Chapter 3: Welcome to Summer Bay.

Leah P.O.V

-Present time, 1 year on-

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of Charlie's death, her closet friends, colleges and loved ones all gathered at her grave in the middle of the cemetery under a big beautiful pine cone tree, the ones that are usually found on the beach.

Charlie's grave was beautiful and very well looked after, I gave amends to her daughter for this. Ruby came out here every Tuesday and made sure her grave was clean and tidy, the way Charlie would have liked it. Her head stone was made out of pure marble, and in it had the words engraved.

Charlie Buckton

Well loved mother of Ruby, Daughter of Ross and Elise and Soul mate of Darryl Braxton.

Died doing what she loved most, protecting and serving the people of N.S.W.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Rest In Peace

At the top right hand corner of the head stone, Ruby had the N.S.W police badge that she had gotten when she graduated from police school embedded into the stone work and under it was Charlie's Sargent badge, also embedded into the marble, where it would stay forever, like Charlie's body that lay underneath.

Ruby and I were already there, and about five minutes later Brax arrived with his new girlfriend. Ruby was less than impressed to think that Brax had already moved on and although he had told us she was just using her to get over Charlie; Ruby found it at poor taste and refused to talk to either Brax or Bianca.

If you ask me, I personally think that Brax must have a thick hide doing this and Bianca must be extremely selfish. After all she had told Charlie on several occasions, that Brax was in fact bad news and should stay as far away from him as she could possibly get... And when Charlie and Brax finally got back together Bianca went out of her way to ignore Charlie and pretend she didn't exist. And now one year later she wasn't just made up with Brax, but dating him... Made me sick to think Charlie's best friend could do this, I'm sure Charlie would roll over in her grave if she knew of such things... Actually I'm sure Charlie would have been supportive, that's just the way she was, always supportive of friends, and I'm sure she would be happy that Brax finally found another women.

Bianca and Brax getting together had caused many problems within the Braxton household. Heath and Brax no longer talked due to the fact that Brax went behind his brother's back and stole his girlfriend. Casey also wasn't too fond of Brax anymore, only talking to him when he absolutely needed to and no longer lived with him either. Brax had really stuffed things up, not just with his family but with life in general.

After Charlie's funeral it was safe to say he went off the rails. Poor Liam was rushed off his feet trying to keep the business from going under, out of the goodness of his own heart. Spending hour after hour and into the early mornings, teaching himself how to fill out paperwork and how to manage a business. I know how hard it is to run a small business, but I couldn't imagine how much up keep it would take to keep Angelo's doors open. And yet he did it, out of the kindness of his heart, not getting paid anymore then he usually did.

Brax took up drinking and nearly drunk himself to death. One day about 7 months after Charlie, it was the anniversary of their first ever relationship and he felt lonelier than ever. He drunk himself into a deep dark hole, and decided to go surfing in the rough surf, lost his balance and fell in. Giving himself up to the sea, hitting his head on the reef and plunging into unconsciousness. But out of some miracle he washed up on the beach, alive. But after 1 week in hospital he was released and finally gave up the drinking I even remember him telling me this, and I don't know if I believe it or not.

I didn't survive out of coincidence; she was there, with me. I saw her Leah, I was there sinking in the water with my head pouring out blood and I saw her. She was looking over me, protecting me. She watches over us Leah, she is still here.

I think he was just delusional. Doctors say he hit his head extremely hard and was lucky to survive. All of us don't want to believe she's gone, but standing in front of her grave is a clear reminded that she's not here, she's gone.

Brax P.O.V

I got out of Bianca's bed after a very boring session of 'fun' as she decides to call it. Personally it's nothing to exciting; I just think that I've changed. Or maybe my expectations have risen since Charlie... I don't know. I always wait until she's asleep, so then I can leave without her asking stupid pointless questions, it's just easier.

I put on my clothes and quietly opened the door, so here the bed springs move.

"Brax...? Where are you going?" She questioned.

"I'm going home, I-ah I have to work really early tomorrow." I managed to save myself. Truth was I didn't have to work tomorrow I just didn't want to spend the night in the same bed as her, I never have yet and I don't plan to. I'm only using her for one thing, and it's probably not even worth it.

"Call me later...?" She questioned.

"Yeah, sure." I answered; I only told her that to shut her up.

Ever since Charlie I have found myself to be as emotional as a tea spoon, I never showed anyone any emotion and I didn't even show my brothers any respect or love. It was just too hard, anyone I got close to either walked away or got ripped away, I couldn't take any more chances, I couldn't let myself fall in love and become close to anyone.

It was because of me the love of my life is gone, if it wasn't for me she would never have met Jake or his gang and she would be alive right now. Probably have a boyfriend, maybe even settled down with a baby on the way but because of me she was murdered, murdered in hot blood. I will never forgive myself for this.

I was walking down along the beach, taking the long way home; there was nothing there for me. The house was basically empty, no brothers, no company, just empty space filled with a couch, a bed, a TV and a fridge with nothing in it. I wasn't exactly itching to get home, if anything I was trying to delay it.

Walking along the beach with my shoes in my hand I passed the Warf where I spent most the night after Charlie's funeral, just drinking and starting out at the waves wondering when she'd come back, she never did. I looked down at my feet, watching the waves wash over my feet but then the moon light attracted my attention to something in the sand. It was glistening and glimmering at me; I bent over and grabbed the handful of sand where I saw the glistening. I walked further into the sea and opened my palm in the water, letting the water slowly ran over my hand carrying away the sand and leaving me staring at this ring with aw.

The engagement ring I had thrown into the sea last year was now sitting, completely undamaged in my hand. I shook my head, it was as if she was sending me a sign, like the day in the ocean, she was telling me she was watching over me and looking after me. My heart tightened in my chest and I looked up at the moon, wondering where she was right now and wondering that maybe just maybe she would also be staring at the big moon wondering the same thing. My eyes got cloudy and glazed and I felt a warm tear roll down my cheek, it fell off my jaw and hit the sand, I looked at it as it sunk into the sand, only to be washed away by the waves of the dark, unforgiving sea.

Charlie (Claudia) P.O.V

Today was the day that Brad and I finally got to leave this hospital we have called home for the past couple of months. We walked out hand in hand to our car that we had bought, a brand new Toyota Kluger which cost quite a bit. But apparently our jobs we had beforehand had set us up for life, well not really but for 10 years at least. I was an accountant and Brad a lawyer, although it didn't matter now because we had lost all knowledge on our past careers.

"So where to first?" Brad asked as he stopped in front of our car after packing our very small suitcases into the back. I leant up and kissed him passionately, until I broke away for air.

"How about the coastline of New South Wales, like we had discussed?" I questioned.

"Your wish is my command." He smiled, kissing me quickly once more before we got in the Kluger and headed off down the coast.

Brad and I have been seeing each other for about 3 months now, we even got our own room together when we were in recovery in this little cottage about 5 minutes away from the hospital we called home for ever since I can remember.

Brad P.O.V

I looked over at my girlfriend and she was fast asleep, leaning against the window of the car. We had been driving all day and now it was 8pm and dark outside, I drove over a hill and on the other side in the distance I could see a town lit up by bright lights. Thank god to, because I was tired enough to fall asleep and I didn't want to end up in hospital because I crashed the car due to sleep fatigue.

Welcome to Summer Bay.

The sign read. The town was nice and coastal, beautiful beaches from what I could see and a nice surf club and restaurant above, I'd have to take Claudia there tomorrow for a nice date or something I thought as I turned into the 'Summer Bay Caravan Park.'

Chapter 4 Spoilers:

Brad meets some Summer Bay citizens.

Claudia and Brad make a visit to one of the businesses.