Okay here is chapter 70! Every 10 chapters is like a milestone for me because I never imagined my stories ever being popular or even being read! So thank you all for reading it has really helped my confidence a lot! So enough with the soppy stuff now let's get to the story – read and review, Dannielle xoxo
[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
I walked into the restaurant wearing a short peach coloured dress that was cinched at the waist, a pair of cream peep toes heels and a thick white, pearl and peach coloured bangle. I had pulled my hair into a messy low bun and had a few strands framing my face. Cooper greeted me at the table as I sat beside him, I could feel the glares from Ella and Sarah on my skin but chose to ignore them. We placed our orders and sure enough the questions started "so Bella, are you at school?" Sarah asked "ah no" I replied "oh drop out?" she smirked "no actually I graduated early" I smiled "oh, what about uni? Are you planning on going, Ella here is looking at teaching" Sarah said patting Ella's arm "yeah, I am just taking some time off, I am planning on studying Law" I said sipping my drink "oh really with your family's history" Sarah said smirking at me "sorry?" I asked confused "I just wondered why they would let criminals become lawyers" she said drinking from her wine glass "what do you mean?" I asked still confused "well your brother has been to jail, am I right?" she said thinking she'd thrown me "oh yeah, Heath went to jail and Juvie" I said unbothered "and you're okay with that?" she asked "yeah, I mean he doesn't do any of the stuff anymore" I shrugged thanking the waiter as he placed my food in front of me "my family aren't angels, but they are my family" I shrugged "what about your father?" she asked and I stopped still "what about him?" I asked looking up as the table grew silent "what is he like?" she asked "I don't know, never met him, he left us when Casey and I were six weeks old" I said returning to my entrée "really do you ever wonder why?" she asked "nope" I shrugged "maybe it was because of you, maybe he didn't want a daughter" she said "
SARAH!" Liz snapped "don't be horrible, Bella honey are you okay?" she asked as I felt Cooper's hand on my leg "yeah of course I'm fine" I smiled.
I threw my bag onto my bed a few hours later as I stepped out of my shoes, I headed into the bathroom and took my hair out when there was a knock on my door, I opened it to find Liz on the other side "hi sweetie, I just wanted to come and see how you were. Sarah was really out of line tonight" she said smiling "thanks Liz, I am fine, she has been like this for a few days now" I replied "yes well don't let her get to you, I like you much better than Ella anyway – just quietly" she whispered winking, I laughed "thanks Liz" I smiled as she pulled me into a hug. I shut the door quietly as I padded out onto the balcony. I stood against the rail letting the cool night air hit my faces as I let a few tears slide down my face, as much as I tried to hide it Sarah's words had gotten to me. I changed into my pyjamas and climbed into bed, flicking the TV on and falling asleep, alone.
CASEY POV
I was lying on my bed reading a book but I couldn't shake the sad feeling in my stomach. I knew that it wasn't coming from me so I could only imagine it was coming from Bella, the last few days I had been feeling what she had been feeling, anger, hurt, happiness and now sadness. I knew that there was no way of contacting her, I tried my best to send her love and peace but somehow I just don't think it will work.
BELLA POV
I was in a peaceful sleep when I was woken by the sound of the phone ringing, I rolled over and lifted it off the hook "this call is coming from Sydney, Australia do you wish to accept?" a computerized voice spoke "yes" I replied sitting up and rubbing my eyes "Bella?" I heard Casey whisper down the line "Case!" I asked the tiredness washing away "Belle, are you okay? I've been feeling sad and I am not sad myself" he said and I smiled "I'm alright Case, it's just something someone said tonight that's all" I replied thinking back to earlier "what was said?" Casey asked, I knew I had to tell him as I didn't want him feeling my sadness and not knowing why "oh Cooper's ex's mother asked if I ever wondered why our dad left us and when I said no she asked if that was because I thought he left because of me, that he never wanted a daughter" I said softly "you don't believe her do you?" he replied. I stayed silent "Bella, there is no way that dad left because of you, he left because he is a no good rotten mongrel and we are better off without him, don't for a second think it's because of you because it's not" he said firmly, I laughed "yes sir!" I said saluting him from my end "that's right missy you listen to your older brother, I'm very wise" he said "Case you are two minutes older than me!" I laughed "yeah well that means I've been in this world two minutes longer than you, which means two minutes more experience!" he replied. We chatted for a while before Casey had to go, I hung up and looked that the clock 12:30pm. I rolled my eyes and got comfy in the big bed before slowly drifting off to sleep.
I was woken again to the sound of knocking at my door, climbing out of bed I slipped my dressing gown on. I padded over to the door and opened it to reveal Cooper standing on the other side "Cooper, what are you doing up at this time?" I asked rubbing my eyes "I couldn't sleep without you" he said walking into my room, I shut the door and followed him over to the bed "I know what Sarah said tonight got to you" he said as I climbed into bed beside him "yeah it did" I whispered as he slid his arm underneath my back and pulled me into his side, I placed my hand on this ribs and I could feel his heart beating under my hand, I smiled as I drifted off to sleep.
BRAX POV
Today Charlie and I were taking Mckenzie in to see Casey. Bella would be home in a few days and we had a surprise party planned for her homecoming. I had just finished changing into my black jeans, blue checked hoodie and my sneakers when Charlie walked in carrying Mckenzie, Charlie was still in her pyjamas but Mckenzie was dressed in a pair of white leggings and a yellow, red, blue and white striped strappy dress with a pair of white sandals on her feet. Charlie passed her to me as she went into the wardrobe to get dressed "don't worry baby mummy will be ready when you 10" I smiled tickling Mckenze's chin "hey I heard that!" Charlie called from inside the robe, I smiled as I continued to play with my daughter.
An hour later and we were walking down the corridor to the visiting spot. We pushed open the door and walked though, there was Casey sitting on a sofa reading a magazine. He looked up and saw us and his face lit up, he rushed over and scooped Mckenzie out of my arms and lifted her up into the air causing her to giggle madly as he bought her down to his eyelevel and kissed her cheek. I smiled as I watched the interaction between uncle and niece. We sat down under a shady tree and talked for ages while Mckenzie continued to shove blades of grass in her mouth "hey you heard from Bella?" Casey asked "ah yeah we Skyped a few days ago why?" I asked confused "oh nothing I was just feeling sad the other day for no reason and I guessed it was her" he said shaking his head "is she alright?" I asked concerned "yeah well , she was the one upset apparently Cooper's ex wants him back and the ex's mother is trying to spilt them up and she asked Belle is she ever wondered why dad left and when she said no the woman asked if that was because she thought it was because of her. That he wouldn't of left if he hadn't had a daughter" Casey said "what!" I gasped "yeah that's crazy" Charlie said shocked "I know she just was thinking about it and feeling down" Casey nodded. I couldn't believe that she was thinking this way, Bella was one of the best things to come into our family and we wouldn't be complete without her – I just hope she knew that.
How did you like it, I have portrayed Bella as a very strong person which she is but I wanted to show some of her vulnerability and show her doubting herself. I also wanted to show a bit more of Casey and Bella's abilities as twins – being able to sense the other feelings etc. I was having some writers block the other day (not that I am a real writer LOL) and was considering wrapping up the story but fear not I have decided against it because I thought of a few more things that I haven't fulfilled yet like the twins birth, HEANCA's wedding, the trial – dun, dun, duhun! And hopefully more, I have a few ideas so please don't stop reading or reviewing yet! Please review, Dannielle xoxo