CAMPSITE
Kirsty sits glumly on a log, watching as Rhys, Nick, Max and Seb try unsuccessfully to light a campfire. Jade watches, giving them less than helpful advice, none of them having a clue and Rhys getting more worked up every minute. She couldn't get into the spirit of things. This was meant to be a break. A chance to relax. Rhys had hoped that she would buck her ideas up after some time away but was disappointed that she had decided to isolate herself from everyone.
"Come and give us a hand Kirst"
Jade made an attempt to get her sister involved in the activities. She couldn't understand Kirsty's attitude. She knew that there was more to it than boredom of school but she couldn't work it out. Everytime she tried to talk to Kirsty about it Kirsty said she was fine.
Kirsty looks up at her twin and smiles faintly.
"I think it's a case of too many cooks already"
She watched, a slight look of amusement on her face as the men quarrelled between themselves. She sighed and rose to her feet.
"I'm going to go for a walk"
"Do you want some company?"
Kirsty answered bluntly.
"No, I just need some space to think"
She got up and wandered off away, heading towards a cluster of trees. Jade stared after her, puzzled. She wished that Kirsty would talk to her. They could usually talk about anything but something had changed over the past few days and she couldn't work it out.
WHARF
Kane sits alone beneath the wharf, running sand through his fingers thoughtfully. Wondering if he had made the biggest mistake of his life fourteen months ago by letting Kirsty go. Things would never be the same. He was the only one who hadn't moved on. He was seriously considering leaving the Bay again. Once Scott returned all hell would break loose. There wasn't much to keep him in Summer Bay if Kirsty no longer wanted him. He could sell up the boat and the house and make a clean break somewhere where no one knew him. Maybe he could find love again. He didn't believe in love until he met Kirsty. And if it could happen onc, surely it could happen again. Even for him.
CAMPSITE
Kirsty sits alone amongst some trees, rotating Kane's ring slowly around on her finger. She didn't even know why she was wearing it. She felt like she was betraying Seb already. And he was oblivious. No one else had noticed the significance of the ring. Seb was the perfect boyfriend and she didn't want to break his heart. Problem was, she didn't love him. She had tried but she just couldn't. Her relationship with Kane had been passionate. Exciting. And with Seb there was no passion or excitement. Just security.
"Kirsty?"
Jade shouts from the direction of their pitch. She stumbles to her feet and waves towards her sister, walking slowly back to the tents. She and Jade were to share one, Nick and Seb another and Rhys and Max were to share the third. Jade had wanted to swap with Seb so that she could share with Nick but Kirsty had managed to dissuade her with the threat of Rhys finding out. The truth was that she didn't want to have to share with Seb. It was too intimate. She thought back to the night she and Kane had spent in his car. How Kane had come into the back when she was cold. How it had felt to lie in his arms. She couldn't imagine that with Seb.
She approached the tents and could see the fire was now alight. The sun was starting to set and darkness was falling on the countryside.
.......................................
TENT
Late night
Kirsty lay awake. The only things she could hear was Jade's gentle breathing as she slept. But Kirsty couldn't sleep. She was trying to make sense of her feelings. They had to spend two days here but all she wanted to do was go home. She couldn't face it. The evening had been hard enough. Smiling and pretending she was fine. Trying to make the most of her relationship with Seb. Trying to hide the fact that she would much rather be there with Kane. She turned onto her side, closing her eyes. She was exhausted but she couldn't sleep.
"Kirst?"
Her restlessness had woken Jade. Kirsty said nothing.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah. I just can't sleep"
Kirsty answered bluntly. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
"Are you alright?"
Kirsty frowned in the darkness. Why did Jade have to be so concerned about her?
"I'm fine"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Kirsty snapped and Jade was taken aback. Kirsty apologised hurriedly.
"Jade, I'm sorry... it's just I'd rather be at home - I'm fed up with already"
Rhys hadn't even let her bring her phone. He had brought his but he was insistent that this should be a 'back-to-basics' holiday.
.......................................
SALLY'S HOUSE
Morning
A knock on the door. Sally answers and is stunned to come face to face with Kane.
"Is Flynn in?"
Kane shuffles awkwardly, not sure how to behave in front of Flynn's wife. She remembered the look she had gave him at the music festival, when she and Flynn had found him and Kirsty in the back of the van. What must she have thought?
"Um, yeah"
Almost on cue, Flynn walks through, topless with a towel draped over his shoulders having just had a shower. He stops dead when he sees Kane in the doorway.
"Kane... g'day mate"
He couldn't hide his surprise very well. He had never expected to see Kane back in the Bay after all that had happened. He had expected Kane to have a new life somewhere else by now.
"Flynn... I need to talk to you"
Flynn had certainly changed. Married. A new haircut. Kane felt awkward just turning up on his doorstep like this.
"Right... just give me a minute mate"
"It's alright - I was just leaving anyway."
Sally picks up her bag off the sofa and pecks Flynn on the cheek. Kane moves aside to let her out, before stepping inside cautiously. In the meantime, Flynn has picked up a shirt off a chair and has put it on hurriedly. He invited Kane to sit down and Kane took a seat awkwardly. Flynn looked down at him, unsure of what to say to his former client.
"I didn't expect to see you back..."
"No... my aunt died and I decided to move back into her house"
Flynn was relieved that his reason for returning didn't seem to be based on Kirsty.
"How are you coping?"
"Yeah, not bad. Look, Flynn - I've gone into business with Scott Hunter"
Flynn raised his eyebrows, the impact of this hitting him instantly. Kane just needed someone to talk to and aside from Kirsty, Flynn was the only person he could think to come to.
"You do know who he is?"
"I only found out he was seeing Dani a couple of days ago when I bumped into Kirsty"
Flynn frowned. It looked like history could be repeating itself but he didn't say anything. Instead he let Kane continue.
"Scott doesn't know who I am yet - he's away for the week. How do you reckon he'll react when he finds out?"
Kane had never seen Scott lose his rag before and was genuinely concerned about how he might react to the news. Whether Scott would be able to see that he had changed. Whether they could still have a working relationship. Kane genuinely liked Scott. He was a good friend and he didn't want to lose that. It seemed inevitable.
"I couldn't say"
Kane sighed, exasperated. Flynn could at least try to be helpful.
"You've spoken to Kirsty then..."
Kane knew Flynn would mention that. He didn't want Flynn interfering again. He'd had enough of that last time. Flynn trying to give him advice. He had walked up and down the beach numerous times that morning and the night before, hoping that he would run into Kirsty. Kane bites his tongue and doesn't reply.
"You know she's seeing Seb?"
Kane nodded slowly. He found it hard to believe that Kirsty could be serious about anyone else. He had thought that they were soul mates. It tore him up to think that she was with someone else.
CAMPSITE
Kirsty stared numbly into the fire. She had had an awful night. She just wanted to go home. She wasn't in the mood for this holiday. Everyone else was in such a good mood. There was a game of football underway not far away but she didn't fancy it.
Rhys approached her and crouched down next to her.
"Are you alright Kirst?"
Kirsty avoided eye contact with her Dad.
"I just don't feel very well"
Kirsty hoped that he would accept this. The look on his face told her that he had. He didn't think there was any reason for her to lie. It made sense that she hadn't been taking part in the fun and games if she was ill.
"You should go for a lie down"
"I can't sleep. I've been up all night"
That much was true. Rhys looked at her with concern.
"Do you mind if we go home?"
She looked at her father hopefully. He looked reluctant.
"I mean, you could just drive me home and come back here - I'd be fine on my own"
Rhys considers her proposition. She was old enough to look after herself.
"Well, if that's what you want"
Kirsty smiles at him gratefully.
.......................................
DINER
Kane and Flynn sit in the corner booth. They had done a lot of catching up and Kane had cleverly managed to avoid bringing Kirsty up in the conversation. It was a hard topic for him and he couldn't bear to discuss his feelings with Flynn. He would only try to tell him that he should leave it.
"I thought that starting out in business with Scott would be a new start - I'd just finished at TAFE and that's what I wanted to do... me and Scott got on great... what's he going to think of me now?"
Flynn thinks for as moment.
"I can't answer that one for you... but I know that Scott's a pretty understanding bloke... I think it's Dani that'll be the worst affected by all this"
Kane frowns, unconvinced. Will and Josh had both gone berserk so why shouldn't Scott.
"If you want my advice it would be to cut all ties to the Sutherlands - for your sake as much as theirs"
Flynn could sense that Kirsty was on Kane's mind. The way Kane had avoided the subject told him as much.
"I've got to get to work but if you need someone to talk to you know were I am"
Flynn stood and Kane nodded in acknowledgement. Flynn left and Kane stared into space thoughtfully.
.......................................
CARAVAN PARK
Rhys carries Kirsty's bag inside for her.
"I'll be fine Dad - you go back and enjoy yourself"
"You've got my number - just call if you need anything"
"Yes, Dad"
She was fed up of people fussing over her. Seb had wanted to come back with her to make sure she was alright and it had taken ten minutes to talk him out of it.
"Right - you should probably go and have a lie down. You look exhausted"
"Yes Dad"
Kirsty's voice was expressionless. Rhys sensed that she wanted to be alone.
"I'll see you in a couple of days then Kirst"
"Yeah, bye Dad"
Rhys smiled before turning and walking out. A short while later she heard his car starting up and pulling off down the road. She had the house to herself for the first time in ages. It was quieter than ever. She thought about calling Kane, or going to find him at the wharf. She knew it was wrong, but she had to talk to him. Her feelings were driving her insane.
Kirsty sits glumly on a log, watching as Rhys, Nick, Max and Seb try unsuccessfully to light a campfire. Jade watches, giving them less than helpful advice, none of them having a clue and Rhys getting more worked up every minute. She couldn't get into the spirit of things. This was meant to be a break. A chance to relax. Rhys had hoped that she would buck her ideas up after some time away but was disappointed that she had decided to isolate herself from everyone.
"Come and give us a hand Kirst"
Jade made an attempt to get her sister involved in the activities. She couldn't understand Kirsty's attitude. She knew that there was more to it than boredom of school but she couldn't work it out. Everytime she tried to talk to Kirsty about it Kirsty said she was fine.
Kirsty looks up at her twin and smiles faintly.
"I think it's a case of too many cooks already"
She watched, a slight look of amusement on her face as the men quarrelled between themselves. She sighed and rose to her feet.
"I'm going to go for a walk"
"Do you want some company?"
Kirsty answered bluntly.
"No, I just need some space to think"
She got up and wandered off away, heading towards a cluster of trees. Jade stared after her, puzzled. She wished that Kirsty would talk to her. They could usually talk about anything but something had changed over the past few days and she couldn't work it out.
WHARF
Kane sits alone beneath the wharf, running sand through his fingers thoughtfully. Wondering if he had made the biggest mistake of his life fourteen months ago by letting Kirsty go. Things would never be the same. He was the only one who hadn't moved on. He was seriously considering leaving the Bay again. Once Scott returned all hell would break loose. There wasn't much to keep him in Summer Bay if Kirsty no longer wanted him. He could sell up the boat and the house and make a clean break somewhere where no one knew him. Maybe he could find love again. He didn't believe in love until he met Kirsty. And if it could happen onc, surely it could happen again. Even for him.
CAMPSITE
Kirsty sits alone amongst some trees, rotating Kane's ring slowly around on her finger. She didn't even know why she was wearing it. She felt like she was betraying Seb already. And he was oblivious. No one else had noticed the significance of the ring. Seb was the perfect boyfriend and she didn't want to break his heart. Problem was, she didn't love him. She had tried but she just couldn't. Her relationship with Kane had been passionate. Exciting. And with Seb there was no passion or excitement. Just security.
"Kirsty?"
Jade shouts from the direction of their pitch. She stumbles to her feet and waves towards her sister, walking slowly back to the tents. She and Jade were to share one, Nick and Seb another and Rhys and Max were to share the third. Jade had wanted to swap with Seb so that she could share with Nick but Kirsty had managed to dissuade her with the threat of Rhys finding out. The truth was that she didn't want to have to share with Seb. It was too intimate. She thought back to the night she and Kane had spent in his car. How Kane had come into the back when she was cold. How it had felt to lie in his arms. She couldn't imagine that with Seb.
She approached the tents and could see the fire was now alight. The sun was starting to set and darkness was falling on the countryside.
.......................................
TENT
Late night
Kirsty lay awake. The only things she could hear was Jade's gentle breathing as she slept. But Kirsty couldn't sleep. She was trying to make sense of her feelings. They had to spend two days here but all she wanted to do was go home. She couldn't face it. The evening had been hard enough. Smiling and pretending she was fine. Trying to make the most of her relationship with Seb. Trying to hide the fact that she would much rather be there with Kane. She turned onto her side, closing her eyes. She was exhausted but she couldn't sleep.
"Kirst?"
Her restlessness had woken Jade. Kirsty said nothing.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah. I just can't sleep"
Kirsty answered bluntly. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
"Are you alright?"
Kirsty frowned in the darkness. Why did Jade have to be so concerned about her?
"I'm fine"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Kirsty snapped and Jade was taken aback. Kirsty apologised hurriedly.
"Jade, I'm sorry... it's just I'd rather be at home - I'm fed up with already"
Rhys hadn't even let her bring her phone. He had brought his but he was insistent that this should be a 'back-to-basics' holiday.
.......................................
SALLY'S HOUSE
Morning
A knock on the door. Sally answers and is stunned to come face to face with Kane.
"Is Flynn in?"
Kane shuffles awkwardly, not sure how to behave in front of Flynn's wife. She remembered the look she had gave him at the music festival, when she and Flynn had found him and Kirsty in the back of the van. What must she have thought?
"Um, yeah"
Almost on cue, Flynn walks through, topless with a towel draped over his shoulders having just had a shower. He stops dead when he sees Kane in the doorway.
"Kane... g'day mate"
He couldn't hide his surprise very well. He had never expected to see Kane back in the Bay after all that had happened. He had expected Kane to have a new life somewhere else by now.
"Flynn... I need to talk to you"
Flynn had certainly changed. Married. A new haircut. Kane felt awkward just turning up on his doorstep like this.
"Right... just give me a minute mate"
"It's alright - I was just leaving anyway."
Sally picks up her bag off the sofa and pecks Flynn on the cheek. Kane moves aside to let her out, before stepping inside cautiously. In the meantime, Flynn has picked up a shirt off a chair and has put it on hurriedly. He invited Kane to sit down and Kane took a seat awkwardly. Flynn looked down at him, unsure of what to say to his former client.
"I didn't expect to see you back..."
"No... my aunt died and I decided to move back into her house"
Flynn was relieved that his reason for returning didn't seem to be based on Kirsty.
"How are you coping?"
"Yeah, not bad. Look, Flynn - I've gone into business with Scott Hunter"
Flynn raised his eyebrows, the impact of this hitting him instantly. Kane just needed someone to talk to and aside from Kirsty, Flynn was the only person he could think to come to.
"You do know who he is?"
"I only found out he was seeing Dani a couple of days ago when I bumped into Kirsty"
Flynn frowned. It looked like history could be repeating itself but he didn't say anything. Instead he let Kane continue.
"Scott doesn't know who I am yet - he's away for the week. How do you reckon he'll react when he finds out?"
Kane had never seen Scott lose his rag before and was genuinely concerned about how he might react to the news. Whether Scott would be able to see that he had changed. Whether they could still have a working relationship. Kane genuinely liked Scott. He was a good friend and he didn't want to lose that. It seemed inevitable.
"I couldn't say"
Kane sighed, exasperated. Flynn could at least try to be helpful.
"You've spoken to Kirsty then..."
Kane knew Flynn would mention that. He didn't want Flynn interfering again. He'd had enough of that last time. Flynn trying to give him advice. He had walked up and down the beach numerous times that morning and the night before, hoping that he would run into Kirsty. Kane bites his tongue and doesn't reply.
"You know she's seeing Seb?"
Kane nodded slowly. He found it hard to believe that Kirsty could be serious about anyone else. He had thought that they were soul mates. It tore him up to think that she was with someone else.
CAMPSITE
Kirsty stared numbly into the fire. She had had an awful night. She just wanted to go home. She wasn't in the mood for this holiday. Everyone else was in such a good mood. There was a game of football underway not far away but she didn't fancy it.
Rhys approached her and crouched down next to her.
"Are you alright Kirst?"
Kirsty avoided eye contact with her Dad.
"I just don't feel very well"
Kirsty hoped that he would accept this. The look on his face told her that he had. He didn't think there was any reason for her to lie. It made sense that she hadn't been taking part in the fun and games if she was ill.
"You should go for a lie down"
"I can't sleep. I've been up all night"
That much was true. Rhys looked at her with concern.
"Do you mind if we go home?"
She looked at her father hopefully. He looked reluctant.
"I mean, you could just drive me home and come back here - I'd be fine on my own"
Rhys considers her proposition. She was old enough to look after herself.
"Well, if that's what you want"
Kirsty smiles at him gratefully.
.......................................
DINER
Kane and Flynn sit in the corner booth. They had done a lot of catching up and Kane had cleverly managed to avoid bringing Kirsty up in the conversation. It was a hard topic for him and he couldn't bear to discuss his feelings with Flynn. He would only try to tell him that he should leave it.
"I thought that starting out in business with Scott would be a new start - I'd just finished at TAFE and that's what I wanted to do... me and Scott got on great... what's he going to think of me now?"
Flynn thinks for as moment.
"I can't answer that one for you... but I know that Scott's a pretty understanding bloke... I think it's Dani that'll be the worst affected by all this"
Kane frowns, unconvinced. Will and Josh had both gone berserk so why shouldn't Scott.
"If you want my advice it would be to cut all ties to the Sutherlands - for your sake as much as theirs"
Flynn could sense that Kirsty was on Kane's mind. The way Kane had avoided the subject told him as much.
"I've got to get to work but if you need someone to talk to you know were I am"
Flynn stood and Kane nodded in acknowledgement. Flynn left and Kane stared into space thoughtfully.
.......................................
CARAVAN PARK
Rhys carries Kirsty's bag inside for her.
"I'll be fine Dad - you go back and enjoy yourself"
"You've got my number - just call if you need anything"
"Yes, Dad"
She was fed up of people fussing over her. Seb had wanted to come back with her to make sure she was alright and it had taken ten minutes to talk him out of it.
"Right - you should probably go and have a lie down. You look exhausted"
"Yes Dad"
Kirsty's voice was expressionless. Rhys sensed that she wanted to be alone.
"I'll see you in a couple of days then Kirst"
"Yeah, bye Dad"
Rhys smiled before turning and walking out. A short while later she heard his car starting up and pulling off down the road. She had the house to herself for the first time in ages. It was quieter than ever. She thought about calling Kane, or going to find him at the wharf. She knew it was wrong, but she had to talk to him. Her feelings were driving her insane.