Chapter Four Hundred and Ninety Eight
It was the following morning and most of the Summer Bay residents were up and out early, ready to join in with April Scott's Big Recycling Clean Up Day. She and Xavier had worked hard on bringing the day together, along with Gina and John and April was beyond excited that the day was finally here. It was one of her many, many ideas to make the planet greener, starting with her home town.
"Come on, let's get going," she urged Bianca and Irene. "We need to be the first ones there, okay?"
"Okay, okay," Bianca complained. "We're coming!"
"There is such a thing as being too eager, you know," Irene added.
"Not when it comes to saving the earth!" April informed them.
"Do I have to come?" Bianca asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Yes, you do. And there's plenty in it for you, you know."
"Like what?"
"For starters, maybe you could actually get over yourself and talk to Liam," April said. "I did hear what Romeo said to you last night, you know."
"Ooh, what did I miss?" Irene asked, hurrying to catch them up.
"Nothing," Bianca insisted.
"Actually…" April began.
Charlie, Joey and Ruby all walked down to the beach together for the recycling day. It seemed inappropriate to drive considering it was meant to be an eco-friendly day and it was good to get the exercise.
"I swear, if it wasn't April and Xavier's thing, I'd still be tucked up in bed right now watching Saturday morning TV," Ruby complained.
"And instead, you're enjoying beautiful Saturday morning sunshine," Joey said cheerfully.
"I'm a teenager," Ruby said. "I'm not supposed to be enjoying Saturday morning sunshine."
Charlie chuckled.
"We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world," she said. "Enjoy it while you have it."
"Yeah, yeah," Ruby complained. "Teenager, remember? I mean, you do remember?"
"Hey! We're not even thirty yet, young lady!"
"And yet you're so old!" Ruby teased.
"I think we might accidentally recycle you today," Charlie warned.
"I think you might get distracted and end up doing something hideously inappropriate," Ruby accused. "That's what you usually end up doing when you're left alone together!"
Joey held her hands up.
"I'd deny it but… guilty as charged!"
The group had been gathered and then dismantled on the beach for the Clean Up Operation. April was surprised and thrilled at the turn out. People she hadn't expected at all had showed up to help including Detective Robertson, Roo Stewart and Liam's girlfriend, Nina. Nina had then set them all a battle of sexes challenge to make things more interesting. Who could collect the most waste to recycle?
"Hey, this is a really good idea, you know," Roo said, catching up to her.
"Oh, thank you," April said. "I've always got loads of ideas about this kind of thing, don't I, Xavier? We're always petitioning the Council trying to save the planet!"
She laughed self consciously.
"That's my little eco-warrior," Xavier agreed.
"Well, you know, if we put our heads together, with your causes and my business head, we could do a lot of good work here," Roo said. "Especially if you have someone one the Council on side."
April was immediately excited at the prospect of official help.
Charlie, Joey and Bianca walked along the beach together with their litter pickers and bags.
"I mean, what does he even see in her?" Bianca asked. "She's mouthy, obnoxious, annoying… And according to Romeo, they're not even properly together. They're not exclusive. She had the nerve to hit on him last night! When Indi was in the toilet!"
"So obnoxious," Joey said.
"Sorry, why are you bothered again?" Charlie asked. "I thought you were marrying a handsome Prince?"
"I am," Bianca said. "You know I am."
"So why are you so bothered about Nina?"
"Because I don't want Liam to get hurt, obviously!"
"I'm sure Liam is old enough to know what he's doing," Joey told her. "Maybe you should just focus on what you want."
"I know what I want!" Bianca said desperately.
"And what was that again?" Charlie asked.
"Liam! I mean, Vittorio! Oh, I don't know what I mean!"
"Hey, guys, what's up? Can I join you?" said a cheerful voice.
All three of them jumped as Nina jogged up behind them. All three of them were worried that she might have heard them talking.
"Sure," Joey said equally as cheerfully.
"So, who are we talking about?"
She already knew the answer.
Leah was on her own. She knew her friends were around but she had started late so she hoped she would at some point be able to catch up with them. Otherwise, this Clean Up Day was going to be quite dull.
"Hello there," said a familiar voice.
She turned and smiled.
"Hi," she replied.
"Would you like some company?"
She looked Robertson up and down. He looked almost amusing in civilian clothes, without his usual smart suit.
"I would love some," she said. "Although, I think we're supposed to be at war."
"I won't tell if you won't," he whispered, falling into step beside her.
They smiled at each other.
"I didn't think this would be your kind of thing," she said.
"What? Spending time with you? That's always my thing," he replied.
She blushed, feeling flattered.
"I thought you were going to be leaving," she remarked.
"I was," he said. "Then the body washed up on the beach and I had to stay."
Leah nodded.
"You don't really think it was Alf, do you?" she asked. "I mean, he could never hurt anyone, Robert. He couldn't."
"That does seem to be the popular opinion around here," he agreed. "But he does have the strongest motive. And you'd be surprised what people are capable of when they're pushed."
Leah sighed heavily.
"He's loved by a lot of people around here," Robertson said.
"Oh yes," Leah agreed. "By everyone. Me, Irene, Colleen, Miles, Charlie, Joey. Everyone. I mean, there's Will. He grew up here and just come back. Alf's given him a job at the bait shop. He's always looked out for the kids of Summer Bay. He's brought so many young kids up that might have gone off the rails but he took them in, raised them and they've gone on to achieve so much. He takes care of Romeo and Nicole right now with Miles. Oh, and then there's Marilyn. They have so much love for each other that goes back so many years. Honestly, I think you'd struggle to find anyone that doesn't like Alf."
"Apart from Penn Graham," Robertson pointed out.
Leah sighed.
"Apart from Penn Graham," she agreed. "But then, he didn't like anyone around here. And nobody really knows why."
"Just having a girlie gossip," Charlie said casually.
"About Liam by any chance?" Nina grinned.
Bianca blanched and immediately felt even more awkward than before.
"Look, it's cool," Nina said. "Liam and I are casual. We like each other. We care about each other, even. We might even go the distance if we choose to. But I know you and he had a thing. I know how much he cared for you. And I know how hard it's been for him to get over you. He said that if you'd stayed together, you might have been the love of his life."
Bianca swallowed the aching lump in her throat.
"And you don't mind that?" Joey asked.
"Nah," Nina said. "I've loved people more than him too. But for now, we get on well and we have a good time together. It's fun. It's nice. We're happy."
Bianca focussed on picking up more items. Nina watched her, studying her. There was no way she was over Liam, whether she was engaged to some other guy or not. And she already knew that despite how much he had tried, Liam had never got Bianca out of his head.
April pulled a face when Vittorio approached her, dressed way too smartly to pick up litter.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Ruby, Nicole, Claire and Indi winced at how rude she was.
"I've come to help with your Recycling Day," he said brightly.
"Oh."
"Do you not need volunteers?"
"Yes, yes, we do," Ruby said cheerfully, nudging April to look behind him.
Several photographers had gathered nearby. Realising that the Prince brought publicity with him, April suddenly brightened up.
"Yes," she said. "We're in teams. Girls versus boys. If you want to grab a grabber and a bag, you can go and join the boys."
She pointed. He nodded and followed instructions.
"Speak of the devil," Nina said when Liam fell into step beside them, along with Angelo.
"Oh, hi," Liam said.
He stepped forward and kissed Nina deliberately. Bianca tried not to show her upset.
Joey squeezed Bianca's hand in support.
"How are you guys going?" Charlie asked. "Collected much?"
"Hi!" Roo said, jogging up to them. "How are you all doing? Dad just gave up and went for a coffee so I thought I'd come and find some friends."
Angelo looked delighted.
"The more the merrier!" he said. "We were just telling the girls how much we'd collected."
Charlie rolled her eyes. She wished he would just get to the point and ask her out – get it over and done with.
"Bianca!"
Bianca turned to see Vittorio jogging towards her. Liam grimaced. Charlie and Joey thought he was getting his just desserts.
"What are you doing here?" Bianca asked.
Vittorio kissed her.
"I came to help!" he declared. "You didn't tell me about today! Why not?"
"Oh, I just didn't think it would be your kind of thing," she said.
"Well, if we're going to be living in this community, we should be taking part," he said. "Both of us. Plus the press followed me down here so we got some promotion for it, which pleased April."
"Oh, that's good," Bianca said, smiling. "Thank you."
He looked pleased with her compliment.
"So, it's boys against girls?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's right," Liam said, challengingly. "So, I guess you and I are on the same team."
The men glared at each other.
"This should be interesting," Joey whispered to Charlie.
The group stayed together over lunch, which the Diner had catered and then through the afternoon shift and it had all turned out to be a lot of fun.
Bianca was surprised to find herself bonding with Nina. They'd pulled together and laughed their heads off watching Liam and Vittorio strutting around trying to outdo each other for the afternoon, both trying to be the alpha male of the group.
"Seriously, guys, why don't you take them out and measure them?" Nina remarked.
Roo snorted with laughter as Liam and Vittorio looked horrified and offended.
"Although, Bianca could probably just tell you the answer," Nina added with a smirk.
Liam and Vittorio looked mortified, as did Bianca.
"I'm just saying," Nina said with a shrug.
"You are behaving like a couple of cave men," Roo agreed.
She grinned at Bianca who finally managed to laugh. Liam and Vittorio grumbled and carried on with their mission.
"They're just so childish," Angelo commented, hoping that Roo might think he was a new kind of man, not like the others.
Roo just chuckled and carried on walking with the girls.
"Hang on," she said. "Where have Charlie and Joey gone?"
"Three guesses," Bianca said.
"This is very bad behaviour," Charlie giggled, kissing Joey behind the Surf Club.
"Well, if Ruby hadn't suggested it, we never would have thought of it," Joey grinned, kissing her back.
"If we get caught, I could get into so much trouble at work," Charlie said, slipping her hand under Joey's t-shirt.
Joey moaned quietly as Charlie kissed her neck.
"Best not get caught then," she murmured.
It was the end of the day and April was overwhelmed by how much work everyone had done throughout the day.
"Thank you so much everyone," she said. "I really appreciate all the work you've put in."
"Who's the winner?" Liam asked.
"The planet, obviously," April said.
"Guys or girls?" Vittorio asked.
"Well, looking at this… I'd say…"
"Sorry, we're late back," Joey said, hurrying up to the group with Charlie.
They dropped three bags between them into the pile.
"The girls!" April concluded.
"Well, between you and I, I think I won," Liam said.
"Of course you do," Vittorio said.
"And between them, who is it?" Nina whispered to Bianca.
"I couldn't possibly say," Bianca whispered back, half laughing.
April thanked everyone again and the group began to disperse.
"Hey," Nina said, catching hold of Liam's hand. "I need to talk to you."
"Sure," Liam said. "Shall we go for dinner or something? I'm starving. I think that was more exercise I've had in a year."
He laughed. She managed a smile.
"I think we should break up," she said a little more bluntly than she meant to.
He stared at her, his mouth hanging open a little.
"What?" he managed. "Why?"
"Because you're in love with Bianca."
"No, I'm not!"
"You are. And she loves you too," she said. "And that's okay. You and I are having a good time. I like you a lot. But you love her. And you should be with her. Or you should at least try. And I don't want to stand here and get in the way. Or watch you make a play for someone else. But I do want you to do it. So go, okay? Go and be with her."
"What about that moron she's engaged to?" he asked.
"He's a minor character in the story," Nina said. "You're the star."
She stepped forward and kissed him.
"Go and be happy, Liam," she said.
Then she left.
Next time… Robertson steps up his investigation, the pressure is on for Alf and Charlie is suspicious of Will…
