New Beginnings

[Red Ranger 1]

I can understand Shelley wanting to acknowledge Kirsty's her daughter too. Not sure why Gypsy seems to be everyone's punchbag!

[Zig]

14 hours ago, beachside said:

Woah Noah don't take it out on poor Gyps she was just trying to be there for you

 

Shelley is not been very nice at all

 

Glad Dani is there for Jade

 

Loved that Jade and Seb made a pact to be there for one another

Noah's got more reasons them you know stay tuned 

12 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

I can understand Shelley wanting to acknowledge Kirsty's her daughter too. Not sure why Gypsy seems to be everyone's punchbag!

There a reason re Gypsy, stay tuned to find out

[Zig]

Chapter 6

Gypsy walked into the diner and spotted Irene almost immediately. She headed straight over to her.

"What's going on with Noah?" she asked curiously. "He just yelled at me and made me his personal punching bag."

Irene raised an eyebrow. "Can you blame him, after all the pain you've caused recently? Like kissing Will when he was with Dani and causing them to split up, or giving Nick drinks," Irene pointed out.

"I'm trying to fix myself," Gypsy admitted.

"I know, and I can see that. But maybe Summer Bay isn't the best place to do it. Some people won't forgive you," Irene replied simply.

"I need to mend bridges before I even think about leaving, and that's what I was trying to do by helping Noah."

Irene nodded in understanding. "Well, Hayley dumped him."

Gypsy's expression softened. "That must hurt. I know what it's like to lose the one you love the most." She paused. "Once he cools down, I'll try to talk to him again. Thanks, Irene." Gypsy then walked out of the diner, knowing she had bridges to mend, and Noah was just the start.

 

Brodie ran down the pier and immediately smiled when she saw the picnic set up. She was late, and seeing such a romantic gesture made her feel a pang of guilt.

As soon as she reached Mitch, she kissed him, then pulled away, smiling. "I'm sorry I'm late." She looked around, taking in the scene. "This is perfect. You're perfect." She kissed him again, unable to stop smiling.

"You're pretty perfect yourself, Brodie," Mitch replied, grabbing her hand and guiding her carefully until they both sat down. Brodie snuggled comfortably into Mitch's arms.

"I'm so glad you came back for me." Brodie's voice was full of sincerity. She had said it before, but she truly meant it. She had expected him to leave and never look back at his life in Summer Bay.

"I was always going to come back for you. I love you, Brodie Hanson." Mitch's smile was warm and genuine as he spoke. To him, Brodie was everything—his whole world.

"I'm glad," Brodie said softly, her eyes searching his. "I'm so lucky to have a guy I know will never cheat on me." Even in this moment with Mitch, she couldn't forget what was happening at home, or what Jade was going through.

"Of course I wouldn't," Mitch reassured her. "Is everything okay at home?" He could sense something was wrong from the way she mentioned cheating and her lateness.

Brodie hesitated. "Kirsty slept with Nick," she admitted quietly. She paused for a moment, then shook her head, as if to push the thought away. "But I don't want to talk about them. I want to focus on the fact that I have an amazing boyfriend who planned such a special surprise for me. I love you."

She kissed Mitch again, this time with a passion and need that surprised even her. Right now, she didn't just want him—she needed him.

 

Don was at home, catching up with Alf, but his mind was elsewhere. He was worried about his grandson, Seb, and how he was really coping with everything. Don couldn't help but wonder how Seb would handle the situation moving forward.

"Don, are you listening to me?" Alf's words snapped Don out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry, Alf," Don replied, just as the door opened and Seb walked in. Don immediately stood up and walked over to his grandson.

"Are you okay?" he asked simply, his voice filled with concern and worry.

"No, but you were right," Seb admitted. "Talking to Jade, knowing she's struggling just as much as I am, and helping each other through this... it’s all going to help." Seb wanted his grandfather to know that his advice had been valuable.

"Do you want to have some dinner with us?" Don offered gently.

Seb shook his head. "No, I need some time. I'll be in my room." He made a quick exit, and Alf turned to Don.

"Things seemed tense. What's all that about?" Alf asked. He could see that Don was clearly worried about Seb, and he knew there had to be a reason.

"It's a long story," Don replied quietly, taking another sip of his beer.

 

Kirsty smiled as she approached Nick at the beach, carrying her bags beside her. When she reached him, she kissed him, and he kissed her back.

"Are you sure about this, Nick?" Kirsty asked, needing to know he was certain about them leaving.

Nick wrapped his arms around her. "I am. Until everyone cools down and stops hating on us, we need to leave." Kirsty nodded, then kissed him again. The two of them hitched a ride out of town.

As they drove away from Summer Bay, they spoke softly. "We'll be back soon, Summer Bay." They knew they would return because this was their home, and eventually, everyone would have to accept them.

[Red Ranger 1]

Irene was a bit harsh on Gypsy. Hopefully Nick and Kirsty are right that going away is the best thing: I must admit, even though I preferred Nick/Jade, I've always had a soft spot for them.

[beachside]

Hopefully Gypsy's next talk with Noah goes well.

 

Will Gypsy go to Queensland to be with Joel and Nat I wonder?

 

Nice to see Don and Alf catching up

 

Hopefully Kirsty and Nick are right about them leaving been the right thing

[Zig]

14 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Irene was a bit harsh on Gypsy. Hopefully Nick and Kirsty are right that going away is the best thing: I must admit, even though I preferred Nick/Jade, I've always had a soft spot for them.

Irene was harsh but it might just be what Gypsy needed. Thank you for your ongoing support of this story.

14 hours ago, beachside said:

Hopefully Gypsy's next talk with Noah goes well.

 

Will Gypsy go to Queensland to be with Joel and Nat I wonder?

 

Nice to see Don and Alf catching up

 

Hopefully Kirsty and Nick are right about them leaving been the right thing

Thanks for reading and for appreciating the Alf and Don scene

14 hours ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

Irene was a bit harsh on Gypsy. Hopefully Nick and Kirsty are right that going away is the best thing: I must admit, even though I preferred Nick/Jade, I've always had a soft spot for them.

Irene was harsh but it might just be what Gypsy needed. Thank you for your ongoing support of this story.

14 hours ago, beachside said:

Hopefully Gypsy's next talk with Noah goes well.

 

Will Gypsy go to Queensland to be with Joel and Nat I wonder?

 

Nice to see Don and Alf catching up

 

Hopefully Kirsty and Nick are right about them leaving been the right thing

Thanks for reading and for appreciating the Alf and Don scene

[Zig]

Chapter 7

Sally glanced over at Jesse, who had already made himself at home, which made her smile. It felt just like old times, and that was a comforting feeling.

"What are you thinking about?" Jesse asked curiously, shifting closer as Sally lay down, resting her head on his knee.

"How much this feels like old times—just you and me living together again." Sally smiled as she spoke, her mind filling with memories of their past.

"It really does, doesn't it?" Jesse returned her smile, then added, "So, tell me, what's the deal with that guy from the beach earlier?" He wasn't sure, but he had a feeling the guy had a crush on Sally—though she seemed oblivious to it.

"There’s nothing to tell. I literally met him today. He just started at the drop-in center with Shelley." Sally shrugged. Jesse nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself. Maybe he was overthinking it. After all, they’d only just met that day, but Jesse had a habit of going into protective overdrive when it came to Sally.

"Alright, how about we just stay in, order takeout, and watch some movies tonight?" Jesse suggested. Truthfully, after missing out on such simple pleasures while in jail, it was something he’d been looking forward to.

"That sounds perfect to me." Sally smiled, making herself comfortable as she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

 

Meanwhile Will knocked on the Sutherland's door, he knew it was late but he was worried about Jade after what his brother had done to her and he also wanted to find an excuse to see Dani. He just hoped someone was awake and would answer. 

A few seconds late the door opened and Jade appeared, looking more broken them earlier which Will couldn't help but blame himself for, he should of taught Nick to know better.

"Jade I'm sorry for what my idiot brother did." Will had guilt all over his face because his brother caused her pain. Will wishes Nick hadn't done this, he wishes Nick handled it all differently, he ruined Jade's life and no doubt torn her and her sister apart.

"I'm guessing you here to see Dani." Jade didn't want to talk about Nick, even hearing his name was enough to make her feel sick right now.

"Yes i am, is she around?" Jade nods as she points outside and Will smiles, thanking her before heading in that direction.

 

As Will stepped onto the porch, he spotted Dani sitting there and smiled. Without hesitation, he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey, you," he said softly, smiling. Dani turned around, stood up, and hugged him tightly, which he immediately returned.

"Hey," Dani whispered, clinging to Will as if her life depended on it. "What did your stupid brother have to say for himself?" She wanted to know if Nick felt any guilt at all. To her, it was clear Kirsty didn’t, so she hoped at least one of them would show some remorse for what they’d done.

"Not much. He thinks he did nothing wrong. God, he makes me so angry," Will replied, shaking his head. He couldn’t believe the pain his brother was causing. Seeing Jade so hurt only fueled his anger toward Nick. "I can’t believe he doesn’t see what he’s done to the people he was supposed to care about," Will added, his voice tight with frustration but kept low so as not to wake the rest of Dani’s family.

"Well, Kirsty doesn’t think she’s done anything wrong either, so they’re just as stupid as each other," Dani muttered as she pulled away from Will’s arms and sat back down in her chair.

"I think we can both agree our siblings are complete idiots," Will said, earning a nod from Dani, who couldn’t think of a more accurate statement.

"And how are you doing?" Will asked, concerned for Dani too. He knew Jade wasn’t the only one struggling.

"I can’t focus on that right now. Jade is who I need to worry about," Dani replied, her voice soft but firm. Her sister’s well-being was her priority, and she didn’t see her own problems as important right now.

"Well, just remember, I’m always here if you want to talk, Dani. Anytime, day or night—you can call me, and I’ll have my phone on." Will meant every word. He cared deeply about Dani and wanted to be there for her more than anything.

"Thank you," Dani said, smiling as Will sat beside her. The two sat in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other’s company.

 

Gypsy spotted Noah standing alone at the pier, leaning against the railing and staring out at the dark ocean. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she quietly approached him, unsure of how to start. When she reached him, Noah glanced over, his expression tense but weary.

“Irene told me what happened,” Gypsy began softly, her voice carrying over the quiet lapping of the waves. “I’m really sorry, Noah. I know how much it hurts to lose the person you care about most in the world.”

Noah clenched his jaw, his hands tightening around the railing. “Yeah, it does. I can’t even imagine my life without Hayley. I won’t give up on her—I can’t,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it out loud made it even harder to bear.

Gypsy nodded in understanding, her eyes full of empathy. “If you love someone, you tell them. You fight for them,” she said softly, her words meant to offer comfort. Noah gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her advice. For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, the tension in the air slowly lifting.

Noah sighed heavily and turned to her. “Gypsy, I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier. I had no right to take my anger out on you. It wasn’t fair.”

Gypsy offered a sad smile. “It’s okay, Noah. After everything I’ve done… I can’t blame you for being angry.”

“No, that’s no excuse,” Noah insisted, shaking his head. “I forgive you, Gypsy. For everything.”

Gypsy’s eyes softened as she nodded. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “And if you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be here.”

With that, she gave him one last look before turning and walking away, leaving Noah alone with his thoughts, the sound of the waves filling the silence between them.

[beachside]

Nice to see Sal and Jesse hanging out and living together again.

Glad Will is supporting Jade!

Will and Dani are right clearly Kirsty and Nick are idiots if they don't think they've done something wrong. 

I am here for these Gypsy and Noah scenes and loved that Noah forgave Gypsy for everything!

[Zig]

Chapter 8

 

Jesse’s heart sank when he read Hayley’s text at five in the morning. The message was simple but urgent, asking him to meet her as soon as he could. Hayley wasn’t one to stay up late or rise before dawn, so the unusual timing alone filled him with concern.

Without hesitation, he texted back: Where are you?

Her reply led him to the beach, where he spotted her standing near the ocean. The first rays of sunlight were just beginning to touch the horizon, but the peaceful scene did little to ease the tension knotting his stomach.

"Hey, you okay?" Jesse called softly as he approached.

At the sound of his voice, Hayley turned, and the relief that washed over her face was immediate. She exhaled a shaky breath, as if seeing him was the first time she’d felt safe all morning.

"Thank you for coming," she said, her voice uneven.

"Of course," Jesse replied without hesitation, his brows furrowing as he studied her tear-streaked face. "What’s wrong?"

It didn’t take long for him to realize just how upset she was. Her red, puffy eyes and trembling lips spoke volumes. Seeing her like this sent a pang of worry through his chest.

"I couldn’t sleep," Hayley began, her voice breaking. "Every time I tried..." She faltered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Jesse instinctively stepped closer, gently pulling her into his arms. His embrace seemed to give her the courage to continue.

"Every time I tried," she repeated, her words muffled against his shoulder, "I kept remembering what happened... two years ago today."

The realization hit Jesse like a wave. Today marked the anniversary of her father Ken’s death.

His grip on her tightened, his voice steady but full of compassion as he whispered, "You know he’s always watching over you, Hayley. A part of him will always be with you."

"I know," she choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I just... I miss him so much, Jesse."

Jesse pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, holding her as if his arms alone could shield her from the weight of her grief. He didn’t say anything more—sometimes words weren’t enough. Instead, he just let her cry, offering his unwavering presence as comfort.

Unbeknownst to them, their heartfelt moment was being observed from a distance. Jude, Noah’s brother, stood hidden among the shadows, watching the pair in silence.

 

When Jude arrived home, he was startled to see Noah already up and moving around. His brother wasn’t exactly a morning person, and seeing him awake at this hour was unusual. But as Jude stepped inside, he realized Noah hadn’t even noticed him.

"Noah," Jude called cautiously.

Noah turned his head slightly to acknowledge his brother, then faced the television again, his posture slumped and listless.

"You okay?" Jude asked, his voice tinged with concern. He couldn’t shake the unease left by what he’d witnessed at the beach earlier, and Noah’s silence only added to it.

After a long pause, Noah hunched his shoulders further and finally turned to face Jude fully. His eyes were shadowed, his expression a mix of hurt and frustration.

"I’m far from fine," Noah admitted, his voice heavy with emotion. "Hayley dumped me. Out of nowhere. No explanation."

Jude frowned but said nothing, letting Noah vent.

"And then..." Noah’s jaw clenched, and he seemed to struggle for control over his anger. "Then I saw her with another guy." His voice wavered, and he had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting outright.

Jude’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Was he tall, maybe a little older than you, and bald?"

Noah’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering to life. "Yeah, that’s him. How do you know that?"

"I saw them at the beach on my way home from work," Jude admitted carefully. "They looked pretty close. He was comforting her, from what I could tell."

Noah’s fists clenched at his sides, his breathing quickening. Jude could see the storm building in his brother’s eyes, but before he could say anything else, Noah shot to his feet and grabbed his keys.

"Comforting her isn’t his job—it’s mine!" Noah shouted, his voice raw with anger and hurt.

"Wait, Noah—" Jude started, but it was too late.

Noah stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Jude stood there, stunned and uneasy, wondering if he’d made a mistake by telling Noah what he had seen.

 

 

Shelley Sutherland moved quietly through the house, the smell of breakfast wafting up from the kitchen where Rhys was already busy preparing food. It was a quiet morning, but something felt off. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but the house carried an unusual stillness.

Climbing the stairs, Shelley headed for Kirsty’s room. She knocked softly.

“Kirsty? Breakfast is nearly ready, love.”

When there was no response, Shelley knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing. Frowning, she opened the door, her gaze immediately falling to the neatly made bed. Her stomach twisted as her eyes moved to the corner of the room, where Kirsty’s packed bags were stacked neatly by the door.

The sight hit her like a punch to the gut. Shelley stepped into the room, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Kirsty?” she called out again, her voice trembling.

Silence.

Her hands shook as she glanced around the room, hoping for some clue, but everything was unnervingly tidy. Her chest tightened as she backed out of the room, clutching the doorframe for support.

Downstairs, Rhys turned his head as Shelley came into view. The look on her face made him put down the spatula he was holding.

“What is it?” he asked, already tense.

Shelley took a shaky breath. “She’s gone. Kirsty’s gone. Her room is empty—her bags are packed.”

The clang of the spatula hitting the counter echoed as Rhys shot out of the kitchen. “What do you mean, gone? Did she leave a note? Did you check the bathroom?”

“No note,” Shelley said quietly. “And she’s not in the bathroom. Rhys… I don’t think she’s coming back.”

At that moment, Dani walked into the living room, drawn by the commotion. Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable. But as Shelley’s words registered, a flicker of something—relief?—passed over her face.

“She’s gone?” Dani asked, her tone almost too neutral.

Shelley’s sharp gaze turned to her eldest daughter. “Dani...”

But Dani didn’t back down. “Well, good,” she muttered. “It’s about time she stopped dragging this family down.”

“Dani, that’s enough!” Rhys barked, his voice rising. His worry was rapidly turning to frustration.

Before the argument could escalate, Jade appeared in the doorway. Her hair was disheveled, and she still wore her pajamas, but her expression was hard. Her twin sister’s name fell from her lips like a curse.

“Kirsty’s gone?” Jade asked, her voice cold. When Shelley nodded, Jade let out a huff and crossed her arms. “Good. After what she did, I never want to see her again.”

“Jade, stop it,” Shelley pleaded, her voice shaking.

“No, Mum!” Jade snapped, her voice rising. “She had an affair with my boyfriend, and then she slept with him. My boyfriend! How am I supposed to forgive that? How am I supposed to just… forget?”

The room fell into a tense silence. Dani glanced at Jade, her lips twitching slightly as though she agreed but didn’t want to say so outright. Rhys rubbed his temples, looking torn between anger and concern.

“She’s still your sister,” Shelley said firmly, her voice breaking slightly. “No matter what happened, she’s still a part of this family.”

Jade’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t respond.

Shelley’s shoulders slumped, the weight of the morning pressing heavily on her. Her eyes flickered to Rhys, who had gone silent but looked ready to storm out of the house to search for Kirsty himself. Dani leaned against the doorframe, her arms still crossed, her expression conflicted but leaning toward satisfaction.

Jade, however, was unrelenting. Her cold gaze burned into the space where her twin once stood, her lips pressed into a thin line, as if she were holding back another torrent of words.

The silence in the Sutherland house was deafening, the family grappling with the storm Kirsty had left behind.

 

 

Shelley paced the living room, her fingers clutching her phone tightly. The tension in the room was palpable. Rhys sat at the dining table, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor, while Dani and Jade lingered near the doorway. Dani looked indifferent, even slightly smug, while Jade’s cold anger lingered just beneath the surface.

Shelley finally stopped pacing and turned to face her family. “I’m calling Irene,” she announced, her voice steadier than she felt.

Rhys looked up, his brow furrowed. “You think Kirsty’s with Nick?”

“I don’t know,” Shelley admitted, her voice breaking slightly. “But where else would she go? Irene’s house is the most logical place.”

Dani scoffed softly but said nothing. Shelley shot her a warning look before dialing Irene’s number, her hands trembling as she brought the phone to her ear.

 

At Irene’s house, the sharp ring of the phone pierced the early morning quiet. Irene groaned softly as she shuffled down the stairs, tying her robe around her. Will followed close behind, rubbing his eyes, curiosity piqued by the urgency in Irene’s movements.

“Who’s calling this early?” Will muttered, half-yawning.

“I Don't know,” Irene replied, picking up the receiver. “But I reckon it’s important.”

“Hello?” Irene said, her tone laced with both concern and irritation.

“Irene, it’s Shelley,” came the shaky reply.

Irene’s brow furrowed at the tension in Shelley’s voice. “Shelley, love, what’s goin’ on?”

“I need to know if Nick’s there,” Shelley began quickly. “And if he’s seen Kirsty. She’s gone, Irene. Packed her bags and left without a word.”

Irene’s breath caught. “Oh, love, I’m so sorry. But no, Nick’s not here—at least, not that I know of. Hang on, I’ll check with Will.”

She turned to Will, who was leaning against the wall, listening intently. “D’you mind checking’ Nick’s room? Shelley’s sayin’ Kirsty’s gone missing’, and I want to be sure he’s not up there.”

Will frowned but nodded, jogging up the stairs. “Yeah, I’ll have a look.”

Irene stayed on the line, her heart heavy with worry as she listened to Shelley’s uneven breathing on the other end. “You sure she didn’t leave a note or give any clue about where she was going’?” Irene asked gently.

“Nothing,” Shelley said, her voice cracking. “Just… nothing. Her bed’s made, her room’s spotless, and her bags are gone. I just thought—maybe she’s with Nick.”

Upstairs, Will opened the door to Nick’s room. It was eerily tidy, the bed neatly made, but what struck him immediately was the absence of Nick’s belongings. He frowned, stepping closer, his eyes scanning the empty shelves and drawers.

His stomach dropped as the realization hit him. “Irene!” he called out, his voice loud and urgent.

Back downstairs, Irene’s face paled as she heard the tone of Will’s voice. “What is it?” she yelled back, already dreading the answer.

Will leaned over the railing, his expression grim. “Nick’s stuff is gone. He’s done a runner—with Kirsty.”

Irene’s free hand flew to her mouth, her heart pounding. “Oh, crikey,” she whispered, the words barely audible.

On the other end of the line, Shelley’s breath hitched. “What? Nick’s gone too?”

Irene didn’t reply immediately, her mind racing as the weight of Will’s discovery settled in. The room felt like it had closed in around her, the shock hitting her like a tidal wave.

“Yes,” she finally said, her voice shaking. “It looks like he’s gone with her.”

The line went silent for a long moment, the enormity of the situation sinking in for both women.

 

 

[Red Ranger 1]

Noah really isn't going to win himself any friends there. I can understand how Jade feels about Kirsty but she can't expect her parents to just forget they've got another daughter.