Chapter 37

Kane lay down on the bed in the caravan. Rhys had said he could stay there the night, so that he didn't have to go back to the house. The evening was all a blur. Kane had spent most of it sitting next to Kirsty holding her hand, trying to get her to talk. She'd barely said two words to him the whole time. It was only when she'd vomited that she began to cry. It'd all been too much for Kane to take, and he'd started crying as well. Normally he'd never have dared do that but seeing Kirsty in so much pain and distress was killing him inside. Rhys had insisted they take Kirsty upstairs, and they were going to take turns in watching her. Kane hadn't been invited to help; Rhys had made it perfectly clear he wasn't welcome in their house that night. It was obvious that he blamed Kane. Maybe he was right, if Kane hadn't have come back, this would never have happened. Kane stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The night dragged on, Kane thought it was never going to get light. But when it finally did he got up and went to the Sutherlands house. He had to see if Kirsty was alright. He knocked on the door, only to be met by a very worried Rhys. Kane feared the worst.

"What's happened? Where's Kirsty, can I see her?" Kane asked?

Rhys moved away from the door, his hands on his head, trying to find the words to explain. Jade was being comforted by Dani.

"We don't know, she took off in the night" Rhys finally said

Kane exploded. "WHAT??? I thought she was being watched at all times. How could you let this happen? She's not safe out there on her own."

Jade stood up. "It was me. I fell asleep when I was supposed to be watching her"

"You stupid girl!" Kane shouted. He hadn't meant to be he was so angry. His childhood and upbringing meant that when he couldn't cope he resorted to anger and violence. Jade ran off as Rhys grabbed Kane's arm.

"Don't you dare speak to a member of my family like that again" Kane pulled his arm away from Rhys' grasp. He turned and walked out of the caravan park, determined to find his girl. Dani stood up and looked at Rhys. "I think it's time we told mum what's happening. I think Kirsty needs her" Rhys nodded. He hadn't wanted to tell Shelley, he wanted to prove he could handle the girls without him, but he had to admit defeat. He had no idea how to sort this mess out.

* * *

Kane had looked all over the bay, and there was still no sign of Kirsty. What if something had happened, what if whoever the sick freak was who was doing this had found Kirsty. Kane couldn't bring himself to think anymore. He scanned the beach and the wharf. She wasn't there. He saw a man walking his dog on the beach and ran up to him.

"Hi mate, have you seen a girl, 17 years old, blonde hair, about my height?"

The guy shook his head. Kane thanked the man and began to walk off. He had no idea where to look next. He'd lived in summer bay most of his life, but at this moment, couldn't remember a single place. He took another look along the bay. Sure enough there was a figure, sat in the sand. Kane ran down the beach. As he got closer he could see it was Kirsty. Kane could've kicked himself; she was in the first place he should've thought of, where they had their first kiss. He walked up to her.

"Kirsty, I've been looking all over for you. Why did you run off like that?" Kane had a thousand questions, but most of all he was just glad she was safe.

"I had to get out, people were watching my every move."

Kane put his arms around her as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I should've known you'd come here" he said and he kissed the top of her head.

"This place is so special to me. I was just thinking of all the stuff we've been through since we met. The ship wreck, being lost in the bus together."

"When you hated me" Kane interrupted with a laugh.

"Well, I didn't know you then. Remember when we used to meet up just to talk"

"Yeah, you were the only person who understood me"

"Same here. Then running away, with that weird bloke who ran the orchard. And then I thought I'd never see you again, but you came back"

"For you, I only ever did anything for you"

Kirsty smiled and continued. "And now we've got all this to get through."

Kane moved her head so she faced him. "We got through all of that, we got through being separated for a year, we got your parents and Dani's acceptance, and we'll get through this baby. We just need to be there for each other and to love each other and we can survive anything."

And Kane meant every word. They would survive, no matter what was thrown at them. They had each other, and that was all that matters.