A/N: Party Part III haha. Sorry I haven't updated in a few days I was being greedy and waiting for just one more review, oh well, beggars can't be choosers, I was also pretty busy. Anyway enjoy the chapter.
'Casey and Ruby have been gone for a while, are you sure you shouldn't go and find them?' Leah asked Brax and Natalie as they watched the kids play cricket.
'Nah they probably just went home. Bianca and April have been gone just as long and no one's giving a tiz about them.' Brax replied, taking a sip of his beer.
'Yes but Bianca is a mature adult, Ruby and Casey are practically teenagers.' Leah explained, a frown seemed to be permanently etched on her face. 'Maybe I should just take a walk and see if I can see them or check into your house?' She suggested.
'Nah there ain't no need for that.' Brax said as he saw two figures appear.
'Well looks like they aren't the only ones returning.' Natalie said quietly, Brax and Leah turned to see April and Bianca being greeted by Dex.
'Not again.' Sasha grumbled from a metre away as she sipped a Diet Coke.
'Maybe I should go tell them to go home?' Leah suggested, beginning to get up but Brax quickly stopped her.
'Nah, just because she wants to be a misunderstanding brat it doesn't mean Casey and Ruby can't be social and try to have a good time.' He told her, giving April a small glare as Ruby and Casey got closer.
'Brax.' Natalie scolded, embarrassed that someone might have heard what he could April, 'She's got a right to be angry too.'
'Yeah well can't she do it in private?' He asked as Casey and Ruby finally arrived back. Ruby was clutching tightly to Casey's hand and was half hidden by his body, it broke Brax's heart that she was so scared to be on the beach she loved.
'We're just getting some food and then I think we'll head off.' Casey informed Brax, Leah and Natalie. Both women gave an understanding nod but Brax shook his head.
'Nah. Just because someone is a sook doesn't mean you guys can't enjoy the party.' He repeated his argument from before.
'Brax I really don't mind. I want to go.' Ruby insisted in a quiet voice, Brax just ignored her.
'Come on, let's get some food.' Casey suggested, Natalie gave Ruby an apologetic look as she followed Ruby over to Heath.
'I'm sorry about what happened. I hope Darcy's not too upset.' Ruby told Heath as he handed her a burger and salad.
'It's fine, Darcy's fine. Bianca and I probably should've planned this out better.' Heath shrugged and handed his brother a plate as Bianca walked over.
'Hey Ruby. I'm sorry about before.' She gave a small smile as she piled a plate with salad.
'Don't be. None of this is your fault, or April's.' Ruby replied and gave Casey's hand a small tug which he chose to ignore.
'Honestly Ruby. It was the last thing you needed and I wasn't very warm towards you the other day either.'
'Seriously Bianca you don't need to apologise. I would like if we could be friends again though?' Ruby suggested shyly and Casey tried to hide a proud smile.
'Of course we can Rubes. I'm sure Rocco would love to get to know you, I mean you're practically a Braxton.' Bianca reached over and squeezed her arm, 'Well I better get this food back over there. I am starving!' She smiled before grabbing a second plate of food and heading back to where April sat with Irene.
'So you're not leaving then?' Casey asked as they walked over to a small sand dune.
'What would make you think that?' Ruby asked as she plopped down onto the sand.
'You just told Bianca you want to be her friend.' Casey reminded her as he sat down next to her.
'I can still be her friend if I'm not in the Bay.' Ruby informed him as she rolled a cherry tomato around with her fork.
'Well when are you going to start telling people?'
'Can you just leave it? It's not up to you, your brother, Natalie or the Bay to decide how I live my life.' Ruby snapped and stood up, 'I'm going back to your place.' She turned and began to walk before stopping again, Casey looked hopeful, 'Please don't follow me. I promise I'm not going anywhere or doing anything I just want to be alone.' She pleaded in a softer voice and the hope faded from Casey's eyes, he gave a small nod and watched her turn away.
'What the Hell was that about?' Brax asked from his spot a few metres away. Natalie got up to follow Ruby.
'Don't. She wants to be alone.' Casey told Natalie who gave the teenager a final glance before retaking her seat, 'She's upset after earlier and she thinks she's going to leave the Bay tomorrow.' He explained and Brax let out a large sigh.
'Honestly if she didn't have so much potential I'd say it wasn't worth the bother.' He said, instantly feeling guilty, 'It's just hard to help someone who won't help themselves.' He added, although he knew he was guilty of doing exactly that, as was Casey.
'Well I say we stay here another hour and then we can go home.' Natalie suggested, 'Give her time to clear her head and think her plans over. If she wants to leave the Bay that badly we shouldn't force her to stay.' She reasoned.
'We can't let her leave.' Casey argued, he had moved closer to them, 'Brax you know how vulnerable she is. Anyone cruel enough could easily get Charlie's life insurance money from her.' He punched his hand down into the sand.
'Hey Casey can you come play soccer with us? We need a goalie.' It was VJ. Casey looked up, about to turn down the offer when he saw the looks Brax and Natalie gave him.
'Uh yeah sure.' He gave a nod and got up.
'Well we might as well be social until we go back to the house.' Natalie told Brax and got up. He went to follow her but she went to Leah and Bianca so he went over to the men who offered him a beer.
'What's going on with Young Ruby?' Alf asked, he had just come down after returning from a fishing trip.
'I think she's still just getting used to being back in the Bay. She feels real guilty.' Brax guessed, taking the beer Heath handed him.
'Poor girl, honestly a lost cause.' John Palmer shook his head in disappointment. Brax tried not to say something smart, he knew John meant it in a sympathetic way.
'She wasn't always like what she became, I've known her since she first arrived in the Bay.' Alf told John, giving Brax a small smile.
'Well so have I for most of it. We were stuck on a bomb strapped with explosives, she cried into Xavier's arms the whole time then broke up with him a few months later. She was the one that kept protesting about the damn refugees, got the diner burnt down. Brax had vague memories of these stories.
'She certainly seems to know where trouble is.' Harvey joined the conversation, he never really knew Ruby but Roo was extremely supportive and protective of the young teen. Personally he thought Ruby reminded his wife of herself when she was younger.
'Ah well she has her good moments too, she worked hard to help those refugees and get them proper care at the hospital and her and Xavier remained friends. She's also got a bubbly personality when she's in a good mood.' Alf closed the conversation, 'You boys should've seen the Snappers I caught today, I recon it's the new bait I got.' Brax silently thanked the old man and a gruellingly slow hour later Natalie came to collect him with Casey eagerly following.