Hello everyone, so sorry for the lapse in updates. I am still on holidays but have found a spare moment to write. With all the family drama that comes with a holiday it has inspired me to write a new chapter. And to my competition winners who have yet to receive their sneak peeks, I promise you that it will be coming soon, I have them written in my head but I just have to write them out when I get a moment. I will try and write at least one of them after I finish this chapter but no promises about that. I do promise that I will try and get them to you as soon as I can! Who watched the Logies on Sunday – can you believe that Esther didn't win either of her awards, Congrats to Steve though but didn't Esther look absolutely STUNNING in her dress, I just thought she looked so amazing and the picture of elegance! Anyone else agree? Anyway please 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.]
CHARLIE POV
I woke up to the sound of the phone ringing beside the bed. I rolled over and snatched it off the hook "hello" I mumbled into the receiver "I'm looking for a Miss Isabella Braxton" the voice said on the other end "hang on" I mumbled before flinging the blanket off of me and stumbling out the door "BELLA" I mumbled loudly. A few seconds later the door flung open and Bella appeared in the doorway "mm" she said rubbing her eyes wearily "phone" I said holding the receiver up, she nodded and headed back into her room, me returning to bed when I heard her pick up the phone in her room. I positioned myself comfortably between Brax and the pillows and closed my eyes when I heard Bella scream "WHAT!". My eyes flicked open and I sat up, Brax doing the same as we climbed out of bed and headed into the hall. Bella burst out of the room a furious look on her face "what happened?" Ruby asked walking out of her room "Cooper has been arrested!" she spat running a hand through her long blonde hair "what!" I asked shocked "yeah apparently when he was out last night at the club with his friends some chick accused him of attacking her" she said and we all stared in shock "so what is going to happen?" I asked and she shook her head "I have to go down and bail him out" she said "his parents are away for a while and he doesn't have anyone to get him out of there" she continued before returning to her room to change.
BELLA POV
I quickly changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and pulled a white tee over the top and slipped on my red converse sneakers before heading to the police station. I walked through the door a few minutes later and walked up to the front desk "Watson, what is going on?" I asked as Sargent Georgina Watson walked up the to counter "he has been arrested on suspicion of rape" she said quietly and I just stared "but he couldn't have" I said stunned "he claims he is innocent" she said and I nodded "do you think he is" I asked nervous about the answer "just between you and I, yes I do think he is innocent" she said and I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding "I'll pay his bail" I said unzipping my bag "bail has been set at $5000" she said and my head flicked up "okay" I nodded pulling out my check book and scribbling on the check. I saw the surprised look on Georgina's face "you seriously want to cough up 5 grand?" she asked and I smiled "Watson that is nothing" I smiled snapping my check book shut and throwing it in my bag. I moved over to the seats that were positioned along the wall and sat down while I waited for Cooper to be released.
A short while later I heard the clanging of keys and metal and multiple footsteps, I looked up to see two officers walking Cooper down the corridor in handcuffs "why is he still locked up?" I snapped and the looked at each other "and you are?" the young male asked "I'm his girlfriend, I just posted his bail so let him go" I said sternly and they looked to Watson who had just walked out of her office "why is Mr Harding still in cuffs?" she asked and they quickly unlocked him. I nodded at Watson and mouthed 'thank-you' she nodded and smiled before returning to her office. I looked back to Cooper who was tired, worn out and nervous "I promise you I didn't do it" he said desperately and I stared back at him "I know" I whispered before walking around him and towards my car. I pulled up outside Cooper's apartment building and turned off the engine, we sat in silence for a moment before I felt Cooper's gaze on me "you think I did it don't you?" he whispered , his voice filled with sadness and hurt. I turned my head and looked at him "no I don't but you have to tell me what did happen that night" I said and he nodded as we climbed out of the car and headed for the entrance.
I gripped the coffee mug in my hands tightly as Cooper recalled the nights events. He left for the club at about 11pm and when they arrived they ordered some drinks, one of his mates was hanging around some of the girls and giving them a hard time so he tried to get him to leave them alone. Next thing he was getting everyone into the cabs and on their way home when he heard a woman sobbing, he found her and she started to scream and then the cops turned up. I couldn't understand what was going on, how could he be mistaken for a rapist when he was just trying to help. I felt Cooper take my hand and squeeze it tightly "I didn't do this" he said honestly, his blue eyes burning into my skull. I nodded "I know, but we have to prove it" I said looking over to the window, watching the ocean lap against the sandy shore, willing for it to give me the answer I was looking for.
BRAX POV
We had received a call from Bella letting us know that she had bailed Cooper out and would be home later. We were all still so shocked from what she had told us about him being arrested that we weren't really taking much in. I knew he couldn't have done it, I saw the way he treated Bella and the way he looked at her and respected her and I knew that this was just some silly mistake that would eventually blow over. I hoped. I looked up as Charlie walked into the kitchen and poured herself a mug of coffee, pulling up the seat beside me she looked over "do you think he did it?" she whispered almost too scared to put the question out there. I looked at her and shook my head "no I don't think he has it in him" I replied and she nodded "I don't think he did either, but what if no-one believes him and the truth doesn't come out? He could go to jail for a long, long time Brax" she said and I shook my head "well then we have to make sure that, that doesn't happen" I said and she frowned "how?" she asked as I sipped my coffee "we could ask Morag" I said and she nodded "she will help if she thinks he is innocent" she said pulling out her mobile.
An hour and a half later Morag Bellingham walked through our front door, briefcase in hand, flaming red hair tousled slight and dark golden bronze lipstick painted thickly across her thin lips. She sure looked scary and had a tough exterior but once you got to know her you understood that the fiery hair and blank expressionless face was all a façade and underneath was a woman who was good at her job, protective of her family and friends and fiercely vulnerable. She placed her black leather briefcase onto our table and sat in one of the chairs "so would someone like to tell me why I have been called here?" she asked and Charlie nodded "Bella's boyfriend has been arrested under suspicion of rape and we need you to help" she said and Morag blinked "who is this young man and is he innocent" she asked "His name is Cooper Harding and we think he is innocent" she said nodding and Morag raised her thin eyebrow "this young man wouldn't by any chance be related to a Mr Richard Harding would he?" she asked and we both nodded "yeah that's his father, why?" I asked and she shook her head "well I am just confused as to why I have been called since this young boy's father is a very well known, successful lawyer" she said folding her hands together "well his parents are away" Charlie said and Morag nodded "I see and you need someone who has a chance of getting this boy off" she said and we nodded "exactly" I said and she looked away "and may I ask where this young man is presently?" she said and Charlie looked down "he is at his apartment, Bella posted his bail and they are at his place, he doesn't know we called you yet" she said and Morag frowned slightly "I see, well may I suggest that you make this boy aware of what you two have been getting up too" she said and we both nodded as I stood up and made my way to the phone.
So what did you think of that chapter? Do you like the idea of a bit of drama involving Cooper instead of it always being the Braxton's? Again sorry it's not the longest chapter and also for the lateness in updates but I will try and get another update written and up soon and I am trying to find some time to write the sneak peeks for the new story. I also have been developing a one-shot that will be coming up shortly so stay tuned for more on that! As usual please read and review, Dannielle xoxo