Chapter 2

The trip was taking forever; it was like they were doing it on purpose, so that he wouldn't make it in time. Perhaps it was payback for all the trouble he had caused them, maybe he deserved it he had been selfish after all, he had done what was meant to make him feel better and it had worked for only a small amount of time

1 year 7 months ago

"Get the hell away from me Brax" She stood cornered in his apartment he could see a drop of sweat slide down her cheek. He took a step towards her "Look Charlie I'm sorry it's just you broke up with me and I was so angry and so drunk and it just happened. Please forgive me," He begged her knowing she had every right to be acting like this "You slept with someone else how the hell am I supposed to forgive you for that!" He knew he had hurt her maybe that was his he had wanted; she had hurt him by wanting to hide the relationship and not wanting to be seen with him. She didn't pay attention to everyman that looked her way, watch them as they tried their luck with her right in front him.

His mind wandered to that night at Angelo's she stood at the bar looking as beautiful as ever "Another two Champagnes please Mr." Her smile lighting up her face revealing her two little dimples Brax loved "Don't get to drunk you know how vulnerable you can be" He joked referring to the first night they had kissed. "You have nothing to worry about" She leaned in closer towards his face before grabbing her drinks and walking away. As she walked back to the table where Bianca and the other girls were he watched a couple of men approached them feeling a little curious he made his way out to the tables surrounding them hoping to listen in on the conversation. He watched her smile and shake each of the men's hands "So you ladies single" He heard one of them ask listening for her answer he moved a table closer

"She's not" pointing to Leah "but the rest of us are single" Bianca had confirmed "Happily single" He heard Charlie chime in making him chuckle. He tried to look busy but out the corner of his eye he saw one of them move closer to Charlie "Would you like a drink?" He heard him say, "No thank you I'm fine" She had replied pointing to her drink on the table "By the time I get the drink and walk back you will need a new one" The man insisted "Im fine really" He could hear the annoyance in her voice so he walked over to the table pretending to be grabbing the empty glasses "Oh come on just one" He listened to the man who was being very persistent

"Look mate she's already got one she said she doesn't want another so stop harassing her" He snapped grabbing the man by his shirt, noticing the astonished faces at the table he stepped back looking at Charlie, she was giving him a stern look knowing he had done the wrong thing he turned to walk away but not before he heard her speak "I guess I can just have one"

Annoyed at himself and annoyed at Charlie he asked some of the boys to take over the bar, he needed a drink. Placing himself at the table where a few of the River boys and girls who had they had all grown up with sat including Heath he could feel Charlies stare across the room he was to annoyed to even look at her. Heath noticed Brax's unusual behaviour "Women troubles brother?" He asked slapping his brother on the back "Their just so hot and cold" Brax tried to explain taking a sip of his drink followed by a sigh "Your telling me" Heath added, his gaze directed at Bianca

"What are you two sad sacks looking at?" The boys looked up to find Tegan looking directly at them "You gunna let me sit down?" They looked at each other but neither moved "Oh fine then" She sat directly down on Brax's lap place her legs on Heath's.

"When did you get back Teegs?" Brax asked the girl he had had an on and off relationship with for the past 10 years "Yesterday have you boys missed me?" Neither boy replied just laughed she joined in Brax looked up to where Charlie was sitting to see she was looking at him, they made eye contact for a second before she turned away. He changed his attention to the group of people surrounding him joining on their conversation about the surf reports for that week Tegan annoyingly wiggled around on his lap she then placed her around his neck "What's up Braxy boy, you seem grumpy" She asked leaning closer towards his face "Would you two get a room please!" He heard his brother say, realising what it would look like Brax shoved Tegan of his lap next to him much to the amusement of the boys. He once again looked over to where she would be sitting only to find her seat empty and the other girls getting to their feet, scanning the room his eyes came across her entering the toilets "Let me out" He gestured to Tegan, she shrugged allowing him to get up and follow Charlie into the bathroom. He walked into to find her re applying her make up "You don't need that stuff, you beautiful without it" He said startling her. She turned to look at him he could see the fire in her eyes her temper and stubbornness traits of hers he never understood but made him love her more all the same. "You shouldn't be in here, go away Brax" He looked at her "What's wrong now?" He asked wondering what she had to be angry about "What's wrong now? What's wrong now Brax is that I can't even go out without you trying to start a fight with every second bloke who talks to me, people are getting suspicious because you can't control your temper" She yelled "Well sorry Charlie but its not my fault no one knows about us now is it? How do you expect me to react? He was trying to get you drunk to take advantage of you!" Brax yelled back. He watched as she shook her head lowering her voice "I was handling it alright I don't need you babysitting me. Go back to being all over your new girlfriend and leave me alone" She turned back to the mirror to start reapplying her make up "Charlie its not like that at all, she's just a friend" He was hoping she hadn't noticed Tegan "Could have fooled me, were you enjoying making me jealous? Have you slept with her before to?" She turned back to face him awaiting his reply. He knew he had to tell her the truth but he really didn't want to "I wasn't trying to make you jealous Charlie honestly" He avoided the question hoping she would move on from the subject unfortunately for him Charlie was to smart for that "Answer my question Darryl?" When Charlie used his full name he knew he was in trouble regrettably he explained, "We were together on and off since our teens but I swear since me and you have been together there's been no one else" He needed her to understand that this was the truth "Well she's more then a friend isn't she, you can have her we're done" He watched her pick up her purse and brush past him "Charlie your drunk let me walk you home" She spun around once more "I'm going to Yabbie Creek not home" before turning and leaving the room. Brax raised his fist at the wall reminding himself he would regret it in the morning he lowered it resting his head against it instead. Calming himself down he walked out of the restrooms and up to the bar grabbing a bottle of bourbon he walked over to the group who were now standing "Where we going?" He asked Heath "Tegan's house" he replied moving in the direction of the exit, he look over at Tegan who was smiling at him and with out even thinking Brax had followed.

Refocusing his thoughts on the present Brax looked at the women in front of him she was close to tears and shaking from anger he slowly approached her quickly grabbing her wrists before she could react "Let go of me" She shoved him back but he only tightened the grasp on her wrists "Charlie why do even you care what I do? You said we were done," He could see the tears welling in her eyes, which were bluer then ever, he had learnt this over time whenever she were was angry or upset they changed into a serene azure blue a colour he had not known existed until he met her and it was now his favourite. "Because maybe a I love you," She yelled at him as she continued resisting, shoving and hitting him with her fists until she couldn't be bothered anymore she leaned her head against his chest her breathing heavy. He felt a tear falling down his own check so he was wrong, she felt for him as he did for her and she did so much so that she had the guts to say it unlike himself. He wanted her forgiveness more then anything, it had been a lonely and hard few days not having her to wake up next to, her scent disappear in the apartment, even just her lack of presence had drained all happiness from him. "I love you too" He whispered placing his arms around her, his breathing halted as he waited for a reaction "You don't do that to people you love" She didn't look at him as she shoved him back once more escaping from his hold without looking at him she grabbed her bag and stormed towards the door, he angrily sat down on the bed rubbing his head in frustration as he heard the front door slam shut