Language of Love

Chapter 33 - Paparazzi

The paparazzi had followed them to the Bucket List but had gotten bored when they were ignored and nothing attention grabbing was happening. Most of them had drifted away. A few lingered outside but had been challenged by the staff when they'd tried to enter. The lifeguards were regular customers and part of the community and when the press targeted them the locals rallied round.

Sat at the back, away from the windows, the 2 lifeguards and Abi were served breakfast and left in peace. Not much was said as they ate. Whippet had taken Abi's phone so she wouldn't be tempted to look through the comments on the Insta post. Gina, Sam and Caitlinn soon appeared and joined them, giving Abi warm hugs as they arrived. Surprisingly, the girls arrived with the same opinion as Maxi. Not for a moment thinking that Troy had cheated. Abi was relieved. She didn't think she could cope right now with an angry Caitlinn.

Then Mouse and Matty appeared and Jake and Chappo popped across during a short break. Neither of these 4 mentioned the photo, but the brief firm hugs they gave her as they arrived confirmed they knew what was going on. Abi reckoned the lifeguard chat group must have been pretty busy this morning.

Eventually, the lifeguards left for their shifts or for training. Gina and Whippet were the last to go. Whippet pulling Abi up from her chair and gave her an almost suffocating hug before handing her back her phone with a warning look and leaving without saying anything.
"What's he like when he's defending his actual family?" Caitlinn mused, having been told about his angry outburst by Maxi. "Oy Abi! Get off your phone!" She made a grab for the phone that Abi was now looking at.
"I'm not reading the comments. I'm going to make one of my own."

That day, 2 comments appeared beneath the trending post.

TroyQuinlan: Trust and communication are key to any relationship. Being in the public eye is never easy and so many things can be misconstrued. I love the most amazing woman. AJHeath Do we really have to go by Bizo?!

AJHeath: A snapshot like this is misleading, a brief moment in time that doesn't show what happened before or after. Posting things like this stir up trouble and could have ended a relationship today. Think before you post. #BizoisNOTover.

The following morning one tabloid stated:
Bondi Rescue Stars Deny Split.

One gossip paper headlined:
Band of Bondi Brothers Tested.
The article focussed on Whippets overheard phonecall ragging out Troy and photos of Abi, Whippet and Maxi making their way to the Bucket List as well as mention of the other lifeguards who'd showed up.

Abi turned up at Hoppo's office with these papers tucked under her arm. He gave her a supportive smile as she entered and dropped the papers on his desk.
"I'm sure you've seen these already but I thought I'd better make sure you had. It's all ridiculous. A girl made a pass at Troy. He turned her down. Someone just got a convenient photo."
"Not the best kind of publicity." Hoppo commented. "But it'll disappear quickly when they see its a non-story. You sweet?"
"Angry." Abi replied.
Hoppo frowned. "At Troy?"
"No! At whoever stirred up trouble posting that picture. And at the papers."
"Your Instagram posts were great. You made your positions clear without being rude. Did you organise that together?"
"No."
"Well, it worked out well. Came across as the 2 of you being a solid team. And as for the rubbish about testing the bond between the lifeguards, that might actually make Ben happy, get more viewers tuning in this Season and next to see what's going on."
"I'll let you get back to work."
As she left the office Hoppo called after her.
"Pop to the tower before you go. Deano wanted to check your availability for the next set of rotas."

Abi unlocked the promenade door to the tower and slipped through.
"Hey Deano." She called up to the curly haired man. He lifted his hand in greeting, not taking his eyes from the water. Harries was stood beside him, leaning on the desk and peering out the window in the same direction.
"Hey Princess." Harries murmured, his focus on the beach.

Abi joined them as Harries pointed out Whippet and Kobi, making a double rescue at backpackers. Once the 2 lifeguards had their patients safely back to shore Deano turned his attention to her.
"Hop send you over?" He asked. She nodded as Deano grabbed the rotas and asked her to fill in her availability.

Mapping out her next few weeks, Abi didn't look up as the promenade door opened, then shut again loudly.
"There you are Bambs!" Maxi exclaimed as he bounced up the steps. "Is tomorrow your day off?"
She nodded as she continued filling in the rota.
"Good. Brad and I wanna check out a new climbing centre. You wanna join?"
"Sure."
"Great. Meet here at 9. We'll grab lunch after so bring a change of clothes."
Maxi bounced back out of the tower again.

* * * *
Walking into the tower the next day Abi found Brad chatting with the on-duty lifeguards; Box and Jake.
Box met her at the top of the stairs and hugged her.
"That article was a load of shit." He told her.
"I'm just trying to ignore the paps that keep appearing. Hope they find an actual celebrity to gossip about instead."

Maxi soon bounced in.
"Let's go climb walls!" He shouted and grabbed her hand, dragging her out of the tower and down the promenade.

Brad followed at a more sedate pace, laughing at the younger lifeguard. His laugh turned to a frown when he spotted the photographer snapping a photo of the two ahead who were still hand in hand as they ran towards the car park laughing.
He approached the man.
"Delete it." He snapped.
"Can't make me." The Pap responded like a surly child. "Their public figures and papers are looking for photos of them at the moment."
"I've got this Brad." Hoppo said, appearing behind the paparazzi photographer. "Go enjoy your day off. Don't worry them about this."
Brad walked away but heard Hoppo say, "Let's discuss this in my office.", in his no-nonsense boss voice. Brad almost pitied the photographer. He wouldn't be leaving with those photos.