Episode 7299

Extended Summary

Nikau is relaxing in a deckchair at the caravan park, revelling in not having anything to do, and gets Ryder to hand him his water bottle even though he’s nearer. Ryder has to go to work in an hour and wants to do something first, suggesting they take his car for a spin. Nikau isn’t keen, but when Ryder gets a text from Bella asking to hang, he suddenly wants to go to a movie in Yabbie Creek, and is happy with Ryder not going. Ryder doesn’t want to lend them his car if he’s not there, and knows Colby wouldn’t either, so suggests she come over. Soon after, Ryder and Nikau are playing cricket. Nikau whacks the ball and anticipates it going for a six but Bella appears and catches it. Ryder says that she’s good at everything and Bella says except school, confrontation and making friends. She tells Ryder they’re going to be TAFE buddies and credits Nikau with helping her turn her life around. She also notes she did a deal with Colby but doesn’t give details. She asks to go in bat and hits the ball when Nikau bowls to her.

Outside the surf club, Ziggy tries to quiz Ben about how he’s feeling and then asks about his birthday. Ben says he hasn’t given much thought. Ziggy rambles, asking if he’s worried about getting old. Ben wonders what she’s getting at and she reluctantly admits Maggie is thinking of throwing him a party, adding an awkward “Surprise.” Once inside, Ben again says he hasn’t thought much about his birthday. Ziggy says he didn’t have a party last year and thinks he regretted it. Ben says that, even though he is feeling better, he doesn’t fancy being the centre of attention or socialising and thinks it’s better to not rock the boat.

Ryder is working at Salt when Bella and Nikau come in. Bella wants to buy Nikau a “Summer Bay Special” as a thank you. Mackenzie cuts in, saying it’d better be a mocktail. Nikau says he’s over eighteen and Mackenzie replies that he can buy his own drink in that case. She recognises him as Ari Parata’s nephew, saying she read an article about him and knows he’s new in town. Nikau only gives brief answers and goes to sit down. Bella says they’re celebrating her getting into TAFE. Mackenzie asks about her counselling session; Bella says it’s confidential and Mackenzie says she didn’t want details. After she’s out of earshot, Ryder asks Bella when she went to the session, realising that was her deal with Colby and reminding her she promised to look after herself. Bella say it’s none of his business. Later, Ryder tells Mackenzie he’s worried Bella is vulnerable after Tommy. Mackenzie goes to Bella and Nikau’s table and asks if they’re ready to order. Bella asks for two peperoni pizzas…and the money to pay for them. Ryder goes and sits with the pair, saying it’s his break, but Bella says they’ve just ordered takeaway.

Ziggy comes home and tells Maggie that she asked Ben about the party and he said no. Maggie is disappointed and Ziggy explains what Ben said about not wanting to rock the boat. She says they can have a big party next year when he’s feeling better and can do something low key but fabulous this year. Soon after, Maggie finishes a phone call and tells Ziggy that Coco can’t make it: She has a group project with a deadline and can only facetime. Ben arrives home and listens in from the hallway as Ziggy complains that they can’t have a party or a family dinner with just the three of them, since that’ll be just like any night. Maggie thinks they can still have a good time but she wanted to celebrate the whole family pulling together.

Bella watches as Nikau cleans up the pool table, saying no-one ever beats her and claiming she went easy on him. Nikau jokingly calls her a loser and Bella good-humouredly threatens to break his thumb, which he says is the only way she’ll beat him. Bella gets a text from Dean and sees Ryder watching from the stairs, ostensibly taking the recycling out, before joking about him having a man crush on Dean. Ryder tells Nikau that Bella’s a pool shark and looks worried when Nikau says he beat her. Later, Bella plays a tricky shot and Nikau realises she really was going easy on him. Leaning close, he notes she’s different from other girls and he’s still deciding if that’s a good thing, distracting her and causing her to miss the shot. Roo catches Ryder watching them again and steers him up to Salt. He explains that Nikau’s a good guy but Bella’s a loose cannon and he can’t talk to her about it without her biting his head off. He pours Roo a free wine as she suggests Bella’s just being a normal teenage girl. Mackenzie asks if Roo’s staying for dinner but Roo says she has to do paperwork and take a call from Alf and departs (leaving most of her wine, to Ryder’s annoyance). Mackenzie gets a text from Dean wondering where Bella is. Ryder tells her she’s downstairs with Nikau but convinces her not to tell Dean, knowing he’d storm in if he knew.

Ziggy announces she has another idea for the birthday: There’s an Airbnb up the coast that Ben and Maggie can go to. Ben asks what about her and Ziggy says she’ll stay at home, not fancying being a third wheel to her parents. Ben suggests just having a dinner but Ziggy reiterates that that would just be a normal night. Maggie likes the idea, saying they can both get pampered. Meanwhile, Ryder joins Bella and Nikau at the caravan park with a pizza. Bella asks Nikau what he likes about Summer Bay. He says he likes the bonfires and the beach; when she asks him what he thinks of the people, he says they’re all right. Ryder suggests he take surf lessons with Dean but both Nikau and Bella say it’s not their thing. Ryder points to the time and Nikau agrees he should go, saying he’s at the bait shop in the morning but will call in the afternoon. After Nikau’s gone, Ryder accuses Bella of flirting with him and is worried about her missing counselling and keeping things from Nikau. Bella starts to storm off. Ryder protests that Colby would deck him if he let her walk home on her own but Bella retorts that she’ll deck him if he follows her.

Next morning, Maggie is continuing to enthuse about the B&B, saying there’s a restaurant nearby she wants to check out. Ben isn’t keen on the idea, suggesting it’s too far. Maggie says it’s only 100Ks and there’s nothing in Summer Bay they haven’t already done. Ben says he wants to do the party after all, for all of them. Meanwhile, Ryder finds Nikau hosing down boats outside the bait shop. Ryder says he needs to know something about Bella, calling her complicated. He asks if Nikau “likes” her, then says she’s not like other girls.