The Sutherlands were gradually beginning to adjust to life without Kirsty.  It had been months now since she'd left, all they could do was return to some sense of normality.  She'd showed that she didn't want to be found.  On the surface, Rhys acted as if Kirsty had never been born, erasing every memory of her from the house.  She obviously didn't want a family, so her family didn't want her.  On the inside, he missed her like crazy; he missed their arguments and disagreements, her wild way of thinking.  Shelley couldn't believe her husband had forgotten their daughter.  She still thought about her each day, with constant things reminding her; a stray sock of Kirsty's in the washing, a TV programme she liked to watch.    She couldn't bear her family being torn apart.  Dani had eventually forgiven Josh for withholding information about the whereabouts of her sister, but still couldn't believe what Kirsty had done.  At least she didn't have to see her at the moment.  Out of sight, out of mind.  She wouldn't let Kane get to her again.  Jade was truly caught between two groups.  Kirsty was her twin, and she missed her.  It was their sixteenth birthday soon; the thought of spending it without her was unbearable.  Jade wished she could talk to her, ask her what she was doing, but then she remembered.  Kane.  Kane who'd hurt her other, equally important sister.  Kane, who'd taken her sister away from her, changing everything. Everyone else in her family seemed to be carrying on with their lives, but Jade couldn't.  Kirsty had ruined her life.

***

Meanwhile, Kane was growing increasingly worried about Kirsty.  He tried talking to her, touching her but she always backed away, saying she wasn't well.  Kane didn't know the workings of the female body that well, but he knew that she couldn't be ill all the time.   He was worried about their relationship; maybe, with the risk of being discovered taken away, she'd become bored with him.  Afraid of commitment.  She was fifteen.  That had to be too young to be living away from home, with a boyfriend of a few months.  The truth couldn't be more different.  Kirsty was stressed; she'd received more visits from Oliver's 'friends', who'd kept threatening her.  They somehow thought she was involved.  She'd constantly been persuading Oliver to pay them, yet all he did was buy more pointless gadgets for his room. 

"Oliver, this has got to stop, " she said over breakfast.  "I can't live like this, I hate keeping things from Kane."

"Well you can tell him, but don't hold me responsible if he gets involved and stalked as well."

"I don't think your attitude is helping, it's just getting me even more involved when I have to keep making excuses and covering for you…"  Kirsty stopped.  Kane was up.  "Hi baby, " he said.  She shifted a nervous glance towards him.  Kane knew something was up.  They were obviously talking about something important before he entered the room.  He gave her a hug from behind, showing Oliver that she was his. He knew he'd been eyeing her up.  Kirsty responded to Kane then broke away.

"Kane, I'm gonna go take a shower.  See you later." 

"OK, " said Kane.  He couldn't really argue.  She was obviously trying to avoid him.  As soon as he left the room, Oliver started.

"Do I sense tension between the happy couple?"  Oliver smiled, Kane glared.

"No, our relationship is fine."

"Doesn't seem like that to me.  She's been pretty upset lately."

"You think I haven't noticed that?"  Kane grew angry.  Some strange guy asking too many questions, interfering. 

"You haven't been around.  I've had to comfort her."  Kane stood up.

"What you trying to say?"  Oliver stood up and looked him in the eye.  He was slightly taller than Kane.

"I'm saying you'd better be careful.  She might go off with someone else."  Kane lost it, and sent Oliver to the floor with a powerful blow.

"Stay away from my girlfriend, OK?"

"See, you wouldn't understand.  We share something deep.  Deeper than you'll ever know."  Oliver dodged another one of Kane's blows, and winded him.  Kane sprung up, and pushed Oliver onto the floor.  "What do you think you're gonna do, huh?"  Kane hated Oliver taunting him, goading him.  Just because he was rich, he thought he could do as he pleased.  Kane was going to prove him wrong.  His anger was too strong for rational conversation.  They were in a full-blown fight; Kane could've killed him.  If Kirsty hadn't walked in.

"What do you think you're doing?  Kane!"  Kirsty was horrified.  This was all she needed, Kane beating up Oliver so he could take an even better revenge.  Kirsty tried to separate them.  Oliver was worse off; he was wincing with a black eye.  "Kane, what did you do that for?"  Kane stormed off.  Why was she on his side?  Was what he said true? 

"How did that happen Oliver?"

"He was just going mad, I didn't know what to do, "Oliver lied.

"Are you sure you weren't provoking him?  I know what you're like."

"No, he was just getting all suspicious, you know.  I might have to get someone to sort him out if he does it again."

"No, " said Kirsty.  She wasn't sure who to believe.  Kane didn't seem like the type to get overtly jealous.  That was her job.   "He won't do it again."

"Good."  Oliver smiled.  He was one step away from breaking the happy couple up.  Then Kirsty would be his.