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"What's going on this afternoon?" Bridget asked the next morning, when they were eating breakfast.

Garry swallowed his mouthful of coffee. "Bec's going to pick Charley up from school, because she's taking him to the doctor's. You lot, on the other hand, being our darling, fit, healthy students, will be walking home to come to training with me. We're doing timed laps in the pool- I know today's the day the video camera is usually out, but since Bec won't be here, that'll have to be tomorrow's job. If you work hard I might let you have some free surf time".

"How come Charley gets picked up from school?" Guy demanded.

"Because I'm taking him to the doctor", Bec said, putting her own mug in the sink. "We'll drive past you and wave".

"How rude", Cassie joked.

"Come on, we'll be late for school", Loren said.

They stacked their dishes in the sink and headed towards the door, strapping on their backpacks.

"Where will you meet me?" Charley asked Bec.

"At the gate you normally come out of. I'll have my car, not the mini van".

Bec and Garry both had their own cars, but the Solar Blue mini van was so much more practical when they had the kids with them. And it was also very impractical when they had one or two of the kids with them.

"Okay. Bye".

Charley followed the five other kids down the beach.

"He really doesn't look well", Garry said.

Bec shook her head. "he's Charley. He'll be good".


Bec stood at the gate, waiting for the school to finish. She had arrived early, she knew that, but did the bell really take that long to go?

Bec, you're not in algebra any more. You've finished uni; you aren't waiting for the bell to go because you're in school! You just want to get Charley to the doctors. God, have you always been this impatient?

She smiled, as the bell rang. There was the usual stampede of students, eager for their weekend to begin.

"Hey, Bec!" Loren said, coming out of the gate at last. She was holding Charley's hand, who was looking even worse than he had been that morning.

"Hi Loren". Bec smiled at the young blonde. "Hey guys!"

"Double science at the end of the week is pure torture", Guy said firmly. "Bec, why do they do these things to us?"

"Agreed", Bridget said quickly.

Bec stared at her. "Are you feeling okay, Bridget? I have no idea, Guy. Algebra was my hated subject".

Cassie stared at Bridget, worry written across her face. "I think, Bec, maybe you should take her as well".

"I'm fine", Bridget said shortly.

"Okay, well, train hard! We'll be home later", Bec said brightly. "Come on, Charley".

Charley followed her to the car, and climbed into the backseat, his eyes drooping- which didn't make a whole lot of sense, because he had gotten at least two more hours of sleep compared to the other kids. Bec climbed into the front seat, and started it up. "How was school?"

"Urgh. I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with me".

"We all do, Charley". Bec looked sympathetically at the boy- he looked like something the cat dragged in.


"Glandular fever?" Bec asked in disbelief.

The dreaded kissing disease. Her twin brother Joe had been sick for two months with it- in bed, asleep for most of it. Bec shuddered with the memory.

The doctor nodded. "I'll give you a prescription to get filled for your tonsils, but there's really nothing you can do except rest, Charley".

"What about Solar Blue?" Charley asked worriedly.

Bec felt a pang of sympathy. "Charley, we'll have to work it out with Garry when we get back".

"Oh". Charley looked at his hands.

"I'm sorry Charley", the doctor said.

"It's okay", he mumbled.

The doctor wrote out the prescription and handed it to Bec.

"Come on, Charley", she said.

Charley stood up and followed Bec out to the car in silence. Once he was in the backseat, he spoke.

"Bec, will I have to go back to Perth?"

"Maybe". Bec didn't want to get his hopes up about staying.

"But what about all the points I'll miss? What about the others? If I do go back to Perth, you will let me come back, right?"

"Of course we will!" Bec cried out. "We've got to sort it out with Garry and Solar Blue, though. And we've got to tell the other kids, anyway".

They drove in silence back to the house, where Garry and Loren met them.

"What's the verdict?" Garry asked.

"Is everything okay?" Loren asked.

"Loren, can I talk to Bec and Garry first?" Charley asked. Loren's face fell.

"I'll be down the beach with the others".

She disappeared around the side of the house.

"So what's the deal?" Garry asked, as Bec led the way into the office. Charley took a seat in Bec's wheelie chair and Bec perched herself on the desk.

"Glandular fever".

Garry winced. "Ouch".

"Will I have to go back to Perth?" Charley spoke up. He had been quiet the entire ride back to the boarding house, his house in Perth the only thing on his mind.

Garry sighed. "Probably, mate. I'm sorry, but it'll be best for you".

"How?"

"Bec and I have the other five to look after and they're a noisy bunch. You wouldn't be able to rest properly with that lot around. At home in Perth, you only have the one sister and you have your own room, so your parents can take proper care of you".

"Ellie's at a boarding school in Melbourne". Charley's voice was a monotone.

"We'll miss you, mate". Garry put a hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go upstairs and rest?" Bec suggested. "I'll have to call your parents, and we'll have to explain it to the other kids".

"Okay".

Sighing heavily, Charley headed towards the door. "This sucks".

Garry and Bec exchanged glances. "If that's Charley's reaction, imagine the others".

They headed out to the beach, where the kids were sitting on the sand.

"How was the doctor?" Bridget burst out.

"We have to talk to you".

"Sounds serious". For once, Guy wasn't joking.

"Charley has glandular fever", Garry said.

"What's glandular fever?" Cassie asked.

"It's a virus that mainly affects teenagers", Bec explained. "There's no cure for it- rest is what you need. Once you have it, you have it for life".

"Will Charley be able to stay?" Adam wanted to know.

Bridget and Cassie reached for Loren's hands.

"No, he's going to head back home to Perth. But he will be able to come back, when he's better", Garry said.

"Why can't he stay?" Loren whispered.

Bec's heart nearly melted. "Because he won't be able to rest properly here. At home, he can get the proper care he needs. All he really needs right now is sleep, which you lot are going to make sure he has. Believe me, Loren; we don't want him to go. But he really needs the rest right now".

Loren looked close to tears and Bec just wanted to hug her. She felt really sorry for her.

"Come on, I'll cook tonight", Garry said. "Macaroni and cheese is the house favourite, right? And I think Bec could whip up a salad? I'll even make my special dressing".

The remaining five teenagers followed Garry and Bec up to the house, lured by the promise of macaroni and cheese and salad, with Garry's dressing- his specialty.

"I'm going to have a shower", Loren decided.

"Boys, don't disturb Charley", Bec warned.

Garry got a packet of pasta out of the cupboard and poured it onto a saucepan. "They're really not happy. Especially Loren".

"Garry Miller, did you honestly expect them to be?" Bec demanded. "Loren and Charley are the first couple of the year- she's freakin' heartbroken! The boys will be lonely because they're losing a roommate- the roommate that in fact makes sure they actually change their sheets- and the girls are losing their piggy back champion. Charley's one of a kind, Garry!"

Her voice lowered to a screaming whisper, and Garry backed back. "Are you okay, Bec?"

"I'm fine", she said grumpily.

Charley's diagnosis plus unhappy memories of Dean Edgely equalled a grumpy Bec.


Two days after the doctor's visit, Charley was going to be flying back to Perth to be with his parents. The whole gang was going to take him to the airport, because nothing at the Solar Blue boarding house could be done quietly.

"Come on, Charley", Garry said, loading his suitcase, backpack and surfboard into the back of the van. Cassie, Guy and Bridget were in the back of the van, while Adam, Loren and Charley were behind Bec and Garry.

The drive to the airport was a silent affair. Charley held Loren's hand, comforting her through his illness. The kids in the backseat didn't say anything, and neither did Adam.

Garry parked the mini van and they tumbled out. Guy took Charley surfboard and Adam took his suitcase. Charley shrugged his backpack on, and they headed into the airport.

"Come on, gang", Bec said.

Once Charley's bags were checked in, it was time to say goodbye. The girls (including Bec) hugged him, the boys tackled him, Garry shook his hand, and Loren kissed his cheek.

"Get better soon. Promise?"

"I promise".

Charley surveyed his 'family' with a sad look in his eyes. He nodded at them. "Stay cool, gang".

"We love you Charley!" Bridget and Cassie said.

Laughing, Charley headed towards the gate.

Bec took Loren's hand. "Are you alright?" she whispered.

Loren shook her head, tears threatening to spill out of her deep chocolate brown eyes. "Nope".

She rested her head on Bec's shoulder as they headed out towards the mini van.

"But I'll survive".

"That's all we're asking".

Bec smiled at the young blonde, who did her best to smile back.