I know! It's been like a million years! I'm sorry guys, been travelling fortnightly for work since Christmas and it's been cray! Now I'm doing my bosses job for a few months so will probs have even less time to write, insert sad face. I feel like ive forgotten how to write actually, so I apologies in advance if its everywhere!

Hope everyone is staying safe and well! xoxo

Somebody That I Used To Know

Chapter 16.

Kate stood there for a minute trying to compose herself, but her rage just grew. Dumping her basket on the floor she chased after Dutchy, she caught up to him as he approached his car. He reached out to open the passenger door, but she slapped his hand away and placed herself between him and the car.

"Dylan!"

Dutchy avoided her judgemental glare and exhaled sharply. Side stepping her he reached out to open the back passenger door but she moved her body to block him. Placing his bags on the floor he rolled his head back unable to look her in the eye.

"What?"

She stepped closer, hoping if his answer to her question was a lie she'd be able to tell by his body language.

"What aren't you telling me?"

His eyes darted around, focusing on anything but her face.

"Nothing, Kate…"

"Then why did you kiss me? Why are you trying to sabotage my relationship?"

"Sabotage? Seriously? If you thought I was trying to do that, why would you ask me to be your Maid of Honour?"

She let out a frustrated growl, it was her turn to focus on the ground.

"That was before…"

He glanced back in her direction, noticing her body language was less tense.

"Before what?"

Her eyes moved to meet him, they stood there locked in each other's gaze. Kate was the first to break, she let out another frustrated scream and stormed off.

Kate walked in the front door in a zombie-like state.

"I'm in here…"

Mike's voice caused her to stumble, resting herself on the door frame she took a moment to compose herself. Taking a deep breath in, she placed a smile on her face and entered the room.

"Did ya get my chips?"

Placing Aria on his lap, she flopped onto the couch and let out a sigh, Mike glanced over to her as he attempted to juggle Aria while she squirmed for her play mat.

"You okay?"

She didn't respond and stared blankly at the TV, Mike placed Aria on her play mat and scooched closer.

"It's not the wedding, is it?"

Kate stomach flipped hearing his question, Mike noticed her panicked expression and gripped her hand.

"It's a lot to plan and deal with in such a short time, we don't have to do it so soon."

She turned towards him, forcing another smile on her face. Mike squeezed her hands in his, desperate for her to be truthful.

"Remember, we promised to sharing our feelings."

Kate couldn't help but hesitate, she didn't know how to answer him, she didn't know what she was feeling.

"I just, I thought I'd have my memory back by now…"

"Well, we're making new memories, remember! Why don't you rest up, we've got our bucks and hens tomorrow night and you can't miss that..."

The next night Mike and Kate entered the pub, a cheer rang out as they approached the group. 2Dads bound up to them, presenting them with multiple shots.

"Happy hens and bucks night!"

Kate immediately grabbed two shots and downed them, 2Dads let out an enthusiastic cheer.

"All right, X! Let's do this!"

2Dads dragged Kate off to the bar where she was confronted by a over zealous Bird, she bounced on the spot excited about her offerings, she presented Kate with a pink glittery bag.

"Happy hens!"

Kate snatched another shot off the bar before taking a deep breath in and opening the bag, Bird couldn't hold in her enthusiasm and pulled out a bejewelled tiara with a long glittery veil. She squealed as she placed it on Kate's head, Charge chuckled observing Kate's lack of enthusiasm.

"I think she's more excited than you!"

Bird rolled her eyes as she plopped a penis shaped straw into his beer.

"Aren't you excited, Charge?"

He pulled the straw out of his beer looking less than pleased and placed it into 2Dads glass.

"Ah, not exactly something I would enjoy in my drink..."

She pulled out another straw with large breasts, giggling as she slid it into his beer.

"Better?"

He took a sip from the straw, smirking.

"You're the breast! I mean best! And now I'm going to join the other sane people, and by that I mean the guys."

They turned hearing a scream coming from the doors, Stacey sprinted towards Kate wrapping her arms around her.

"Yes! Someone brought props!"

Elbowing Dutchy in the ribs, she pointed at the veil.

"See, Dutchy, Kate is totally into this!"

He didn't reply and made a b-line to the other guys. Stacey opened her handbag and pulled out pink light up sashes, she placed the one labelled "Bride" around Kate's body.

"I bought these just in case you were into this! Okay, we need more shots!"

The girls lined themselves up at the bar and downed shot after shot, Mike and Dutchy glanced over to them periodically checking they were still upright. Charge noticed their concern and rose from his seat, clinking a knife against his glass.

"I think we should get the speeches out of the way before someone gets too messy."

Kate let out a drunken cackle and hip and shouldered 2Dads.

"Yeah, 2Dads!"

Mike cleared his throat, raising his beer in the air.

"Ah, thanks everyone for coming."

Kate ran over to him pushing him back into his seat, she wiggled her finger in his face as she cleared her throat.

"No one wants to hear another speech about Hammersley being a family…"

Chuckles filled the room, Kate took a sip from her Champagne glass.

"Well, actually, maybe it is about family. I guess I just didn't think I'd be so comfortable around a group of people I didn't remember? So ah, yeah, maybe in some weird way this is like a family…"

Kate's eyes darted around the room, her face wrinkled at the blank stares she was receiving.

"Ah, everyone okay?"

Mike tapped her on the shoulder and whispered in her ear.

"Kate, I'm pretty sure you're remembering things, me talking about Hammersley being a family?"

She took a sip of her drink, contemplating the question, giggling she shook her head.

"Well, if it is that's all I've got. So, moving on, I'd like to thank Stacey for putting this together. But I gotta say I'm a little disappointed in the lack of strippers."

Stacey shot daggers toward Dutchy and stumbled off her chair, pulling him to his feet.

"Oh, you can blame him for that!"

2Dads threw a crumpled up napkin at him.

"Boo, Dutchy, what were you thinking?!"

The crew laughed as Dutchy sank back into his seat, Kate took another gulp of her Champagne and continued.

"Ah, anyway, I guess, this is all pretty, umm, expected, I guess is the right word, seeming you all know what's happening in my life better than me. But I really appreciate everyone's support and, yeah, thanks everyone and drink up!"

Stacey poked Dutchy in the ribs and leaned close.

"Thought you said she wasn't good at speeches?"

He shrugged and headed to the bar, Kate followed, he jumped as she grabbed his shoulder.

"So, you gonna speak to me? Or you gonna keep avoiding me?"

He turned back to the bar, not wanting to indulge her.

"I'm not avoiding you… and I don't think you should be talking to me, you're drunk."

She grabbed his drink off the bar and down the whole glass.

"Where have I heard that before?"

Dutchy clenched his fists trying to keep it together, moving closer he clenched his jaw.

"I didn't start this, you did, and unless you wanna tell me why you tried to kiss me, you need to back off!"

His eyes darted around the room, concerned his tone would attract unwanted attention.

"You're the one that chose him…"

She shoved him backwards, sick of his attitude.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

Shaking his head, he retreated to the beer garden, Kate's eyes followed him as he walked outside. Jack entered the pub and noticed her ice cold stare, he ordered two drinks and followed him out.

"So, bucks and hens nights, not your thing?"

Dutchy swallowed his drink staying silent, Jack sat beside him handing him another glass.

"Or is it more about who's bucks and hens it is?"

Dutchy tried not to react, but his silence answered Jack's question.

"Dutchy? C'mon, blokes can have feelings."

Dutchy glanced back into the pub and sighed seeing Kate down a glass of whiskey and laughing.

"Forget it."

"No, talk to me, you look like you need to get it off your chest."

Dutchy refused to respond, concentrating on the ground.

"Dutchy, I can see things are bothering you and I think I know what it is..."

"You know nothing about me…"

He downed Jack's drink and walked away.

The cab pulled up outside the office building, Dutchy chucked the cabbie a twenty and walked up to the doors. He peered inside, the lights were still on. Opening the door, he approached the desk and rang the bell at the desk, a woman appeared from the behind the partition.

"Hi, sorry Sir, we're about to close."

"Is Dr Bowen here?"

"Can I ask your name?"

"Ah, Dutchy, Dylan Mulholland."

Dr Bowen opened her office door upon hearing his name.

"Dylan, what are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry it's late, but I need to talk to you…"

End Chapter 16.