Awakening Abigail

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Deb was used to getting her way.  She knew exactly how to manipulate and scheme.  She had the ability to convince people to do what she wanted, and she realised this at a very early age.   Naturally she used this gift as often as possible. She perfected it, practising her influence on many different people.  Andrew Cash was no exception.  Except that he was.  For 5 years, since the day she moved in next to him, he was her new subject.  Another man she could twirl around her little finger, convince to do whatever she asked with a swish of the hip and bat of an eyelash.  At first he enjoyed her, amused by her blatant flirting.  He was a man, naturally, and after a few ‘coffees’, she had him where she wanted him.  Or rather, she was where she wanted to be...in his arms.  She didn’t mind that she was being easy.  Who cared these days?  Using her body in order to get her way was not above her, it was actually her main weapon of mass destruction. 

Unfortunately, the ‘in his arms’ part was short lived.  One moment she was throwing herself to him, the next he was sitting on the other sofa, apologising to her, explaining that he valued their friendship too much to ruin it by one night.  Apologising, like a freaking gentleman, while she was the one who started everything.  Her first reaction was to laugh reassuringly and rejoin him, seductively slipping her hand up his leg, assuring him that he would ruin nothing.   But to her dismay, he snatched her hand up, a strained smile on his face.  This was too much for the spoiled Deb.  She stormed out of his apartment, livid.  She did not understand why this idiot of a man rejected her.  No one ever reacted the way he did.  The more she thought about it, the more determined she got.  She would win over this dark eyed man.  He was her biggest challenge.  Straightening her hair, she looked at herself in the mirror.  With her most innocent face, she went back to his apartment.  As he opened the door, she gave a sob, tears streaming down her perfect face.    

“Oh Andrew, I’m so embarrassed!”  It was her most pathetic voice.  She saw his face soften with regret, and felt triumph.  She had to keep a straight face.  “I don’t know what got over me.  Please, I agree with you, your friendship is so dear to me.  Can we just forget about everything?”  Another well placed sob later, and she was inside his apartment, soothing camomile tea in her hands.  Off course he believed her.  Off course they can forget about everything.  Off course, nothing changed between them.

Five years later and all she ever got from him was friendship and camomile tea.  Nothing more.  She got the idea that Andrew liked the whole innocent facade.  No doubt he wanted a lily white little virgin one day.  Typical man.  Unfortunately, she didn’t make the cut at all, but he didn’t need to know that.  According to him she was a 28 year old virgin angel.  Even his brother is convinced that she is wife material.  The past few months she felt like she was making progress.  He was getting older, and naturally he would want someone to settle down with.  Her tactic was to make herself un-miss able.  At least he was not brining home other women, so she knew she didn’t have any major competition. 

Until now.  Here she sat with the man of her dreams, enjoying a lovely breakfast, when it is clear that his mind was somewhere else.  Somewhere with brown hair and a bony ass.  Andrew was still staring in the direction of the dark haired woman, his cell phone in his hand.  She felt her cheeks go red.  She saw the look exchanged between them.  She was experienced enough to know what was going on.  Her Andrew was in love with another woman.  And not just any woman, a good for nothing, 5 foot little dog shit.

She knew she needed to calm herself.  She couldn’t afford Andrew knowing how jealous she was.  With a sweet smile she reached out and touched his arm.

“Sweety, are you okay?”  She could see his eyes shift, meeting her’s.  A blush crept up his cheeks.

“Sorry Deb, got a bit distracted.  What were you saying?”  He was clearly struggling to seem interested.  She took a deep breath.

“Nothing important.  Just how nice the food is.  Taste!”  She held out her fork towards him.  She could see him stiffen.

“You know what Deb, I don’t feel too good.  Think my omelette was off.  Excuse me a moment.”  He got up, walked in the direction of the bathroom.  Deb slammed the fork onto her plate.  She didn’t care about the waiter’s shocked look.  She was ready to kill.  Just as she was about to get up and leave, she noticed that Andrew left his cell phone on the table.  Immediately she took it, and scrolled to his messages.  The last message was from an Abigail White.  She read the message, a small frown forming on her forehead.  What the hell was this?  She scrolled to his sent message, the frown creeping deeper.  Andrew sending cryptic text messages to this Abigail woman?  There was clearly something going on.  Her hands had a slight tremor as she put down the phone on it’s original place. 

Andrew reappeared, and she already had her game face on.

“Sit down dear!  I asked the waiter to bring the bill and a glass of water.  Shame, do you feel better?” 

Andrew nodded, smiling at her. He clearly pulled himself together while he was in the bathroom. 

“So sorry Deb, I feel bad leaving you alone.  Let me get the bill, I owe you.”  Always the gentleman, she thought.  She smiled sweetly.

“Oh,if you insist!  Thank you.”  She tried to look as innocent as possible.  “Who was that pretty little girl you saw just now.  She was absolutely stunning!”  She wanted to puke.

Andrew looked momentarily startled, but then answered:  “That was Abi.  She is one of my honour students, and an assistant for my first and second year subjects.”  He then realised something.  “You know what, she’s in the same economics class as your nephew, I think.  You mentioned he had one of my economic classes?    What’s his name?”

Deb couldn’t help feel that karma was on her side.  “His name is Matt, Matt Barnes.  Do you know him?”

Andrew seemed shocked.  “You mean the big gym-psycho?”  He immediately apologised.  “Sorry Deb, he is just a big guy.”

Deb laughed, trying to collect her thoughts.  If Matt had the same class as this Abi, this could work in her favour.  “Don’t worry Andrew.  He does overdo the whole gym thing way too much.”  She smiled, feeling like a cat with a saucer of cream.  “What a small world, hmmm?”

Andrew had a frown on his forehead.  Clearly he did not feel favourable towards Matt.  But she didn’t care.  Matt was a means to an end.  She got up.  “Oh sweety, I don’t want to be rude, but I think its time to go. “  Andrew nodded, and also stood up.  “Yes, yes, I still have to sort out a few things.  Thank you for the lovely breakfast Deb.  What would I do without you?  Probably starve.”  Deb laughed.  She knew he just said things like that.  She knew he only saw her as a friend.  But she always hoped he would change his mind, realise that he would really starve without her.  She had an ugly expression on her face.  She was Deb Harris, and she always got what she wanted.  Andrew Cash would not be an exception.  And she sure as hell would not allow some grad student to snatch him from under her nose.  She thinks a visit to her dearest nephew was in order.