I just want to say thank you to all my amazing reviewers you say such nice and sweet things that never fail to bring a smile to my face, I really appreciate all the amazing things that you say about my writing so again thank you for all your reviews, it is nice to see that I can still keep you on your toes! Alrighty so I hope you like this chapter and remember to review! Dannielle xx
[DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any characters, storylines or ideas used in this story are strictly copyrighted and are not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story. Thank-you.]
BELLA POV
It had been a week since I had… died and I was able to leave the hospital today. It was 7am and I had just been served breakfast, I looked down at the gross cold mush that was lumped in a bowl. I was tired and still feeling weak but the doctors had said that was normal and would probably wear off in a week or so once I got some sun light. I decided that since I wouldn't digest this load of crap in front of me I would take a shower, I grabbed a pair of black tracksuit pants and my New York t-shirt.
I was brushing out my hair after my shower when I heard a knock at my door, "I'm in the bathroom I will be out in a second!" I called. I folded up my clothes and took my towel, I opened the door and headed back into my room "you guys keep getting here earlier and earlier, I'm not due to be released for another 2 hours" I said tucking my clothes into my bag "um what?" someone asked from behind me "what.. oh sorry I thought you were my brothers, Hi Cooper" I said awkwardly "uh hi, I knew you were still in hospital so I thought I would come and say hi and give you these" he said holding up a bunch and beautiful bright coloured gerbera's wrapped in purple paper and tied with black ribbon. "oh they are gorgeous!" I said taking the flowers and smelling them. "how are you feeling?" he asked as I sat back in my bed "ah well you know you don't feel so cold when you're not dead" I told him, he laughed "it was pretty scary seeing you on the beach like that" he replied looking down "yeah so I've been told" I said
It was an hour later and Cooper and I had been laughing and joking around, I was expecting my brothers to arrive soon and then I could go home. "I better get going" Cooper said standing up "oh okay, yeah I had better get my stuff ready my brothers will be here any minute" I said looking up "um look I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment but do wanna go to dinner some time or something?" he replied shyly. I smiled "um" was all I could say before he interrupted "you know what it's a stupid idea, I'll see you around" he said before turning to leave "Cooper wait" I said he stopped and turned back "if you had of let me finish, I would have said that it sounds like a great idea". He looked up at me "really, you want to go out on a date with me?" he asked curiously "well yeah, have you ever looked in the mirror – you're hot!" I said laughing, he smiled "thanks, um how about I call you" he said warming up a bit "well that would work except you don't have my number" I replied smiling "oh yeah" he said uncomfortably "well you got a phone?" I asked "yeah?" he replied "hand it over" I said as he dug in his pocket and handed me his phone, I typed in my number and gave it back to him "thanks, I'll call you. Get better soon" he said kissing my cheek and leaving.
BRAX POV
Heath, Casey and I were walking down the corridor to take Bella home. As we turned the corner we saw a tall boy about Casey's age leaving Bella's room "who's that?" Heath asked "I don't know but he looks familiar" I replied "oh he might be the guy that Bella met in the city" Casey said "oh yeah, I forgot about that – Cooper I think his name is. He was on the beach that day" I said as we walked into Bella's room. "hey bub" Heath said kissing Bella's forehead, each of us greeting her and kissing her forehead. "you ready to go?" I asked "yeah" she "wait hang on a sec, first important business. Who was that guy leaving your room before?" Heath butted in, Casey snorted "subtle" he said. I looked at Bella who just rolled her eyes "that was Cooper" she said, I could see the glint in her eyes which worried me but I tried not to show it "right well come on lets get you discharged and home Charlie is so excited to see you" I said grabbing the duffel bag we had brought in earlier in the week "yes please! I can't wait to get out of this place" she said climbing of the bed and grabbing a new bunch of flowers, which was weird because we had taken the numerous bunches home last night.
BELLA POV
We walked through the door, well it was more like ushering on the boys part. I wasn't allowed to carry my bag and I am sure if they had it their way I wouldn't be walking either. I saw Charlie sitting on the couch eating from a tub of ice cream 'hey Charlz" I said kissing her cheek "still craving ice cream" I said, she nodded "what with today?" I asked sitting down beside her "cheese" she replied I laughed "eww". I had been home one hour and already I was sick of it, the boys had been fusing over me like crazy. "I'm gonna go out for a bit" I said getting up from the couch "where?" Heath asked "I don't know might go to the beach, for a swim, get a juice" I said heading for the stairs "Casey go with her" Brax said "no, I can go by myself!" I said frustrated "Bella, were just worried about you" Brax said "yes I know that but I am fine! I wouldn't have been allowed to leave the hospital if I wasn't. Come on it's not like I died or anything…" I trailed off "okay bad choice of words" I said. Charlie laughed, Brax looked at her "what it's funny" she said shovelling another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth .
"I'm going! Deal with it!" I said climbing the stairs. I walked into my room and flopped down on my bed "ahhh!" I sighed. Comfort, I was back in my cosy room on my soft comfy bed, my belongings surrounding me. So much better than that stinky disinfectant smelling hospital room, I got off my bed and walked into my closet, and grabbed my bikini, short shorts and a orange see through top. I changed and grabbed my towel , sunglasses, sunscreen and magazine and chucked them in my bag before heading downstairs.
I laid out my towel on the hot crispy sand and took off the shorts and shirt. I heard a whistle from behind me and I turned to Xavier "oh hi" I said "you're out of hospital I see" he said "yeah got out this morning, glad to be out of the house" I said "you mind if I join you for a swim?" he asked me "uh yeah sure" I said walking down the beach to the water.
It was the first time that I had been near the water since I had died and I was a little nervous, having Xavier there helped so that I wasn't alone. I felt the cool water rush over my feet, calming them from the hot summer sun. I felt Xavier beside me as I waded deeper into the water, the waves rolled in lifting me gently off the ocean floor. "are you okay?" Xavier asked "yeah fine" I said as I dived under the water. I felt the water rush over my body, the cool water surrounding me. I was surprised that swimming so soon after what happened felt good. Xavier and I swam in the water, laughing and joking around for a while before heading back to the shore.
We were walking up the beach together when somebody called me "BELLA" I turned around to see Cooper and his family walking towards me, Xavier handed me my towel as I rubbed my hair "hi" I said as the family got close enough "oh, you're the girl who…" Cooper's mother said "died" I finished for her. She nodded and looked away "it's cool you know, everyone's gotta die – only difference is I came back" I said shrugging. She laughed uncomfortably "uh this is my mum Elizabeth and my dad Richard and you know my sister Natyaliah" Cooper interjected "the princess!" Natyaliah said jumping up and down. I smiled "hi Natyaliah" "I'm glad you're not blue anymore" she said poking my thigh, "Natyaliah!" Elizabeth cried I just laughed "no it's fine, me too sweetie" I said "um we are just going to walk up a bit further, Coop you catch up okay?" Richard said "yeah sure dad" Cooper replied as his family continued to walk up the beach.
I could feel the awkwardness in the air "ah Cooper this is Xavier, Xavier – Cooper" I said introducing the two. They nodded at each other mumbling something about 'hi' to one another. I stood back watching with a smirk on my face before Xavier spoke up "so how did you two meet?" he asked "uh when Ruby and I went shopping for the stuff for Charlie's baby shower" I told him. Xavier nodded "ah so not that long then.." he said looking at Cooper, I laughed, both boys looked at me "oops sorry" I said "ah I had better catch up with the rest of my family, I'll call you Bella" he said. I nodded "yeah cool" I said giving him a wave "so you wanna grab a juice?" I asked Xavier who was still watching Cooper "Xavier" I said slapping his arm "ow! What?" he asked "you wanna get a juice?" I repeated "oh uh yeah sure" he said as I picked up my bag and headed back up the beach.
I had just said goodbye to Xavier and was heading to the diner for lunch, I walked through the entrance to hear Colleen "oh those Braxton's nothing but trouble, I mean first they cause all those problems with the police and then Darryl goes and marries our town seargent and forces her to quite leaving this town victim to the terror of their retched gang!" I walked through the door and headed for the counter… straight for Colleen, Marilyn saw me and sent me a sad smile mouthing "sorry", I shook my head and looked at who she was talking to – it was Cooper and his family. 'oh well, they are just gonna have to listen to this' I thought to myself as I coughed to stop Colleen and get her attention.
"oh Isabella" she said looking away "first of all Colleen last time I checked you were no angel so what gives you the right to go gossiping and badmouthing my family. Because I heard your ex-boyfriend was caught with pot whilst you were in his house. Second, it takes two people to be in a relationship, I mean it's not like Brax held a gun to Charlie's head and forced her to marry him. They love each other, everyone else is okay with that so why aren't you? You were at Charlie's baby shower eating OUR food in OUR house and you seemed perfectly fine then when you were scabbing off everyone else. Now I know it's hard for you to understand considering I am pretty sure no-one has ever told you this before but Charlie and Brax's relationship is not about you, it's about them finding the person they love and deciding to be together no matter what annoying old busy-bodies have to say, so Colleen, I am begging you for once in your life accept that you cannot change everything! In fact I highly doubt you can change anything at all, so stop gossiping and bad mouthing my family, do your job and mind your business!" I replied. She looked flustered "well excuse me!" she cried throwing her hands in the air and fluffing back into the kitchen. Marilyn took over serving Cooper's family who were trying to hide their smirks "Bella dear I am so sorry about that" Marilyn said "Colleen saying things like that is the last thing you need after you… well…" she replied trailing off unsure of what to say, "died?" I helped her. She looked down "well yes, what can I get you honey" she asked changing the subject. "ah just a salad and an orange juice please Marilyn" I said grabbing my purse from my bag.
I was sitting at the table enjoying my lunch and reading my magazine when my phone rang, I pulled it out of my bag and pressed answer "hello?" I said "uh Bella?" the person on the other end said "yeah?" I answered "hi it's Cooper" he said "oh um hi!" I replied surprised but nervous "I was wondering if you wanted to go out on Friday?" Cooper asked. Butterflies swirled in my stomach and it was almost like I couldn't talk, I must have been quiet a long time because I heard Cooper say "Bella?" I snapped out of my thoughts "yeah sounds great, Friday night, what time and where?" I asked "um, say 6:30pm at a place called Angelo's, do you know it?" he asked I laughed "ah yeah pretty well, my brother owns it" I said "oh, we can go somewhere else if you want" he said getting flustered "no, no Angelo's is good they make really good food" I said "oh okay" he said "great so 6:30pm, at Angelo's I will pick you up at your place" he continued "great" I said as I gave him my address and hung up. I was hoping the massive smile that was currently plastered across my face was not noticeable to everyone else.
How was that chapter? Hope you liked it, please review and let me know I am hoping to get the birth of Miss Braxton up in the next chapter or two, it could be three I'm not sure. The next chapter will most likely be Bella, Ruby and Charlie going into the city to get the baby essentials and then the one after that will probally be Bella and Cooper's date and then hopefully the following one will be the birth but things could change should I have any more of my last minute ideas. But that is what I am planning at the present, hope you liked this chapter and remember to review and tell me what your thoughts are. Dannielle xx