When the curtains close

21.

Sorry for the wait, but at least this is a long chapter. 
As always let me know what you think, vote, and leave a comment; It's always much appreciated!

Have a nice reading 😀

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"Not here" was all Leigh had to say when Debbie tried to explain.

It was Perrie's album release party and there was no way she was taking risk of Perrie eavesdropping and potentially ruining the girl's night. At the end of the day she had been keeping that piece of information to herself for weeks now, a few more hours weren't going to change absolutely anything.

The singer took her glass and briefly looked at the transparent liquid: she was going to need it to face whatever was coming. She finished it in one go and placed the glass back on the small table.

"Let's talk outside" she suggested starting to walk in the direction of the exit door, not even waiting for a reply.

The truth is that whatever Debbie was going to say and explain wasn't the cause of her anxiousness. She had understood what was going on, maybe not in the smallest details, but yes she knew that Perrie's mom and their lawyer had planned something behind their backs.

What was truly causing her growing uneasiness was the awarenesses that after that conversation something would have changed. It needed to, and maybe that was the actual reason she hadn't found the courage to inform the girls and ended up keeping that secret to herself.

Because facing and addressing this new situation also meant ending that long process that a few months ago had brought them back together; it meant starting a new chapter and the reality is that she didn't have the slightest idea of what she was going to find there.

"The first thing I want to say is that Perrie... She doesn't have anything to do with this, you have to believe me" Debbie clarified once the two were outside.

Leigh just nodded, she didn't have the slightest doubt about it. The thought that Perrie was part of that plan never crossed her mind. She knew her (almost) former bandmate: she wasn't capable of something like that, she was the type of person who didn't even lie to defend herself. What happened the day of the fight, how she quickly admitted that she knew about the clauses, was pretty much the proof of that.

"Leigh-Anne" Debbie looked at her with a gentle expression unable to hide the growing guilt. "We couldn't just stay there and watch you throw away your friendship" she tried to motivate their reasons.

"But you didn't have the right!" Leigh cut her shortly, trying to sound more pissed than she actually was; trying not to show the gratefulness she had for their intrusion and intromission.

"We are adults Debbie, I know you love Perrie but this is definitely too much" she sighed.

"But you are also our daughters, and we knew your friendship was worth fighting for... even if you couldn't just see it yourselves yet".

Leigh's widen eyes and her subsequent furrowing was a clear indication that maybe the singer knew less than Perrie's mom imagined.

Perhaps the first thing Debbie should have done was ask what she actually knew about that whole situation.

"Please don't tell me that my mom and Norma are also involved in this" Leigh closed her eyes forcing herself to keep that kind of relaxed attitude.

"Yes" Debbie gave up with no hesitation, there was no room for lies or silly excuses. They had been caught and it was time to come clean, completely.

Leigh shook her head repeatedly, the more information she was obtaining the more complicated everything was getting. "How do you even know Mr. Jones" she demanded to know more and this time she was unable to keep her volume down.