“If your cat is going to insist on clawing my head at 5 am, I’m going to be forced to break every one of his limbs and use him as a rather useless duster,” Gina said groggily as she wandered into the kitchen the next day.

“Sorry, you not a cat person then?” Fenny asked through a mouthful of toast.

“Actually, I love cats…I just don’t like being woken before dawn,” Gina scorned as she helped herself to a cup of tea.

“What will you do if you ever have children?” Fenny asked as she took another mouthful of cereal.

“Hey, I like babies,” Gina huffed.

“Unless they’re crying, screaming, puking or stinking right?” Fenny mused.

“Your point being?” Gina asked.

“If we were allowed to mention those people back in LA, which we have stoically chosen not to, I would say that you and the spectacled one are way too similar before lunchtime,” Fenny perked.

“Yes, well we’re not talking about those people back in LA, are we?” Gina scorned.

“No, that’s right, and I think I managed to avoid said topic quite well,” Fenny said poignantly.

“Bypassed it like the a-bomb at Hiroshima,” Gina sarced.

Fenny looked at her, slightly worried by her metaphor. “On a lighter note, I’ve been working out what we’re going to do today,” she chirped.

“Oh yes, enlighten me,” Gina mused.

“I thought we could go shopping, and then I know a great café we can stop off at. Some more shopping, then lunch, in the afternoon we can hang out at the beach and…”

“Fen, calm down, woman. What’s with this whole girlie day out thing?” Gina gasped, looking at Fenny like she was mental.

“Actually, I’m channelling all my energies from that person back in LA and my recent sexual adventures into filling my life with more purposeful activities,” Fenny said matter-of-factly.

“Shopping and lazing on the beach are purposeful?” Gina jeered.

“Do you have to be so cynical?” Fenny scorned. “All I want is for us to have some fun for a change.”

“Ok, ok, I’m sorry, I’m not very good at mornings,” Gina yawned. “So, shopping you say?”

“Yes, so you’d better get off your ass sometime soon,” Fenny mused.

“Just for that comment I’m going to make my breakfast drag out,” Gina scorned.

“Sometimes, Gina, you can be pure spite,” Fenny countered.

“Only sometimes?” Gina smiled.

Greg yawned all the way to his car – he hated getting out of bed before lunch. The only upside was that it meant he could escape yet another row with his wife. Greg approached his car and stopped to pull his cell phone from his pocket. He dialled Gina’s number again and got the same computerized voice.

“Where the fuck are you?” he scowled.

“Greg,” a voice said abruptly. Greg looked up to see Brad looking like he hadn’t slept at all.

“Dude, you look like shit,” Greg gasped.

“Where is she?” Brad asked sternly.

“Who?” Greg said innocently.

“You know who,” Brad spat.

“Fenny? Man, I don’t know. I could take a wild guess and say somewhere with Gina,” Greg shrugged. “I haven’t been able to get hold of her either.”

“What did you do to make her leave?” Brad snapped.

“Me, you’re the one who’s engaged to Ritza,” Greg retorted.

“What? You told her that?” Brad hissed.

“No, Gina told me. Ritza was flashing the ring around,” Greg countered.

“And you told Ryan and Colin,” Brad huffed.

“So is it true?” Greg asked.

“Of course it’s not, I love Fenny,” Brad replied.

“Then why are you still with psycho bitch?” Greg scorned.

“I’ve been trying to break it off with her, but it’s never the right time,” Brad said bitterly.

“What are you waiting for? A little man with a cue card?” Greg spat.

“It’s easier said than done,” Brad snapped.

Greg smiled wryly. “Don’t tell me you actually love her? Ritza I mean. You avoided the question in Australia too.”

“I don’t love her, I just feel sorry for her. She’s been through a lot of shit,” Brad retorted.

“Oh, don’t make me retch. She’s a gun-toting, power-hungry psycho, and the quicker you give her the flick the better for all concerned,” Greg hissed.

“Right now, Greg, all I want to do if find Fenny and explain to her that I’m not engaged,” Brad said through clenched teeth.

“What the fuck do you think I’ve been trying to do?” Greg said emphatically.

“Dammit!” Brad hissed and clenched and unclenched his fists.

“I guess she could have gone home,” Greg mumbled.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Brad sighed.

“You really want me to answer that?” Greg sarced,

Brad narrowed his eyes. “So are you driving?” he asked.

“I didn’t know I was going,” Greg replied.

“You can amuse Gina while I talk to Fen,” Brad said bluntly.

“Fine,” Greg breathed and unlocked his car.

It was late afternoon when Fenny and Gina arrived at Echoes. They’d spent the entire afternoon at the beach, after what turned out to be an interesting morning of shopping. They’d spent a lot of time going through second hand shops and it took all of Fenny’s persuasive powers to stop Gina buying a pair of what she considered funky rainbow striped flares. Later, Gina had insisted that Fenny buy a pair of figure hugging, leather pants and a pair of magenta boots. Then Fenny dared Gina to buy an “I Love Britney” T-shirt and was horrified when she actually did.

The shopping trip came to a sudden end after they visited an expensive boutique and Gina informed the owner that all the clothes were designed for “pre-pubescent Asian girls,” and that she would have to “sew two items together just to cover my arse.”

“I should disown you after what you did today,” Fenny scolded as she ordered them both lemonade.

“But?” Gina prompted.

“It was so funny,” Fenny giggled.

“It’s true, though,” Gina smiled.

“You know what’s not funny though?” Fenny announced. “The fact you’re still wearing that wholly offensive Britney Spears T-shirt.”

“Would you rather I took it off?” Gina asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Don’t you dare,” Fenny smiled, knowing only too well that Gina probably would, given half the chance.

“So what’s on the agenda for tonight?” Gina queried.

“Some appalling chick flicks. Don’t want anything we might actually have to think about,” Fenny replied.

“Sounds good to me. Hey, you didn’t get Titanic, did you?” Gina mused.

“Only so we can fast forward to where Leonardo DiCaprio dies,” Fenny smirked.

Gina choked on her lemonade. “That’s so wonderfully sadistic.”

“I know, I’m feeling very liberated. No work and no ex-lovers,” Fenny perked.

“I’m pleased for you. Where’s the dunnies around here?” Gina asked.

“Nice use of Australian slang,” Fenny mused. “Come on, I’ll show you,” she added getting to her feet.

“Strewth, a flamin’ escort to take a piss,” Gina jeered.

“Ok, that’s just sad now,” Fenny said pointedly as she led Gina across the room.

&bnsp;

“You only want to go in here to drink,” Brad scorned as both he and Greg entered Echoes.

“After the last couple of hours with you, are you surprised?” Greg scorned

“Oh, and you’re such a barrel of laughs,” Brad hissed.

“Do you want a drink or not?” Greg spat.

“I want to save my relationship,” Brad huffed.

“Better get the defibrillator then,” Greg mused.

Brad gave him daggers.

“Fen…” Gina began.

“I’m not carrying lipstick, tampons, a hairbrush, breath mints or illegal drugs,” Fenny perked as she looked in the mirror.

“Actually, I just wanted to say that I’m having such a great time hanging out with you. You’re a lot more fun when you’re not emotionally screwed,” Gina smiled.

“Thanks, I think.” Fenny smiled back.

Gina wandered to the door, opened it, froze, and then quickly closed it again.

“What?” Fenny asked, curious.

“Look over at the bar,” Gina mumbled.

Fenny looked at Gina curiously and then opened the door a crack. “What the hell are they doing here?” she cussed.

“Fucked if I know,” Gina sighed.

“Now what do we do?” Fenny grumbled.

Gina pondered for a moment. “Well you’re new, liberated Fenny. Why don’t you walk over to Brad and tell him what you think,” she perked.

“Oh, I don’t know if I…” Fenny muttered.

“You can do it, you’re not going to get messed about by that two-timing bastard anymore,” Gina insisted.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right,” Fenny agreed, somewhat nervously. “But if I have to be ‘new, liberated Fenny’ then you have to be nice, sweet and loving Gina.”

“No, see, that’s going too far,” Gina scorned.

“Oh go on, give me a laugh,” Fenny jeered, “I dare you.”

Gina uncrossed her arms. “Fine,” she said with a wry smile.

Gina opened the door and marched across the room to where Greg and Brad had moved from the bar to a table. Both looked up, slightly shocked, and Fenny peered out from a crack in the door.

“Gina, where the hell have you been. I’ve been trying to contact you for the last 24 hours,” Greg announced.

“I’m sorry baby, I got so caught up in everything,” Gina cooed as she plonked herself in Greg’s lap.

Fenny bit her lip to stop herself giggling.

“Baby?” Greg said, shocked.

“Don’t be angry at little me,” Gina continued, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Well, I’m not really angry…just a bit miffed,” Greg mumbled.

“Aww, you’re so cute when you’re miffed,” Gina pouted and then planted a kiss on Greg’s lips.

Brad looked slightly revolted as the two locked lips, and took the opportunity to scan the room for Fenny. When he turned back Greg was looking stunned and Gina was pulling him to his feet.

“Let’s go for a nice walk, so we can catch up and make up,” Gina purred and they were gone.

Brad took another drink from his glass and looked around the room; still no Fenny.

“Right, here goes nothing,” Fenny breathed, opened the door and walked over to Brad.

“Fenny, god listen…” Brad began getting to his feet.

“No, you listen,” Fenny said sharply, cutting him off. “I am sick of being your plaything, Brad. You keep turning up, fucking me, saying that you love me and then leaving. If you loved me YOU WOULDN’T LEAVE,” she snapped.

“Fenny I…”

“We are totally over Bradley Sherwood. I don’t need you and your shit anymore. I will find someone who will not treat me like a whore and I will live happily ever after, while you, hopefully, will rot in hell with delectable Ritza Crispin,” Fenny spat and then marched out of Echoes, leaving Brad stunned and embarrassed.

Once outside, Greg pulled Gina into his arms. She pushed him away.

“Get off, I only did it for a dare,” Gina hissed.

“A dare!” Greg spat.

“Hey, I didn’t ask you to come here,” Gina scorned.

“It was Brad’s idea, I had nothing to do with it,” Greg snapped.

“Yeah well, go back to him,” Gina rasped.

“What’s happened in the last 24 hours to fuck you up?” Greg asked bewildered.

“It’s standing in front of me,” Gina breathed.

Before Greg could respond, Fenny wandered out the door.

“How’d it go?” Gina asked.

“Wonderful,” Fenny smiled.

“Let’s go watch Leo die then,” Gina chuckled.

“What about him,” Fenny asked, motioning toward Greg.

“Oh, he’s going back to join Brad,” Gina nodded as they walked off without looking back.