"Who's fucking brilliant idea was this?!"

"Your wonderful girlfriend's!" I say, hiding a smile.

Sienna is doubled over laughing while she watches Rick flailing about in the shallows on his back. Hunter and I are trying to teach them how to surf, and so far, not so good. But it is hilarious!

"Babe, you're doing so well," Sienna encourages Rick.

He looks up at her with a scowl and she smiles sweetly back. His expression softens and I can tell he's trying not to smile back. She walks over to him, grabs his hand to pull him up, but instead he grabs her around the waist and pulls her into the water for a smooch. He's absolutely crazy about her, any idiot can see that a mile away.

That's not to say it was always like that though. I didn't like the way he spoke to her in the beginning. He was so grumpy all the time and could be a real dick to Sienna. Plus, Emily's warning was stuck in my mind for a long time, which didn't help.

So one day I took him aside and told him that if he kept talking to her like that he was going to lose her and if he really cared about her he'd treat her better. He told me to fuck off and mind my own business, but the next time I saw them together I noticed a change.

He caught me smiling at them, so he rolled his eyes at me and flipped me off. We now have a mutual understanding were, I call him out when he's being an asshole and he pretends to be all offended and tells me to mind my own business, but still listens to my advice.

I'm still not quite sure what she sees in him. But watching them laughing and having fun together like this, I can tell she's happy; that he makes her happy. And as long as he keeps treating her right then I'm happy for them.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She asks while plonking herself down on the sand next to me.

"I'm happy for you you know, I had my doubts, but I'm glad you guys are doing great," I tell Sienna.

"Aww thanks, Maddie. And what about you, how are you doing? I know the last year has been one shit show after another. Are things better with you and Hunter?"

I look out towards the ocean, watching Hunter show Rick how to stand on his board and I take a moment to think about Sienna's question.

It's been a very rough year, but Hunter and I are finally in a good place.

"We're good. After all the crap that Emily pulled over the last few months, we're finally getting back on track," I say.

"What about your mum? Are things still tense?" She asks me.

"Yeah, still tense. She keeps going on about forgiving Emily, telling me how hard she's had it. But I just can't and Hunter is refusing to come anywhere near my house while Emily still visits. It's bad enough Emily caused a rift between me and Hunter, but now she's causing one between me and mum!"

"I know this is that last thing you want to hear but it's commendable what your mum's doing for her. It can't be easy raising a baby, not just on her own, but only eighteen as well, Sienna says quietly while staring down at her hands.

"You're right, that is the last thing I want to hear!" I say a little annoyed.

And I have every right to be annoyed! Making us all believe that Hunter was the father of her baby when she knew all along he wasn't, I don't think I've hated someone so much in my life!

"Your mum says she's really trying to turn her life around now, it seems her son has made her re-access what she's been doing with her life and how she's treated everyone," she tells me, but it still has no effect on how I feel.

"I really couldn't care less, who's side are you on anyway?"

"Hey, I'm on no one's side and I definitely don't condone what she did. But she asked your mum for help, help that you offered all those months ago and now she really seems to be trying to make amends. Despite her trying to come between you and Hunter, your mum is willing to help her get her life back on track. I'm not saying you should forgive Emily but I do think you should give your mum a break."

I sigh and stare at a little white bug trying to dig into the sand next to my foot. I know she's right but I'm still so angry about.....hell, about everything!

"It should be her parents dealing with this not my mum!" I know I sound pathetic and whiney, but if her useless parents gave a damn in the first place we probably wouldn't have to deal with the neglected, self-destructive, nasty piece of work that is Emily Bradford.

One minute I'm all pouty and annoyed, the next I'm being tackled back onto the sand by a very wet, very sexy looking Hunter. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rick scoop up Sienna and carry her into the waves.

"Judging by that look on your face, you two weren't discussing the weather?" He jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

"You know what we were discussing," I say seriously.

"Forget about Emily! I don't want her coming between us anymore, I've already wasted enough time on her and right now having you between me and the sand is something I'd much rather enjoy!"

He leans down and kisses me. It gets me every time, that wonderful tingly feeling. And he's right, I don't want to think about Emily anymore, I don't want to keep thinking about the moment she told Hunter she was pregnant with his baby right in front of me and all our friends at school, or the fact that he chose to stick with her when I gave him an ultimatum, telling me he wouldn't abandon her or his child.

I'm tired of thinking about all those nights I cried myself to sleep wishing things were different, tired of thinking about all those wasted months hurting and alone only to find out at the very end when I thought I'd lost it all that it wasn't Hunter's baby, it wasn't even who I suspected it to be. Nothing could have prepared me for the revelation that the baby was, in fact, Mr Tate's, Skylar's dad.

The shit really hit the fan when Skylar found that out, but I couldn't even enjoy that shit show because one of the most important people in life was so distraught. After accepting and getting used to the idea, Hunter was absolutely devastated, not just about the baby but he'd also put his life on hold for her. He was supposed to be at University in Auckland this year but decided to stay. Then there was me, he broke my heart by choosing them over me.

I know it wasn't fair of me to make him choose, but I couldn't see any other way. I hated her so much and the thought of them playing happy families made me physically ill.

A week after the birth and the baby daddy bombshell, I found him crying on my front doorstep. He just kept saying sorry over and over again. I helped him inside, we lay down on my bed and I just held him all night while he sobbed and kept repeating how sorry he was for everything!

That was two months ago now. After we realised we couldn't live without each other and a very long, tear-filled talk, we reconciled. I just started my Marine Biology course and he's sticking around till he can reapply for Uni next year. I know he's gutted to have to wait a year but I selfishly like the fact that he's still here.

"You know I have the place to myself for the next couple of days," he says smiling.

"So?" I reply, pretending to be uninterested.

"Aww don't be like that, I'm about to lose my mind here! We can't go to yours for obvious reasons and we keep getting interrupted at mine!"

"You have a one-track mind, Mr Grange!" I say wiggling my hips against his.

"Maddie, if you keep doing that I'll be forced to have my way with you, here and now!" He gives me an intense look.

Oh my!

"I'm a horny teenage boy who is in love with the most amazing, sexy, smart, funny....."

"Ok, ok I'll come stay," I say laughing.

"I wasn't saying that to get you to stay, I said it because it's all true! You really are amazing Maddie and I'm so lucky to have you in my life! I'll never forgive myself.........."

I smash my lips to his to stop him. He still blames himself for everything that happened but it's not his fault, he did what he thought was right and I can't hold that against him. I pull away and look into his eyes.

"I'm the lucky one! You stepped up to your responsibilities when you could have walked away. I don't like what happened any more than you do, but I do admire the way you handled it all. I'm the one who pushed you away so can we please move past this and move on. Start fresh. I want tonight to be special, new beginnings for the both of us, the next step in our relationship," I say getting a little teary-eyed.

"Agreed! Let's make the most of this year before I have to move to another city."

"I'm going to miss you when you go," I say sadly, the thought of him not being a stone's throw away terrifies me a little.

"Hey, we still have months before I have to leave and I'll only be two hours away. And who knows you might've gotten sick of me by then and told me to get lost!" He says while stroking my cheek.

"Well, we made it through a total cluster fuck of a year last year, so I think you might be stuck with me!" I say smiling.

"I can live with that!"

He leans down and kisses me again, this time it starts getting a little more intense, I definitely wouldn't mind a lifetime of this!

"Fuck! would you two get a room already. We don't need to watch you humping each other on a public beach!" Rick yells, screwing up his face as if he's completely repulsed.

Sienna elbows him in the rib.

"What was that for? I don't wanna see that shit," he adds.

She just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

"Come on let's leave them to it," she says dragging him away. "We'll catch up with you guys later, enjoy your evening," she adds with a wink.

"Bye!" We yell at their retreating forms.

Hunter jumps up and pulls me up too. We're just in front of his house so we grab all the boards and head up to dump them in the shed.

"I think I'm gonna take a shower, I can feel sand all the way up my butt crack," he informs me.

"Yuck! TMI!" I say scrunching up my nose. Although it does give me an idea

"Maybe I'll join you," I add.

His eyes go wide.

"Um.." He stutters and clears his throat.

Apart from some steamy make-out sessions and the incident in the bath we haven't gone any further than that. We wanted to take things slow and we had our last year of school to concentrate on and of course, there were mum's rules as well. Then before we knew it, we were broken up for almost five months.

So, it looks like tonight is the night, or maybe this evening, or even this afternoon. I'm a little nervous but I'm definitely ready now.

What I've just said finally seems to be sinking in and grabs me by the arm and drags me through the house and up the stair to the bathroom.

I shut the door behind us and he turns the shower on. He then stalks towards me with a hunger in his eyes.

"Arms up," he instructs me.

I do as he asks and he slowly pulls my rash vest up and over my head. I watch him looking me up and down.

"I still think that red bikini is ridiculous, it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination!"

"Maybe you should take it off then?"

He licks his lips and smiles at me.

"Maybe I will!"

And with that he spins me around and pulls the straps, untying them. The top falls to the floor and I slowly turn back to face him and bite my lip.

"You're literally going to be the death of me looking at me like that."

He then proceeds to remove my bikini bottoms and I stand there in my birthday suit, about to spontaneously combust!

He makes quick work of his rash vest and shorts and pulls me into the shower with him. This is the first time we've seen each other fully naked and I gotta say, I am very much enjoying what I see!

"You're so beautiful," he tells me.

I break into a full-on smile at the way he looks at me while telling me that and before I know what's happening his mouth is on mine; his hands are everywhere; he starts grinding his body against mine and.......Fuuuuuuck I'm so turned on right now.

One hand is in my hair and the other moves down over my boobs massaging one, then the other. He keeps going south down over my stomach, then he reaches the Holy grail. He starts rubbing making my knees go weak. His other hand lets go of my hair and grabs my arse to steady me. He leans down and takes my nipple in his mouth.

Oh my god!!!!!!!

I move my hands from his shoulders noticing deep nail indents, I decide it's time to join in on the fun and do some of my own exploring. I keep moving my hands lower down his very toned chest and lower and lower......

Suddenly he stands up straight, flicks the shower off, jumps out, grabs two towels and throws one at me. I'm still standing in the shower, very confused, watching him run around like a mad man.

"Don't just stand there. My room, now! before I embarrass us both by shooting off my load before I've barely even touched you!"

I can't stop the laughter from escaping and he turns back to me.

"It's not funny, I'm about to lose it here and I know it's your first time and I want it to be special and be careful with you. But it's so freaking hard when you look so fucking sexy all wet and naked and gorgeous!" He says running out of the room.

I start drying myself off slowly, very slowly. One, because watching him like this is quite entertaining and two, because now that the adrenaline is starting to wear off I find myself getting very nervous.

His head pops back around the door frame and I notice an eyebrow arch.

"What are you doing? He asks.

"Duh, I'm drying myself."

"Why are you doing it so agonisingly slow!"

"Just doing a thorough job, don't want to get your sheets wet or anything," I say smiling at him.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you! Watching me lose my shit like this! Do you want me to beg? Cause I will, I'll beg if it'll make you hurry up!" That last part comes out all whiney and he tries giving me puppy dog eye's for added effect.

I try keeping my slow pace but I'm too weak, that's it I give in! I wrap the towel around myself, run towards him and as he straightens up I jump into his arms.

"That better?"

"Much!"

With my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips, he carries me towards his bedroom. He stops in the doorway and looks me in the eye.

"I love you to the moon and back, Madison Holloway!"

"Well, I love you to infinity and beyond, Hunter Grange!"

He kisses me softly, walks into his room with me still wrapped in his arms and shuts the door.