EARLY EVENING - Diner

"You and your Mum are close then?"

She tried to make conversation, however awkward it felt. Going out with someone else just felt wrong, like she was guilty of something. Yet she had chosen the Diner deliberately, with the intention of the word getting back to Kane.

"Yeah... I've never really had a Dad around so..."

He paused anxiously. She pretended not to mind. After all, she and her father weren't exactly getting along. Now she could feel bitter that he hadn't spent enough time with his son... the boy he thought was his son.

"Erm... so me and Angie have been more like mates... just the two of us, you know"

She nodded, smiling. He wouldn't guess she was just being polite. He had been trying so hard ever since they got there, laughing insanely at her jokes, hanging onto her every word. She liked him, there was some kind of connection, but he just wasn't... he wasn't Kane.

"All me and Mum seem to have done is argue"

The short period between the boat accident and the discovery of she and Kane's love had probably been the first time she and her mother had really bonded. Most of her life it had felt like they were light years apart.

"I guess it's different when you've got a whole family... it has always been my dream... a family like yours..."

He paused wistfully. She glanced around, spotting Kane entering the Diner. Turning to Dylan she leant forward, surprising him with a passionate kiss, which he returned, overwhelmed. Kane froze as he saw them, a stab through his heart. Sadness as soon overcome by fury, Dylan having disregarded his earlier warnings to stay away from Kirsty. A split second later, he lunged towards them, grabbing Dylan by his shirt collar, hauling him to his feet.

"Get off her!"

He took a swing at Dylan, relishing in the sound of his jaw cracking out of place and his yelp of intense pain. Jesse and Alex leapt forward, dragging him back

"I'll kill you!"

He didn't have the sense of mind to control what he was saying, or even to realise that the whole Diner was staring and Dylan was trembling, blood trickling from his cut lip. He could only see red through his jealousy. He struggled until he realised it was no use.

"Get off me!"

Jesse and Alex waited a moment as Kane stopped struggling, before releasing him cautiously. He looked around the diner, with most of the customers choosing to look away rather than receive the evil eye. Kirsty was just stood, expressionless, remaining firmly by Dylan's side. He looked directly across at Dylan, who was still nursing his jaw.

"Watch your back"

He turned, adjusting his clothes, before walking out of the Diner.

.................................

CARVAN PARK - Later

Dylan winced as Kirsty placed the ice pack onto his cheek.

"Hold it there"

He raised his hand, their hands touching as he took the ice pack, holding it in place.

"Look... maybe this isn't such a good idea"

"What?"

She knew exactly what he was talking about, and after Kane's outburst she wouldn't have blamed anyone for running a mile. It had horrified her, yet he was doing it for her, and in a way that erased the seriousness. He always had been one to fight for what he cared about. Besides, he wasn't the first person to get angry and lash out. And there had always been an unpredictable side of him that she found attractive. She shook the thoughts from her head in annoyance as Dylan replied

"You and me... us..."

"Why not"

He squirmed nervously. He didn't like to think that he was giving up so easily.

"Because your psycho boyfriend's out to kill me"

Kirsty opened her mouth, her first instinct being to back Kane up, before changing her mind

"He's not my boyfriend... and if he can't accept I've moved on then that's his problem"

She put her arm around Dylan in reassurance, as Rhys walked through the door.

"What's going on?"

He looked from Kirsty to Dylan as she leapt back guiltily., knowing that something was up. As soon as Dylan looked up at him he saw the damage to his face,

"Dylan, what happened?"

The fact that Dylan wasn't blood related didn't matter. He was his son in every other way, and his concern was genuine.

"Kane laid into me"

"Kane?! What has he got against you?"

Dylan and Kirsty exchanged a glance

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

She took a breath, hoping her father would be a bit more understanding as usual. Especially seeing as he'd made so many mistakes recently. He had a lot of making up to do.

"Um... Dad... we're an item"

Dylan grimaced, hationg how Kirsty had just blurted it out. Just like that. As if it was no big deal. Rhys laughed in disbelief.

"Please tell me you're joking... my son and my daughter"

"He's not my brother though"

Rhys' jaw dropped in astonishment. They'd known each other for what? A day and a half? And Kirsty had split up with Kane not even a week ago.

"I don't believe this..."

Neither Kirsty nor Dylan said a word, giving Rhys time to adjust.

"Dylan you'd better leave"

"Dad!"

Kirsty feebly attempted to protest.

"Now Dylan!"

Dylan bolted out of the house, he didn't need another run-in. Not somewhere so private with no one but Kirsty as defence. Kirsty turned disgustedly to Rhys.

"Did you have to?!"

"I'm sorry Kirsty, but you and Dylan is not gonna happen so don't even go there"

"You'd rather I was with Kane?"

Rhys looked at her, mulling it over. Kirsty couldn't believe he was even thinking about it. A few months back he'd have been spitting blood at the mere mention of Kane's name and now he was having trouble over a question like that. Dylan was still at school, had good grades and a future. Kane was... Kane. Rhys frowned. Why did his daughter have to have such bad taste in men, it was like they tried to wind him up.

"I'd would prefer you to find someone - anyone - who resembled a suitable boyfriend, which disqualifies your brother and your sisters attacker... I'm going to bed"

He made to leave the house to return to his van]

"You can't stop me seeing who I want... I'm sixteen tomorrow... you can't control me anymore"

He glared back at her before leaving. She collapsed onto the sofa, sighing Her life was such a mess.