Alex is confused, disappointed and sad as he walks over to his Ute unrolls his swag and climbs into it.
Lying back with his hands behind his head he smiles to himself and thinks at least she's talking to him and she didn't slap his face this time.
It's a clear night and he watches the stars.
He thinks about holding her and her lips on his own.
She definitely kissed him back this time there was no doubt in his mind.
Grinning he thinks about her comment I won't be another one of your girls.
Stevie was like no other girl he'd ever known.
...
Claire and Stevie his two best friends so alike and yet so completely different.
He wonders what Claire would have thought about him liking Stevie.
Without doubt she would have approved they'd been great mates.
Claire trusted Stevie with Drover's Run and she wouldn't do that with just anyone.
As he drifts off to sleep he thinks about all the bad things that have happened in life and then he thinks of all the good.
Claire and Stevie.
...
Stevie doesn't sleep well at all.
She wasn't expecting what happened.
They were mates, best friends she valued their friendship and she wouldn't let anything damage that it was too precious to lose.
Tossing and turning she thinks of all the times she'd needed a friend, first she'd had Claire and then she'd introduced her to Alex.
They'd been great mates and had some wild times together.
When she needed sanctuary Claire and Drover's Run had been her safe haven.
Losing Claire had hurt so much.
Even though they'd lost touch over the years when she'd needed help Claire was there for her and she knows without doubt their friendship would have stood the test of time.
Alex was her friend but he'd been Claire's friend first they both knew her so well and had so many shared memories.
Finally she sleeps and her dreams are of Claire and Alex.
Her friends.
...
Stevie is up early and out fixing one of the troughs when Alex's Ute pulls up.
"Hey!" He calls.
"Hey" She replies.
"You were gone early this morning!" He offers.
"Got a lot of work to do." She replies but keeps working.
"I thought we could talk Stevie." Alex states.
She glances at him and says "Nothing to talk about Alex. You said sorry I forgive you. It's all good."
"Stevie!" He says softly.
Inhaling she looks at him and he says "What about the kiss?"
She frowns and says "Shouldn't have happened."
Grinning he says "What you didn't enjoy it?"
Watching her face he notices she's trying not to smile.
"Not everything I enjoy is good for me Alex." She quips.
Smiling he walks over to her and says "Stevie can I kiss you?"
She steps back and says "Why Alex?"
"First time I kissed you, I got slapped, second time you pushed me away. I think you should kiss me again and just enjoy it." He offers.
She grins and says "Does this crap actually work on girls?"
"I don't normally get slapped that's for sure." He chuckles and adds "Come on Stevie its broad daylight we haven't been drinking, we're clear headed. I just want to see what I feel."
"No Alex I think we're playing with fire, you're my best friend and I don't want to lose that. It's way too important to me." She states.
"Please Stevie as a friend just one kiss that's all I want." He begs.
She stands deep in thought and even though she believes all that she's just said to him, she understands.
She steps forward and grins and wagging her finger at him says "Ok but no tongue!"
He chuckles and says "You can't have rules for kissing Stevie; you have to just go with where it takes you."
She smiles and says "I feel really awkward now Alex!"
Smiling back at her he says "Ok I'll help you finish the trough and if I kiss you you'll kiss me back?"
She laughs and says. "Deal."
...
Tess and Nick are sitting eating breakfast and she asks "How's your head this morning?'
He laughs and says "Not too bad actually what about yours?"
Tess chuckles and replies "I'm great I could do with a swim though."
"Killarney or the dam?" He asks.
"The dam more privacy." She says grinning.
Standing he says "Well go and get your bathers."
"If it's just you and me we don't need them." She says walking toward the car.
Grinning he follows.
...
Stevie and Alex had finished cleaning the trough and Alex has trodden on the black plastic Ag pipe and it has given way.
Water surges from the broken pipe.
"Oh good on you Alex. I really don't have time for this!" Stevie growls.
Slightly annoyed he responds "I didn't bloody do it deliberately Stevie. I've got spare pipe and connectors in the tool box I'll grab them."
Quickly he moves to the Ute as Stevie tries to stem the flow of water.
...
"Careful Alex it's really slippery." She warns as he returns.
He almost falls and lets go of the pipe.
Stevie laughs at him and walks over to retrieve the pipe.
Gingerly she walks back to him and slides the last metre.
Reaching out he grabs her arm but over balances sending them sliding further into the mud.
She lands on her bottom and he's beside her, face down.
As he lifts his head she laughs loudly.
Grinning he grabs a handful of mud and slaps it on her head.
"Oh yuk not my hair Alex that's disgusting." She squeals.
She grabs two handfuls of mud and throws them at him.
As he begins to wipe it off she starts to crawl out of the mud.
Quickly he grabs her ankle and drags her back towards him.
Rises onto his knees he grabs the broken Ag pipe with water spurting out of it and aims it at her head saying "Here you go Stevie I'll wash it for you!"
Laughing she holds her hands up trying to grab the pipe from him.
Wrestling for a while they slip, slide and laugh.
Stevie sits in the mud as he kneels beside her with the water pouring over her head.
She has no chance of winning against him but puts up a fabulous effort.
Eventually exhausted she lets herself fall backwards into the mud.
He drops the pipe and raises his hands in the air and yells "The winner!"
She chuckles at him.
...
Dropping his hands onto either side off her he leans down and kisses her.
Letting his knees slide from under him he's lying half over her.
She holds his face in her hands then moves them to his neck.
Time passes the kiss is intense both get lost in the moment.
He lifts his lips from hers and looks at her.
Lowering his head he pulls her closer hugging her, he nuzzles into her neck and places small soft kissing down her neck to her collarbone.
Softly he kisses her again she responds.
He slides his hand along her body and she moves quickly and says "No Alex."
He lifts back and asks "What?'
She pushes him to move and says "You said one kiss."
Standing she moves back to the trough, grabbing the hacksaw she cuts the pipe so it will fit into the connector.
Alex is still sitting in the mud more confused than before he'd kissed her.
...
He stands and grabs his hat out of the mud and tries to brush it off.
Moving back over to her he helps fit the pipe.
"Come on we'll walk over to the dam and clean up!" She states.
He nods.
As they walk up over the dam wall Alex yells "Oi what are you two up too."
Nick and Tess laugh.
Nick says "Having a swim. Looks like you two need a bit of a spruce up yourselves."
"Mud fight!" Stevie offers.
Tess smiles and says "Glad to see your friends again."
Alex asks " You're both nude aren't you?"
Tess blushes .
Alex and Stevie laugh .
" Why don't you two hurry up and get going or I'll get out of the dam!" Nick says laughing.
Alex quips " Hurry up Stevie it's not a sight I want to see."
They all laugh.
...
After cleaning up Stevie and Alex walk back to their cars.
"Stevie why did you stop? You were on the other end of that kiss I know you were enjoying yourself."Alex states.
She looks at him and says "I shouldn't have let you kiss me Alex."
"That's not what I asked Stevie." He retorts.
"Alex it wouldn't work. Harry hates me. Look at what lengths he went to so that we'd fight! And I told you I won't be one of your conquests. You're the love em' and leave em' type Alex and that's not what I want."She says seriously.
"Harry can go to hell Stevie. What about Tracey and Claire I didn't love and leave them." He yells then adds "You're not giving me a chance."
Her expression changes and she yells "A chance at what Alex to have sex with me and then decide I'm not quite what you want! How could we go back to being friends after that?"
She turns and moves towards her Ute.
"Stevie" He yells.
When she turns he asks "How do you know we wouldn't work?'
"What makes you think we would?' She replies.
He doesn't have an answer.
She gets in her car and drives off.
...