Desire & Despair

[Drew]

BELLE

After everything Amanda has done to me in the past, I keep forgiving her, I have too, she’s my mother. But there’s a time when enough is enough, and today was that day. She hasn’t just slept with my ex-boyfriend and took credit for my designs, but today I found out something else… And again, she repeated her old habits. Amanda has now gone too far that she’s damaged our relationship to the fullest… Now it’s time to hit her where it hurts…

As the breeze circled around Summer Bay during the crisp afternoon, Belle and Matilda were walking together holding hands as they exited the mall and walked down the streets of Yabbie Creek. Both were excited about tonight’s fashion show, especially Belle, her moment to enter the real fashion world was about to begin. As Matilda skipped off to buy the two ice creams, Belle pondered off to an ATM machine where she had to take out an extreme amount of cash. At that moment when she entered her pin code, her phone rang and she answered it, avoiding the information on the machine in front of her.

“Hello?” Belle said confused, blinded to the phone number who rang her. When she realized who the person was, her confusing smile turned to dust and her happy emotions drained out of her. “I’m at an ATM machine now! You’ll have the money by tonight!” Belle said, avoiding the attention of Matilda so she couldn’t hear. “I know it’s been a month since the last payment, but I’ve been busy, really, really busy!” Belle said, sounding desperate. “Look, you’ll have the money by tonight ok.” Belle sharply said as she hanged up without saying goodbye. As she turned around to see where Matilda had gotten too, she was surprised when she saw her standing right behind her.

”Belle? What’s going on?” Matilda asked confused, holding two ice creams in each hand. Belle couldn’t think of anything to say. As she turned around back at the ATM machine, her mouth dropped when she realized something.

“Where did all my money go!?” Belle screamed. Matilda gasped and walked closer to her.

“What are you talking about?” Matilda asked.

“I have nothing left in my account except for six hundred dollars… I had over fifty thousand in there! Where did it go!?” Belle cried, beginning to panic. “Oh my God! I’ve been robbed!” Belle cried as she fell into Matilda’s arms. Matilda didn’t know what to say. Matilda made a suggestion they they’ll go talk to someone in the bank so they can find out who took the money. Agreeing with Matilda, the two walked into the bank. Her money had been stolen, someone had to take it from her… Little did Belle know, her mother, Amanda Vale had stolen the money, due to Josie Russell’s little blackmail games…

CHAPTER 20: The One Where Desire Splits In Half

As the sun slowly began to set, residents of the Bay began to prepare themselves for the fashion show tonight which is held at Desire. As Ric ran down the stairs, finishing up his tie, he noticed Sally sitting on the lounge, still shaken up about the death of Gypsy Nash. Ric could tell that she was devastated, and he knew that there was something that she wasn’t telling him. He slowly walked up to Sally and sat next to her on the lounge.

“Sally, is everything alright?” Ric asked. Sally turned to face him and weakly smiled.

“Yeah… Everything’s fine Ric.” Sally softly said as she got up and walked up the stairs. As Sally entered her bedroom to finish getting ready, Matilda walked through the door, still shaken up by what happened this afternoon. When Ric saw her, he gave her a huge grin and gave her a kiss, but noticed she wasn’t in her happy mood.

“Matilda, is everything ok?” Ric asked. Matilda didn’t know what to say to him.

“I am… Belle’s not though.” Matilda said as she sat on the lounge.

“Why? What happened?” Ric asked as he leaned over the lounge kissing her neck.

“She was robbed… Someone had taken fifty thousand out of her account.” After hearing what Matilda said, Ric’s stopped kissing her and looked at her seriously.

“Fifty thousand?” Ric blustered out. Their conversation was interrupted when Leah walked through the back door. Leah looked all dressed up, ready for tonight.

“Hi kids. Is Sally home?” Leah asked. Both Ric and Matilda looked at her weirdly.

“She’s upstairs… Leah… I’m sorry about Dan. I hope he’s going to be ok.” Ric said as he stood up straight.

“Yeah… I’m sorry too.” Leah said with a smile as she walked up the stairs, entering Sally’s room.

“Is it me, or that just felt like she didn’t care about Dan?” Matilda asked, with Ric giving her a confused look. As Leah sat next to a devastated Sally, silence filled the room for a few moments. Leah could tell that Sally was upset by the death of Gypsy Nash, they all were. No one saw it coming.

“Are you still ok to come tonight?” Leah asked as she rested her head on Sally’s shoulder.

“Yeah…” Sally said softly and slowly. Although the death was shocking and devastating, Leah could tell that something was bothering Sally still, she asked several times what the matter was when Sally told her what she was thinking.

“For some reason, I strongly believe that Kirin was the one who murdered Gypsy.” Sally said as she looked into Leah’s eyes. Leah looked at her weirdly, she couldn’t believe what Sally had told her. Though were Sally’s instincts right? Did Kirin Fletcher murder Gypsy Nash?

At Desire Fashion House, seats around the runway began to fill up fast as the show was about to commence. Backstage, a very happy Martha walked in, looking around the room trying to find a person, one person only. When she saw that person, she smiled and walked up to him, Hunter Gillian.

“Hey!” Martha said as she kissed him on the cheek.

“Hi…” Hunter replied, not sounding too interested in their little conversation.

“What’s wrong? Is everything alright?” Martha asked as her smile faded away. As Hunter sighed and noticed Belle walking in, he smiled.

“Yeah… Everything’s just fine!” Hunter said as he walked off and gave Belle a kiss. From the distance, Martha stared at them for minutes. How come Hunter never told her he was seeing someone? And out of all people, Belle? As Hunter and Belle pulled away from a hug, Hunter noticed a few forms in Belle’s hand.

“What are they for?” Hunter asked with curiosity. Belle tried to smile but she couldn’t.

“Just something personal… Nothing much.” She said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked off. As Hunter bumped into Josie, Josie gave him a huge smile.

“Josie, hey? I thought you were-“

“Fired?” Josie said with a chuckle. “No, I resigned. I’m just here to make a formal announcement after the show about my leaving.” Josie said with a smile as she walked off.

“Josie! Josie!” Hunter called out as Josie turned around. “What’s going on with Peter? Any leads yet?” Hunter asked.

“No… Not yet… As he was the only detective in the town, they had so transfer one down here, they said he should be here by tomorrow.” Josie said as she walked off, leaving Hunter behind with a face full of guilt. As he turned around and had a drink, he began to worry for some reason. Was Hunter the person who kidnapped Peter Baker? Five minutes were left until the show started and as the models ran around crazy doing their last minute things, a very furious Belle walked up to Amanda, as she stood in the middle of the room, making sure everything has been set out right.

“Amanda, we need to talk.” Belle said sternly. Amanda looked up to her and gave her a weird look.

“Now!? The show is about to start!” Amanda said as she walked off. Belle grunted and ran up to her and grabbed Amanda by the arm.

“I don’t care! We need to talk about this now!” Belle angrily said. In the background, the music began to grow louder as the show began. Amanda sighed and looked at Belle.

“Fine, hurry up!” She said. Belle rolled her eyes and shoved the forms right in front of her eyes.

“Recognize these?” Belle asked angrily. As Amanda noticed the forms she filled out a few days ago, Matilda opened up the show by walking down the runway as the lights flashed into her eyes.

“How did you-?”

“How did I what? Find out how fifty thousand dollars from my account went missing? It’s pretty obvious when that much has been taken out!” Belle said. Amanda stuttered for words, she didn’t know what to say.

“Belle… I’m sorry… I was in trouble! Financial trouble! And if I didn’t pay this person off, they threatened to bring Desire down! Honey, I couldn’t let that happen after everything we’ve worked for!” Amanda said as Belle sighed.

“You could of asked me for the money and you could of borrowed it off me!” Belle cried.

“But I did borrow it! I’m going to pay you back!” Amanda desperately cried.

“You didn’t borrow, because you took it without asking!” Belle screamed as she stormed over to the starting point of the runway. In the middle of the dressing room, Amanda stood their shattered. She knew she should of told Belle about the money, and she didn’t. As Belle walked onto the runway, with all the frustration that has built up in her, she hadn’t realized that she walked on while Holly Gillian was on. As Holly walked back, giving Belle a dirty look, Belle stopped and gave her a death stare.

“What the hell is your problem!?” Belle screamed. From backstage, all the models could see something terrible going down. And the media at the front were like star struck when they took endless photos.

“My problem? You came on during my turn!” Holly screamed back.

“I don’t care if it’s your turn, these are my designs!” Belle cried.

“Like hell these are… Everybody knows that these are original Desire designs… Amanda designed these, not you. You will never be Amanda.” Holly evily cried. In fact, you will never be a fashion designer.” Holly finished off with a laugh. Belle had enough and did what she could only do, slap her! As Holly picked herself up as everybody awed in the audience, Holly gave her a shove, almost sending Belle off the runway. As a security guard ran onto the runway, he picked Holly up and took her backstage as she kicked and screamed, giving the audience a satisfaction of entertainment.

The streets of Summer Bay were empty when a car pulled up in front of the Summer Bay sign. The driver got himself out and looked at the sign and smiled. The young man with hazel eyes and light brown hair smiled as he looked out into the ocean. As he stared into it for awhile, he began to talk to himself.

“Twelve weeks searching for you and I’m finally here” The young man let out with a laugh. “I bet on her life she wouldn’t expect me turn to up here… Man, she’s going to get such a fright when she sees me!” He finished off with a chuckle as he walked back to his car and drove off into the heart of Summer Bay.

As the show finished, as per usual, the models lined up behind Amanda, Josie and Leah congratulating them for the work they’ve produced.

“What was it with those two young models before!?” A man yelled out from the press. Josie laughed and looked at Belle.

“They’ll be dealt with shortly, we can assure you.” Josie replied.

“Miss Vale, these are such great designs! Congratulations! We haven’t seen anything like this from you yet!” Another called out from the media.

“Well we do like to keep things here original and unique… Most of you would know about my recent heartbreak with Peter Baker, and most of these designs have influenced me by that pain. We grow and evolve as people within our lives, that’s why Desire has such unique designs. And as my pain has helped me create these designs, these are the fruits of my pain.” Amanda blissfully said as she looked back at the dresses. From backstage, Belle couldn’t believe what Amanda had just done. Did she just take credit for her designs again? As Belle furiously got up and walked onto the runway, she interrupted a person’s question when she screamed out-

“Liar!” Belle said as she walked down the runway. People began to awe and turn to Belle as she arrived at the front of the runway.

“Belle, what are you doing?” Amanda sheepishly asked.

“Amanda Vale is a liar and a fraud, she hasn’t produced a design in weeks!” Belle told everyone who was in audience.

“So what are you trying to say? These aren’t original Desire designs?” A man asked from the media.

“What the hell are you doing!?” Amanda said in a threatening tone, trying to avoid contact with the media. Belle looked at her and gave her a smile.

“No, these aren’t original Desire designs, they’re my designs!” Belle told the audience as people gasped in shock.

“Belle, tell them you’re joking, do you have any idea what you’re doing?” Amanda asked in desperation. Belle shook her head and laughed at her. Amanda had no choice, when she cried for security, she couldn’t let Belle destroy her anymore.

“I don’t need security to take me out. I’m leaving… For good!” Belle cried. Next to Amanda, Josie let out a faint smile after hearing what Belle had just said.

“That’s right… I’m leaving Desire, and I’m now the competition.” Belle said with a smirk as the audience began to gasp. “I’m forming a new Fashion House with former partner Josie Russell; RLB Designs. Something new, something hip, and something defiantly better then Desire!” Belle announced. Amanda stood there in shock when she turned to look at Josie, who couldn’t hide the grin off her face. As the media were shocked by the announcement they continued to ask questions nonstop. And as the flashes blinded Amanda’s eyes, she was angry that she was blindsided by this and that she never saw it coming. She was back stabbed by her own daughter. With Desire splitting in half, it now became a matter of competition.

to be continued

NEXT CHAPTER: As Josie and Belle celebrate their new founded Fashion House, Amanda finally hits rock bottom. A close friendship goes to the next level and as an old favorite returns to the Bay, Peter’s whereabouts is finally revealed!

[swfc]

Talk about action packed chapter, dude. Loved it to bits. All the drama involved. You managed to write out all the typical catfights really well. This scene played out in my mind as I was reading this. And it gets more and more intriguing with more twists and turns.

I'm guessing Hunter might have something to do with it or either that or you must have put him in as a red herring.

It was a brilliant chapter and I can't wait to read the next one. I want to know where Pete went missing to.

Update soon.

[Lilone]

About time we found out were Pete is

It was ace Drew keep it up

Very twisty

[Tasha]

yay Petey. Haha Martha

More please

[tasha7905]

Just caught uo and its brilliant Drew. Im really liking the different side to Lucas's character and his relationship/friendship with Holly could be good. The pairing up of Josie and Belle is brilliant two bitchy and stubborn characters together. I cant wait to find out what else is going to happen. Hope there is more soon.

[Drew]

Thanks you guys! Aprecciated the comments hehe

Next update should be in a few days, or maybe tomorrow... Depends.

[aejdude]

Great chapters Drew. I think it would be too obvious if the killer was Kirin, i wonder who this young man is, i still can't figure out what's happened to Peter . I bet that was a shock for Martha, seeing Hunter and Belle.

Can't wait for more. Update soon.

[carmelle]

There was so much happening in that chapter. It was great. Looking forward to the next chapter (peter)

[Drew]

Im really liking the different side to Lucas's character and his relationship/friendship with Holly could be good.

Yeah I like their pairing too. I'm trying to write stuff with them, but it's too hard to fit them in with all the other stories. So hopefully something new with them will be written soon

And I know I said Peter's whereabouts is revealed, but not totally, it is, but it isn't... You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it

Next update, tomorrow!

[aejdude]

Thought it was an update for a minute there