I am gradually working my way through updating my stories today…here is the next Chapter for this one…
Romeo had been sat staring into his coffee cup ever since he arrived at the Diner, he had no idea why he had arranged to meet Frankie but he knew he wanted answers. Romeo was just about to leave when he saw Frankie come rushing through the doors "I am so sorry I'm late" Frankie gasped as she approached Romeo.
Frankie was wearing a red summer dress with red wedge sandals, her hair was hanging loosely around her shoulders and she had a pair of sunglasses resting on her head "You do still have time for that chat right?" she added as she tried to catch her breath.
"Yeah" Romeo chuckled "Here sit down" he added as he pointed to an empty chair. Before Frankie had chance to sit down Colleen was already falling over herself to get to the table.
"Can I get you anything?" Colleen grinned widely.
"I'll have a black coffee please" Frankie smiled politely.
"Make that two please Colleen" Romeo added as he pulled a chair out and sat down next to the stranger who was claiming to be his sister.
Colleen rushed off behind the counter to get the coffees "What do you suppose that Braxton lawyer wants with Romeo?" Colleen was obviously snooping.
"I don't think its any of our business Colleen" Irene replied harshly.
"Well if Romeo is about to embark on some kind of criminal…" Colleen started, but Irene interrupted quickly.
"Colleen just take them their coffees and leave them be" Irene warned.
"I have looked at that photo you gave me constantly, trying to see if it triggers at least something" Romeo sighed as he put the photo on the table "But there's nothing"
"It's OK you were only a baby, I wasn't expecting all your memories to come flooding back" Frankie smiled as she put her hand on Romeo's arm, trying to reassure him.
"Two Coffees" Colleen announced with some annoyance in her voice "Will Indi be joining you both? Indi is Romeo's wife" Colleen snarled at Frankie.
"That'll be all thank you Colleen" Romeo was trying not to snap too much at Colleen.
"Wow" Frankie laughed
"I'm sorry about that" Romeo apologised "Colleen likes to think…"
"Its fine really, it's not the first time I have been accused of trying to steal a girl's husband" Frankie found the whole Colleen situation quite amusing, much to Romeo's relief.
x-x-x
Brax was just in Angelo's sorting out the working rota when Casey arrived "Alright mate, I was just about to call you" Brax smiled "Are you OK you work tomorrow, it's just Hannah is…"
"Fine yeah whatever" Casey replied "But I am not here to talk about work, I want to know what is going on between you and Heath"
"It's nothing for you to worry about Mate" Brax frowned.
"Well I am worried Brax, you and Heath haven't spoken in days and to be honest it's not like you" Casey refused to be brushed off this time "I don't know what's happened but you need to fix it, and fast"
Brax watched Casey walk away, his younger brother was right he did need to fix it.
x-x-x
Romeo and Frankie had taken their conversation to the beach "So do you surf?" Romeo wondered, seeing as Frankie mentioned it last time she never actually said whether or not she surfed.
"I used to" Frankie replied as she looked out on the water at the surfers "I was quite good at it too"
"Oh really" Romeo grinned playfully "Show me"
"What?" Frankie looked horrified at Romeo's suggestion.
"Show me" Romeo repeated "You can borrow Indi's board"
"No I can't" Frankie replied quickly.
"Oh come on" Romeo didn't realise the upset he was causing.
"I SAID NO" Frankie finally snapped.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you, I was only…" Romeo quickly apologized when he realised how distressed Frankie was.
"It's ok…I...I'm sorry…I have to go" Frankie rushed away "I'll call you"
As Romeo watched Frankie walking away he was left puzzled as to why she had become so upset.
x-x-x
Brax was setting the tables when Frankie clumsily rushed into Angelo's, he could see instantly how upset she was "Frankie" Brax said as he rushed over to her "Has Heath had a go at you again?" he snapped almost ready to leave and look for his brother.
"It wasn't Heath" Frankie sniffed quickly, Brax wrapped his arms around Frankie, she hugged him back for a few moments before taking a few deep breaths and pushing him away.
"So if it wasn't Heath then who" Brax wondered curiously.
"Romeo" Frankie replied still sniffing.
"Romeo upset you" Brax was confused; this didn't sound like something Romeo would do.
"It wasn't on purpose, he wanted me to go surfing with him" Frankie explained "He was being abit pushy and I freaked out on him…I doubt he will want to speak to me again now"
"It can't have been that bad" Brax reassured her gently; he reached over the bar and grabbed a bottle of Vodka and two glasses. He poured one for Frankie and handed it to her before pouring one for himself "Here drink this"
Frankie necked back the Vodka and put the glass on the side, Brax was about to pour her another one but she covered the glass with her hand "No more for me"
Brax poured himself another glass and then put the bottle back behind the bar "I'm sure if you explain to Romeo what happened" Brax tried but Frankie interrupted him with a scowl.
"You know I don't like talking about it" she frowned.
"Then maybe its time you did" Brax pushed a little "You have never told anyone what actually happened that night…come on Frankie it's just me and you here now"
"Alright but I might need a couple more drinks after all" Frankie perched herself on a stool beside Brax and handed him her glass which he filled it with more vodka.
"So what did happen after you left the bar?" Brax asked, causing Frankie's mind to go back to that night…
Flashback to the night Tegan drowned…
Frankie and Tegan had been out drinking with the River Boys, they were both wearing short denim skirts and vest tops.
"I told you that skirt would help" Tegan laughed as she and Frankie staggered towards the beach "Leo couldn't keep his eyes off you"
"Or his hands" Frankie giggled "I mean honestly I felt like a rabbit in a petting zoo"
Tegan's laughed echoed off the waves as the girls got closer to the sea "Hadn't we better head back inside before the boys start to miss us" Frankie said as she gestured back to the bar.
"Nah let them" Tegan slurred "I have a better idea"
Tegan started to head into the sea "Come on Frank" Tegan laughed "It's lovely and warm"
Frankie was a little unsure about going out into the sea but she didn't want Tegan to be out there alone so she did it "I'll race you to that buoy and back" Tegan said as she swam quickly away. Frankie had forgotten all about the worries she had as she raced Tegan to the buoy, she didn't even look back as she started to swim back to shore.
Frankie had always been the better swimmer out of the two of them "I won" Frankie laughed as she stood in the shallow bit if water, she turned expecting Tegan to be right behind her, but she couldn't see anything, the water was calm "TEGAN" Frankie screamed "TEGAN"
Frankie didn't think about the danger she just rushed back into the water. Luckily Brax, Heath and some of the other River Boys had heard Frankie's screams. They had made their way over.
"TEGAN" Frankie cried as she swam around frantically searching for her sister. She panicked as she felt an arm around her.
"It's OK it's only me" a familiar voice said, the voice belonged to Heath "Come on lets get you out of here" just as Heath started to pull Frankie back to shore, Frankie spotted a lifeless body floating around in the water.
"TEGAN" Frankie screamed again as she tried to swim to her sister, but Heath stopped her.
"Let Brax get her" he whispered in Frankie's ear "You need to let him get her"
Frankie relaxed and let Heath take her back to shore. Although it was only a few moments it seemed like an age had passed by the time Brax had brought Tegan back to shore.
As Brax laid Tegan's lifeless body out on the sand Frankie quickly started CPR "Come on Tegan"
As the paramedics arrived it was obvious Tegan wasn't going to wake up, Heath tried to pull Frankie away "NO, NO…Tegan" Frankie fought Heath.
"She's gone Frank. Tegan's gone" Heath struggled with Frankie until she finally gave in and broke down.
Frankie was knelt in the sand with Heath arms wrapped tightly around her, her tears soaked through Heath's shirt.
x-x-x
A phone ringing in the background brought Frankie back to reality with a crash…
Back in Angelo's
"Hello Frankie…Francine Callahan speaking" Frankie answered her mobile phone "Oh my god is she ok? I'm on my way"
Brax looked worried "What's wrong?"
"It's Darcy, she's sick" Frankie announced as she stood up quickly "I have to go to the hospital"
Brax took Frankie's keys off the bar "I'll drive" he said as he followed Frankie out of the door…
I am sorry it has taken so long to update this chapter; I really hope this story still has some readers…