Imagine Book 2 (Requests Welcome)

A Chance Meeting- Debbie Gallagher (Shameless) Pt.2~ Jealousy

As requested by jtr85127036! Male Y/N.

𝑺𝒎𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈

The morning sun streamed through the windows of The Ground Up café, casting a warm glow over the worn leather seats where Debbie Gallagher sat waiting for Y/N. Her auburn hair caught the light as she fidgeted with her coffee cup, turning it in slow circles. She'd picked this spot specifically – it was their usual meeting place, where they'd spent countless hours talking about everything and nothing.

The bell above the door chimed, and Y/N walked in with that familiar easy smile that always made her heart skip. Today though, there was something different about him – a certain lightness in his step, a brightness in his eyes that she'd never seen before.

"Hey Debs," he said, sliding into the seat across from her. "Sorry I'm late. Got caught up at work."

"You're like, five minutes early, actually," she replied with a smirk, pushing a coffee toward him – she'd already ordered his usual. "But something's different. Spill."

Y/N took a sip of his coffee, trying and failing to suppress a grin. "That obvious, huh?"

"Please. I've known you since forever. I can read you like a book." She leaned forward, elbows on the table. "So what gives?"

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture she'd seen a thousand times when he was trying to find the right words. "I met someone last night. It was... I don't know, Debs. It was different."

Debbie felt her stomach drop, but kept her expression neutral. Years of dealing with Gallagher family drama had made her good at hiding her feelings when she needed to. "Oh yeah? Different how?"

"It was just so unexpected, you know? I was just taking my usual walk, and there she was..." Y/N trailed off, lost in the memory. "She was so strong and independent, but there was this vulnerability too. And the way she talked – so direct, so honest. No games, no pretence."

Each word felt like a tiny knife in Debbie's chest. She'd been waiting for the right moment to tell Y/N how she felt, had it all planned out. And now...

"Sounds perfect," she managed, her voice only slightly strained.

"It was... intense. But in a good way." Y/N looked at her, his expression softening. "Hey, you okay? You seem off."

"I'm fine," she said automatically, then caught herself. Wasn't this exactly what she hated – people not being honest with their feelings? She'd spent too many years watching her family members lie to each other, pretending everything was fine when it wasn't.

"Actually, no. I'm not okay." Debbie pushed her coffee cup aside, her hands clenching into fists under the table. "You want to know why?"

Y/N's brow furrowed with concern. "Of course I do. What's wrong?"

"I love you," she blurted out, the words tumbling from her lips before she could stop them. "Not just as my best friend. I'm in love with you. Have been for... God, I don't even know how long anymore."

The silence that followed felt eternal. Debbie could hear her heart pounding in her ears, could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Y/N stared at her, his mouth slightly open in surprise.

"Debs..."

"No, let me finish," she cut him off, her voice trembling slightly. "I know I probably just ruined everything, and I know you met someone amazing last night, but I couldn't... I couldn't keep pretending anymore. I'm a Gallagher – we're not exactly known for making the smart choice, right?"

She let out a shaky laugh, blinking back tears. "So yeah, that's it. That's my big confession. And now you can tell me how you want to stay friends, or how you're sorry but—"