Chapter One

Matilda Hunter pulled her key out of her pocket and thrust it into the keyhole viciously, how could Ric do that? After 3 great years of dating, he had dumped her, not that he had dumped her whilst they were alone, she wouldn’t have been so mad, but it was at the Pier Diner, in front of everyone, Irene Roberts, Annie Campbell, even that complete cow Nicole Franklin, she threw the door open violently and walked threw to the kitchen,

“Hi Mattie!” Belle said energetically from bedroom, she walked out and saw Matilda pulling out a large tub of ice-cream, Belle sighed,

“What happened?” She asked, putting her arm around her shoulders, sensing something was wrong,

“Ric dumped me,” She said, pulling out a draw with all her strength, making all the cutlery bang together with loud clangs, she pulled out a spoon and shoved the drawer back in roughly, she pulled the lid of the ice-cream and started attacking it with the spoon, tears forming in the corners of her eyes,

“Come here,” Belle said, pulling Matilda into a hug, who broke down instantly, muttering horrible obscenities towards Ric through sobs,

“...Which he said he could do by himself...” Matilda sobbed as Aden walked in; he gave a chuckle before walking over to the girls and putting his arms around them,

“So what are we all crying about?” He asked them insensitively, Belle hit him over the head with her hand whilst still clutching to Matilda, he looked at her confused,

“What’s going on then?” He asked again, with a smirk, Belle gave him a stop-it-or-else look; he shrugged it off, joining in the hug again, he was feeling sorry for Matilda, whatever had happened to her, but the mood was to serious, he had to lighten it somehow, “Who can do what by himself?” – Matilda had had enough, she pulled away from Belle and raised her knee, Aden groaned in pain as it connected with his crotch, Matilda giggled before starting to attack the ice-cream again,

“If you must know, Ric dumped me, by the way,” She said to the groaning man on the floor, Belle gave him an I-Told-You-So look before stepping over him as he rolled on the floor in pain, Matilda followed, the door opened again and Geoff stepped in, he instantly looked at Aden, who’s groaning had subsided, but was still lying on the floor,

“I don’t even want to know,” He said, walking past him and into the living room, where Matilda and Belle were sitting, ice-cream between them with the latest episode of Gilmore Girls blaring, most likely to drown out the sound of Aden,

“Hey,” he said to the girls, looking down to the ice-cream and then to Matilda’s tear-streaked face, he sighed, “Ric broke up with you,” He said, walking over the girl and hugging her, he pulled away and Belle jumped up,

“I just remembered something!” She said, rushing off to her bedroom, walking around Aden, she pulled out a briefcase and popped the locks, pulling out a bunch of papers and rushing back to the living room, “Aden, if you’ve stopped acting like a drama-queen, can you come in here a moment?” She called out; he stood up, clutching his crotch,

“Strong kick,” He said in a wobbly voice as he walked into the living room, he took a seat next to Geoff, Belle handed them what looked to be a plane ticket each,

“I got a call from mum today, she told me that she and peter were to busy to take there trip to Italy, she sent the tickets by courier to work, she suggested we go instead,” Belle told them, they all gawped at her, “Matilda, this is the best time for you to get away, and Geoff and Aden, you two were going to be taking your holidays around this time – so what do you say?” She asked, looking at them expectantly, Matilda shrugged,

“I don’t know Belle, what about work, Marcia can’t run the place by herself, if we both take holidays at the same time, where does that leave her?” Matilda asked, Belle shook her head, “I already worked it out, Marcia says its fine, she’s got two people from the sister company coming to take over our positions temporarily,” She said, flashing a smile at Matilda, she nodded,

“I guess it might be good, being the country of love and all,” Matilda said, Aden and Geoff nodded in agreement,

“So that’s it then, we’re going to Italy!” Belle said excitedly, as they all began to talk rapidly.