"Kirsty wait!" Kane wasn't going to let her go without a fight. He'd come too far to let her go. Kirsty tried to walk faster, but it was too late, Kane had caught up with her.
"Get off me!" she said taking his hand from her shoulder. "I just don't want to know."
"Just listen to me please. Just marry me." Kane whipped a small box from his pocket, and held it out. Kirsty froze.
"You're proposing?" She was in disbelief, it was too random, too unexpected. "After what you've done?"
"Just hear me out. We had to break up before; we both knew that. I had nothing to offer you back then, but I'm sorted out now. I've got a flat, a bit of money, some work. We could be good together if you just let it happen. Look." Kane opened the box. It was the biggest diamond Kirsty had ever seen, far bigger than the one Scott had given Dani; the ring transfixed her.
"Kane, how could you afford this?" Kirsty reached out to it. "What have you been doing?"
"My aunt died last month. She had a small lottery win before she died and left everything to me. She wanted me to make something of my life and that's what I intend to do."
"Oh." Kirsty softened. She hadn't stopped loving Kane, of course she hadn't, but he couldn't just come back and expect everything to go back to normal. There was Dani, and her family to consider. "Marriage Kane? That's a bit serious."
"I want to be committed to you. We'll never have to break up again. Love is all we need."
"It's a little more complicated than that. Love isn't going to bring us guests at our wedding, it isn't going to make my family forgive me for what I'm about to say."
Kane smiled. "So you'll marry me?"
Kirsty tried on the ring. "I'll think about it. But this time we can't be a secret. We'll have to tell everyone."
"Fine, " said Kane slipping his arm around Kirsty. "Whatever it takes."
"Tomorrow Kane. There's a community celebration, some award Summer Bay got or something, my Dad's roped me into going. "
"Wow. So soon." Kane hadn't bargained on going public yet.
"And after we tell everyone, we'll take it from there." Kirsty kissed Kane on the cheek, and strolled happily into the distance.
***
The next day, Kit met Brooke at the Drop in Centre. It had become a sort of habit, and a better option than getting drunk on the beach again. Kit surprised Brook in her dormitory.
"Hi Brooke."
Brooke looked up from her diary. "Oh hi Kit. How are you?"
"A bit bored. Everyone's gone out. Do you fancy a walk?"
"Yeah, " said Brooke. "Let me finish up my diary and I'll be out." She hastily scribbled the rest of the sentence she was writing, slipped the diary into her bag, and jumped up.
"Oh yeah, " Kit said as they left. "There's some community party thing at the Diner later. My mum is making me go, she thinks I'm seriously antisocial, and since most people treat me as if I'm permanently drunk, I was wondering if you'd keep me company."
"Sure. It's not like I'm doing anything."
They paused for a while. "So, this old friend you're looking for, " began Kit. "Is it an ex or something?"
"No. It's actually my brother." Brooke felt better for saying it.
"Cool. Like a long-lost brother?" Brooke nodded. "And you think you might find him in Summer Bay. Have you had much luck?"
"A little. I'm trying to find out more about him before I contact him. I think he may have been in trouble."
"Has you mum called you yet? Mine always freaks when I run away."
"No, " Brooke sighed. "She's not like that. I have my life, and she has hers. It's better that way."
"I take it you don't like her?"
"I suppose. We never really bonded. I always wanted an older brother."
"Well, all my brother Scott keeps saying is that I should've stayed at school and how I've wrecked my life by drinking."
"Why do you drink Kit?"
"I don't know." Kit had been asked this question many times before but had never felt that she could give an honest answer. "I mean, it doesn't solve anything and mum makes me feel pretty lousy afterwards. I guess I feel different; anything beats being me."
"Maybe you should go back to school. I've always thought about finishing my HSC; you need qualifications for pretty much anything. I might want to be a criminologist, but I need more than Maths and English."
"I could, but I'd probably just flunk it again. I could never concentrate."
"Well, perhaps we could go back together, give each other support. I'm sure my mum would let me go to school here, and hopefully I can live with my brother."
Kit smiled sarcastically. "I'll look forward to it."
***
The Summer Bay diner was decorated in the finest of plastic banners and crepe paper, and adorned with trays of excellently prepared sandwiches and sausage rolls; Colleen Smart had done herself proud.
"I must say Alf Fisher, what an honour it is to be decorating the diner for such an occasion. If this doesn't go down in the history books, I'll eat my hat!"
"Colleen, " began Alf fiddling with yet another balloon. "Anyone would think you'd just won the award for Cleanest Coastal Town."
"Well I have in a way, I've made this town what it is!" Colleen continued to mutter to herself while preparing the diner, and soon enough the diner was full of the residents of Summer Bay, including a visitor.
"Hi Brooke. I'm Dani." Dani was pleased to see a new face. "What brings you to Summer Bay?"
"Oh, just some old friends, " replied Brooke. She knew Kane had affected Dani in some way, but she seemed perfectly normal.
"Well, I'll leave you to talk to Kit. You can meet my boyfriend Scott later."
"Doesn't she just make you sick?" said Kit as soon as Dani left.
Brooke gave no answer. She felt a bit left out. There was so much togetherness in this community (with the exception of Kit); it was all just passing her by. It was like she'd invaded another world, a world she shouldn't be a part of.
The next few events happened all to fast. Kirsty thought this moment was the perfect moment to bring in Kane; the moment when Alf Fisher was about to give a speech and the moment when the diner went quiet. It seemed like a dream to Dani, nightmare even. She flung her hand to her mouth in disbelief and shouted "Kane."
A light bulb went off in Brooke's head. "Kane Phillips, " she whispered to herself. He looked different to how she imagined, but she could see a slight resemblance.
"How dare you." Rhys looked mad. He lunged for Kane.
"Dad!" Kirsty stood in front of Kane. "We just need to talk."
"Get out."
"This is a public place, " said Kane. "I have every right to be here."
"Not if you're barred, " said Alf. "Get out."
"I knew this was a bad idea Kirst." Kane left. Kirsty began to run after him, but was stopped by Rhys grabbing her. Brooke was only noticed when she mysteriously darted out of the door. She didn't hear Kit call her. Her heartbeat was beating too fast.
Kane was walking at a hurried pace. He was frustrated. People wouldn't ever give him a chance. Not now.
"Wait." He heard a voice from behind. A different accent to Kirsty's. He turned around. "Kane Phillips, right?"
"Yep, that's me."
"I'm your sister, Brooke."