The moment had come.  Scott was here for his money.  Kane wasn't quite sure whether he should give in or not; after all it was given to him specifically.  He could stand up to him but Scott always had ways of persuasion he could never understand.  That was probably why Dad favoured him.

"So?"   Kane waited for Scott to say something.  "Why should I pay you money?"

"You know why.  I'm sure Aunt Rose would want your girlfriend to be okay."

"Girlfriend?  What's she got to do with this?"  Kane wasn't sure if Scott was bluffing.  You could never tell.

"Well, you can't watch over her all the time.  Sooner or later she's going to get hurt.  I haven't forgotten what you did to me."

"It was the right thing to do Scott, you should try it sometimes."

"Nah, " Scott pulled a face.  He'd always been a rebel.  "Grassing me up, making me go inside, then not visiting and keeping this money away from me.  I deserve compensation."

"And what will you do with it?  Buy more alcohol and guns and try to kidnap another teacher?  I know what you're like with money, Scott."

"I wanna go into business myself.  The export trade.  I need at least a grand a week to get me started?"

"A grand?" 

Scott leant in closer.  "Think of it as your investment.  That you won't get back."

***

Kane decided to go for a long walk after that, to his special place.   He always went there when he was feeling like this.  He'd given in to his brother yet again on a whim, he wasn't even sure if he would touch Kirsty, but he couldn't risk it.  He loved her. 

Sighing, he looked at his watch; it was around nine o'clock.  Luckily the place he was going didn't shut for a while.  He went through the cast-iron gates of the cemetery, being careful not to step in anything.  You never know what people would dump in these places.  He walked down the path, looking at all the graves.  All those lives gone.  It was quite eerie.

"Hello Mum.  Sorry I haven't visited in a while."  Kane stopped at a black headstone, engraved in gold.  This was the only way he could talk to her; it wasn't like when she was alive and depressed.  Sometimes he felt like she replied, a leaf would fall of a tree or he'd hear a sound.  He knew she was at peace. 

"It's been hell out here.  Scott's come back to cause trouble, but I suppose you already knew that.  I'm engaged too, I wish you could meet her, she's wonderful."  He lay some flowers down, red roses, her favourite.  No one ever gave them to her in her lifetime.

"I've got a sister too.  Brooke.  I feel like I've really connected with her.  Kind of makes up for Scott.  I just wish he didn't have so much power over me Mum, I —."

Kane heard something rustle in the bushes.  Perhaps it was a sign.  "Maybe that's how you felt, with Dad.  I'd better go Mum. It's getting late.  I might be back soon.  Maybe tomorrow."  He left the graveyard, and began the long walk home.  He was taking a shortcut, it was risky since it was along a fast road with no pavement, but he'd get back before ten.  The Yabbie Creek road would be deserted at this time anyway.

Dani was thinking the same thing; she needed to get home quickly.  The tears were coming down now, fast and furious.  She'd done such a stupid thing, and for what?  She didn't feel any better.  She should never have gone to see her college lecturer about her assignment, she obviously wasn't thinking straight.  He was so kind, and he understood what she was going through, at least it seemed like he did.  When she was leaving, they kissed each other, and Dani hadn't even tried to stop it.  Now her sister was getting engaged to a creep, and she'd cheated on Scott.  It was all too much for her.

Kane saw the lights coming around the corner.  If he could just get across the road before them, he'd be fine.  Then he saw her.  He knew it was her car; she'd been jumping in it every time he saw her at the gym.  He was frozen in time.

She saw it too.  At first it was just an 'it', a kangaroo or something, but then she realised it was him.  Dani knew she had to stop, but for the first time in her life, she was in control of him.  His life was in her hands.

If she could just speed up.

Her head won the fight against her heart.  She stepped on the brakes; it wasn't too late.

The car stopped just in front of Kane.  It was a true near death experience for him, but he needn't have been there.  He could have moved if he hadn't been so, so still.

Dani wiped her eyes with her jacket sleeve, and calmly switched off the engine.  Did she need to speak with him?  What could she say to someone she was almost going to kill?

Kane knocked on the window.  "Dani, are you okay?"  He was genuinely concerned.  Anyone driving that fast couldn't be all right in the head. 

"Just leave me alone Kane, " she said feeling the tears welling up again.  "Just go."

His voice was slightly muffled through the glass.  "I can't leave you here like this Dani, I don't think you're in a fit state to drive. If you hadn't stopped —."

"I did stop, okay Kane, and I'm fine now.  I don't see why you care so much about me now."

"That always comes back at me, doesn't it?  Move on Dani, Kirsty has, and you can too.  We're getting married, we're going to have kids and spend the rest of our lives together, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Dani got out of the car, and faced him, without fear.  "Really?  I can persuade her not to, she's my sister and she loves me.  I won't let her marry you.  I don't fear you Kane."

"And I don't fear you.  Kirsty has to do what's right for her, and marrying me is what she wants to do.  Can't you see that?  We love each other."

"Love?  How can you know what love is?"

"I know what love is, because I never had it before Kirsty.  I've had hate, contempt, maybe even like, but never love, " Kane was beginning to open up.  "I'm sorry about what I did to you Dani, I know it was wrong, but I don't see why I should have to pay for it forever.  It's helped me to change, surely that's enough for you?"

"I just feel like you're both laughing at me, treating me like an idiot.  Stupid slutty Dani, she got what she deserved. " Dani wouldn't let herself cry again.  She had to be strong.  "Everyone doubted me, and I don't see how Kirsty could love you without doubting me too."

"She doesn't doubt you, and a part of her will always hate me for that.  I will always hate a part of myself for that, but it's time to move on.  Both of us.  If I could just have your blessing Dani, it would —."

"I don't think you should marry her, " Dani looked away from him.  "Date her all you want, but don't take her childhood away, don't make her into my parents.  I'm going now, " she said opening her door.  She wasn't sure if she should offer him a lift, he might misinterpret it.

"I'll walk.  Thanks for this."  Kane almost read her mind.

Dani smiled slightly.  "I suppose it's helped me see things clearly."  They both went their separate ways, both overwhelmed by the previous events. 

***

Physical education lessons at Summer Bay High were still compulsory, and Jade dreaded them, being the less sporty twin.  Today it was netball, a sport she particularly hated.

Brooke was indifferent towards sport.  Although she was capable of most, she didn't have a favourite.  She preferred to use her mind.

Miss Philpot blew her whistle.  "Ok girls, get into teams, in fact I'll pick them for you."  She started to assign a number from one to four for each girl, to put them into teams.  Brooke and Kirsty were standing near to each other, and as a result received different numbers.

"Damn, " said Kirsty.  "Guess I'm not on your team."

"Guess who's on mine?"  Brooke saw Jade's face wrinkle up in disgust at the thought of working with her.

"Right, so first we'll have team 1 against team 2 on the front court, " the teacher gestured to the court in front of her.  "And at the same time we'll have team 3 against team 4 on the backcourt.  Then the winner of the first game will play the loser.   You've got 5 minutes to figure out your positions, then we're starting."

Once the girls had separated into teams, they scrambled to get the bibs of the positions they wanted.  Brooke and Jade managed to get the last ones, Goal Defence and Goal Keeper.  They would be side by side.

"Great, " said Jade under her breath as the whistle started.  The game was quickly in full force, unfortunately with Kirsty's team having the advantage.  The ball was rapidly travelling towards their end of the court, and Brooke was ready to intersect.  Unfortunately for her, Jade was ready too.

"Move out the way Jade, " Brooke was trying to get the ball from the opposing team, but Jade kept trying to get in front of her.  "We're on the same team, remember?"

"I can handle this Brooke, I don't need you here.  I am goal keeper."

"Fine, you take over."  Brooke didn't want to cause a scene; she'd just be stooping to Jade's level.  She stepped aside and saw the other team quickly score a goal, as Jade looked on helplessly.

Miss Philpot blew the whistle. 

"I think we need a re adjustment, " said the girl playing centre.  "I think Jade would be better in Wing Attack, and should swap with Simone."

Jade scowled and reluctantly swapped bibs with her.  "Fine."

The whistle went off again, and luckily Brooke didn't have to do a lot as her team now had the advantage.   She stood at the line where she couldn't pass, watching the action happen.

"I think we might score, " she said to Jade, who also couldn't move. 

Jade ignored Brooke and kept her eyes on the ball.  The opposition had managed to snatch the ball from their Goal Attack and it was travelling towards them.  "Jade, look out.  You could try and get the…"

"Just shut up!"  Jade turned to Brooke, fuming.  "I know how to play, okay?"

"So that's why you had to switch places?  Right."

"Quick Brooke!"  Someone had called out, and the ball was heading her way.  Finally she could send it in the other direction.  She needed to pass it to someone, who was near —?

Jade.

"Jade, look!"

She wasn't.  The ball hit her directly in the face; the force sending her to the ground.  The whistle went off and everyone rushed towards her.  Brooke wasn't sure what to do.

"Sorry, " she said under her breath.

"OK, " said Miss Philpot.  "We're going to have to take a break while I get Jade sorted out.  Everyone in the changing rooms, now.  Brooke, I'll talk to you later."

Some girls gave her dirty looks, as she took her bib off.  She was trying to be nice the girl, but it just backfired.  All because of her brother.  Well, if Jade Sutherland was going to be that petty, then she didn't deserve Brooke's kindness.  It was time to fight fire with fire.