The other side of the world (Bondi Rescue Fanfic)

Chapter 52 - Happy New Year

The next morning, Shannon got up early to see Kailan off to work and then decided to start the horrible task of packing up anything she wasn't likely to need now, rather than having to do it at a later date when she could be spending time with Kailan.

She emptied her wardrobe of most of her clothes and neatly folded them into her suitcase.

"Wow" said Darren's voice from her doorway she had left open "You're organised"

Shannon nodded and started choosing which shoes she wasn't likely to wear before they left.

"I'm just gonna chuck mine in my case the morning of the day we leave I reckon" said Darren as he stepped into her room and started picking up stuff from on top of her dresser.

"That is so typical of you Daz" she laughed

"Why change" he laughed

"Well I think Rach might have other ideas and make you pack earlier than that...." She stopped as she looked up to see him holding a teddy bear – the teddy bear Kailan had won for her at the fair

"Oh my god, what's wrong" Darren asked as she burst into floods of tears

"Nothing, ignore me" she sobbed

"Well as if I'm gonna do that" he said gently "Can I come in properly?"

Shannon nodded and Darren came in and sat on the floor with her and put his arm around her

"Kailan gave me that bear, that's all" she explained once she had calmed down a bit

"Ah" he said

"I'm ok Daz, honest" she sniffed, managing a small smile

"Maybe give packing a break for a bit hey" he suggested "I mean you've done loads already so the rest won't take you long later"

Shannon nodded

"I'll go and put the kettle on" said Darren as he got up and went to leave the room

"Oh and Shan..." he added, poking his head back through the doorway

"Yep" she said looking up at him

"You aren't gonna be a total wussy pants and cry none stop for the next forty eight hours are you?" he said with a wink as Shannon laughed and threw the shoe she had in her hand at him and he ran off laughing.

Shannon washed her face with water as cold as she could stand it and went into the kitchen where Darren handed her a mug of tea

"Thanks" she smiled "And sorry for having a meltdown"

"Just don't make a habit of it" he smiled "You can't waste the time you have left here feeling all sad and sorry for yourself, you just have to make the most of it and make a promise to yourself that if you don't want this to be the end of you and Kailan that you do everything you can to make it not be"

"Wow, wise words" she laughed "Never thought I'd say that about you"

"I even surprise myself you know" he laughed

Darren took a cup of tea back to his room for Rachel and Shannon finished her tea and glanced around the kitchen for anything that stood out as hers to pack.

Returning to her room, she packed a few more things then decided to leave the rest. The last thing she wanted was to need something after she had packed it.