Episode 7384

Extended Summary

Bella is taking photos of Nikau as he works on the wharf, noting it’s not for an assignment but just because she finds him interesting. Nikau strikes a number of poses before playfully wrestling with her. Later, Nikau tells Bella he’s finished work. She suggests they go up to the flat to watch a movie and download the photos but Nikau suggests going for a swim instead. Bella says she’ll go and get changed and drop off her camera and invites Nikau to come with her. He says he’ll just chill out down there, looking awkward after she’s gone.

Dean emerges from the bedroom and says he didn’t get Ziggy’s texts about staying at Mackenzie’s because he was asleep. He notices her black eye and Ziggy explains she got in the middle of a fight between Mackenzie and Amber. At Salt, Mackenzie awkwardly gives Tane instructions to place a delivery in the store room. She asks him about defending Amber’s honour and he says he only did it because the guy was being full-on. Ari comes in and checks how the previous night went. He realises Mackenzie didn’t get much sleep and she says she wishes she’d stayed at home with him. He heads off to the gym.

Dean and Ziggy are at the board shop. Ari notices Ziggy’s black eye and she simply says it’s a long story. After Ari has gone, Ziggy points out Mackenzie obviously hasn’t told him. Dean goes upstairs to talk to her. Mackenzie takes him out onto the balcony and insists she gave Tane the job for Ari’s sake. Dean says she just got into a fight over him. Mackenzie tries to claim otherwise, that she objected to Amber playing two guys off against each other, but admits Tane was one of them. Dean says she’s dating a guy while she’s into his brother.

Dean tells Ziggy that Mackenzie is definitely into Tane. He thinks he needs to do something and Ziggy is bemused that he is looking out for Ari’s interests when he didn’t do the same for Colby. Ari overhears them saying he’s going to realise something, but they say they just meant that Ziggy and Mackenzie got drunk. Dean quickly heads off to a surf lesson and Ziggy tells Ari not to ask her. Upstairs, Tane asks Mackenzie what she and Dean were talking about. Mackenzie tries to send him home but he points out he has three hours to go and lunchtime rush will start soon. He says he’s followed her rules since last week and they should move on.

Bella and Nikau are in the water and she manages to trick him into giving her a head start in a race back to their towels. Nikau recalls how his father used to take him fishing and tell him stories about Tangaroa, the god of the sea. He tells her one about Tangaroa’s parents, Rangi the sky father and Papa the earth mother, and how one of Tangaroa’s brothers prised them apart to bring light to the world. Bella says all her father taught her was how to hunt rabbits with a crossbow but Nikau says that’s cool too. He confirms he misses  Mikaere, saying he wasn’t perfect but was still his dad. Bella says she knows what he means. At the surf club, Ziggy is examining her black eye. Bella arrives and asks her and Dean if she and Nikau can have the flat to themselves. Ziggy says she’s going to bed early and Dean says he and Colby are working.

Ari finds Nikau at home getting ready to go and meet Bella. While Ari is happy for him, he warns him to be careful of Colby. Nikau confirms he’s been avoiding him and Ari says Colby’s still looking to pin something on them. At Salt, Bella collects a large order from Mackenzie, saying most of it’s for her and Nikau and the chocolate mousse is for Ziggy. Mackenzie pretends she doesn’t know about Ziggy’s black eye and tells Bella about Ryder going to Evan’s funeral. After Bella has gone, Tane, who overheard, asks if something happened after he left. Mackenzie sends him to take the recycling out.

Bella and Nikau walk along the beach leaving a phone message for Ryder saying they’re thinking of him. Bella wants to go back to her place to eat. Nikau tries to interest her in a picnic but Bella says she wants plates and tables and assures him her flatmates will be out. At the surf club, Tane checks on Ziggy’s black eye and she lets slip that Mackenzie and Amber had a fight. She tells him to ask Mackenzie and he says he will. Ari comes along next and Ziggy quickly claims it’s her break.

Ari follows Ziggy outside, wondering if Tane knows about her black eye. Ziggy says he’d gone by the time it happened, giving away the fact he was there. Dean steps in and Ari goes back inside. Dean sends Ziggy home, saying he’ll keep an eye on things. Back at the flat, a somewhat zombified Ziggy raids the fridge before heading off to bed, with Bella and Nikau teasing her about being too old to handle late nights. Nikau worries that Colby won’t want him there and Bella realises that’s why he’s been avoiding the place. She says Colby accepts she’s an adult and Nikau will be gone before he gets back.

Up in Salt, Tane asks Mackenzie why she didn’t tell him what happened. Mackenzie at first claims it’s nothing to do with him, then says she didn’t like that Amber was using him. Tane asks why she cares, then they realise Ari is standing nearby listening. Mackenzie follows Ari outside and he asks if there’s something she wants to tell him about her and Tane. Mackenzie admits that there is.