Chapter 37 - Enjoy your time here now

                                    

                                          
Shannon sat through what felt like a thousand photographs from Rachel and Darren's honeymoon and she listened intently as they recounted stories of everywhere they had visited and what they had seen.
                          
Jamie and Tristan were heading out to the pub and Darren decided to go with them, leaving Shannon and Rachel alone.
                          
Shannon filled Rachel in on all that had happened while she was away, including the Holly and Karen war and of course what Kailan had declared last night.
                          
"So he told you he loved you..." Rachel said
                          
"But he was drunk" Shannon interrupted
                          
"Ok, he'd had a drink or too" Rachel continued "But then he hasn't mentioned it again since?"
                          
"Nope" Shannon shook her head "But I haven't actually seen him since last night so........."
                          
"Well he obviously either doesn't remember or he's embarrassed then" suggested Rachel
                          
"Hmmmm" shrugged Shannon
                          
"I mean, did he hear what you said back?" Rachel asked
                          
Shannon stayed silent 
                          
"Shan" said Rachel "You did respond didn't you?"
                          
"Errrm.....well" replied Shannon quietly
                          
"Oh bloody hell Shan!" sighed Rachel "No wonder he hasn't said anything since!" 
                          
"Well I was caught off guard" Shannon replied
                          
"You need to talk to him" suggested Rachel "I mean, how you feel about him? Honestly?"
                          
"Well......." Started Shannon
                          
"Look Shan, I've never seen you this happy" said Rachel
                          
"I am happy" sighed Shannon "But we go back to England in a matter of weeks"
                          
"So you aren't going to admit you love him just so that you don't get hurt?" asked Rachel.
                          
Shannon nodded silently
                          
"Sometimes you have to take a risk" said Rachel, patting Shannon's arm.
                          
"Ok, ok" sighed Shannon "I'll go down to the beach and talk to him when he finishes"
                          
"I'll come along for a bit of sunbathing" said Rachel "But don't worry, I'll disappear when he finishes work and give you some privacy"
                          
They packed up their beach bags and headed down to the beach.  It was quite busy and there seemed to be a lot of tourists around and a lot of them obviously hadn't swum in anything like Bondi before as there was a lot of rescuing going on.
                          
They both relaxed on the sand and the only lifeguard the saw briefly was Whippet who waved as he ran past on his way back to the lifeguard tower.
                          
The beach eventually quietened down as more and more tourists left and the lifeguards started to pack everything up.  Harries made an announcement through a speakerphone to tell everyone that the lifeguards were now finished for the day and the last few people started to leave.
                          
"I'll be off then" said Rachel as she Shannon an encouraging hug.
                          
"See you later" said Shannon with a smile
                          
Shannon watched Rachel walk back off the beach and she stayed where she was for a moment to gather her thoughts.
                          
"Hey English" she heard Maxi shout as he pulled up beside her in one of the rhinos.
                          
"Oh, hey Maxi" she replied
                          
"Fancy a lift to the tower? Kailan is there I think" he offered
                          
"Sounds great" she replied
                          
She jumped in the rhino next to him and he started driving again while whistling a catchy summery tune that Shannon recognised from the local radio stations.
                          
"Busy one today" he informed her
                          
"Hmmm, looked it" Shannon replied
                          
"You ok English?" he asked her, concerned
                          
"Yeah" she replied with a smile
                          
"Ok" he laughed "Not very convincing but ok"
                          
They came to a stop by the tower and Shannon got out while Maxi put the rhino in the small garage they were kept in.
                          
"Shan" he said as he took hold of her arm to turn her to face him
                          
"Yeah" she sighed
                          
"I know this isn't really my place or any of my business but....." he started
                          
Shannon looked at him, dreading whatever it was he was going to say.
                          
"Are you gonna end it  too early with Kailan?" he blurted out "It's just, you'll break his heart if you do and he really doesn't deserve that, you know"
                          
"Awww Maxi" Shannon smiled, her eyes brimming with tears "No, I'm not gonna end it with him"
                          
"Phew" he laughed "Sorry to ask but, you know, he's a mate"
                          
"He's very lucky to have you" she smiled "He'll need you all when I have to go home"
                          
"Ah" he replied "That's what's wrong then, when is that again?"
                          
"Soon" she sighed "Like, in a matter of weeks"
                          
"Hey Maxi" they heard Kailan shout as his head popped out the door of the tower "You better not be hitting on my woman"
                          
Maxi and Shannon turned to look at Kailan and Maxi laughed
                          
"Caught me buddy" Maxi laughed as he and Shannon started walking up the tower steps.  Kailan laughed and disappeared back into the tower.
                          
"Don't think too much about going home yet ok" Maxi whispered "Enjoy you're the time you're here now"
                          
Shannon couldn't help but smile at him again and they went into the tower.  Kailan wasn't going to be the only one she was going to miss like mad.