Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except the drama and tension I'm going to cause. Enjoy.

-

Chapter Five

"I think I've been asleep most of my life."

-

Waves beat down heavily against the shore, clashing like the titans as the storm continued to brew in the distance. Thunder was matched by strikes of lightning, blinding, over the sea, but still I sat huddled, cold, ready to face the oncoming storm. It continude to call to me, its sad, melodic voice coming each time the waves crashed, spilling its sound across the shore. Why was I here… where was here… questions were brushed over, simply because I felt at home… as it was me that the storm called to… Mattie…

"Mattie. Wake up Hun. Its like four in the afternoon." Cass said frantically as she began collecting her things. Disoriented, it took me a few moments to regain my bearings before I realised where I was. Sitting up, rubbing my eyes, I waited for them to focus as I looked down the deserted strip of beach. Deserted, that was, except for four other figures who I assume had just appeared. Looking closer, my breath caught in my throat as I realised who I was looking at.

"Cass." I said softly, only to be ignored. "Cass" I repeated, but still her attention was focused elsewhere. "Cassie" I yelled finally, and as she turned around to yell back, she finally noticed them too.

"Oh." She said gently, as I stood up and began jogging down the beach towards them.

"Where are you going?" She yelled after me as she fought to catch up to me. But instead of replying I quickened my pace as I tried to reach them as fast as possible. Despite everything that had happened, and anything that would or could happen this summer, he was still Luke; he was still my best friend.

I was about ten meters away when he caught sight of me. His grin broadened as he closed the few steps between us and picked me up into his arms, holding me tight as he spun me around. His arms had wrapped around my body as he pulled me towards him, placing me gently onto the ground. My body melted against his own as I breathed in his scent, holding him close to me, wondering if I ever wanted him to let go again.

"Hey you." I whispered in his ear "I've missed you so much." I said, almost chocking on my words as the tears threatened to spill. "I've missed you more." He whispered back, and I felt him relax into the hug, until a faint cough broke me from the trance I was in, and I looked sideways to see Sara glaring at Luke and I, obviously very unimpressed by our, well, rather emotional reunion.

Releasing my arms from around his neck, I walked quickly over to her and embraced her into a tight hug too. Pulling away, I pretended not to notice her shocked expression. "I'm Mattie, and its so brilliant to meet you. I'm sorry we haven't had the chance to get together before now, but you know, University life, is there anything more hectic?" I said quickly, as she nodded, unable to find a voice to reply in. "I can't believe the boys didn't take you home straight away." I continued, as Cassie finally reached us, shooting me a look. "I mean, Mum is dying to meet you." I said, quickly giving her a look back before turning my attentions to Ric.

"Hey." I said, as I felt myself being pulled into a tight hug. "Its good to see I've been missed… nice to know that some things never change." I muttered as he smiled at me, and gave me a final squeeze before letting go. Pulling away, a short look between he and Cassie told me that Parker needed to be distracted, so I put on my biggest grin and took Sara's hand and dragged her towards Parker.

"It's really nice to see you again Parker." I said almost genuinely, as Parker's eyes snapped from the intense hug Ric and Cassie appeared to be sharing to my own bright eyes.

"Really?" She asked, hints of sarcasm lining her tone, and I had to wonder if this summer was going to be as hard as I'd first believed.

"Yes, really." I replied, shaking my head. "Seriously, we want to make the most of this summer, so when we're not working in the shop…" I began, before Luke interrupted me.

"Working in what shop… ?" He asked curiously, as I Cassie looked at me as she was released from the bone-crushing hug Ric had been giving her.

"Well we actually don't have it yet…" She began, but I interrupted, dismissing any doubts she had.

"Cass and I are going to get a job at that adorable little boutique down on the main road of Yabbie Creek for the rest of the summer." I stated simply, shrugging my shoulders. "We could always do with a little extra money, and we're still too hyper from University to just calm down and sunbake all day."

Luke and Ric looked at one another before beginning to laugh. "Good one." Luke said in between laughs. "Yeah, you two working through the summer, that's really amusing." Ric added, as Cass and I glared at them.

"Ah, boys?" Parker said, as she looked at a fuming Cassie and I, "I really don't think they are kidding."

"Thank you Parker." Cassie said, as she continued to glare at the boys "I'm glad someone believes us capable of actual work." She snapped, picking up her stuff and storming off down the beach.

"Cassie, wait…" Ric called after her, but when she didn't turn around he gave up, sighing.

"And everything changes." I muttered, ignoring the pained look Sara was shooting me. One thing I didn't want or need was sympathy from her.

"I guess we'll see you tonight." I said, as I began to walk slowly towards Cass. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know both of you." I continued, as I gave them a little wave. "And we'll deal with you two later." I joked, giving Luke and Ric a half grin as they smiled back.

"Sounds good." Came the choked reply from Luke.

Maybe this summer was going to be harder than any one had dreamt of imagining.

-

"Cass." I yelled after her as she walked up the path towards my house. "Wait up." She slowed a little until she came to a stop, but she refused to turn to meet me.

"Come on Cass, they didn't mean any harm, they just remember us differently to how we are now." I said, pleading with her "We're different to how we were last year, we've changed, and it'll take them a little while to get used to the new and improved us." I said, hoping to get even the smallest laugh from her. But instead, I heard her breath become caught in her throat as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her to me as she wept on my shoulder, her body wracked with the tears she could hold back no longer.

"How can we have changed so much, and they have changed so little?" She said to me later, as we sat on the edge of the path, looking out over the fading sun.

I didn't answer, I couldn't answer. Being in Luke's arms had reawakened feelings that I'd believed to be long forgotten. Being around Luke and Ric made me feel old again, and I didn't want to feel like that, because I was tired of feeling like that. Cass and I had both changed this year, but, after spending a few moments with them, it had become apparent that they were still the same men we'd loved and lost.

"Some things never change." I sighed finally, wiping away the stray tear that had fallen. "But, now is not the time to mull over things. Mum and Sal will be in there waiting for us BFF, and we'd better show or we'll be well and truly grilled." I said, and finally I received a grin from Cass.

"Okay, but promise, if we're going to feel like this, we're going to act like we did this time last year…" She said, and I threw her a grin back.

"Because alcohol is so good for forgetting…" We said together, laughing.

-

"Well, aren't you two a treat for sore eyes." Kit yelled over the noise and chatter as Cassie and I finally joined the party. I rolled my eyes as I reached for a Madori Splice and walked over to her.

"Kit, Cassie and I have seen you multiple times this year." I said, as I walked over and felt myself being embraced by my older sister.

"And yet, that's still not enough." She joked, as Cassie joined us.

"Are we in a time warp or what?" She said, as she looked around at all the familiar faces that didn't appear to have aged at all.

"I know, its freaky." I replied, as I watched Colleen whisper something to Alf as Morag shook her head, rolling her eyes. But then, my eyes found Ric, Luke, Parker and Sara, and my stomach dropped. His arms wrapped around her as she smiled a small, innocent smile up at him. I watched as she and Parker charmed Mum and Sally, causing fits of giggles.

"If you look directly into the flame, it's going to hurt you." Cassie said from beside me, slurring a little.

"You're drunk." I replied a little spitefully, as she sighed and sat down next to me.

"So?" She replied, her tone challenging. "I also happen to be right."

Couldn't fight with her there.

"They've moved on. So have we. It's time we dealt with it Mattie." She continued, looking at me seriously. "Really dealt with it."

"I hate you're drunken self." I mumbled, crossing my arms over my chest immaturely. "Its always so clever."

"Should I feel complimented or insulted by that statement?" Cassie asked, but my attention was already lost. Cass was right. We needed to deal with this. We'd changed, and as such we needed to move on. I realised then and there that I didn't want Luke back, I wanted the idea back, I wanted what we had, and that couldn't be found again. I needed to finally, really, move forward with my life. Embrace the new life I led. And that would begin tonight.

"Cassie." I snapped, as she looked at me in annoyance. "Look, we're moving on. So let's party girl. We haven't done that in too long."

"Are you implying we ditch the annual Summer Bay bore fest?" She said excitedly, as I rolled my eyes.

"And be killed, I don't think so. Doesn't mean we can't have our own little party here." I wriggled my eyebrows at her as she giggled a little.

"Is the esky over there still half full of our lolly drinks?" She grinned finally, and I nodded, grabbing her hand and attempting to inconspicuously wander towards the esky in the far backyard.

Sometimes, moving on meant being that little bit immature. Sometimes that made it easier.

-

AN: Yay, another update. Thanks again to Jade for proofing, and I hope you're having an amazing time in Italy. Thanks for the reviews, and I hope you enjoyed the 'it' chapter.