Chapter 46

April 21, 1996.

The next day while Jerome was at school, Selina was smoking outside the Australia Fair Shopping Centre. She wanted to explore the Gold Coast more and probably make a friend or two. Once Selina finished her cigarette, she went inside and almost bumped into a teenage girl around the same age.

"Careful there, sweetheart." the girl said to Selina.

"Sorry. I didn't see you." Selina responded.

The girl then looked at Selina very closely.

"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked.

"No, I'm just visiting." Selina replied.

"Figured." the girl said before introducing herself. "I'm Erica Bayley."

"Selina Roberts."

"So where are you from, Selina?" Erica asked.

"A town called Summer Bay in NSW." Selina replied. "You?"

"I live in Biggera Waters."

"Nice."

Erica flicked her dark red hair back. "You should come over to my place sometime this week." she told Selina.

"I think that can be arranged." Selina said, smiling.

"Well, I better head off." Erica said. "It was nice meeting you."

"Same to you."

As Selina watched Erica leave, she was glad at the thought she finally made a friend that was based on the Gold Coast.

Back in Summer Bay, Tiegan has Stephanie over the house while Pippa is at the diner helping Ailsa and Kelly and Travis are at work.

"How'd Jack settle in last night?" Stephanie asked.

"He actually slept pretty good." Tiegan replied. "But he did tell me something very important."

"What's that?"

"I'm not supposed to say." Tiegan told Stephanie.

Stephanie looked a bit disappointed. "You're my sister from another mister, Tiegan. We don't keep secrets from each other."

"Alright, I'll tell you." Tiegan said. "Just promise you won't say anything."

"I promise." Stephanie told her.

Tiegan sighed before saying, "Jack's thinking of moving to Tweed Heads to be closer to Kerri."

Stephanie gasped.

"No way!"

"I have a feeling Pippa is going to hit the ceiling when she finds out." Tiegan said.

"You think?" Stephanie said sarcastically.

"She still doesn't know what her beloved niece has been getting up to with Curtis." Tiegan remarked.

Speaking of Nicholle, she makes her way downstairs wearing a purple plaid skirt and black t-shirt.

"Girls, I'm off to meet Curtis." she told them.

"Okay then." Tiegan responded with disinterest.

"When Aunty Pippa comes back, can you tell her that I went to the movies?" Nicholle asked.

Tiegan rolled her eyes as Stephanie let out an inward sigh.

"Fine." Stephanie managed to say.

"Thanks girls. I really appreciate this." Nicholle said to them as she headed out the door. "I'll see you later."

Stephanie and Tiegan then exchanged a look.

"You know, Steph. I'm really starting to get sick and tired of covering for Nicholle." Tiegan admitted.

"So am I." Stephanie said.

Later, Stephanie and Tiegan were watching TV when a guy with dreadlocks walked in.

"Excuse me?"

Both girls turned around to face the guy.

"Hi, are you here to rent a caravan?" Tiegan asked him.

"I'm actually here to see Nicholle Singleton." the guy replied.

"She's not here at the moment." Tiegan said. "May I ask who you are?"

"I'm Stuart Bensley - Nicholle's boyfriend."

Stephanie and Tiegan looked shocked.

"Is something wrong?" Stuart asked them.

"Oh no, no, no." Tiegan responded, laughing lightly.

"It's just that Nicholle never mentioned to us that she had a boyfriend." Stephanie said.

"We've been dating for like nearly two years." Stuart said.

And she is off making out with Curtis Reed?! Tiegan thought angrily. What a filthy slut!

At that moment, Nicholle and Curtis entered the house but when she saw Stuart with Stephanie and Tiegan, she pulled Curtis back and went back outside!

"You have to go." Nicholle told Curtis.

"Who's that guy?" Curtis asked.

"I'm serious, Curtis." Nicholle said, ignoring Curtis's question. "You have to go now. I'll handle this!"

"Okay, I'll see you later." Curtis said, kissing Nicholle's cheek before leaving.

Nicholle then went back inside the house.

"Stuart?"

"Babe, I've missed you so much!" Stuart said, hugging Nicholle tight.

Stephanie and Tiegan exchanged looks as Nicholle and Stuart started to kiss.

At the Bayside Diner, Jack walks in to find Pippa at the counter.

"Pip, I'm glad I found you." he said to her.

"Is something the matter, Jack?" Pippa asked him.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking and I have made a decision." Jack told her. "Pippa, I have decided to go up to Tweed Heads and be closer to Kerri."

Pippa's mouth opened but no words came out.

"I'm leaving Summer Bay tonight." Jack said.

Pippa looked absolutely stunned at what she's just heard!

NEXT TIME...
- Jack bids farewell to Summer Bay, but will he and Pippa part on good terms?
- Tiegan confronts Nicholle about cheating on Stuart
- Stephanie has a dream about Louis
- Selina and Jerome's romance heats up