Three Years On

Chapter Twenty-Four

     Michael shook his head in utter amazement. ‘Had feelings for you,’ he repeated. ‘I’m pretty sure she’s over that now – she’s got Blake.’

     ‘Yeah, but that’s why we’re not as close anymore,’ Debby told him. ‘I worry that if we get close, she’ll start having those feelings again.’

     ‘Debby, I don’t think you should let that stop you from becoming close with her again,’ he advised her. ‘She’s so happy with Blake; I’m pretty sure there’s nothing to worry about. And also, I remember how you guys were, you must miss that closeness.’

     Debby shrugged her shoulders. ‘I’m used to it. It’s been three years,’ she told him bluntly. ‘Anyway, now I’m gonna be great friends with Anna.’

     Michael let out a sigh. She evidently didn’t want to talk about Beth. ‘I’ll call her,’ he gave in, reaching for his iPhone, which was on the table in front of him. He pulled up Anna’s number and pressed dial.

     As he listened to it ring and waited for her to pick up Debby come over to him, pushed him backwards slightly and plonked herself on his lap, leaning in to hear the noise emitted from the phone.

     ‘Heya,’ came Anna’s voice. ‘What’s up?’

     ‘Not much,’ Michael replied. ‘Debby and I were just wondering if you wanted to hang out today. She’s pretty keen to see you again.’ As he added the last part Debby gave him a punch on the arm and mouthed something angrily at him, but he couldn’t make out what.

     ‘I’ve already got plans with Jack, sorry,’ she told him. ‘But tomorrow?’

     ‘Yeah, sure,’ he said. ‘We’ve not got anything planned yet.’

     ‘Cool, text me?’

     ‘Will do.’ Then Michael hung up. He looked at Debby and waited for her reaction.

     ‘Why did you tell her I was desperate to see her?’ she yelled, getting up off his lap. ‘I told you not to say that!’

     Michael shrugged. ‘I didn’t say that, I said you were keen,’ he pointed out. ‘Keen and desperate are very different things.’

     Debby grinned. ‘You’re so annoying,’ she teased him.

     ‘It’s what I do,’ he responded, standing up. He took a couple of steps closer to her and pulled her into his arms, his hands resting gently around her waist. ‘Anyway, it’s your fault for loving my friends so much, it’s cause your friends are so rubbish.’

     Debby dropped her jaw in mock shock and let out a laugh. ‘Excuse me!’ she exclaimed. ‘My friends are excellent!’

     Michael pulled her in close to her and pressed his lips to her neck. ‘What about Alfie?’ he asked, pulling back slightly to look at her. ‘You can’t exactly call him excellent.’

     Debby shook her head gently. ‘No,’ she admitted, chewing on the inside of her cheek. ‘You can’t. But he’s not my friend.’

    ‘Have you not heard anything from him since you guys broke up?’ he asked.

     She let out a sigh and leant her head gently against his chest for a second. ‘No,’ she whispered.

     Michael tilted his head slightly to one side to look at her face. ‘Debby, what’s up?’ he asked. ‘I know something’s wrong. Is it to do with Alfie?’ She lifted her head up again and Michael saw tears threatening to break from her eyes. ‘Debby, what is it?’ he asked. ‘You can tell me anything.’

     Debby bit her lip, hesitating, but then the words spilled out. ‘I haven’t seen him since last Sunday at my graduation thing, when we broke up,’ she explained. ‘But he’s been texting me.’

     ‘Texting you?’ he repeated. ‘Saying what?’

     She took a deep breath and a single tear leaked out of the corner of her eye and ran quickly down her cheek. ‘Stuff like I better not be with you. That if he finds out that I’m with anyone else he’ll come and get me. That me and him aren’t over until I have sex with him.’

     She was crying properly now and Michael pulled her closer to him. ‘You should have told me sooner!’ he chided her. ‘How many has he sent?’

     She was weeping on his shoulder now and without lifting her head she said into his shirt ‘Six. One for each day since we broke up.’

     ‘That’s not okay Debby,’ he told her. ‘Seriously, he’s such a jerk.’

     ‘But it’s not his fault,’ she insisted, taking a step back from him. ‘He has anger management problems, and he didn’t take to well to the break up. He never does when we split up. He always pesters me until we get back together. But this time I can’t. I don’t want to. I want to be with you.’

     Michael sighed and placed a hand on either side of her shoulders. ‘Debby. This is not okay. I’m really serious here. We have to go back to St. David’s,’ he told her. ‘I’m gonna sort this out for you. I promise.’

    ‘Really?’ she asked. ‘I don’t want you to get hurt.’

    ‘I don’t want you to get hurt,’ he told her and pressed his lips against her forehead. ‘We’ll leave tomorrow?’ he suggested.

     Debby nodded meekly.