Drover's Run...
Several days pass and Stevie's melancholy hovers like a dark cloud over her.
Tess has advised her to proceed with caution, so as not to lose his friendship.
Tess will rely heavily on her now with Nick gone and a baby on the way.
At least Alex is going back to the city.
She won't have to see him.
...
Stevie throws herself into her work as there is little else.
Out working the boundary fence she hears his motorbike.
Looking up she sees Alex and her.
"Hey Stevie need a hand?" He asks sounding happy.
"Nah she's right."She replies without looking up.
...
The motor bike roars off and she glances up.
Fiona's on the bike and he's still here.
Shit! She thinks to herself.
He babbles on about how surprised he is that Fiona can ride a bike.
...
"Five year olds can ride bikes Alex it's not that hard." She grumbles.
'Get out of bed on the wrong side this morning did ya?" He snaps back at her.
Fuming she continues to work as he chatters away to her.
"Are ya gunna talk to me or what?" He snarls grumpily.
"What?" She growls.
...
He shakes his head and asks. "What's wrong with you? You used to be fun to hang out with and now you're just a bloody misery."
His words wound her and she feels the sting deep in her heart.
Used to be fun.
Drawing all her sadness and disappointment into a ball she retorts. "Oh piss off I haven't got time to be explaining myself to you. Some of us have responsibilities and can't afford to be running around playing.'
...
"Playing? What am I a little kid?"Alex questions.
"Perfect description. Found yourself a little bit of fluff you can play with for awhile."She replies snippily.
"You don't know what you're talking about?" He snarls.
"I know you better than you know yourself."She jeers.
...
"I'm in love Stevie so don't try to cheapen it. You're supposed to be my mate and you're supposed to be happy for me." He yells.
"In love! Ha in five days you think you fell in love. You don't fall in love easily Alex. How can you expect me to be happy about you falling for someone as shallow as her?" Her voice almost fails her.
With his face contorted in anger he yells. "Why don't you like her?"
Her pain shows on her face and he sees it. "She lied to you Alex."
...
Fiona arrives back and he climbs onto the bike and they ride off without further comment.
Stevie throws the crowbar onto the ground in anger and slumping down beside it she sobs.
She listens as the bike stops and is about to get up to drive off when she hears it continue away from her.
...
Leaning against the Ute she has her knees bent up and her head resting on them.
She doesn't see his approach.
First thing she knows he's there is when she hears him land near her, and the fence twang.
She looks up.
...
He gives her a sweet look and flops down beside her.
She buries her head back onto on her knees.
He lifts his arm around her shoulder and pulls her in close.
She remains tucked up but lets him comfort her.
...
"What did you do with your plaything?" She finally asks.
"I told her I'd get a lift back with you."He replies.
She leans away from him and stands up.
Grabbing a tissue from the cab she wipes her eyes and blows her nose.
...
"Why were you crying Stevie? That's not like you.' He asks.
"You don't know me Alex. You have no idea." She replies.
He studies her face but she can't look at him.
Her chin quivers and she angrily swipes at the tears that have started to run again.
...
He steps forward with his arms up ready to hug her as a comforting gesture.
"No!" She says shaking her head.
"Please don't hold me."She begs.
Puzzled he looks at her.
...
"But you're upset. I've always done that." He says.
"But it's different now Alex."She says sadly.
"Because I'm engaged?" He asks.
She can't reply.
Not wanting to lie to him.
Her heart makes her feel everything differently now.
They way he looks at her, the way she looks at him.
...
"Fiona wouldn't mind Stevie she knows we're mates."He reassures her stepping a little closer.
"No!" She yells.
"What in the hell is wrong with you?" He yells back at her.
She glides back onto the ground beside the car in tears and says. "Just leave it Alex please just leave it."
...
He sits beside her and touches her shoulder and says. "Stevie what's wrong?"
She shakes her head and says. "I'm in love with someone and he has no idea."
"Shit." He offers.
"Yeah." She replies.
...
"Why haven't you told him?" He asks.
"I was going to but stuff happened."She answers looking straight at him.
He inhales and exhales heavily and asks. "What sort of stuff?"
She closes her eyes and gently shakes her head. "No Alex. I can't do this. Not with you."
...
"He's not married is he Stevie?" He asks softly.
She looks into his eyes and sees herself.
Shaking her head she wipes another tear and offers. "No but he's not single either.'
He pulls her in to hug her and offers. "You need to show him how awesome you are and how much fun you can be. He won't be able to resist you."
...
"Nah he's made his choice I'm not going to interfere." She replies.
Standing up he reaches down to take her hand.
Helping her to her feet he offers. "Nothing's set in concrete Stevie. If you want him, go and get him. I will be so disappointed if you don't fight for what you want. That's not the Stevie Hall I know at all. She'd never roll over and play dead. She'll always fight for the right outcome."
She hugs his waist and says. "Thanks for listening."
He laughs and says. "No worries that's what friends are for."
...
Throwing the fencing gear into the back of the Ute Alex asks. "So we're off to the pub tonight are you coming?"
She nods and replies. 'If I can get rid of my puffy eyes I will."
That smile that she loves spreads across his face.
"I love all ya faces Cowgirl even the angry ones, I'll miss ya if ya don't turn up." He offers.
...
She nods and says. "Alex don't be bloody nice to me. You'll just make me cry again."
"You're such a girl. Ya know that don't ya?" He questions.
"I know I am. But do you?"She quips sliding into the driver's seat.
Momentarily he looks across the cab roof to where she'd been standing a second earlier.
Deep in thought he lowers himself into the passenger seat when she yells at him to move his arse.
...