Star quickly crossed the road back towards Main Street and back down towards the clothing store. Maybe Maggie was right, Dylan was nice, he had a job, he bought her flowers and dinner and genuinely seemed to care about her, well at least enough to get jealous over her. He didn't leave her confused or unsure or made her feel insecure when she was with him. He was the safe bet and even though he didn't hold the excitement or intrigue of David, he was the right choice for her. She walked with a little more purpose feeling like she'd made her decision and she now looked forward to speaking to Dylan and reassuring him of where he stood with her and hopefully solidifying things for herself. As enigmatic as David was, she needed stability and security in her life and she couldn't see David providing that for her. She approached the store and the outside lights were switched off already but walking up to the door, Dylan saw her and motioned for her to come in.

'Hi, how was your night?' She asked as soon as she entered.

'Good, busy so it went fast thank God.' He smiled, and she relaxed at his friendly manner. 'I'm nearly finished. I just need to put the cash in the safe and I can lock up. Where do you want to go? I was thinking a drink at Marley's? My shout?'

'Um… I was thinking maybe we could go for a drive? Maybe out to Paradise Park?'

'Paradise Park?' He screwed up his nose. 'Babe, it's miles out there and it's late. Don't you have to work tomorrow morning?'

'Yeah, I don't care though, I just want to get out of town for a while.' She said looking down.

'Ah, OK, sure. Are you alright?' He stopped and looked at her.

'Yeah.' She looked back at him. 'Come on, let's go.'

'Right, OK. Gimme a sec.' He said taking the cash out the back while she leaned on the front counter. He appeared again soon after and he walked over to her and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close and into a kiss. She was pleased he had come around and she didn't want to give him cause to feel insecure again. They stood like this for a minute until they heard someone walk into the store and they abruptly broke apart and Star turned away.

'Sorry, we're closed.' Dylan said to the unwanted customer.

'Is that right?' She heard a male say and she shot her head back around, instantly recognising the baritone voice. To her horror there stood David, his cold steel eyes impaling her, and she found she couldn't look away. Suddenly David's friends piled in after him and Star stepped away from Dylan, nervous about what was about to transpire next. Dylan looked around at the intimidating men spreading out around the store then back at David and saw the way he was looking at Star.

'Look guy, I said we're closed.' Dylan reiterated with a little more force, but David ignored him, his gaze firmly fixed upon the small girl in front of him and he took a slow step towards her. 'I said get out.' Dylan moved to step in between them but Star was horrified to see David's arm go up like a steel bar and stop him and Dylan jolted at the unexpected force. Star looked back at David and found his eyes still transfixed on her and instantly her body went slightly numb and she felt like she was stoned. She couldn't move, it was like she was stuck to the floor and she was unable to look away from his hypnotic stare. Her heart began to hammer in her chest and for some reason, for her, David was all that mattered right now. 'You guys have to leave.' Dylan backed off from David and began addressing the other men, who had now gathered around behind Star, but the only response he got was a 'shut up' from the wild looking blond man with white pants on. David continued to pull on her with his stare and she felt like she wanted to go to him, no more than that, she needed to go to him and she stepped forward. He placed his hand around her arm and a half smile spread across his face. 'Star?! What are you doing?' Dylan saw her move and it diverted his attention back to her. 'No.' Dylan went to grab her only to have the large dark-haired man step in front of him and stop him with just a look. Star didn't even look at Dylan, she couldn't look at him, David commanded all of her and she followed him out the door. 'Star! What the fuck?!' Dylan went to push past the men blocking his path, but he couldn't. 'Who the fuck are you guys?' The dark-haired man stood silent, but the wild blond answered him.

'We get it, you like her, but she's taken.' Paul gave the man a condescending smile and Dylan looked at him like he was crazy.

'What the fuck dude, she's my girlfriend.'

'Not anymore she's not. She's David's girl now.' The man said, and Dylan looked over to the smaller blond who stood next to him laughing at him.

'What do you mean she's his? Doesn't she get a say in this?' Dylan was pissed but he wasn't about to take on all three of these dudes, especially this dark-haired fella.

'I think she's made her choice, hasn't she? I didn't see him drag her outta here.' The man motioned to the door and Dylan wasn't sure what to say. 'Now, stay away from her or we'll keep you away from her. Got it?' Paul slapped Dylan on the side of his shoulder and they left a bewildered Dylan standing in the store alone.

Star blindly walked with David barely conscious of her surroundings or her destination, the only thing she could feel was David's hand locked around her arm and the weight of her feet walking along the side walk and the only thing she could see was David, everything else seemed to be a blur. They walked down towards Main Beach and where his bike was parked and upon reaching it, David stopped and turned to her.

'Was this your plan for tonight?' David spoke to her for the first time that evening, and his words felt like ice shards puncturing holes into her thin frame. Suddenly fear entered her, she didn't want to tell him the truth, but she couldn't lie to him either. 'Star?'

'Yes. I wanted to talk to him.' She admitted, desperately not wanting to lose him even though less than 30 minutes ago, she'd decided Dylan was the man for her.

'Why?' The weight of David's question crushed her and along with his stare, she couldn't even look away to think of what she was going to tell him, but she felt that somehow he already knew.

'To explain to him what is going on.' She felt sick.

'And what's going on Star?' Her breathing became laboured when she knew she was going to have to tell him her initial plan but now that plan seemed so weak and not what she wanted at all. She found herself wanting to be with the man standing before her, she couldn't think of anything else but that.

'Nothing David.' He stood there, his judgement searing her soul before he spoke again.

'And now he knows it too.' He carefully watched her reaction and when he seemed to approve, he straddled his bike. 'Come. Get on.' Again, she felt the pull to go with him and it overpowered her. Wrapping her arms around him, she felt a warm sense of security being with him, one that she never though she would get from him and they rode off in a northern direction, away from the Boardwalk and to the only place she would ever call home again.