{DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any of the characters, storylines or ideas used in this story is not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story.}
I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. Please review and let me know what you think of this one. Danielle.
BELLA POV
It was almost 11:30pm when I'd finished helping Charlie with the books. I was still mad but I was really tired so I planned to just go home and go to bed. I had no more energy left to argue and I was hoping that after the day Cooper had had he'd already be asleep. I quietly opened the door and imeadately heard the TV going, I closed my eyes and hoped he wasn't watching it. As I slowly walked down the hall and into the lounge I saw Cooper under the blanket, asleep. I let out a silent breath of relief and tiptoed down the hall into bed.
The next morning I woke up at 7am, I strained my ears for sounds of movement beyond the bedroom door but struggled to hear anything. I climbed out of bed and hopped into the shower, I was going for a run. Half an hour later I was running along the road towards the ocean, Cooper had left for work giving me more time to calm down. I wasn't one to let things go and I was still rather mad about our argument the night before. I ran until I reached the diner and stopped in for a coffee before running home and showering again for work. Today was 'books' day so I wasn't dressing as I normally did. I pulled on my skinny jeans, knee high flat boots and a button up chambray shirt. I curled my hair into soft waves and applied make up. It was 9:30am when I walked into the restaurant and the place was empty. We didn't open for breakfast on weekdays so the staff didn't come in until 11am to start setting up for the lunch shift. Today I was doing setup so no-one would be in until 11:30am at least which meant I had the morning to myself, to work in the quiet – just the way I liked it.
At 11am I started setting up for lunch and by 12pm people had already filled up a few tables. I was in and out of the office and kitchen when I noticed a larger crowd of construction workers enter, I instantly recognised one of those construction workers as Cooper and headed into the kitchen "Bella you want to take Cooper's table?" Gemma our head waitress asked and I shook my head "nah, can you take it for me please – I'm behind on the books" I said and she nodded "sure, although we might need you behind the bar, Jamie's got a stomach bug and can't work today and the new girl can't serve alcohol yet" she said and I sighed, I was hoping to spend the next hour in my office away from a specific customer, obviously that was not going to happen "alright fine, I'll take the bar you take the customers" I said and she nodded heading back out into the busy lunch rush. I grabbed my clipboard off the bench beside me and headed back into the restaurant and behind the bar "how can I help you?" I asked a middle aged guy in a suit. This was going to be a long day.
Half an hour later, the crowd had really picked up and I'd barely had a spare moment to think about Cooper sitting a few feet away. I quickly ducked under the counter to grab a couple of beers and inhaled sharply when I saw Cooper standing at the bar, I handed the guys their beers and gave them their change and looked at Cooper "what can I get you?" I asked and he looked at me a moment "are you ever going to talk to me?" he asked and I raised my eyebrows "I just did" I said and he looked away "I mean talk to me properly" he said and I shook my head "not now, no. I'm working" I said and he huffed "can't you take a break for a minute?" he said and I shook my head "no I can't, my bartender has a stomach bug, Gemma is serving the customers and Kelly is only new – she can't serve alcohol yet" I said "fine so I guess we'll just pretend we can't see each other than shall we?" he said and I rolled my eyes "don't be ridiculous – what do you want from me? I'm working – you're on your break. I'm not" I said and he shook his head "fine, I'll see you later then" he said and I shrugged "whatever" I said as he headed back to his table with his workmates. I could hear my phone ringing in my office so I quickly ducked in to answer it, when I returned there was a man behind the counter "excuse me, what are you doing behind the bar?" I asked and he turned around, swaying slightly "getting a drink girly – no one was here to serve me" he slurred and I walked forward "well I'm here now, so you can go around to the other side" I said and he smiled a drunk smile at me "you are here, and I like you" he said grabbing my arm and pulling me forward. The restaurant fell into instant silence, Cooper was out of his chair in a flash "hey let her go" Kelly yelled as both her and Cooper headed for the bar. I held my hand up to them and waved the security guards over, they removed my arms from his grip and hauled him out of the restaurant. Everyone slowly returned to their meals and Kelly and Cooper came over "are you okay?" Kelly asked and I nodded "I'm fine, he was drunk that's all" I said shrugging, I looked over at Cooper who hadn't said anything yet "what, seriously I'm fine – that happens all the time" I said and he shook his head and returned to his seat.
COOPER POV
It was almost 6:30pm when I got home and the place was quiet. I figured Bella was probably still avoiding me, I put my bag on the floor beside the entry table and headed into the kitchen for some water. I was still angry but at least I was willing to talk about it, I tried to stop thinking about it because the more I did the angrier I got. I didn't think I'd done anything wrong, it was my decision and I had the right to think everything through before I even considered telling anyone. From where I was standing Bella was overreacting. Again. I shook my head and walked down the hall to the bedroom, I stopped when I saw Bella sitting on the bed with her laptop on her lap, she looked up at me and stopped for a second "I figured you'd be out all night again avoiding me" I said sarcastically and she rolled her eyes "you not talking to me still?" I asked mockingly and she sighed "what" she said "you going to tell me what you're so worked up about?" I asked and she looked at me like I was stupid "you'll just never get it" she said and I laughed "you make it out like it's such a big deal – it's not even your decision it's mine!" I said raising my voice and she frowned "you just always think about yourself don't you. You can't even stop for five seconds to consider what your decision might mean for me can you" she said and I shook my head "I don't see how me considering joining the army has anything to do with you" I said and she just stared at me. I knew that was the wrong thing to say. I automatically felt guilty for saying it but I wasn't backing down, I felt I was right here so I crossed my arms over my chest "you don't huh?" she said and I shook my head "okay then, if that has nothing to do with me then go ahead, sign up – go and get blow into a million pieces or don't, I don't really care. But don't for a second think that I'll go with you wherever you have to go for your stupid job because I can tell you now I won't. Since you seem to think this has nothing to do with me then you do this on your own. If they tell you that you have to move somewhere else for your job, then you can go on your own. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not sacrificing anything for you. Understand. You choose" she said and she stormed out of the room. "urgh" I groaned slamming the bathroom door closed. This was going to be harder than I thought.
Okay tell me what you think? I'm completely re-writing the story, I'm hoping you like where it's going – do you want to see anything or anyone? Who would you like to see Cooper and Bella turn to for advice? Do you like the arguing banter between them or not? I'd love to know what you like and don't like so leave me a review and tell me your thoughts! I'll be bringing some of the Braxtons into the next few chapters so hopefully you all enjoy that! Leave me your thoughts! Danielle.