- Chapter 1._Belle Jacobs pursed her ruby lips, staring out into the scenery passing along by her windscreen. Her eyes drifted slightly to the right to see the 'Welcome to Summerbay!' sign, she let out a sigh, knowing this was going to be a fresh start. Or so she hoped anyway. It had been the right descision to get out of that town. After what her ex, Jaxon, had done to her. She couldn't stay anymore.
She cracked her window open, letting the cool breeze blow her soft blonde locks around her neck and back. She gave another sigh as the town came into view. She had no idea what possessed her to move to a small coastal town of all places, but she wasn't about to turn back now.
She'd met a lovely woman named, Roo Stewart, in the previous week she'd come to inspect the town, she'd managed to rent a small apartment off the woman, which is exactly what she needed. Somewhere small and all hers.
She managed to navagate her way around to the place, pulling into the driveway and jumping out. She stood staring at the house for a good few minutes, just now realizing that she'd actually done it, she'd moved on. She was free.
A giant grin slipped across her face as she shut the car door and jogged up to the house, un-locking the door and walking straight in, it was a simple house, living room, kitchen. and two bedrooms with a bathroom in-between them, and a small laundry just next to the back-door.
It was perfect.
She turned around, walking back to the car she carried in the few bags she had brought with her, the removal truck had everything else, and they weren't going to be here for another hour. She dumped the few bags she'd brought inside and walked back out, locking the door on her way. May aswell look around town before her furniture gets here.
She got back into her car, driving a way up the streets before parking out the front of a crowded diner, she jumped out of the dark blue 2005 ford mustang, and made her way inside.
"Hi! What can I get you!" a young blonde girl asked, putting some drinks on the table then turning back to, Belle.
"Uhm, a vanilla latte, please." she gave a short smile which the girl returned. "Just a sec." the waitress murmured before grabbing somemore drinks off the counter and taking them to another table.
She rushed back behind the counter, starting up the coffee machine. "Sorry, It's been a long day and i'm the only one working." she sighed, grabbing a paper cup off the rack.
"That's okay" Belle smiled "How come you're the only one working? Shouldn't you have some help or something?"
"Well, Leah had to go pick her son up from school, Roo is gone out to lunch with my dad an, Colleen had bowls today." she replied, "And everyone else wasn't rostered to work an they're all busy."
Belle nodded sympathetically "You mean, Roo stewart?" she asked, remembering the woman from last week. "Yeah, you know her?"
"I met her last week, she's renting me an apartment" Belle answered politely "I just moved her. Belle Jacobs" she held her hand out for a handshake which the other girl happily took. "Indie Walker."
"Nice to meet you, Indie." she smiled, "Hey, If you need help... I'm looking for a job, and I used to waitress back in my high-school days..." she murmured hopefully, she knew she would have to find a job eventually, this could save her alot of time.
"Uhm, I suppose. I mean, I'd have to clear it up with, Leah.." she answered, popping the lid on the now filled cup. Belle nodded "Well, I have to get settled in tonight and the truck with all my things is coming in an hour, but.. If you could talk to, uh, Leah? That'd be great." she smiled, scribbling her number down ans handing it to Indie.
"I will" she smiled "Nice meeting you, Belle."
"You too." she smiled, paying for her coffee before walking out of the diner, she made her way down to the beach, coffee in hand. She had always loved the beach, something about the smell and the sound of waves just, calmed her down.
She took a sip of the vannila-ry goodness, before slipping her shoes off and picking them up before walking over to the water, feet set in the wet sand as the freezing water rushed over her feet.
She let out a blissful sigh, closing her eyes and listening to the water crashing and the kids giggling and shouting around her, It was such a beautiful sound.
Taking another sip of her coffee, she turned around, noticing a little boy sitting back in the beach, next to a set of stairs, he looked like he was crying, she bit her lip looking around, no-one else seemed to notice him. She made her way over slowly, cautiously. Once she got within a metre of him she realised he was definately crying.
"Hey" she whispered when close enough, he jumped, startled, looking up at her for a moment before hiding his head back in his little arms. He couldn't have been more that four.
"Are you okay, sweetie? he looked up again, tears still streaming as he stared at her curiously "Where's your mum and dad?" she asked softly, as not to scare him away.
"I-I don't know.." he sniffled "I can't find them.."
"When were you last with them?" she asked, kneeling down to his level. "I came to the beach with my d-daddy. H-H went t-to get ice-cream and I wanted to go swimming, so I went to find him so I could ask and, I-I got lost.." he murmured quietly, hiccupping and sniffiling as he spoke.
Belle sighed, holding a hand out to him "How about I help you find him then?" she asked, giving him a soft smile, he slowly reached out, taking her bigger hand in his much smaller one.
"O-Okay"
"What way did you come from?" she asked, following his finger as he pointed to the right, down the beach. "Okay, lets go look down there."
She walked with the little boy for a while before talking again "What's your name, honey?"
"J-Jake.." he murmured, looking up at her with his big blue eyes. "What's your daddy's name, Jake?"
"Well, his name's, Darryll. But everyone calls him, Brax. But not me, I call him daddy." Belle giggled softly, this kid was cute. "Okay, why do they call him, Brax?"
"Our last name is, Braxton." he shrugged like she should just know that, tears now calmed down but not fully stopped. She nodded in understanding.
"My name's, Belle." she smiled as he grinned slightly.
"Do you see him anywhere?" she asked, looking around at the many faces on the beach. Jake shook his head "No, not yet." he sniffled "What if we don't find him?" he asked, panicing slightly.
"Don't worry, sweetie. We'll find him. I promise." Jake nodded slowly, still gripping her hand tightly in his. They searched for another few minutes, still nothing.
Jake sighed, still looking around the beach with his big eyes "What if he left?" he whimpered, more tears trickling down his chubby cheeks. Belle sighed, where the hell was this 'Brax' guy?
"Does he love you?" she asked, Jake immediately nodded. "Yeah, he tells me and mummy that he loves us both, everyday."
Belle smiled "Then he'll be here. If he loves you that much, he'll never leave you behind." Jake smiled up at her. "Really?"
"Really."
Jake grinned, tears now stopped. He turned his head back to resume looking for his dad. "UNCLE HEATH!" He practically screamed, scaring the crap out of, Belle. He dragged her over with him to 'Uncle Heath'.
"Jake! Where the hell have you been? Your fathers going insane looking for you! And your mother!"
"Why's mummy here?" he asked, looking thoroughly confused "Daddy said she was working." he narrowed his eyes "Did he lie?" Belle giggled at the young boys serious face, attracting the attention of both of them.
Jake grinned "Thi s is my uncle, Heath." he introduced "Uncle Heath, this is, Belle." he smiled, proud of himself for remembering her name.
Belle looked up at the man infront of her, smiling slightly, he was hot. She had always had a thing for guys with broad shoulders and tattoos.
He nodded to her "Thanks for rescuing the kid" he murmured, shamlessly checking her out, she rolled her eyes, could he be more obvious? "Maybe there's some way I can repay you?" he smirked, inching closer, she realised just how tall he was. He had to be at least 6"3 to her 5"4.
"Thanks" she mumbled sarcastically "But just consider it an action of the heart. No repayment neccisary." she stated, crossing her arms across her chest.
He smirked "Oh, but I insist. I can think of many ways to... repay you.." he whispered huskily. She couldn't believe he was actually doing this, cocky much? And infront of his nephew?
"I'm sure you can, stud. But i'll have do decline." she narrowed her eyes, glancing down at, Jake who was looking between them weirdly.
"JAKE!" Belle almost jumped out of her skin when people started screaming the name behind her, Jake was snatched up before she had a chance to turn around, when she did her jaw almost hit the floor.
Behind her were a group of, very, very, sexy shirtless men, she almost drooled. "Oh, baby, where have you been!" her eyes snapped back to, Jake, in the arms of a beautiful woman. Assumingly his mother.
"I got lost!" Jake sniffled, burying his face in her neck, then he picked it back up, staring, Belle in the eyes. He pointed to her "Belle brought me back, she helped me find you." he murmured, sending her a smile "Thankyou, Belle."
She was about to melt at this boys cuteness! He was adorable! She sent him a soft smile "That's okay, sweetie."
"Oh! - Thankyou so much! his mother sniffled, trying to stop her crying." She pushed a hand out "I'm, Charlie. Charlie Buckton."
Belle took her hand, "Belle Jacobs. I just moved here."
"You're last name is my name!" Jake squealed happily, earning a laugh from everyone. "That it is cutie." she smiled, checking her watch, "Speaking of moving here, my movers are about to show up any minute. I should get back home." she murmured.
Charlie nodded "Of course. Thankyou so much for helping him." she sniffled again. Belle nodded, looking at Jake "Don't you go getting lost anytime soon, kay?"
He nodded cheekily "I wont!"
She sent another smile and a wave before turning and walking in the direction of her car. Throwing her now empty coffee cup into a bin she passed.
"So - When do you want payment?" A husky voice asked, her head snapped back up, eyes rolling at the sight of, Heath. "I don't." she replied, walking faster. He only did the same.
"A least go have a drink with me?" he asked, walking backwards so he could face her. She shook her head "Can't, I have movers coming to bring all my things. I have to unpack and stuff."
"Later?" he asked, shoving his arm infrot of her to stop her from moving. "Why?" she asked "I saved your nephew, can't you just be grateful and leave it at that?" she asked, crossing her arms again.
He shook his head, un-deniably sexy smirk still in place. "No. You're too interesting to just let leave." He snickered at her annoyed look. "It's a small town, Babe. I'll just find you again and again until you agree."
She groaned, defeated. "Fine. One drink." she stated, tilting her head slightly. "That's it."
He put his hands up, giving her a wink "One drink." he agreed, michevious look in his eyes, he put his hand out "Heath Braxton." he introduced officially.
"Belle Jacobs." she sighed, taking his hand cautiously and shaking it.
"Welcome to the bay, Belle."
_- I just had to write a Home and Away fic. I love the show so much! Haha - Theres a picture of Belle on my profile, If you wanna check it outt.