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We decided to grab fish and chips with a side of salad and ate it along Noosa River in one of the wooden gazebos. Jet skis and boats whizzed past, making the calm water rock and splash. The water was bluer than usual and so clear you could identify each fish swimming by. Sunshine shone on our skin as we stuffed battered fish and multiple chips down our mouths. My plan wasto have the salad, one piece of fish, and a handful of chips, but I gave in to the chips’ delicious greasiness and ate far more than I intended to.Why can I never just have a handful of chips and be satisfied?Oh, those crispy things are lethal. So much for healthy eating. Ugh.
An hour later, as the wind picked up and the crowds did too, we went home.
‘Hey, kids,’ Deb said as we walked in. She was sitting on the couch drinking a glass of water. She was still in yesterday’s floral dress, and the bags under her eyes screamed, ‘Hello, I’m hungover.’ Her puffy ‘sex hair’ was a dead giveaway she’d done more than drink last night.
‘Wow, Deb, did you get hit by a truck? You look half-dead,’ Seb asked with amusement plastered on his face.
‘Oh, gee, thanks.’ She crossed her arms and looked down at the floor, blushing. Her freckles peeked through her splotchy foundation.
He shrugged. ‘Sorry, but what happened? Rough night?’
‘I went out last night and had too many drinks – you know, the usual. Anyway, I haven’t slept yet, so I’m going to hit the hay. You two love birds enjoy yourself, hey,’ she answered with an emotionless smile and no eye contact. I couldn’t tell if she was pissed off about what Seb said or whether she was hiding something. My gut told me it was both, but I couldn’t be sure.
She walked to her bedroom.
When Deb was out of sight, Seb said, ‘She looks like a hooker. I’ve never seen her look so bad before.’ He laughed at his own joke and hit his thigh.
‘Seb, that’s uncalled for. It’s clear she’s had a rough night, and don’t call her that. She’s my best friend, and this isherhouse, remember.’ I looked at him with narrowed eyes.
‘Stop sulking. I’m just having a joke.’ He snarled his lip in defence.
‘To be honest, I’m pretty worried about her.’
‘Why? What’s been going on?’
‘Well, she used to drink only with friends a few times a week, but now drinking seems to be an every-single-day occurrence, and her smoking has increased too. She even sits on the toilet in her room and smokes when she can’t be bothered going outside.’
‘All that’s telling me is she’s laaazy.’
I shook my head. ‘Her habits are only getting stronger, and I’m not sure what’s causing that. Either her addictions have gotten the better of her or she’s depressed, but something has definitely changed in her over the years, and especiallynow– she isn’t the same Deb anymore, and it worries me. I’m so scared of losing the old her.’ I let out a heavy breath. ‘I keep hoping it’s just a phase and she’ll snap out of it, but something is definitely not right today. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach.’ I pressed my finger against my lip and squinted my eyes, trying to think of what could be upsetting her and making her drink more and more. Nothing came to mind.
‘Aren’t all women feisty?’
I rolled my eyes. ‘If provoked.’
‘Well, I better not provoke you then.’ He poked his finger into my arm and stuck out his tongue. I flinched away from him and shook my head, half-grinning. ‘So, baby, what do you feel like doing?’ He looked right into my eyes.
‘Well, after the early departure at the river, I am tired now. So, I’m thinking a movie day.’ I reached out and stretched my arms.
‘I’m sick of movies. Do you want to just chat in your bedroom?’ His voice had an edginess to it.
‘If you want.’
‘Cool. Let’s do that.’
We walked into my room, shut the door, and sat on the side of the bed. Then we turned to face each other.
‘I want to know more about you.’ He placed his hand on mine and tickled it with his fingers.
‘What do you wanna know?’ I twirled a loose lock of hair around my index finger.
‘What does it take for you to fall in love with a man?’ His words came out in a rush.
‘Umm … I don’t know. Compatibility, I guess.’ I let the lock fall back into place.
‘Sooo … do you think we’re compatible?’ His brows raised in suspense as he waited for my answer.
I could tell he needed reassurance after our earlier conversation. ‘If I didn’t, then you wouldn’t be on my bed right now.’ I brushed my foot against his leg and watched as goosebumps speckled his flesh.
