Chapter 9

As Kate's birthday party raged on, Stephanie and Tiegan caught up with some of their old friends who came to the party as well as meeting new people like Louis and Corey. Stephanie and Tiegan went outside and found both guys standing next to each other talking.

"Hey guys." Stephanie said to them.

"Ladies, you came back." Corey said, smiling.

"Did you want us to go away?" Tiegan asked them sarcastically.

"No." Louis replied. "We like you."

"That's good then." Tiegan said, now laughing.

"Having a good time?" Louis asked Stephanie.

"I sure am." Stephanie said. "How about yourself?"

"Yeah, I'm having a good time." Louis responded.

"How do you guys know each other?" Tiegan asked.

"Louis and I have known each other since high school." Corey replied.

"How did you girls meet?" Louis asked them.

"We met in high school." Stephanie replied.

"Small world." Corey said.

Kate walks over to them.

"Having fun birthday girl?" Tiegan asked.

"The best time." Kate replied. "I see you've met Louis and Corey."

"They're nice guys." Stephanie said.

"I wouldn't say that." Kate said, winking at them.

"Ah, shut up." Louis said, flashing a big smile at Kate.

"Did you meet my friends that came down from Wollongong and Newcastle?" Kate asked.

"Yeah." Corey said.

"If only I was as popular as you, Kate." Stephanie said to her.

"I bet you are popular, Missy." Kate said, putting her hand on Stephanie's shoulder.

"Thanks."

"Anyway, I better go see some of the other guests." Kate said. "I'll talk to you again shortly."

"Fair enough." Tiegan said.

Once Kate left, Stephanie got her mobile phone out.

"Who are you going to call?" Tiegan asked her.

"Melissa." Stephanie replied. "I was hoping she would take us back home when we got back to Yabbie Creek."

"What time is the last train?" Tiegan asked her.

"Midnight, I think." Stephanie responded. "I'll phone Melissa and see if she can drop us home."

"Corey, do you have the time?" Tiegan asked him while Stephanie was on the phone.

Corey checked his watch and replied, "It's nearly quarter-to-midnight."

"That means if Steph and I are going to make the last train to Yabbie Creek, we have to leave NOW!" Tiegan said.

Once Stephanie got off the phone to Melissa, Tiegan rushed over and said, "If we're to make that last train to Yabbie Creek, we have to leave right now."

"What's the time?" Stephanie asked her.

"It's quarter-to-midnight." Tiegan replied.

"Bye guys." Stephanie said to Louis and Corey. "It was nice meeting you."

"Are you two walking to the station by yourselves?" Louis asked.

"Yeah." Tiegan said.

"Not on our watch!" Corey said firmly. "We're walking you to the station."

Tiegan started to protest. "But..."

"No buts!" Corey said. "Louis and I don't want you girls to get hurt."

"That is just so sweet." Stephanie said, blushing.

"Let's go say goodbye to Kate." Tiegan said.

Stephanie and Tiegan went inside and found Kate coming out of the bathroom.

"We have to go now, Kate." Tiegan told her old friend.

"Oh, that's right. You have to get the last train to where you and Stephanie live." Kate said.

"It was great seeing you, birthday girl." Tiegan said.

"You too."

Kate and Tiegan then kissed each other on the cheek before they hugged.

"It was nice meeting you, Stephanie." Kate said to Stephanie.

"Likewise, Kate. Happy Birthday." Stephanie responded before kissing Kate on the cheek.

"Thanks for coming." Kate said to the girls.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Tiegan said.

"We're just taking the girls to the station and then we'll be back." Louis told Kate.

"Okay." Kate responded.

When they arrived at Central railway station, Louis and Corey decided to wait until the train to Yabbie Creek arrived before saying their goodbyes to Stephanie and Tiegan.

"It was nice meeting you, girls." Louis said.

"Same here." Stephanie said.

"You guys didn't have to take us to the platform." Tiegan said.

"We wanted to make sure you girls get on the train safe and sound." Corey said.

"Exactly." Louis said.

"Have you girls got a ride home?" Corey asked them.

"Our friend is taking us home from the Yabbie Creek train station." Stephanie replied.

The train soon arrived.

"Bye boys." Stephanie said.

"See ya around." Louis said.

"We'll have to catch up one weekend." Tiegan told them.

"Sounds good." Corey said.

Stephanie and Tiegan both hugged Louis and Corey before getting on the train. Once the train left, the boys continued waving at them.

"Nice guys." Stephanie said.

"Tell me about it." Tiegan said, blushing.

Stephanie and Tiegan looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

Just after one o'clock in the morning, Pippa was asleep on the couch when she heard Tiegan and Stephanie enter with their friend Melissa. That woke her up instantly and she got up from the couch.

"Where have you girls been all day?!" Pippa asked them angrily.

"Uh, we were in Yabbie Creek." Tiegan replied.

"Tiegan, I'm really not in the mood to hear your lies." Pippa snapped. "It's after 1:00 AM and I would like to know where you and Stephanie have been all day!"

"Mrs Fletcher, it's all my fault." Melissa said. "Tiegan and Stephanie were at my house for most of the day."

"Melissa, if you're trying to cover for them..." Pippa started to say.

"I'm not covering for them at all." Melissa said, cutting Pippa off. "The reason we're back so late is because we went to a party in Mangrove River."

"I'm sorry, Pippa." Tiegan said. "I was going to tell you, but I guess it slipped my mind."

Pippa looked at them sternly.

"Alright." she said.

"I better go home." Stephanie said. "I'm very sorry about all of this."

"I'm going straight to bed. You and I will talk in the morning, Tiegan." Pippa said before going upstairs.

Once Pippa was out of earshot, Melissa sighed heavily. "I can't believe she bought that." she said.

"Me too." Tiegan said.

"You girls owe me a favour." Melissa told them.

"And what's that?" Stephanie asked.

"I want you girls to buy me that How Bizarre CD single." Melissa replied.

"We'll have no problems doing that." Tiegan said.

"Good." Melissa said. "I'm going back home now. Good night."

"Good night." Stephanie said.

Melissa soon left the house.

"I'm tired." Tiegan said.

"Me too." Stephanie said. "Let's go to bed."

Later in the day, Selina was at the Bayside Diner with Stephanie, Tiegan and Chloe.

"How did your date with Jerome go?" Tiegan asked her.

"It was amazing." Selina replied.

"Did you kiss him?" Chloe asked.

"Uh..." Selina started to say.

"She did!" Stephanie said, smiling.

"Yes, I kissed Jerome." Selina admitted. "I must say he's a very good kisser."

Unfortunately for Selina, Melanie overheard what was being said as she walked inside.

"Uh, Selina?" Tiegan said, noticing Melanie standing there.

"What?"

Selina looked over at Melanie, who started to cry and ran out.

"She's such a sook!" Selina moaned.

"Selina, that's a bit harsh." Stephanie told her.

"I'm sorry, Steph. But why should I be nice to her after she tried turning Jerome and me against each other?"

"Listen, I've got to go." Chloe said. "I have to meet up with someone."

"Who?" Tiegan asked.

"Just a friend." Chloe replied.

"Okay then." Tiegan said.

"I'll see youse later." Chloe said before leaving.

"So, how was your night last night?" Selina asked Stephanie and Tiegan.

"It was awesome." Tiegan replied.

"Tell me everything." Selina said.

"My old friend from Hartley High, Kate Martin was having a birthday party and I got invited. So, I thought I would bring Steph because she's my new best friend. We had a really good time. I caught up with some old friends and made some new ones." Tiegan said.

"A lot of people I knew went to that party too." Stephanie said.

"Were there any hot guys?" Selina asked her.

"You've got a new boyfriend, haven't you?" Tiegan said sarcastically.

"I just want to know." Selina laughed.

"There were heaps." Tiegan said.

"Especially Louis and Corey." Stephanie said.

"Ooh." Selina said, smiling.

"We're just friends with them, that's all." Tiegan told her.

Selina continued to smile, which got all three girls laughing.

Meanwhile, Chloe was meeting up with Joanne Brennan behind the Surf Club.

"I was starting to think you weren't coming." Joanne said impatiently.

"I got a bit held up in the diner." Chloe said.

"You didn't tell them, did you?" Joanne asked her.

"Of course not!" Chloe replied angrily.

"Good." Joanne said.

"Where is it?" Chloe asked her.

Joanne handed Chloe a small bag of speed. "Here you go." she said.

Chloe gave Joanne the money before walking away.

"This is between us, Chloe." Joanne reminded her. "Keep that in mind."

Chloe took the speed pills before having a long drink of water.

NEXT TIME...
- Stephanie gives Melissa the CD
- Tiegan receives a phone call from Kate
- Selina's romance with Jerome blossoms