(4:30pm) 35 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Pier Diner/The Den – Main Area
After leaving Matilda's house, the teens headed to the den to talk about what had happened.
"It's not fair on Mattie to go through this especially now." Cassie states as she plays with a packet of sugar "She's got enough to worry about without finding out that Lucas not only cheated on her when they were together but now the fact, he's going to be a father."
"What?" a voice said from beside the table.
The three teens looked up and spotted Aden who had gone straight to the den after school as he had a shift.
"Lee is pregnant, and Lucas is the father." April quickly said.
"When did this happen? I didn't think they were together." Aden said quickly sitting down beside Ric.
"Well she's three months pregnant so you do the math." Cassie told him.
Before Aden could reply a shout came from the kitchen doorway: "Aden, can you come and help instead of chin wagging with your friends."
"I better go but someone needs to fill me in later." Aden said before going back to work.
Once he had gone, they went back to what they were talking about before they had been interrupted, April says: "I can't wrap my head around it to be honest and poor Mattie like you said she does not need this right now."
Ric stays quiet as he doesn't want the girls to know that he found out yesterday.
Sighing, Cassie says: "I just hate seeing her like this. She's so down on herself and it's all Luc's fault."
Ric still doesn't say anything.
"Ric, we know he's your best mate but Mattie is also your girlfriend." April points out "Aren't you even just the tiniest bit angry about it?"
Breaking his silence: "Look, I feel bad for both of them. Mattie because she is my girlfriend and he hurt her. I also feel bad for Luc as now he has to deal with this."
"But Mattie is the one with the broken heart here. Lucas cheated on her for god sake Ric." Cassie reminds him.
"I know it's tough on Mattie I get it she had already been stuck between me and Lucas only to now find out that he was cheating on her when they were together but we all made up in the end and surely this situation will work itself out in the end to and everything will be back to normal." Ric told them hoping the girls would stop "Just know Luc probably didn't mean for this to happen."
"How can you sit there and defend him?" April questioned the mechanic "Mattie is never going to forgive him for this and personally I don't blame her."
Just then Johnny walks into the Den and spots the teens sat in the corner.
"Well your looking much better." Marilyn said as she walked away from serving a table "Now you're just what I need as Aden is useless. So, can you come and give me a hand please in the storeroom."
Johnny smiled and went off to help.
Meanwhile…
Summer Bay – High School – Main Hallway – Lockers
After leaving Lucas's bedroom, Lee had decided to head back to the school and try and study. However, it didn't take her mind of what was going on, so when Lucas entered the school he found her placing stuff back into the locker.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Lee asked when she saw him.
"We need to talk." Lucas says, "Can we?"
"Yeah, sure." Lee states and she walks off into the nearest classroom knowing it would be empty.
Summer Bay – High School – English Classroom B
Entering the classroom and pulling the door so it closed halfway behind him, Lucas said: "I'm sorry. I know what I said, and I know we've been through it before, but I can't do this anymore."
"But you promised me." Lee reminds him.
"Yeah that was before what I saw what it was doing to Mattie. She's got so much going on already and then she finds out about the baby and thinks I cheated on her. It's just gone and made things worse and back to when we were arguing."
What neither of the teens realised was that Steve Braeburn had just stopped outside the classroom and was listening into the conversation.
Lucas continued: "But I know I said that I would help, and I don't want to let you down, but you and I both know that they only way out of this is to tell the truth."
Upon hearing what Lucas just said, Steve rushed into the classroom causing the teens to look shocked as they didn't expect him to be there.
"That's out of the question." Steve claimed as he closed the door fully "I'm not letting you ruin everything I've worked for Lee."
"That's not her problem." Lucas told him "You're the one that did the wrong thing…"
"Lucas just leave it." Lee tells him.
"No, he's going to hear this. You are the teacher; Lee should have been able to trust you."
"I did not force her to do anything."
"You didn't stop it either! It's time you took responsibility."
"I think it's time you mined your own business."
"I'm involved in this."
"You will do as I damn well tell you to!" Steve then said, "There's no way I'm going to let you mess with my family and career. So, you either get rid of the problem altogether or you two keep playing happy families. Either way you're not dropping me in it."
"You can't force us to…" Lucas starts to say but gets cut off.
"YES, I can and I am. You will do exactly as I say, or I'll be coming after both of you." Steve stated before leaving the classroom and the two teens in silence.
(4:46pm) 16 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Pier Diner/The Den – Main Area
Looking up from her milkshake Cassie spotted Johnny who was helping Marilyn.
"What is it?" April said when she noticed her friend looking at the kitchen which caused Ric to turn and look as well.
When he didn't see anything, he asked Cassie: "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah it's fine." Cassie replied with a smile even though she was secretly worried about Johnny as he hadn't been himself lately and she didn't understand why.
Summer Bay – Pier Diner/The Den – Kitchen
Aden was serving customers in the Pier diner while Marilyn was in the kitchen rolling up some cutlery in a napkin.
Walking back into the kitchen from the storeroom, Johnny said: "All done Marilyn, I'll catch up with you later."
"Oh, but you can't go yet." Marilyn quickly throws over her shoulder "I've made you some pancakes."
"I didn't want any pancakes."
"Yeah, I know but I took the liberty of whipping up something special just to say thank you."
"Yeah, thanks but…"
"No." Marilyn said as she walked into the Den with the plate in her hands "Nonsense, you didn't eat anything this morning either."
Summer Bay – The Den – Main Area
Walking over to an empty table with Johnny behind her, she continued: "I'm not letting you out of here without something decent in your tummy. Sit down."
Johnny did as he was told and sat down while just staring at the pancakes on the plate in front of him.
Cassie from where she was sat in the corner looked over at the older man, Ric and April noticed who she was staring at.
"Is there a problem with Johnny?" Ric asked, "Beside the obvious."
"What?" Cassie asked.
"Him missing Rocco, I think Ric meant." April replied.
"Why don't you go talk to him?" Ric suggested "I mean since he got discharged, he's been at the base camp the whole time so now might be your chance."
"Yeah I might just do that." Cassie said.
With that she got up and walked over to Johnny's table: "Is there anybody sitting here?"
"Nope, it's all yours." Johnny replied as he looked up at the teen "Everything alright?"
"Actually no."
"Really? It's not the baby is it?"
"No, it's you."
"Me?"
"Yeah, I'm worried about you. I get your missing Rocco, trust me you're not alone even tadpole knows something is up, but something else is going on and I want to help."
"It's nothing you can help with Cass, just look after yourself and tadpole."
"I want to try Johnny, I promised Rocco I would keep an eye on you as he was worried in case you got bad news about your arm. I know I haven't talked to you much lately and that's my own fault, but I am here if you need to talk."
"Thanks, but I had a talk with Amanda earlier and she helped me out."
"Amanda?" Cassie said as she didn't realise the two were friends.
"Yeah, I left my bag at the search base camp and she dropped it off earlier and we had a talk about stuff."
"Oh, well I guess that's good if she helped."
"Yeah, she convinced me that I should go and speak to Adrienne's family in person if they keep ignoring my calls."
"Well that's a great idea, to be honest me and Rocco didn't understand why you didn't just do that after the funeral anyway."
"Neither did I to be fair but I've decided that once Rocco is back safe and sound, I'm going to go and see them." Johnny said with a smile "Hopefully they won't slam the door in my face."
Cassie laughed: "Good, I'm glad. Well not about the chance of a door being slammed in your face but the fact your willing to go is a great idea."
"Thanks Cassie." Johnny replied, "How are you doing anyway?"
"You welcome and I'm good thanks. Decided that I'm going to take each day as it comes and remain positive." Cassie smiled then out of the corner of her eye she noticed April and Ric approach them.
"Hey Johnny." They both said at the same time.
Johnny smiled at them in reply.
"So, Cass do you still want some help with this assignment as I have to be home for half six to help Irene with dinner." April asked her friend.
"Oh, em yeah I do." Cassie remembered "I'm sorry to leave Johnny."
"No, I understand go and study." Johnny replied, "I'm just going to sit here and eat my pancakes, or shall I say be forced to eat them."
All three of the teens laughed when Johnny said that last part as they all know Marilyn so well.
Once they stopped laughing, they said goodbye to Johnny and headed back to the Caravan Park.
(5:11pm) 25 minutes later…
Summer Bay – Pier Diner – Main Area
After the teens had left, Johnny did what he had been told and ate the pancakes. However, as the Den had started to get a bit full with all the school kids he moved into the Pier diner to eat in peace.
As he finished, he wiped his mouth and placed the napkin on the plate.
Deciding to be helpful, Johnny stood up and took his plate to the counter to hand over to one of the staff just as Amanda came in on the phone.
"Alright well find out and get back to me as soon as you can." Amanda said down the phone as she walked past Johnny and stopped near the table he had just vacated "Bye."
"Every time I see you, you are on the phone." Johnny laughs once the woman had hung up "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, em just had a few problems to sort out." Amanda replied "What about you? Have you tried calling Adrienne's parents again?"
"They didn't answer the calls again so, I've just decided that once Roc is back home I'm going to drive to the city and see them in person." Johnny explains to her.
"Well I'm sorry about the phone call but it seems like you've worked out a good plan."
"Yeah and listen, thanks for before. I didn't mean to dump all my problems on you when I know you've got a lot going on with Belle." Johnny said to her.
"Aww, don't be. It was fine." Amanda replied just as her phone rang again "Oh sorry."
Johnny nodded his head as she went to answer the call just as Morag also walked into the diner with Alf.
"Ahh, you're looking a lot brighter than you were earlier young man." Morag said as she noticed he looked a bit happier.
Turning away from Amanda, Johnny replied: "Yeah, it's amazing what a shower can do for yah."
"What time are you heading back down there tomorrow?" Alf asked as he thought he might go with him.
"First light." Johnny replied just as Amanda raised her voice on the phone.
"No, you don't understand." Amanda said to the person on the other end of the phone "There must be something you can do. There has to be. Well, anything please."
Getting no answer Amanda hung up the phone, but her conversation had caught the attention of the other three who were a bit concerned.
Alf walked over to her and asked: "Are you alright love?"
"Look, I em I've done every that I can. I promise I have." Amanda started to tell them.
"What do you mean?" Johnny asked as he was worried.
"Well, you have to understand, my money is tied up all over the place and it takes weeks for me to get hold of it." Amanda said to them which had the whole diner now looking at her "You know there's long processes that you need to go through."
"Amanda what are you talking about?" Morag said as she tried to get to the point.
"We've used up all the money from the film on the search." Amanda finally told them "And, I've cleared out my own account too. So, all we have left now is my house and some investments. However, as I said last week it takes a few weeks for me to get my hands on that because I bank overseas."
"So, your saying that effectively you've got no more money to fund the search." Alf said as he wanted to understand exactly what Amanda told them.
Nodding her head, Amanda replied: "I'm so sorry."
They all just stare at her in shock at the thought of yet again the search for their loved ones being called off.
