Chapter 52

Selina and Melanie arrive back from the Yabbie Creek Hotel at 11 o'clock, but Selina is still in the mood to drink.

"That was an AWESOME night!" a drunk Selina said to Melanie.

"You bet it was, sister!" Melanie replied, also drunk.

They stumble inside before going into Melanie's bedroom.

"Got any drinks in your room?" Selina asked Melanie, slurring in the words.

"Of course!" Melanie replied before grabbing two bottles of vodka cruisers.

"Let's get the bender started!" Selina remarked.

Selina and Melanie start drinking the cruisers.

"Let's turn up the music!" Selina said.

Melanie put the volume up on her radio before her and Selina started dancing.

"You're just a fool." Selina started singing. "You say that I'm number one and you'll always be true."

"How can this be?" Melanie sang. "You say you've fallen in love. You don't know what it means."

Selina and Melanie then sang together.

"But look around and you will see. Broken promises and jealousy. Is that what you should want for us to be? One time lover turned enemy. But that's what love can do."


The next morning, Pippa is in the kitchen clearing the breakfast plates when the phone rings.

"Would you like me to get that?" Sally asked Pippa.

"No, I've got it sweetheart." Pippa replied before making her way to the phone and answering it. "Hello?"

While Pippa was talking on the phone, Nicholle entered via the back door.

"Good morning, Sal."

"Hey, Nicki." Sally replied.

"Have you seen Tiegan anywhere?" Nicholle asked.

"She went to see Stephanie." Sally replied.

"Oh, I was hoping to have a chat with her." Nicholle said, looking downcast.

"You two haven't had a disagreement, did you?" Pippa asked her niece.

"No, of course not, Aunty Pippa." Nicholle replied. "Not that I know of anyway."

At that moment, Irene entered the house.

"G'day, Pip." Irene said. "I'm glad you're here - I could use a friendly chat right now."

"I better head to the Surf Club." Sally remarked. "You coming, Nicki?"

"Sure." Nicholle responded, taking the hint.


Over at Melanie Dolan's house, her and Selina are just waking up.

"What a night!" Melanie laughed.

Selina rubbed her hands over her face. She was definitely feeling the effects of the bender - a hangover and fatigue.

"You got any Panadol, Mel?" Selina asked.

"In the medicine cabinet in the bathroom."

Selina went into the bathroom and took two Panadol tablets before guzzling them down with water.

"Man, last night was the absolute best!" Selina said once she returned to Melanie's room.

"You said it, girlfriend!" Melanie responded.

"What are we going to do today?"

Melanie thought to herself for a minute. "Well, I was thinking of cleaning up the room and disposing all of the alcohol glasses before we headed to the Diner." she suggested.

"Sounds good." Selina said before smiling.


Back at Pippa's, Irene is venting about recent troubles with Selina as the two women are sitting at the table drinking tea.

"I don't understand what's gotten into Selina lately, Pip." Irene said. "Ever since Jerome moved away, her rebellious attitude seems to have taken a turn for the worst."

"Remember I had that same issue with Jack and Kerri." Pippa responded. "Teenage angst is an unfortunate part of what we have to deal with as parents."

"Oh, I just wish there was something I could do to help her."

Pippa gently held Irene's hand. "All you have to do now is to be patient for her - a broken heart is never easy to heal."

"I know that, darl." Irene said. "It's just hard because Selina's been down this road before."

They soon hear the phone ring.

"I suppose I should get that." Pippa said before going over to the phone. "Hello, Summer Bay Caravan Park?"

Ryan and Anita come downstairs at that moment.

"Oh, hi, Mrs Roberts." Anita said.

"There'll be none of that, love." Irene said firmly. "You both can call me Irene."

"You okay with that, though?" Ryan asked.

"Of course, love." Irene replied, smiling.

"Yes, I will tell them." Pippa said over the phone. "Okay, thank you, Mrs. James. Goodbye."

As soon as Pippa hung up the phone, she went over to Ryan and Anita.

"I have good news for you both." Pippa told them. "Your mother's surgery was a success, and she'll be out of hospital in a few days."

Anita looked relieved, while Ryan let out a huge sigh.

"Thank god, she's alright." Ryan said.

"But you will have to stay the next two nights here." Pippa informed the Scheppers siblings. "I hope that's alright?"

"Of course." Ryan replied. "You good with that, Neet?"

"Sure." Anita said, smiling.

Pippa and Irene then shared a smile.


At the Surf Club, Tiegan and Stephanie are playing a game of pool.

"So, who's this new foster sister?" Tiegan asked.

"Her name is Casey Mitchell." Stephanie replied. "She's pretty quiet."

Stephanie managed to get the 8-Ball in.

"Yes, I won!" she said, while jumping up and down in excitement.

"Well played, sister from another mister." Tiegan said before she gave Stephanie a high-five.

Tiegan then sees Nicholle enter the Surf Club with Curtis.

"Tiegan, I'm so glad I found you." Nicholle said.

Tiegan gave Nicholle a dirty look and didn't say anything to her.

"What's going on?" Curtis asked.

"Curtis, why don't we just leave these two to talk?" Stephanie suggested.

Curtis followed Stephanie outside.

"Have you got a problem with me, Tiegan?" Nicholle asked Tiegan bluntly.

"You know what, Nicholle? Yes!" Tiegan replied viciously. "I cannot believe that you're stringing Curtis along!"

"I'm not stringing him along!" Nicholle snapped. "I told him about Stuart."

"Which part? The part where you callously dumped him so you could be with Curtis, or the part where you lied and told him that Stuart dumped you when, in fact, it was the other way round!"

"Tiegan, this is none of your business." Nicholle said softly but in a tone that was very snarky.

Tiegan grabbed Nicholle's arm to stop her from leaving.

"Would you LET GO of me?!"

"No!" Tiegan shouted. "I've had it with your games, Nicholle Singleton!"

Nicholle rolled her eyes, but Tiegan continued to have her say.

"You may have Curtis fooled, but you don't fool me! You're nothing but a selfish bitch!"

That did it for Nicholle! She slapped Tiegan very hard across the face!

"OH, YOU COW!" Tiegan yelled before pulling Nicholle's hair. Soon, the two of them were fighting like cat and dog.

"Stop it!"

Stephanie and Sally soon broke up the fight.

"She scratched me!" Nicholle moaned.

"GOOD! IT'S ALL YOU DESERVE, YOU SLAG!" Tiegan yelled.

"Come on, let's go outside." Stephanie told Tiegan before leading her out of the Surf Club.

Sally then checked on Nicholle. "Are you alright, Nicki?"

"I'll live, Sal."

Nicholle looked remorseful by what she has done.


NEXT TIME...
- Pippa lays down the law, and orders Tiegan and Nicolle to sort out their differences or face punishment
- Selina continues to test Irene's patience
- Casey has a heart-to-heart with Stephanie