Hey guys, I know that I said that I probably wouldn't update until the new year but I woke up early this morning after a bad dream and decided to write a chapter before getting some sleep (and yes, 16 yrs olds still have bad dreams… sometimes) I have read your reviews and am super glad you are all finding Bella intriguing and mysterious, that is exactly what I am going for! The mystery of the scar will be revealed in coming chapters after it all comes to a head in this one and the next one! But I promise the mystery of Bella is not over yet, so keep reading and reviewing so I know what you all think. Dannielle xx
CHAPTER 6
HEATH POV
Bella and Darcy had spent almost an hour playing in the water when finally they started to emerge, I had used this time to tell Bianca all about Bella who after some explaining understood. We walked down to the beach me holding Bella's clothes and towel and Bianca holding Darcy's. As Bella took the towel and began to dry her hair Darcy noticed the scar on her hip and being an eight year old blurted out "Hey aunty Bella, where did you get that funny mark from" she questioned touching it gently. Bella flinched and her whole demeanour changed, I had seen her like this before a few times after she got the scar, which made me nervous. She looked at Darcy fiercely but relaxed when I put my arm around her. "Nowhere Darce" she replied trying to shake her off but it was no use after all Darcy was half a Braxton…. And her mother was Tegan. "Well you got it from somewhere!" she replied "OH FOR GODS SAKE DARCY WOULD YOU MIND YOU DAMN BUISNESS!" she shouted scaring Darcy before she snatched her clothes from me and running back up the beach. I called after her but knew it was no use, she needed time to calm down and then she would talk to Darcy. I gave Darcy a hug and told her Aunty Bella didn't like to talk about the mark before shooting Bianca a look that meant don't go there. She just nodded and said to Darcy "hey, how we go get some ice-cream?" Darcy's head flicked up and she nodded frantically "yes please, oh can we dad!" I laughed before agreeing knowing that it would make her forget about what had happened with Belle.
BELLA POV
I knew that I shouldn't have shouted at Darcy but she was like a dog with a bone, just like a true Braxton and it freaked me out. I didn't bring the hire car so I ran for as long as I could before stopping to catch my breath, tears streaming down my face. My breathing was totally out of control and I knew that I was having a panic attack, I sat at the nearest bench and took slow deep breaths, exactly what the doctor had told me to do that fateful night 12 months ago. As my mind began to race back to that day I shut it down before I could remember anything. As I began to calm down and my breathing returned to normal I stood up, wiped my face and threw my shorts and tank over my now dry bikini. "Wow, you know usually I would love to watch a girl change in front of me but are you ok?" someone said from behind. I jumped startled my mind racing backwards in time. I quickly shut it down before turning to face a boy who looked about my age with blonde hair and very bad taste in board shorts. "sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Just saw you looked a bit upset, that's all" he replied with a warm smile, I calmed myself after all I didn't want to scream at a total stranger like I had my niece all because I was freaked out. "ha, ah yeah, yeah I am fine just a bit of a moment" I replied laughing lightly trying to brush it off like nothing. "well, do you want to talk about it?" the mystery boy replied "what makes you think I would want to talk to you, a random stranger about my problems when you have no idea what my name is and for that I don't know who the hell you are!" I half screamed feeling myself get uncomfortable again "woah, sorry I was just being polite… by the way my name is Xavier" he replied clearly not letting this go. I took a slow deep breath before letting it go, calming myself for the third time today. "look I'm sorry, it's just I'm from Mangrove River, they usually don't care there. I just not used to this whole interested do ya wanna tell me about it? Sorta attitude, I'm Bella by the way" I said smiling taking his extended hand and shaking it "oh, so your new to town, you want a tour" he asked clearly forgetting that I had just screamed in his face "well, not really new, I grew up in Mangrove River like I said and I am familiar with the Bay, I just got back from London, but sure you wanna grab a coffee… if you don't mind spending time with paranoid girls who scream and total strangers" I said smiling. He laughed "nah, you get used to it, sure lets go to the diner" he said lightly touching my arm . I smiled as we began the walk to the diner. We walked up to the counter "hey Leah, Colleen, this is Bella can I get a take away cuppa chino and a…." he trailed off implying for me to place my order "oh ah, a flat white please" I replied smiling at the lady behind the counter apparently called Leah "sure thing, Hi Bella, I am Leah" she said smiling brightly at me "hi" I replied before being distracted by a little old lady returning to the counter after serving a customer "oh my, aren't you a pretty young thing… you know you would be perfect for the Miss Grouper pageant if they were still running" she said lightly prodding my arm I smiled a little freaked out, Leah must have noticed this as she looked over from the coffee machine "Colleen, don't be so rude, introduce yourself to the poor girl instead of freaking her out" Colleen pouted making me laugh lightly before continuing "oh yes well I s'pose I should introduce myself I'm Colleen Smart nee Stewart of the famous Summer Bay Stewart's" she replied holding her overly made up head high. I laughed thinking she was kidding only to be met with a hilarious stare "oh! Right, sure the Summer Bay Stewart's I've heard of them, well it's nice to finally put a face to the…. Ah famous name… I'm Bella" I replied noticing both Xavier and Leah stifle a laugh at my sarcasm, Colleen however didn't notice and smiled smugly at me "yes, well at least word is getting around of us" she said smiling to herself before taking another order out to a table. Leah returned to the counter handing us our coffees "Well, Bella I gotta say you certainly handled yourself well, Colleen can be a handful… you look familiar were you in here earlier?" she asked tilting her head at me "ah, yeah I was with my brothers Brax and Casey oh and Ruby and Charlie" I said nodding slightly "Oh, your related to Brax and Casey oh and I suppose Heath too" she said smiling. "Yep, I'm their sister, most don't know about me but it was nice to finally meet Ruby and Charlie, I'm excited about their wedding" I replied honestly "yeah, me too I am one of Charlie's bridesmaids, those two deserve to be happy, see you around no doubt" she said smiling before turning to serve another customer I just nodded before turning my attention to Xavier who looked at me surprised "So, you a Braxton… that would explain your outburst before" he said I laughed "yeah, I am, they say my temper is worse than Heath's so watch out" I said pointing my coffee at him before taking a seat. I could tell that I was going to like living in Summer Bay…. Even if it's residents were a little nosey!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, how did you like that. You got a little glimpse of Bella's fiery temper. I wanted Bella to interact with a Summer Bay resident that wasn't related or soon to be related to her, and I decided to use Xavier as he always seems to be around when there is a Damsel in Distress so to speak. Hope you like it here are a few spoilers for the next chapter which will probably not be up until Monday. Remember to review and let me know what you think! Dannielle xx
Next time:
Bella speaks to Darcy and Bianca
Charlie questions Brax about Bella's scar
Bella's anxieties get the better of her… AGAIN.