Brooke woke up with the familiar feeling that she'd felt in Nick's bedroom, a mixture of regret and sadness, except she'd done what she really wanted to do. She'd given into temptation and kissed her best friend. They hadn't spoken about it at the party afterwards, and Kit had left abruptly, before they'd had a chance to sing Happy Birthday to her. Now she would hardly see her, with them being in different years, and with her going to New Zealand this weekend, they wouldn't get to talk for a while. Still feeling unsure about herself, Brooke sighed. Did she even like guys? Well, that depended on the guy, and most of them were only after one thing, but girls, they were different. She jumped out of bed and quickly got her uniform on thinking that she could catch Kit before school. They had to talk.
Kit had the opposite idea. She'd planned to take a detour that morning, to think about the previous nights actions, perhaps getting drunk in the process. Brooke had kissed her, and even though she had all her doubts, it felt good, it felt right, but she knew it was wrong. She didn't feel that way about girls; she liked boys like Noah, like — well that was it, and she wasn't sure about what she felt for Noah anymore. She could only love someone so much, if they didn't return her love.
At the Sutherland household, it was a different story entirely. Kirsty felt excited, the most excited she'd ever been in her life. It was the end of the week already, and she was ready to leave for her wedding. She knew the plan; tell her parents she was staying over at a friend's house for the weekend (someone owed her a favour) and be dropped at her house, where Kane would be waiting, with Brooke, to take her on the night ferry. Hurriedly, she packed her rucksack, and managed to fold her wedding dress so it would fit. Hopefully it wouldn't crease too much. She couldn't bring a suitcase; that would arouse too much suspicion for just a weekend at a friend's house, so she had to fit all of her make-up and clothes into a bulky camping bag. Plus, she still had to keep the tradition of taking something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
"You're taking this very seriously, " said Jade in the background. "Are you sure you're not going to Kane's?"
"I'm sure. " Kirsty grabbed a baby picture of Jade and her. Something old. "I'm going to Cassie's and I need to work on our geography project."
"Cassie's? For the whole weekend? You know you'll just get dragged to one of her wild parties."
Her wedding dress, surely that would count as something new? Now for something borrowed. "Perhaps, but I want to get a decent grade. Jade can I borrow your silver necklace?"
"What for? I thought you were studying?"
"I just need it."
"Fine, " she chucked it over. "And this geography project, since when did we have one?"
"Since you got yourself suspended. Anyway, it's for extra credit." Something blue, something blue, what did she have? "We don't do everything together, Jade." She grabbed her blue shoes, since she'd forgotten to buy ones that matched her dress. They wouldn't be visible anyway.
"I'll leave you in peace with your ego then, " said Jade slamming the door. Her relationship with Kirsty was somewhat different now, especially this week. She'd been hiding away an awful lot, and hanging around with Kane's wretched sister. It was almost like they were the sisters.
Kirsty breathed a sigh of relief and continued to pack. She didn't want anything to go wrong; she was determined to see in the new week as Mrs Kirsty Phillips.
The plan went smoothly and later that evening, Kirsty was sitting on the night ferry to New Zealand, with Kane beside her. Brooke felt somewhat left out, the third wheel to be exact with the engaged couple canoodling and giggling.
"I'm going to get a drink, " she said leaving her seat. She could easily get served and plus, she wasn't driving. "One vodka and coke please."
"That'll be $6.75 and a smile please, " said the barman. "Be happy that you're actually going somewhere and not stuck on this ferry night after night serving drinks."
"Actually I think I'd rather be serving. My life isn't exactly great right now, " she took a sip.
"Join the club. I get the feeling that I'll be here until I die." He was actually quite nice looking, Brooke's old type, with dark spiky hair and haunting eyes. She almost fancied him, but she liked someone else more. "So what's up with you?"
"Well my brother's getting married to attempt to solve all his problems, which isn't going to work, and my other brother is making our lives hell. Plus I kissed someone I wasn't supposed to."
"Oh?" He pretended to be shocked. "Well, you could try that again."
"Nah, but I will give the smile you wanted." She smiled at him, and sat back down. Kane had disappeared and Kirsty was sat dreamily twiddling a lock of her hair.
"I'm guessing you're happy?"
"Yeah. We're gonna have to start avoiding each other soon. It's unlucky to see the groom before the wedding day. Is it alright if I stay in your room tonight?"
Brooke nodded. She should have been sharing this with Jade, and suspected that she wouldn't be too happy about Brooke taking her moment. "So, how do you feel about spending the rest of your life with my half-brother?"
"Absolutely and totally over the moon. We have everything, love, trust, I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. I want loads of kids!"
"But are you sure he's not keeping anything from you? I always thought you'd have a long engagement."
"It was a surprise when he organised the wedding so quickly, but that's what I love about him. Even when we went to this orchard ages ago, it was so spontaneous. That's how I know he loves me. I'm so glad that he has you to be there for him. I know his brother wouldn't. "
"Really?" Kane was back now, after thinking for a while on the deck about what he'd let himself in for.
"Hiya babe." They sat together and instantly linked arms.
"Did you feel your ears burning, we were just talking about you?" said Kirsty.
"About how you trust each other, and tell each other everything, " said Brooke with an air of sarcasm. "Isn't that right Kane?"
He laughed nervously. "That's right."
The wedding day was upon them in a matter of hours, and Kane woke early, staring at the suit that symbolised the impending ceremony that was ahead. He'd arranged all this, he'd proposed and rushed Kirsty, and now any uncertainty was his entire fault. This was supposed to take his mind of Scott, but it wouldn't really change anything, he wouldn't stand up to him and he'd still have to give his money away, the money that was for his future. He'd be letting down his aunt so much.
There was a knock on the door. Brooke.
"How are you feeling?" She was already wearing her outfit. "Kirsty's really excited; I hope you're not having second thoughts."
"No way. I want to marry Kirsty, it's just, I didn't realise how big this would be. Our whole lives together."
"It should be a good prospect if you love each other."
"It is, but will it change anything? We're gonna have to keep it secret, so she can't live with me, and her family will still hate me, plus Scott's gonna be on my back."
"You know what you can do about that. You can stand up to him."
"Saying what? You know he won't listen."
"You'll have to make him, please, do this for her. She doesn't want a husband who lets his brother walk all over him." They stood still for a moment; Kane was absorbing what his sister said. "I'm going to help Kirsty with her hair and stuff. Don't be late."
The Blackthorn Registry Office was used to seeing weddings of every kind; happy weddings, traumatic weddings, arranged weddings, gay 'weddings', bigamist weddings and especially secret weddings with the law in favour of 16 year olds. The registrar had seen it all. Kane stood patiently at the front with the receptionist (they needed another witness) and the registrar. Soon enough, Kirsty was at the door, looking amazing in her dress, and the registrar switched the music of the wedding march on, pressing play on her CD player. Brooke carried Kirsty's train up the short aisle, and then looked on as she stood beside Kane. It was a shame the only had the attention of a few people; they looked beautiful together.
The ceremony was short, and Brooke glazed over until the important parts; the vows.
"I, Kane Phillips, take you Kirsty Elizabeth Sutherland to be my lawful wedded wife. I will love and cherish you, until death do us part." It was obvious that he mean the vows; Kirsty knew she was making the right decision.
"I, Kirsty Elizabeth Sutherland, take you Kane Phillips, to be my lawful wedded husband. I will love and cherish you, until death do us part." She smiled.
The registrar saw something different in this couple; they were different to the usual giddy types who eloped. She could see that this couple had been through a lot. "Well, providing no one objects, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss."
They did, and it almost matched one of the first kisses on the beach many months ago. Kirsty looked back and saw Brooke clapping, elated, yet disappointed to see an almost empty room. Everything had changed. It was just her and Kane now, against the world.