Chapter 5: That someone (part 1)
Stevie hardly had slept that night. She was late, she knew. Emotions had take over before her mind could interrupt and try to make sense of it all. She had an awkward feeling inside and she didn't know why. The tears that had slipped her eyes during that night had even upset her more. Why on earth did she cry? Alex was a big boy. He could take care of himself, but she knew better. To the rest of the world he always showed his strong side, but when he was with her that wall fell down sometimes. She cared about him and she didn't want him to get hurt. And there was something telling her that Jasmine would hurt him.
After a quick shower Stevie finally reached the Drovers kitchen and took some breakfast. Everyone seems to have start work and no one was around, she thought. That changed when she saw Tess hugging Jasmine in front of the house. Stevie turned around to get some milk. A few minutes later she went outside to do some work, but her interest changed as she saw Jasmine walking to her car, accompanied by Meg, setting her traveling bag in her Ute. What was she doing, was she leaving?
Stevie came closer and greeted the women. 'What's that all about?' Stevie asked Jaz, looking at the bag and showing an uncertain smile on her face. 'She's leaving', Meg said before Jasmine could answer. 'Leaving? Why?' Stevie already felt some anger boiling up inside. 'I have to go back, Nancy had some problems'. 'So you will come back after?', Stevie asked, wanting to know for sure if any accusations that where running through her mind had the right to come out. Jasmine shook her head. 'No, I don't think so'. 'You what?' Stevie's face turned red and started to look enraged.
'You're gonna leave Alex behind again, are you!' Meg saw Stevie's expression and tried to calm her with calling her name, but Stevie didn't responded and Meg knew it wasn't even worth trying. Jasmine felt assaulted, as she did often around Stevie. 'That's none of your business.' Stevie showed an unpleasant laugh. 'Ha, so you think you have the right to just hurt him again?' 'Like I said, it's none of your business!' Jasmine's voice raised and she opened the car door to get inside. Not willing to hear much more.
'Well it is!' Stevie shouted back. She wanted to attack her, but she could withhold herself. Jasmine turned around hearing these words. It all came clear to her. 'Oh, so you're that someone'. 'The what?' Stevie asked confused. Before Jasmine closed the door, she let her last words out. 'You and Alex.' It left Stevie flabbergasted, still having that confused look on her face as she saw Jasmine driving away. 'What?', she uttered softly.
'Stevie', she heard from behind. Meg lay her hand on Stevie's shoulder. 'Come'. Stevie was flustered and just followed Meg inside. As she had taken place at the kitchen table and was a bit cooled down Meg sat down in front of her. 'What was that all about?' Stevie took a swig of her water that Meg just had given her. 'I ... she left him again.' Meg just looked at Stevie and listened. 'Just like last time ... how can she do that to him?' She looked questioned at Meg. 'Well, Stevie I don't know what happened last time.' 'They had something; Alex was all over her and then she left. And now she does it again', she said softly.
'Who says they are back together?' Meg asked. Stevie took a deep breath. 'I saw them kiss yesterday and she told me she would stay this time and she probably also told Alex that.' 'But you're not sure?' Stevie shook her head slightly as she realized what Meg just said. No she wasn't sure, but it all seems so logical to her.
What didn't seem logical to her was her aggressive behavior, the way it affected her. Just the same as last night. 'Did you hear what she said?' Stevie looked at Meg, but saw she didn't understood it. 'She said I was that someone. Me and Alex or something like that.' Meg nodded. 'What did she meant with that?' 'I don't know'. Meg felt a bit sad that she couldn't help her friend with this one. 'Maybe you should ask Alex.' Stevie took another deep breath, pondering.
'There's work to do.' She stood up and walked outside.
As Stevie was cleaning the shearing shed, her mind didn't come clear. Why did Jasmine say that? What was going on? Her and Alex? She repeated the last line in her mind. She stared in front of her and leant against the wall. She shook her head. Talking to Alex ... no she couldn't. Jasmine was right, it was none of her business. She would have to tell him she had watched them kiss; she would have to tell him what she said to Jasmine. It would probably only make him blame her.
She softly sat down, still leaning against the wall. She and Alex ... she started to think about him, all the moments they shared. How he always was there to comfort her and ... all of a sudden her body slightly shocked. The moment they had kissed just before Nick and Tess' wedding passed before her eyes. The way it had made her feel was coming over her again.
She had felt so confused, but she also had felt so save. Just like the night he had stayed over. Her breathing speeded up as she realized what was going on. Why Jasmine had upset her so much. She was jealous! She moved her hand before her mouth. Was this true? Did she felt more than just friendship? Was she falling in love with him?
Stevie just sat as she heard someone coming. She stood up as fast as she could, sweeping away some tears that had left her eyes. A second later she saw it was Kate and she tried to act like nothing happened. 'Hey', Kate said, noticing Stevie's red face immediately, 'are you ok?' She looked studious at Stevie, who took a deep breath before blurting out there was nothing wrong, just cleaning the shed. 'Are you almost finished, cause Meg asked about you.' 'Uhm', Stevie looked around, 'I'm almost finished. It took more time than I thought it would.' Kate hardly believed any word Stevie just had said, but she knew how Stevie was. She kept things for herself and would only start talking about it when she wanted. And this wasn't the moment. Maybe Meg knew? Kate already thought Meg's way of asking where Stevie was, sounded a bit concerning.