Episode 7314

Extended Summary

Nikau drives Ryder’s car up to the caravan park house and indicates that he put a dent in the passenger side door. A frantic Ryder runs round to check but Nikau is winding him up and says he even filled up the tank, explaining about fleecing the pool players. Ryder asks how things went with Bella. Nikau says Ryder doesn’t need to worry. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is in Ari’s caravan, having just got dressed. Ari wakes up and notes he hoped she’d be alongside him but suggests he’s lucky she came back at all. Mackenzie says she just needs to get to work. Ari wonders if there’s unfinished business between her and Colby. Mackenzie says they dated and then broke up and they’re done.

Ryder buys Nikau a smoothie at the surf club and also gives him a list of jobs Roo wants doing. Although it’s long, Ryder says she’s a good boss. Nikau asks him what he thinks of Mackenzie. Bella turns up and asks Nikau when he finishes work. Ryder leaves them to it. Willow comes over and asks when they became a thing. A flustered Bella denies it and gives Willow the money she borrowed. Willow notes she doesn’t usually get money back when she lends it to Bella and Bella suggests she’s growing up. She leaves, as does Willow after smiling at Nikau for a moment. Willow finds Colby outside the Diner flat and asks how long the relationship’s been going on. Colby says Bella doesn’t tell him anything but he’s happy for her after what happened with Tommy. Willow wonders if they’ve kissed and Colby reiterates that Bella isn’t likely to tell him.

Ryder sits with Bella at the Diner and asks about her and Nikau. Bella insists she doesn’t talk to Ryder about her personal life. Ryder says she should thank him: If it wasn’t for him matchmaking, she’d be at his house alone. Bella again tries to avoid talking about it but eventually says she had her first kiss with him and it was nice and he makes her smile. Outside, Gemma brings Nikau a drink and praises him for not slacking off, saying the new life suits him. Nikau hopes Ari doesn’t mess things up. Gemma insists she’s handling it, although Nikau is sceptical about her taking John for lunch. Bella approaches and, even though Nikau is evasive about discussing her, Gemma leaves them to it. Bella takes a photo of Nikau; he insists on seeing it and Bella shows him others she’s taken. Nikau says she’s talented and they kiss.

Leah and Justin are at the police station. Leah is worried about giving the statement. Justin says they’re moving forwards and if she finds it difficult, she should think about the present and the two of them together. Ingrid Stone of Victim Services introduces herself and says she’ll help with the statement. Soon after, the three of them are in the office. Ingrid asks how Leah’s experience has affected her psychologically. Leah says she’s frightened all the time, with even hearing the phone earlier putting her on edge. She can’t sleep and keeps thinking she’s back in the room he kept her in when she wakes up. She straightens cutlery because it’s what he wanted, hears him criticising her when she gets dressed and lashes out at people who don’t deserve it.

Outside the Diner, Ari and Gemma watch Bella and Nikau laughing on the beach. Ari notes that he’s dating Colby’s ex and Nikau’s dating his sister, adding that Colby doesn’t seem to be over Mackenzie. Gemma isn’t happy that Ari got into a confrontation with him, saying they’re happy here. Ari says she doesn’t get to tell him who he can see. Gemma asks if Mackenzie is worth hurting his family. Later, Colby and Willow exit the gym at the surf club. Bella approaches and comments on Willow getting paid to torture Colby before telling Colby to leave so she and Willow can talk. Colby drops his wallet and Mackenzie retrieves it. Colby apologises for the previous night, saying he’ll back off. Ari watches the exchange from the stairs; neither he nor Mackenzie looks happy.

Leah continues her statement, saying Douglas was violent and abusive and she never knew what would set him off: He controlled everything she did and thought. Ingrid asks how it’s affected her relationship. Leah admits she recoils at Justin’s touch, even though she knows it’s coming from a different place to Douglas, and worries that she won’t be able to accept affection again. Later, Leah and Justin are sitting in silence at the Diner as Irene gives them some lasagne to take away, suspecting they won’t feel like cooking. Leah says the experience was therapeutic. Justin notes it was tough and Leah says she wouldn’t have got through it without him. She gives him a quick kiss.

Bella chats to Willow about having her first kiss with Nikau, saying she and Ziggy were right and it was nothing like with Tommy. Willow is pleased. Bella tells her not to tell Colby what she’s going to ask next: How do you know when you’re ready to have sex? Willow is shocked. They walk outside and Bella confirms Nikau isn’t pressuring her and she’s making all the moves. Willow admits she lost her virginity when she was about Bella’s age (but won’t say whether it was with Dean or not) but says there’s no rush and she’ll know when the time’s right. Bella tells her to be less generic. Willow points out she’ll have to let Nikau see her naked and that she’ll need to trust him and discuss safe sex. Bella thinks she can do all that so Willow simply says that she’ll know when she’s ready.

Bella arrives back at the flat and finds Colby sitting on the sofa. She warns him about being a couch potato, saying he needs to move about. When that doesn’t rouse him, she says that she doesn’t think Willow is as over the break-up as she says and needs a friend. She shoos Colby out of the house, then texts Nikau telling him to come over. At the caravan park, Ryder is trying to convince Nikau they should go for a drive. Bella arrives and tells Nikau she wants them to spend the afternoon together, making it clear to Ryder that he’s not invited.

Ari is at the bar at Salt, with Mackenzie largely avoiding talking to him. He suggests getting a takeaway and heading back to his, or just keeping her company there, but Mackenzie says she’s a waiter down and is going to be busy. Ari leaves, saying he’ll go see Gemma. At the flat, Bella has done her hair and make-up and changed into a more figure-hugging outfit. Nikau arrives and says she looks gorgeous. He suggests getting some more cash through pool hustling or getting a pizza but Bella says she wants to go all the way with him. Nikau is surprised and asks if she’s sure. Bella insists she is.