The scene in the Sutherlands living room was indescribable. Dani jumped up from the sofa where she had been kissing Josh.  She thought her parents were home, but looked and saw.  Kirsty.

"Kirsty, " Dani said disbelievingly.  "You're back."

"Looks like it, " said Kirsty uncertainly.  Her sister's expression showed shock and confusion.   Dani took a deep breath.  She hadn't expected to be confronted by her sister, not now, not ever.  Speechless for a second, Dani continued.

"I know…what you've done."  Dani forced the words out.

Now Kirsty was speechless, she thought her family would keep it secret.    "Oh."

"Is that all you can say?" asked Dani.

"Well I'm not apologising for being in love, if that's what you want."

Dani's mouth opened in disgust.   "Well thanks Kirsty.  Thanks for sticking by me, your sister.  You knew how I felt about you talking to him, yet you still did this.  How can you love someone like him?"

"He's changed Dani."

"Not to me he hasn't."  Shelley thought of interrupting but didn't know what to say.

"Um…I think I'd better go," said Josh, "Leave you to it."  He slipped away, giving Kirsty a disapproving look.

"Well, I'm sure you're all pleased to hear that he's been shot and is currently lying in a hospital bed somewhere, recovering from surgery.  I hope you're satisfied Dani."  Kirsty left to go to her room.  Dani stood aghast.

"How could she say that Mum?"  Shelley shrugged her shoulders.  "I think I'm gonna go stay with Josh.  I can't be in this house right now."  Dani waited a few minutes after she heard Kirsty go up and shut the door, then she followed. Shelley felt powerless, with the disintegration of her family starting to unfold before her very eyes.  It was inevitable, yet any preparation couldn't make it easier.  She heard chattering voices; Brodie and Jade were home from school.  Shelley took a deep breath, and tried to look calm.

"Hi Mum, " said Jade excitedly.  "Anything new happen today?"

"Kirsty came home."

"What?!  Jade was shocked, more infuriated than overjoyed.  She never thought her twin would show her face again.  "Where is she?"

"Upstairs."

"How did Dani take it?, " asked Brodie.

"Well, she's packing right now.  I think she's staying with Josh for a while."

Jade stood rooted to the spot.  She'd gotten used to her sister not being there, without all her attention-seeking escapades.  Without Kirsty, Jade wasn't 'the other one', she was Jade, on her own, not in Kirsty's quite literal shadow.  She may have loved her twin deep down, but certainly couldn't like her after this.  Should she go upstairs and confront her, or avoid her for the rest of her life?, she thought.  Jade chose the former.

"I'm going to see her, "she said coldly.

"I'll see how Dani's getting on, " Brodie's usually cheerful expression fading.  

***

Kirsty's sobbing was interrupted with Jade bursting in.  Jade threw her schoolbag down on her bed, and glared at Kirsty, hands on hips.  Kirsty sniffed, giving Jade a pleading expression.  Surely this sister wouldn't hate her?

"Nice to see you're feeling sorry for yourself, " said Jade, with increasing venom in her voice.  "Did you have a nice trip?"

Kirsty continued to sob.  It was a nice trip, before she went to the party.  Her and Kane were getting on so well…

"It wasn't nice towards the end."

"What d'ya mean by that?"  Jade was worried about this latest statement, but didn't show it.  Maybe Kane had hurt her.

"I mean, it wasn't nice when he got shot… by a gang."

Jade wasn't sure how to feel, she hated Kane, but wouldn't wish getting shot on anyone.  "So why did you come home?"  She continued her inquisition.

"Because he was in hospital and I couldn't cope on my own. Are you done asking questions?"  Jade noticed Kirsty returning to her normal, fiery self.

"Oh so it wasn't because you were going to choose your family over him?"

"I…"  Kirsty was put in a difficult situation.  "I needed to be with Kane…I…"

"But you didn't think of anyone else did you Kirsty?  You didn't think about your family."

"I did!  Every day I thought about you, and whether I was making the right decision, I rang you on my, our birthday and you sounded so happy and normal.  Thought I'd leave you to it."

"We weren't happy, as you probably haven't guessed!  Dad drove around looking for you, he took days off work putting up posters and when you were discovered, you'd run off again!  Then you decided to ring and act all haughty, and we were worried about you yet again!"

"Shut up, I don't have to listen to this."  Kirsty sank into her bed as Jade left the room.  She felt so alone, nobody understood.  She couldn't just speak to her family as if she'd just gone on holiday; she was the prodigal daughter.

***

That night, Kirsty stayed in her room, nibbling on some crisps Jade had left in her schoolbag.  She couldn't face her family.  She'd had a headache from repeated crying, and eventually fell asleep, twisting Kane's ring around her finger, thinking about him.  The next day, Kirsty left her room only to use the bathroom and stock up on snacks, only when she was sure her family had gone.  Jade had obviously been sleeping in Dani's room.  This pretence carried on till the end of the week, when there was someone still downstairs.

"Who's there?"  Kirsty said after hearing noises.

"Only me, " said Max.  "Gee you're back, why don't you come out your room anymore?"

"Oh, you know, " said Kirsty.  "I'm the fugitive."

"Everyone seems to hate you, but I don't, " said Max, looking on the bright side.

"Thanks, that means a lot.  How's my Dad been?"

"Uncle Rhys doesn't really talk anymore.  No one does.  It's pretty boring.  Will you explain what's going on?"

"How long you got?" smiled Kirsty.  "It's pretty complicated."

"That's what they all say.  You not gonna tell me?"

"No Max, go to school."

"You should come back, it'd give you something to do."

"There isn't much point anymore."  Max left, leaving Kirsty to sit in an environment, now alien to her.  Her life was pointless now, her family hated her, she had no prospects, no career, no future.  No boyfriend.  Kirsty began to cry again, uncontrollable, violent sobs.  Her life was hopeless.  She was going to go to the medicine cabinet, when she realised.  She could write a letter to Kane, telling him how she was feeling.  Perhaps he'd even reply when he got better, he must be back in Summer Bay by now.  Kirsty went upstairs, found a pen and paper and began to write…