken back, clinging in the corner of her mouth, "Relax, I didn't drive and I haven't been crying. I was just smoking outside so I figured I'd just wait for you. I am pissed off though. I've been such a fool."

"Matt." Klara sighed as she sat at the kitchen table with her weed supply box and ashtray.

Debbie looked at her nails and just about everything else in the room to avoid answering. She didn't know how Klara always knew, but she ALWAYS knew.

"For goodness sake Debs," Klara rolled her eyes, "why you still f*****g with this guy? You need someone who actually knows how to treat you. Not some hook up every now and then. You got it going on, sort your s**t out and act accordingly please!"

Debbie smiled, Klara wasn't lying. She deserved much more. But married people always say these things. They have their life sorted out and they think it's just that easy for everyone else.

"I know exactly what you're thinking too," Klara continued, "it's easy for me to say that because I'm married, blah blah blah. Shut up. You've got a great job, you own your own home, you're beautiful and funny and smart. Stop selling yourself short for this guy who is obviously an absolute arsehole. Please."

Before Debbie could say anything, the kitchen door opened and Tony strolled in."Ladies." he smiled and winked at his wife.

"Can you please put some clothes on? Nobody wants to see this." Klara used her hand to gesture all of Tony and his appearance.

"What?" Tony laughed, throwing his dressing gown open to reveal his scruffy vest and shorts combo, "I look hot and you know it. Right Deb?"

"Tony, put some clothes on. I can barely control myself right now." Debbie mocked him.

"Alright, alright," Tony laughed, "I'm going to get dressed. Oh, Debs, you remember my friend..."

"Tony, I'm gonna stop you right there. I don't remember any of your friends and I definitely don't want to be set up with any of them." Debbie cut him up cheekily, "He's a good guy," Tony carried on, "it's a shame." he drew his dressing gown closed and left the kitchen whistling. "Come on, let's go to the lounge. I need to hear what f**k boy Matt did and how fast you plan on forgiving him."