Summary: Annie Braxton has just arrived in the Bay after spending some time in the city. What's the first thing she does? Get's arrested. When her brother has to come and bail her out, everyone finds out that the Braxtons, of the infamous River Boys, have a sister. Then she meets a certain surfer. Does she fall hard or just trip?
Disclaimer: I do not own Home&Away in anyway shape or form. If I did I'd have an old episode on everyday, so we can remember the characters that were in it when I started watching H&A, like Tasha, Robbie, Kim, Cassie and Matilda. Oh yeah, the only thing I own is Annie Braxton.
A/N: Okay, finally here it is. Annie finally runs into Brax. What's in store. Better read on and find out.
Chapter Three: Hello Again
Casey and I walked back to the beach, as we thought it might be best if we at least try and talk to Heath about this thing with John Palmer, who I just found out, thanks to Case over here, was the guy from earlier.
"Okay, but why do you like her?" I asked as we had just touched down on the subject of Ruby "She's completely up herself, Case"
"No, she's not. You just need to get to know her" Casey said defending her. I shot him a cheeky glance "And I don't like her"
"Deny it all you want, Case" I said shrugging my shoulders. He then playfully wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up. I laughed loudly, before he put me back down once we say what was down on the beach "Oh shit, there's Brax"
"Sooner rather than later, Sis" He said patting my shoulder. Him and two of the other boys seemed to be getting into an argument with Xavier. I saw Romeo run down the beach towards them. Okay, now was my time to like walk away and hope he doesn't notice me being here yet "You're such a coward"
"Coming from the one who won't stand up to the boys" I teased back. He shook his head and drew his attention back to the almost fight. That was when my eyes caught the water. Four of the boys, including his Heath were going over the wave, while the kid from earlier being toppled over by the large wave and off his surf board. I gasped when I saw he disappeared and all was left was his boogie board floating in the water. There was only one thing I could think of "ROMEO!" I called down the beach getting his attention. He, as well as Xavier and the three Boys turned and looked up towards me and Casey. I pointed out to where the boogie board was floating among the tumbling waves.
"VJ" He called before running over to where the board was washing up on the beach. I grabbed Casey arm and ran down the beach to where Romeo was blowing his whistle, trying to the get the boys to come in.
"Annie?" Brax asked coming closer to me, looking shocked "What are you doing here? Where have you been?"
"Look, I'll answer all you're questions later, okay" I said looking around. Everyone had gathered, searching the water for any sign of the young boy. Romeo and Xavier brought the life boat down to water as John Palmer arrived.
"What happened?" He asked rushing down.
"I don't know" Romeo said pulling the boat closer to the water "One minute he was there and the next he wasn't" He eyes landed on something behind us. Turning around I saw it was one of the Boys carrying him from the water.
Romeo managed to wake him up and took him up to the Surf Club where they were met by Paramedics. I followed Heath up, who was the person carrying him out. We stood out of the way while his Mum came.
"I think he just has a minor concision" The paramedic confirmed and I breathed a sigh of relief "But, I'd like to still take him to hospital in case there are any complications"
"There you go now" John said turning around to us "Look what you done. Feel like a big man, now?"
"Hey, mate. I dragged the kid out of the water" Heath defended "What could I do? Just let him drown?"
"Is that what happened Mr. Innocent?" John asked sarcastically "Look, I want you to call the police. Get Charlie down here now"
"Hey" I said "I saw it. One minute he was on his board and wave came. Then next thing I knew he was gone"
"Of course you'd say that" John piped.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked putting my hands on my hips.
"It's supposed to mean you're a Braxton" Heath informed me
"I wouldn't lie about this" I said "I'm telling the truth. Come on, kid"
"Stay away from my son" His mum warned as I took a step closer.
"VJ got in his way. He didn't like it. He took him out" John said before turning to Heath "Is that what happened?"
"But-" I retorted, attempting to step closer to this Palmer guy, but Heath held me back.
"No, it's alright" Heath said "We're gonna get blamed for it anyway, so why try?"
"Well, are you gonna stick around and see how that turns out" The other guy, I'd say 30-ish, said "I'd say get the hell away from here. You and you're mates"
"See you later, Dude" Heath said to VJ. He was almost at the door before he had to turn and call me "Annie, Brax probably wants to talk to you. Come on" I glared at the two men before following my brother out of the surf club.
I leaned me elbows against the wooden fence along the car park, chatting with Casey when his face dropped by something behind me. Still giggling, I looked over my shoulder to see Brax and Heath walking up the path with their surfboards under their arms. I sighed as they got closer to us.
"Alright, answers, young lady" Brax said resting is surfboard against the fence. I giggled looked at him.
"Young lady" I laughed looking over at Casey.
"Annie" Brax said in a serious tone. I turned my head back to him with raised eyebrows. I knew I wasn't taking this seriously, but hey, it was fun winding him up. He turned to Heath and spoke to him "You and Case go on. I'll talk to her"
"Don't leave me here alone" I pleaded with Casey before he and Heath walked off to the car.
"I'm serious. Where have you been for three years?"
"The city" I shrugged and his eyes widened.
"The city?" He questioned and I nodded.
"Can you not hear?" I asked starting to giggle again "Have you gone deaf in old age?"
"You were living about an hour away" Brax said "For three years"
"We've established that, yes" I said smirking
"Annie take this seriously, for once" Brax warned. I sighed, rolling my eyes, while pushing myself off the fence
"Okay, I'm all ears" I said standing in front of him.
"Why did you leave?" Brax asked "Tell me that?"
"No one really knew I was there anyway. Would it be any different if I was gone?" I told him.
"Of course it would be" Brax said smiling a little bit "With someone not taking an hour in the bathroom every morning"
"Hey" I said playfully hitting his arm "I thought we were being serious here?"
"We are" Brax said straightening his face up again "Okay, so you left because you felt ignored, then you went to the city. What took you three years?"
"What do you think it was?" I asked rhetorically "Pride"
"What did you do for the three years?" Brax asked "Where did you live? How did you get money?"
"Oi, Oi" I said "One at a time. Well after I went there I found an apartment. I lived there with like six other people. I got a job as a waitress. That's practically it. I just worked and went out with the people I lived with. They were my friends"
"So, nothing illegal?" He asked
"No, because I'm a good girl, Brax" I said fluttering my eyelashes at him "Well, unless you count underage drinking. That's about it"
"You promise?" Brax asked and I nodded "Okay, let's go and take you home"
"I never said I was sticking around" I said "As much as I like it here, and like being back. I still have a life back in the city. Friends. Job. It's only a visit for now"
"A visit?" He questioned and I nodded my head slowly "Well, theres no point in taking you home now is there"
"What?" I exclaimed.
"What? You'll be here, like a week? Two tops?" Brax asked "There's no point getting everyone's hopes up for you sticking around, when really, the best we could hope for is a visit like this every three years or so"
"You are supposed to be my brother" I said walking after him "You guys are supposed to look out for me"
"I think you looked after yourself pretty well for the last three years" Brax said before he hopped in his car. I just stood there, watching them drive away and back to Mangrove River. How could he just do that? Walk away. He never would do that. Not the Brax I remember. No way.
I sat in the corner of the diner, with my backpack resting at my feet. I came here shortly after they left as the sun was beginning to set. I knew I was getting a few looks from the waitresses. Probably, mainly because I haven't ordered anything. I have no money. I can't order anything. Then there was the one from earlier, Mrs Smart, who just keeps giving me dirty looks. I just sat there, quietly as the crowd lightened. I barely raised my head to look around, so before I knew it the woman with the curly dark hair was moping up the floor, ready to shut the doors.
"I'm sorry, Darl. But, you're going to have to go soon" She said "We're closing in about 10 minutes"
"Right" I said running my hands over my tired face. I had been up since early this morning.
"You okay?" She asked. I looked up to see her standing in front of the table with a concerned look on her face.
"What do you care?" I asked shrugging my shoulders "You don't know me"
"Yes, but I have seen my fair share of troubled teenagers" She said "What's troubling ya?"
"My, um, brother just left when I said I wasn't sure I was going to come back and stay with them or not, like permanently" I said after a slight hesitation "I've nowhere to stay. Do you happen to know when the next bus to the city leaves?"
"Morning" She said
"Great" I said slumping back in the seat and running my fingers over my tied back hair.
"You know, if you're looking for a place to stay tonight, I can let you stay over at mine" She offered. I looked up at her, cocking one eyebrow up. Of course, she was feeling sorry for me. Why would she offer for me to stay with her if she wasn't?
"Thanks for the offer, but I have no money" I shrugged "I stupidly spent all the money I took with me on the bus here"
"It's alright, darl" She said "And if you need anything long-term we could always sort something out"
"Why are you being so nice?" I asked "You don't even know me. I stole from here earlier, and doesn't everyone in this town practically hate my brothers"
"It's called being nice, love" She said "And you seem like a nice girl, so I'll give you a chance. But, I'm warning you, any of that stuff your brothers and them mates of theirs get up to and you're out"
"Yeah, sure. Thank you" I nodded and held out my hand "I'm Annie"
"I know. John Palmer was round here earlier shooting his mouth off about you" She said shaking it "You can call me Irene"
Okay, I know I have been like changing Annie character. It took me like a few days to write this, and each time I seem to write her different. You'll have to bare with me until I get into a swing of writing this story and what she's like. Soon enough she'll be stable
But for now I'm going to explain. Basically, she's a nice girl. Doesn't get into trouble too often. When she does, it's mostly for shoplifting. She does have a record for that and a few other minor things but that's it. She likes to have a good time. Joke around. Have fun you know. She drinks as well but, hey what 19-year old doesn't? Anyway, yes she has a bit of a temper, and I use the term 'a bit' pretty loosely. She's protective of her family. You insult them you're pretty much insulting her. She does consider most of the River Boys family as they were around a lot of the time when she was growing up. Even though they weren't always appreciative of her, she does look upon them as brothers as well, and they look upon her as a little sister, almost. She does have money issues. She didn't get paid a lot with her waitress job, and then with all the rent and bills and everything in the apartment, it takes up a lot of her wages. Even with 6 other people living there. They're all on low paid jobs, if they do have jobs in the first place. She can stick up for herself. She doesn't need anyone to look for her, unless she's in 6 feet of shit or something. Basically she's a nice girl, who likes to have fun, with a temper, and some baggage.
Also, like I stated earlier, she just wanted to come back and see how everything was going on there. Well, it's not really the case. What is? You'll have to wait and see. But, the thing with her is, a lot of the time, she doesn't want to believe stuff, so she almost convinces herself that what she is telling everyone else is the truth. This eventually builds up until she can't keep it in any longer and reveals the truth. You'll see it a lot through the story.
I could sit here for another 1000 words chatting about her character, but that's not fair to you because half the wording will be taken up. So, I'll leave it there.
