Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to the Seven Network. This is simply my way of evening the couples out.

Beautiful Disaster

Part Seven

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"No fair." Belle shrieked in horror as she landed on Mayfair for the third time.

"Pay up girl." I said happily as she thrust the remainder of her money at me, shaking her head in anger as Drew looked on, amused by his girlfriends frustrated state.

"I hate this." She huffed, as Mattie and Cassie laughed at her.

"Is she a sore loser too?" I asked as I counted the money she had thrown at me.

"Apparently we all are." Mattie said as she rolled the dice, groaning as she too landed on Mayfair.

"Thank you very much." I squealed happily, throwing my hands up in the air joyfully.

"Modest much?" Cassie asked as she lay down into Henry's body. I smiled at her as Mattie counted out the last of my money and gave it to me gently.

"Where did you learn to play Monopoly like this?" Cassie asked, shaking her head as Belle mocked tears.

"Army brat." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Spending ages with the adults, Monopoly is the only safe game for adults and kids to play. I became the master."

"And the ego grew." Mattie muttered as I threw her a look.

"I think that just about makes me the winner." I said, gliding over her comment smoothly as I looked around at the empty spaces where money should be. "And I think it's about time I went home." I added, looking at my watch as it flashed 2:16am at me.

Standing up, I said to the group "Thanks for tonight, it was kind of the wake up call I needed."

"I'm glad you came." Mattie replied, standing up and pulling me into a brief hug. "It was fun, we need your kind of spunk around here, keep these two in line." She motioned towards Cassie and Belle, who grinned up at me innocently.

"Yeah, right." I said, as I walked towards the hallway, with Mattie by my side.

"I hate to admit that I actually did have fun tonight." I sighed, as I collected by lightweight jacket.

"I'm glad." Mattie replied, smiling at me.

"Well I guess I'll see you all around…" I trailed off, as Mattie continued to smile, before cutting in.

"Tomorrow, around midday, meet us at the surf club, where you'll learn the true art of playing pool." She promised, as she hugged me once more in the doorway. "Sounds like a plan." I replied finally, giving her a wave. I turned to walk out the door, only to have a hand grab my arm and pull me towards a body.

"Wait." A voice said huskily. "Can't have you walk home alone." His voice was smooth, thick. Deep. Enticing and beautiful. His eyes clouded over as they met my own, turning dark with hunger, with lust. With curiosity.

"Thanks." I managed to murmur, as I pushed the screen door open and walked out into the brisk, but not cold summer air. I hadn't lived in a place like Summer Bay before, and being out in the middle of the night, I knew that I would probably never live in a place like it again. There was this absolute serenity that just followed you around, chasing you down the streets, hiding around the corner, playing childlike games with you, creating this magical aurora that you just couldn't try to escape.

Sighing wistfully, I forgot for a second that I wasn't enjoying this moment alone. I forgot that, as I walked along the shoreline, he was walking next to me. His body was next to mine. His hands swaying dangerously close to my own.

And then, it happened. His hand touched gently against my own, and the flicker of electricity flew up my arm, sending a shiver down my spine. Sucking in my breath, I felt the movement beside me stop, and I could only assume that he'd felt it too. Felt whatever it was between us. For lack of a better word, the spark that was so undeniable.

Stopping, I finally looked up into his dark eyes, as the hazy early morning mist surrounded us.

"Do you think you'll stick around?" He asked finally, his voice still amazingly husky. Sexy.

Shrugging, I leant down against the railing, looking towards the dark ocean. "Maybe. The deal was to stick out the HSC. Then who knows?" I managed to say, sounding surprisingly calm. Maybe it was the guise of darkness that made it easier to talk to this descendant of the Roman gods. Maybe it was because I just felt comfortable around him. Maybe it was because it was 2:30 in the morning and I wasn't thinking straight.

"I didn't even last through to the HSC." He said, laughing, sounding a smidge bitter.

"Why?" I asked softly, afraid of breaking what was going on with us.

"Hated the place, hated most of the people, hated the institution. I can't learn, I can't be bothered to learn. Not that stuff any way…" He trailed off.

"What would you rather learn?"

"Anything that is real, anything that is useful. Anything that I can apply to my life and actually find some value in it. How to cook meals, how to fix my car, how to do my tax even." He replied, grinning down at me.

I smiled up at him, and I could see in his eyes the utter dilemma he was facing just being around me. Whether he wanted to kiss me, or walk away from me, he couldn't decide. He was torn. And I was doing this to him.

"Thanks for doing this, but I think I got it from here. We only live round the corner." I said finally, breaking the silence that had engulfed us. He smiled at me, but the smile remained distant, as if he were further away than he was before.

"You're more than welcome." He said finally, his eyes really returning to my own. "Maybe we can, you know, hang out again." He said, gulping a little.

"Mattie's already got that covered." I whispered to him in a hushed, mocking tone. "You know, I have a sneaking suspicion we won't need to actually plan any time together for the rest of the holidays." I continued, as Ric laughed.

"I think you may be right." He replied, pausing for a moment. "I hope they didn't… push you too hard tonight. Sometimes they can't see how in your face they can be, because we're used to it now."

"Actually." I said, smiling broadly up at him, thankful for his worry "I think it was really what I needed. I'll see you tomorrow." I said, as I began to walk away.

"Goodnight Anna." Ric yelled after me in a playful tone.

"Goodnight Ric." I said, as I turned around and walked backwards, giving him a little wave.

Something told me I was really going to enjoy living in Summer Bay.