After all the excitement at the ball, Drew and Belle sidle off to the gym for a heart-to-heart. “I gave everything I had to Lucas. It still wasn’t enough,” Belle simpers, doing her best to look saintly. She thought Drew had moved on, so didn’t see the point in letting him know how she really felt. Drew admits to going through the same. Belle confesses she did the dirty with Lucas after Lisa told her she’d done it with Drew – only that was a lie. “There’s a weird compliment in there somewhere,” Drew leers quietly, knowing he’s onto a sure thing. Speaking of Lucas, the poor fool has no idea why Lisa’s been flinging drinks around. The longing looks are going to have to remain hidden until he knows it’s over.Belle calls in on Lucas before school to drop her bombshell, but he’s busy stressing over an important assignment. Compassionate to the last, Belle doesn’t want his marks to suffer so, after much hand-wringing, she chickens out. Dangerous liaisons The race is on to make sure Lucas doesn’t find out from some other horse’s mouth. Drew dons his waterproofs and heads for Lisa’s stable to persuade her to keep schtum for the moment, but she’s not in the mood for favours. She practically threatens to vomit on Drew then and there. She wouldn’t piss on Drew or Belle – “I think the word is slag” – if they were on fire. She promises to keep it wired for Lucas’ sake…then races to his house to break the news. Lucas brushes her off, telling himself she’s just getting back at Drew. Lucas confronts Belle about it at school and she’s thrown off balance. When in doubt, deny all knowledge; Belle misses her opportunity and lies to his face. Belle curses her idiocy and shares her fears with Drew, fretting that she’ll be cast as the scarlet lady of Summer Bay. Drew doesn’t mind one bit, and proves it by locking tongues with Belle. Back at school, Lisa squares up for her presentation. “The camera never lies. Drew and Belle, on the other hand…” she smirks, flashing a massive photo of Drew and Belle smooching in front of the whole class. Looking like a wounded kitten, Lucas leaves the room. Well, that wasn’t exactly how Belle was planning on breaking the news…The end of a beautiful picnic Elsewhere in Summer Bay, the mating season is getting underway. Jack seems to have nuzzled the chip off Sam’s shoulder for good, and the pair can barely keep their limbs to themselves. Kit gets a gooey smile at every mention of James after their little pash on the sofa. She couldn’t be happier, and neither could Rachel – she gets Kim all to herself now. James is walking on air now that he’s got a second chance. The gang head out for a picnic. Kit’s unborn baby makes an appearance, kicking her senseless and giving James the chance to valiantly ease her onto the blanket. The sun shines; the butterflies swoop; Jack asks Sam to move in with him, and Kim pulls out a football.

There’s only one thing wrong with this picture. A predatory ginger is lurking in the bushes, waiting to pounce on Sam. Rusty gets his chance when Sam skips off to the water fountain. Recognising him straight away as one of her ex husband’s dodgy associates, she screams and bounds into the woods. “You can’t run forever, Kylie!” Rusty barks, hot on her trail.

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