I walked into Yabbie Creek Police Station. I was really excited about seeing Jack. Scott, Hayley and Noah had gone to the house they had bought recently. They jumped at the chance to move back to Summer Bay when Jack had phoned me and told us about the beautiful house.
I walked up to the desk, unable to see Jack in the station.
"Hello, I'm looking for Jack Holden, is he here just now?" I asked a young woman of about my age who was sitting at the desk. Her black curls sat nicely on her shoulders and shaped her face nicely. She looked really friendly and cheery.
"Sorry, he has just been called out to a disturbance down the road, is there anything I can help you with?" she spoke softly yet confidently. I just seemed to warm to her instantly.
"No it's okay, I'm his sister and I'm just recently back in Summer Bay to surprise him. Do you mind if I wait here?" I asked, just hoping she would agree.
"Of course you can, that's not a problem. He should only be a few minutes," she gave me one final smile before walking away to answer the ringing phone.
Sure enough, ten minutes after I had taken a seat in the rather uncomfortable chairs at the station, Jack walked in, looking quite pleased with himself. He had obviously just arrested the two men that stood at the desk waiting to be charged.
"Good afternoon, Constable Holden. Good day so far?" I said, loud enough so he could hear me clearly. I saw him whip his head round, not completely sure it was my voice he was hearing. I flashed the biggest grin that had come across my face in weeks and ran up to hug him.
"Oh my god! Mattie! You're here… in the Bay… why?" he questioned while I gave him the biggest hug with all the strength I could muster.
"We're moving back. I'm staying in Summer Bay!" I screamed, drawing the attention of a few strangers in the room. The female officer at the desk looked at me again. It was like she was analysing me. Possibly trying to remember me. I ignored the look from her and gave all my concentration to Jack who just happened to be finishing his shift.
"Come on then what are you waiting for?" he nudged me. "Let's head to Noah's, I can't wait to tell everyone your back!"
I replied with a nervous laugh. Was I really ready to face them? I guess I had to be…
-x-
Jack's Ute pulled up in the car park for the Surf Club. The music from inside gently played in the background. My palms were sweating; my breaths short and my hands were shaking. I had never suffered with my nerves before now, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
Jack walked in front of me as we became closer to the entrance. He pulled the door open and I was met with the sight of that oh-so-familiar pool table. I had won many games on that pool table. Most of them to Lucas and Ric. They had never heard of a girl that played pool, they thought it was ridiculous, how wrong they were…
"Wait here, okay? I'll just be a sec," Jack told me. I waited behind the wall, knowing full well what Jack was about to do.
"Everyone! Oi guys!" he shouted, "Everyone, I've got a surprise with me tonight…" he signalled for me to come through and join him and I did.
"Hi everyone," I said shyly, waiting for a reaction.
"Mattie!" Cassie screamed and hugged me.
"Hey Cass!" I broke free from the hug, "you have no idea how much I've missed you."
"Oh I think I do," she said while pulling me in for another hug. That's when I caught sight of something on her left hand, something shiny.
A ring with a sparkling diamond on top was sitting on her wedding finger.
"Oh My God!!!" I screamed. "Cassie! You're engaged!"
"Yep, did Lucas not tell you?"
"Lucas!" I was in complete shock. My two best friends engaged. Talk about partner swapping. "I'm gonna be your sister!"
"I know! And now you're here to help me plan the wedding!" she started jumping around.
"Matilda," Sally and Brad said in unison. "It's great to see you."
"Hiya you guys," I paused to examine them, "is that a wedding ring I see on your finger, Sal?"
"It sure is, it's our first anniversary in two weeks."
"Aww congratulations guys. I'm just so sorry I missed it."
"You didn't know Mattie. Don't worry about." Brad said.
-x-
The night was going well. Everyone in the Surf Club was slightly tipsy. I'd spent my last forty-five minutes talking to Colleen and catching up on the gossip. I'd flown around the room catching up with everyone. I couldn't believe how little they had changed. A few different hairstyles here, a couple more wrinkles there and that was it!
I caught a glimpse of Alf Stewart across the room. I decided to go over and see him it was now or never.
"Hi Mr Stewart!" I said cheerily.
"Young Matilda! I heard you were back in the Bay. How are you, love?"
"I'm great thanks. I'm so glad to be back. Nobody seems to have changed."
"Well that's Summer Bay for you, love." He said while looking around the room.
"I'll catch up with you later then, Mr Stewart!" I said while being dragged away by Cassie.
"Sure. Take care, love!"
-x-
"Cassie, where are you dragging me off to now?" I questioned while laughing. The alcohol had gone straight to my head. The last time I was here, it wasn't legal for me to drink. I was sixteen. And now at nineteen years old, I was in the Surf Club, drunk.
"This is Tessa," Cassie slurred. Blatantly drunk. "She's a trainee officer for the police," she managed to get out. I laughed at Cassie's severe intoxication and smiled at Tessa, the girl I had met at the station earlier.
"Hey, I'm Matilda but most people call me Mattie."
"Tessa," she replied as she stuck out her hand for me to shake it. I was being really nice to her but I couldn't help sense some hostility on her part. "I don't mean to be rude, but do I recognise you from somewhere? I'm sure I've seen you before," she asked obviously trying to think where I was from.
"Nope not unless you've lived in France sometime in the last three years," I laughed.
"Oh no, I've not," she laughed along with me. The recent hostility disappearing.
-x-
I spent the rest of the night talking with Jack, Martha, Cassie, Lucas and Tessa as well as singing karaoke and becoming more and more drunk.
"I can't wait for you to meet my boyfriend, Mattie," she said to me quietly while Jack and Martha were heading off to get back to their newborn baby, Christina.
"Oh wow. You never mentioned a boyfriend. Is he from around here? I may have known him before I left," I asked.
"Yeah, you probably have met him actually. He seems to have been here for a while."
"Well great, I'd love to meet him. Do you think he'll pop along tonight?" I asked getting quite curious about who her boyfriend was.
"Yeah he had a mate's party from work to go to first then he said he'd come meet me for a drink here."
"Cool can't wait."
-x-
A/N: Fifth chapter is finished guys! I'm really getting into this fic now and I've just had a great idea for a plot. Don't worry a reunion will be happening very soon! If anyone is wondering about the spoiler I mentioned last time, check on BTTB in the spoiler section in the forums. It's week 21. I also just found out that that's the week that I'm on holiday with the school in London!! So I'm going to have to wait an extra week to see Home & Away that week :( Thanks for all the kind reviews. They really keep me motivated. Please keep them coming!