Rhys glares at Kane. He had been warned by his wife not to kick off. To be calm. It was the only way that they could get their daughter back. Shelley couldn't look Kane in the eyes. Flynn is stuck in between them, Piggy in the middle. As usual.
"Kirsty, can I have a word with you. In private?"
Shelley's voice was calm and controlled. Kirsty looked at her, curious of her mothers' motives. Was this a trick? Or was she really ready to listen? She looked at Kane, who returned her glance, as if to say that it was up to her. Her decision.
"Yeah... sure"
Kirsty had to make an effort. Family had always come first. Up until she met Kane, anyway. Then her world was turned upside down. Intense feelings that she had never experienced before. Feelings beyond her control.
Shelley smiled at her daughter. Was she ready to se sense? They exited the room together. An icy silence remains in the small room. Kane sits down on the bed, unsettled by Rhys glare. He should be used to it by now. Rhys is still stood in the doorway. Flynn remains between them, just in case the situation got out of hand.
In the office, Shelley and Kirsty sit down. The atmosphere is tense. Neither knows how to express their feelings in a way that the other can understand.
"Kirst... Your father and I are concerned about you"
Probably not the best way to start the conversation. But it was the truth.
"There's no need to be Mum. Kane and I... we care about each other."
Shelley bit her lip. How could she explain the dangers of the situation? The ramifications for the whole family?
"Think of the risks, love. It would destroy Dani. It would destroy the relationship between you and Dani. You have always been so close. She has always stood up for you, always stood by you. Remember that time when you were having trouble at school? You must have been about six. You were being picked on by... what was her name? Jodie. And Dani found out. She went up to Jodie in the playground, thumped her and told her not to come near you again or she'd send her boyfriend to sort her out. Only problem was, there was no boyfriend. But you were never bothered again."
Kirsty laughed, half-heartedly, guiltily. Of course she remembered. Dani had been her idol. She had always wanted to grow up to be like her. It was a distant memory. Another world. Her heart was heavy, but she knew she had to say something.
"Dani knows."
"You told her?"
"Yeah... she had to know."
"What were you thinking?!"
Shelley was overcome with rage and distress. Kirsty was slowly tearing the family into pieces. Dani and Kirsty's relationship was over. Rhys wouldn't forgive Kirsty for this. And she couldn't trust Kirsty again. Not after all the lies. And how would Jade feel? Choosing sides in a battle between her twin, her best friend, and the rest of the family. It could destroy them all.The family would be at war.
"I had to tell her Mum... I'm not planning on breaking up with Kane and we have no intention of sneaking around anymore"
"Dani - where is she?"
Everything was about Dani now. Kirsty knew that Dani had been through hell in the past year, but Dani could cope. Dani was strong. It was her that needed support now. She craved her family's approval. She knew it was near impossible, but it would mean so much. It would be a dream come true.
"She was outside - with Josh - when I left her"
"I should go and make sure she's alright"
Shelley rose from her seat and walked past Kirsty to the door.
"Mum."
Kirsty stood up. Shelley turned to face her, coldly.
"I'm sorry."
Shelley shook her head, disbelieving. If Kirsty had cared she wouldn't have hurt her sister like this. Not under any circumstances. She turned and left, exiting the drop in centre alone. Kirsty put her head in her hands. She was dreading telling Rhys about Dani being aware of the relationship. Rhys would fly off the handle. Again. No doubt about it.
"Are you alright, babe?"
His voice cut thorough the silence.
"Mum's gone to find Dani. She could barely look me in the eyes."
Rhys appeared behind Kane, towering above him. Flynn followed, reluctant to allow Kane and Rhys in the same room alone. Rhys' voice was restrained. He was trying to sound understanding about everything. Like Shelley had told him to
"Where did your Mum go?"
"To find Dani. I... I told her about us"
Rhys looked ready to explode. Uncontrollable anger. Flynn gave Kirsty a worried nod, indicating for her to leave he and Rhys alone.
BEACH
Dani and Josh sit on the beach, about half a metre apart. Dani runs sand through her fingers, watching tearily as the last grains fall. She was cut up inside. She wanted to scream, to let all her feelings out. But she couldn't. Her feelings were indescribable. It was like when she was stood in the witness stand, trying desperately to describe what happened, but being unable to cope with it herself, let alone share it with other people. Josh had been supportive. Caring. She had seen another side to him recently. In the last few weeks. What with the letters and now this. He hadn't stormed off to confront Kane. He had stayed with her. And that had meant a lot. But that was the last thing on her mind at the moment.
Shelley descended onto the sand and walked towards her daughter. Dani turned and she saw her tear stained face. A shadow of what she had been only an hour earlier. A broken child. She signalled for Josh to leave them.
KANE'S CAR
Kirsty and Kane are back on the road. Kirsty is calmer now. A weight had been lifted from her mind. It was all in the open. Now she just had to deal with the consequences. She felt stronger now. She felt that she could do anything. That's what she had said to Kane when she visited him in hospital after the accident. Maybe it was to do with the bond they shared. She couldn't explain it.
"Shall we go to the diner - grab something to eat?"
Kane smiled. He too was glad that they were out in the open. It would mean pulling out all the stops to get the Sutherlands onside. But he was willing to do that. If it meant he and Kirsty could be together. His life had been changed forever when he had met her. He had felt confident for the first time in his life. His life was finally getting on track. And he was determined not to let her go.
"I should probably go home first - it's better that Jade finds out from me. Maybe she'll understand"
Deep down she knew it wasn't true. If she couldn't explain it to herself, how could she explain it to other people?
..................
Kane's car pulls into the roadside outside the caravan park.
"Should I wait in the car?"
"It'd probably be best."
Kirsty sighed. What was she going to say to Jade? It had been such a long day. It would be evening soon and she'd have to make more decisions - was she going to be welcome at the caravan park?
She kisses Kane gently on the cheek leaving her face hovering next to his for a moment. They exchange a loving smile and she reluctantly gets out of the car. He watches as she makes her way into the house.
CARAVAN PARK (interior)
Kirsty walks through the door. The room is empty, isolated. She feels like a stranger in her own home. Was it her home? Hundreds of times she had walked through that door but she had never felt so awkward.
"Jade?"
Footsteps could be heard on the stairs. Jade appears in the hallway.
"What happened to you?"
Kirsty was momentarily puzzled, but a look down at her clothing, stained slightly with Kane's blood and made worse by the brief rainfall, solved the confusion.
"Are you in on your own?"
"Yeah, Mum needed to go and see Flynn - Dad's driven her to the drop in centre.
"I know, I saw them - what about Brodie? Max?"
"Brodie went around to see Alex and Max is out with Caitlin. Are you going to tell me what's going on? Everyone's been acting really weird recently."
Jade looked at her twin. For some reason she looked anxious.
"I don't know how to tell you this Jade but..."
She paused. Might as well get it over with
"I've been seeing Kane"
The same word she had used with Dani. She couldn't think of a simpler way to say it.
Jade's reaction said it all. Amazement, disbelief, anger.
"Is this some sort of joke?"
"Do you think I would joke about this?"
"How could you Kirst? After what he did to Dani. "
Jade remembered how Kirsty had confided in her about visiting Kane after he was discharged from hospital. Had it been going on then? How had it come to this?
"I know. I've already had the speech from Mum"
Kirsty knew she sounded blunt and uncaring, but she was fed up of being judged. She just wanted to get cleaned up and go back to Kane. Give the rest of the family a chance to come to terms with everything.
"What is Dani going to say"
"She knows"
"Since when?"
"Since half an hour ago. I'm going to get changed."
Jade stared after Kirsty as she ascended the stairs. Never had she felt so ashamed, so disgusted. What Kane had done to Dani - their sister - was unthinkable. And how Kirsty could allow him anywhere near her was beyond belief. How would Dani be feeling now? She couldn't bear to see her like she was after the rape. Vulnerable and broken.
..................
Kane stood leaning on the car, gazing thoughtfully at the house. Daydreaming. Two children approached the house. A young boy and girl. Hand in hand. Kane couldn't help but smile. Young love. A couple of months ago he wouldn't have believed in love at all. His life was meaningless. He got up, went to work, went home, slept and went to work again. Just over a year ago he'd been in school, living with his brother. Being Scotts' punchbag. Following his brothers orders. Life couldn't have been any more different.
..................
Kirsty emerges from the hallway. She has washed her hair and changed her clothes. She and Jade exchanged an awkward glance.
"Jade, I can't help how I feel for Kane"
"Yeah."
Jade sounded blunt and uncaring.
"I tried to stop myself... but I couldn't. It just got out of control."
Silence. Why was Kirsty being like this?
"I love him."
Jade stared at Kirsty, disbelieving.
"I can't listen to any more of this"
Jade made to leave through the back door.
"No, Jade, wait."
Jade stops and turns around.
"I need to try and explain. I just need someone to talk to about this. For weeks I've had to keep all of my feelings bottled up. I can't stand it anymore"
Awkward silence. Why did Kirsty have to be so difficult? Why did she always choose to rebel against the family? It had always been the same. Kirsty had always wanted what she wasn't allowed. If she was told not to do something, it would always strengthen her determination to do it.
"But why Kane? Out of all the guys out there, why Kane?"
"I don't even know that. All that I do know is that I've never felt like this before"
Jade couldn't look her twin in the eyes.
"I can't stand not seeing him. I can't stand it if he's not by my side. I just wish everyone could accept it. I know what Kane's done in the past, but he's changed. Am I the only one who can see that?"
Kirsty looked pleadingly at her twin, willing her to understand.
"I'm sorry Kirst but I can't just turn my back on what he did to my sister - our sister. And if you continue like this you're going to lose everything"
Jade turned and left. Jade's cold words echoed in her mind. She expected herself to burst into tears, but she didn't. She was stronger now. No one could take her feelings away.
"Kirsty, can I have a word with you. In private?"
Shelley's voice was calm and controlled. Kirsty looked at her, curious of her mothers' motives. Was this a trick? Or was she really ready to listen? She looked at Kane, who returned her glance, as if to say that it was up to her. Her decision.
"Yeah... sure"
Kirsty had to make an effort. Family had always come first. Up until she met Kane, anyway. Then her world was turned upside down. Intense feelings that she had never experienced before. Feelings beyond her control.
Shelley smiled at her daughter. Was she ready to se sense? They exited the room together. An icy silence remains in the small room. Kane sits down on the bed, unsettled by Rhys glare. He should be used to it by now. Rhys is still stood in the doorway. Flynn remains between them, just in case the situation got out of hand.
In the office, Shelley and Kirsty sit down. The atmosphere is tense. Neither knows how to express their feelings in a way that the other can understand.
"Kirst... Your father and I are concerned about you"
Probably not the best way to start the conversation. But it was the truth.
"There's no need to be Mum. Kane and I... we care about each other."
Shelley bit her lip. How could she explain the dangers of the situation? The ramifications for the whole family?
"Think of the risks, love. It would destroy Dani. It would destroy the relationship between you and Dani. You have always been so close. She has always stood up for you, always stood by you. Remember that time when you were having trouble at school? You must have been about six. You were being picked on by... what was her name? Jodie. And Dani found out. She went up to Jodie in the playground, thumped her and told her not to come near you again or she'd send her boyfriend to sort her out. Only problem was, there was no boyfriend. But you were never bothered again."
Kirsty laughed, half-heartedly, guiltily. Of course she remembered. Dani had been her idol. She had always wanted to grow up to be like her. It was a distant memory. Another world. Her heart was heavy, but she knew she had to say something.
"Dani knows."
"You told her?"
"Yeah... she had to know."
"What were you thinking?!"
Shelley was overcome with rage and distress. Kirsty was slowly tearing the family into pieces. Dani and Kirsty's relationship was over. Rhys wouldn't forgive Kirsty for this. And she couldn't trust Kirsty again. Not after all the lies. And how would Jade feel? Choosing sides in a battle between her twin, her best friend, and the rest of the family. It could destroy them all.The family would be at war.
"I had to tell her Mum... I'm not planning on breaking up with Kane and we have no intention of sneaking around anymore"
"Dani - where is she?"
Everything was about Dani now. Kirsty knew that Dani had been through hell in the past year, but Dani could cope. Dani was strong. It was her that needed support now. She craved her family's approval. She knew it was near impossible, but it would mean so much. It would be a dream come true.
"She was outside - with Josh - when I left her"
"I should go and make sure she's alright"
Shelley rose from her seat and walked past Kirsty to the door.
"Mum."
Kirsty stood up. Shelley turned to face her, coldly.
"I'm sorry."
Shelley shook her head, disbelieving. If Kirsty had cared she wouldn't have hurt her sister like this. Not under any circumstances. She turned and left, exiting the drop in centre alone. Kirsty put her head in her hands. She was dreading telling Rhys about Dani being aware of the relationship. Rhys would fly off the handle. Again. No doubt about it.
"Are you alright, babe?"
His voice cut thorough the silence.
"Mum's gone to find Dani. She could barely look me in the eyes."
Rhys appeared behind Kane, towering above him. Flynn followed, reluctant to allow Kane and Rhys in the same room alone. Rhys' voice was restrained. He was trying to sound understanding about everything. Like Shelley had told him to
"Where did your Mum go?"
"To find Dani. I... I told her about us"
Rhys looked ready to explode. Uncontrollable anger. Flynn gave Kirsty a worried nod, indicating for her to leave he and Rhys alone.
BEACH
Dani and Josh sit on the beach, about half a metre apart. Dani runs sand through her fingers, watching tearily as the last grains fall. She was cut up inside. She wanted to scream, to let all her feelings out. But she couldn't. Her feelings were indescribable. It was like when she was stood in the witness stand, trying desperately to describe what happened, but being unable to cope with it herself, let alone share it with other people. Josh had been supportive. Caring. She had seen another side to him recently. In the last few weeks. What with the letters and now this. He hadn't stormed off to confront Kane. He had stayed with her. And that had meant a lot. But that was the last thing on her mind at the moment.
Shelley descended onto the sand and walked towards her daughter. Dani turned and she saw her tear stained face. A shadow of what she had been only an hour earlier. A broken child. She signalled for Josh to leave them.
KANE'S CAR
Kirsty and Kane are back on the road. Kirsty is calmer now. A weight had been lifted from her mind. It was all in the open. Now she just had to deal with the consequences. She felt stronger now. She felt that she could do anything. That's what she had said to Kane when she visited him in hospital after the accident. Maybe it was to do with the bond they shared. She couldn't explain it.
"Shall we go to the diner - grab something to eat?"
Kane smiled. He too was glad that they were out in the open. It would mean pulling out all the stops to get the Sutherlands onside. But he was willing to do that. If it meant he and Kirsty could be together. His life had been changed forever when he had met her. He had felt confident for the first time in his life. His life was finally getting on track. And he was determined not to let her go.
"I should probably go home first - it's better that Jade finds out from me. Maybe she'll understand"
Deep down she knew it wasn't true. If she couldn't explain it to herself, how could she explain it to other people?
..................
Kane's car pulls into the roadside outside the caravan park.
"Should I wait in the car?"
"It'd probably be best."
Kirsty sighed. What was she going to say to Jade? It had been such a long day. It would be evening soon and she'd have to make more decisions - was she going to be welcome at the caravan park?
She kisses Kane gently on the cheek leaving her face hovering next to his for a moment. They exchange a loving smile and she reluctantly gets out of the car. He watches as she makes her way into the house.
CARAVAN PARK (interior)
Kirsty walks through the door. The room is empty, isolated. She feels like a stranger in her own home. Was it her home? Hundreds of times she had walked through that door but she had never felt so awkward.
"Jade?"
Footsteps could be heard on the stairs. Jade appears in the hallway.
"What happened to you?"
Kirsty was momentarily puzzled, but a look down at her clothing, stained slightly with Kane's blood and made worse by the brief rainfall, solved the confusion.
"Are you in on your own?"
"Yeah, Mum needed to go and see Flynn - Dad's driven her to the drop in centre.
"I know, I saw them - what about Brodie? Max?"
"Brodie went around to see Alex and Max is out with Caitlin. Are you going to tell me what's going on? Everyone's been acting really weird recently."
Jade looked at her twin. For some reason she looked anxious.
"I don't know how to tell you this Jade but..."
She paused. Might as well get it over with
"I've been seeing Kane"
The same word she had used with Dani. She couldn't think of a simpler way to say it.
Jade's reaction said it all. Amazement, disbelief, anger.
"Is this some sort of joke?"
"Do you think I would joke about this?"
"How could you Kirst? After what he did to Dani. "
Jade remembered how Kirsty had confided in her about visiting Kane after he was discharged from hospital. Had it been going on then? How had it come to this?
"I know. I've already had the speech from Mum"
Kirsty knew she sounded blunt and uncaring, but she was fed up of being judged. She just wanted to get cleaned up and go back to Kane. Give the rest of the family a chance to come to terms with everything.
"What is Dani going to say"
"She knows"
"Since when?"
"Since half an hour ago. I'm going to get changed."
Jade stared after Kirsty as she ascended the stairs. Never had she felt so ashamed, so disgusted. What Kane had done to Dani - their sister - was unthinkable. And how Kirsty could allow him anywhere near her was beyond belief. How would Dani be feeling now? She couldn't bear to see her like she was after the rape. Vulnerable and broken.
..................
Kane stood leaning on the car, gazing thoughtfully at the house. Daydreaming. Two children approached the house. A young boy and girl. Hand in hand. Kane couldn't help but smile. Young love. A couple of months ago he wouldn't have believed in love at all. His life was meaningless. He got up, went to work, went home, slept and went to work again. Just over a year ago he'd been in school, living with his brother. Being Scotts' punchbag. Following his brothers orders. Life couldn't have been any more different.
..................
Kirsty emerges from the hallway. She has washed her hair and changed her clothes. She and Jade exchanged an awkward glance.
"Jade, I can't help how I feel for Kane"
"Yeah."
Jade sounded blunt and uncaring.
"I tried to stop myself... but I couldn't. It just got out of control."
Silence. Why was Kirsty being like this?
"I love him."
Jade stared at Kirsty, disbelieving.
"I can't listen to any more of this"
Jade made to leave through the back door.
"No, Jade, wait."
Jade stops and turns around.
"I need to try and explain. I just need someone to talk to about this. For weeks I've had to keep all of my feelings bottled up. I can't stand it anymore"
Awkward silence. Why did Kirsty have to be so difficult? Why did she always choose to rebel against the family? It had always been the same. Kirsty had always wanted what she wasn't allowed. If she was told not to do something, it would always strengthen her determination to do it.
"But why Kane? Out of all the guys out there, why Kane?"
"I don't even know that. All that I do know is that I've never felt like this before"
Jade couldn't look her twin in the eyes.
"I can't stand not seeing him. I can't stand it if he's not by my side. I just wish everyone could accept it. I know what Kane's done in the past, but he's changed. Am I the only one who can see that?"
Kirsty looked pleadingly at her twin, willing her to understand.
"I'm sorry Kirst but I can't just turn my back on what he did to my sister - our sister. And if you continue like this you're going to lose everything"
Jade turned and left. Jade's cold words echoed in her mind. She expected herself to burst into tears, but she didn't. She was stronger now. No one could take her feelings away.
