Kirsty and Kane were on top of the world, they couldn't keep their hands off each other, much to Edwina's intrigue and Oliver's annoyance. Kirsty felt closer to Kane than she'd ever been before, and she realised new depths about relationships. Kane was still in disbelief, yet enjoying every moment. They were both walking on air. At breakfast, they were canoodling when Oliver entered the room. They didn't seem to notice him. Oliver did like Kirsty somewhat, yet she was too committed to her boyfriend to respond. It did make him bitter, maybe even bitter enough to take revenge. He'd hoped that telling her that he was a reformed character would have changed her mind, yet she was still as attracted to Kane as ever. Kirsty broke away from Kane's embrace, slightly light-headed.
"Come on Kane, we're putting Oliver here off his breakfast…"
Kane grimaced at the thought of him. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if he left the room, " he hinted. Oliver ignored him. "Listen, I'd really better go to work Kirst, but I'll be back for that party later, OK?"
"OK, " Kirsty said disappointedly. She couldn't bear to be without him. She reeled him in for another lasting kiss, prompting Oliver to suddenly become interested in the multiple functions of the toaster.
"Nice to see you're getting on, " said Oliver through gritted teeth, after Kane's departure.
"Yeah it is nice, " said Kirsty dreamily. "He's so wonderful, I dunno what I'd do without him."
"Listen, can you distract Edwina today? I need to do a lot of things with her out of the way."
"Yeah I will, I'm not doing anything much, " said Kirsty. She had the feeling that she needed to do something, but couldn't think what.
"The party tonight starts at eight, I can drop you there if you like." Oliver hoped he could impress Kirsty with his convertible Mercedes.
"Fine." Kirsty floated around for most of the day, lost in her thoughts about Kane. She counted down the hours until she'd see him again. Even while distracting Edwina, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Finally she was experiencing what she'd dreamed about; she was undeniably in love, and it gave her the greatest buzz ever.
***
As the day merged into night, Kirsty began to get ready, remembering the feeling of a great night ahead. She chose a dress of Jade's she'd quickly grabbed, which was blue and knee-length, slightly tighter and shorter on Kirsty. She left her hair flowing, complimenting it with a matching flower hair clip. It was nice to get dressed up; most days she lounged around the house wearing baggy sport clothes with her hair in the most bizarre state. It was going to be her first real party with Kane, maybe it could be classed as a date. Kirsty posed in the mirror, and quickly stopped when the door opened, to a speechless Kane. His girlfriend looked gorgeous.
"Hey you, " he pulled her towards him for an equally exciting kiss. "You look amazing."
"Well, you don't look to bad yourself." The kiss quickly became compelling, with Kirsty struggling to break away. "Come on Kane, you'd better get ready, the party starts soon."
Kirsty left the room, leaving Kane to choose an outfit, which wouldn't look out of place with this new glamorous girlfriend of his. She went downstairs into the front hallway, seeing Oliver. He was in disbelief. Kirsty looked stunning; his jealousy for Kane was literally growing by the second.
"Wow, Kirsty you look… great." Oliver didn't want to seem too keen. Kirsty thanked him. Oliver secretly wished he didn't have to wait for Kane, and that he could take Kirsty as his date.
"Have you got the money?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's all under control, "lied Oliver, still mesmerized by Kirsty's appearance. Kane came down the stairs shortly after, wearing his smartest shirt and trousers. Kirsty linked arms with his and they were off. The journey there was unbearable for Oliver, yet enjoyable for the others. Kirsty sat in the back of the convertible with Kane, much to Oliver's frustration, and they proceeded in kissing and laughing for the entire journey. When they arrived at a house, slightly smaller than Edwina's, they could already hear the loud music. Kirsty and Kane got out of the car, leaving Oliver to park.
"Wow, I haven't been to a party in ages, " said Kane. He didn't exactly have much of a social life in Summer Bay.
"Me neither, " agreed Kirsty. The last one she went to was VJ's christening, and she wasn't exactly overjoyed there. The first stop for Kane was the buffet table; he was famished. Kirsty, leaving his watchful eye, decided on hovering near to the drinks table, becoming a little too friendly with the rum punch.
"Hey Kirst, " said Kane after a while. "Aren't you too young for that?!"
"Hmmm, I don't think so, " laughed Kirsty trying to hug Kane, but nearly falling over. "Oooooh, where's Oliver. He takes a long time to park cars!"
"I don't know, " said Kane, wanting to add 'I don't care' to the sentence. Kane brought Kirsty outside of the main party room, so she could calm down.
"I'm not drunk!" shouted Kirsty, who'd collapsed on the stairs. "I'm just very, very, very, very happy! Let's go upstairs Kane…"
"No Kirst, not in this state." Kane noticed some burly guys come in, who were staring at Kirsty earnestly. "Do you know, those guys?" he whispered.
Kirst craned her neck to look at them. They were the people Oliver owed money too. They were looking for her. "Damn. They're Oliver's…friends. Where is he?"
"Let's get away, " said Kane. "I don't like the look of them." They went back into the main party room for a while, Kane leaving to use the bathroom. The effect of the alcohol was beginning to wear off, and Kirsty waited anxiously by the window for Oliver to appear. He definitely wasn't in the house.
"Trying to avoid us are you?" Kirsty spun around. It was Oliver's 'friends'.
"I don't know where Oliver is, if that's what you want to ask me."
"Yeah right, don't give me that bull. Where's he fled to this time?"
"I don't know!" Kirsty grew agitated. She scanned the room for Kane, to no avail.
"Well he said he was gonna pay us!" The man came closer to Kirsty, suffocating her with his presence. "Well I guess we can take you as payment." He grabbed Kirsty's arm.
"What? No way!" There was no way she was going to let herself get kidnapped.
"Oi what's going on mate?" Kane was here to rescue her. "Let go of her!"
"How you gonna make me?" asked the man. His friend stood upright, squaring up their opponent. Kane punched the man, who let go of Kirsty. Kirsty automatically ran behind Kane.
"So are you involved too?" asked the man. "Have you got the money?"
"What money?" asked a bemused Kane. Little time elapsed before he was shoved onto the floor.
"I asked you, have you got the money? If not we'll take the girl."
"You're not taking her!" Kane attempted to punch the man again, but the power of two was too much for him. Kirsty saw a dark object come out of the man's pocket. A gun.
"Kane watch out!" It was too late. Kane tumbled to the floor, grabbing his side in pain; Kirsty's cries echoed throughout the hall.