Hi Guys,
Some of you asked me to update my mini 2 chapter FF "It's good to talk".
That's been completed, but just for all of you that asked, here's the start of a sequel. Enjoy!
AJ. :-)
Chapter 1
Michael came back into his house some 30 minutes after he'd left.
Charlie and Joey were sitting on one of the sofas together. They were holding hands. At least, their 2 pairs of hands were entwined with each other, and resting on Charlies leg.
They were looking intently into each others eyes, and smiling broadly. Their eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"So." Michael said, as he entered the lounge, and saw them in front of him. They both looked at him. "How are things now?" He sat down in the chair opposite them.
Joey smiled shyly, and Charlie giggled shyly at Michael. They both sniffed again, and wiped their eyes. Charlie looked at Joey, before looking back at Michael. "Well, Michael, I'm very happy to say that Joey has agreed to go out with me again. After all I put her through, I can hardly believe it." She said softly, but very enthusiastically.
Michael smiled. "Excellent."
"Yeah. It is." Charlie said softly, smiling back.
"And how do you feel about that Joey?"
Joey thought for a moment. "Well, obviously, we need to take things slowly, but." She paused, and looked at Charlie. "I can't help loving Charlie. And If there's a chance that things can be different this time, and we can be happy together, I realise I have to take it. I have to give it one more shot. Because if I don't, then I will never know what may have happened, and what could have been between us. And will always regret it."
Charlie looked at Joey, her eyes and heart full of love for her. She squeezed Joeys hands tighter, and said emotionally. "We both love each other, and we both know how it feels to lose each other." She gulped, and looked at Michael. "I don't want to feel like that ever again. I don't want to lose Joey. Ever. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I won't ever let her down again."
Joey smiled at Charlies words, and the sentiments behind them. "We will be taking things slowly, as I said though." Joey said. "Very slowly. Because neither of us want to mess it up this time."
Charlie was nodding in agreement. "It'll be more than worth it, if we make this relationship last forever." She blushed, realising what she'd just said. She looked at their entwined hands. "I don't ever want to let you go Joey, in case you run away from me again." She said emotionally.
Joey smiled, as she heard Charlie speaking such sincere words. "Charlie, nothing would make me happier than for us to be together forever." She blushed too. "I don't intend on going anywhere."
Michael watched the pair, and smiled to himself. He was more than happy that his unusual attempt at group therapy had turned out so successfully. So far. He knew, from the counselling sessions that both of the women had had, that they both loved each other immensely and he couldn't bear for them to not know that, and try and make a go of things again. He didn't want them to waste their lives wondering "What if?".
"So." Michael began. "I'm still going to meet up with you both going forward, once a week for your private sessions. But." He continued. "I'd also like you both to come in together, once a week, to start with at least, for a joint session. I'd like to take the opportunity to talk your relationship through, so we can make sure you both make it work this time." He smiled broadly at the pair of them.
Both Joey and Charlie chuckled shyly, and blushed. "Ok. I'm prepared to do that." Said Joey quietly. "I want to make sure I've tried everything possible to keep us together, now we've got this second chance." She turned to Charlie. "How about you Charlie?"
Charlie nodded in agreement. "I would do anything to make this work Joey." She said softly, as she smiled at Joey. "Anything. Anything at all. As long as it takes."
"Excellent." Michael said. "Excellent." The women smiled. "So. I think you should both leave now, and come back next week for your usual appointments, and come back next Friday, at 10 a.m., for a joint session."
"Ok. Well. Thanks Michael, you've been amazing." Said Joey. "Even if I was more than a little shocked to see Charlie walk in here this morning." She smiled.
"I sincerely hope that none of us regret this." He replied. "It's going to take time to build your trust up. But if you're both as sincere as I believe you are, you'll get there." He smiled.
"We won't regret it." Said Joey confidently. "Like Charlie said. It'll take as long as it takes."
"Well, I'll see you both next week then." Michael smiled as he stood up. "Have a great weekend." He added. "And don't forget, keep talking to each other, and keep being honest with each other. You need to give this relationship time. You need to learn to trust each other again." He smiled. "And I'll be happy to help you, should you need to talk anything through."
"Thank you Michael." Charlie said sincerely, as they both nodded at him, agreeing with everything he said.
Michael continued. "The important thing is to remember how you both feel about each other." He smiled. "And that, if I may say so, is more than obvious to anyone."
The pair blushed.
"And don't forget that should you have an argument, because we all have little tiffs and disagreements." He smiled. "Don't treat it like the end of the World. Take a step back, and try and see both sides. Try not to get angry or upset. If you have a disagreement, it doesn't mean that your relationship is over." He stated. "Just keep talking. OK."
Joey and Charlie listened to what he was telling them. They nodded, and then looked at each other, smiled shyly, and Joey said. "Yeah. Ok."
"OK. I'll see you both next week then. Good luck." He smiled.
"Thanks Michael. Thanks for everything." Charlie said.
Joey and Charlie slowly released hands, and both stood up. They walked towards the front door, opened it and stepped outside, turning to say goodbye to Michael, as he shut the door behind them.
"Sooooo." Charlie said shyly, as she stood with her hands held in front of her, her fingers tightly entwined together.
"Sooooo." Joey said too, putting her hands on her hips, and kicking some stones on the drive.
"Have you erm, I mean, err, erm would you erm, would you like a lift home?" Charlie mumbled nervously. "It's just, you don't look like you drove here. And I just..."
"I ran here." Joey smiled cheekily at her. "Good call Senior Constable. I don't know what gave it away." She giggled cheekily. "But I run here every week. I usually find it helps clear my head."
"Ohh." Charlie giggled, and blushed. "I'm not a Senior Constable for nothing you know. I did spot your running gear." She smiled. It was hard not to notice Joey in her skin-tight running gear, that accentuated every single contour and curve of her magnificently toned body. "You still run then?"
"Yeah I do." Joey added softly. "I used to enjoy our runs along the beach." She fondly recounted having races with Charlie back to Leah's, and falling over in the sand with Charlie, both of them giggling and messing about. Not to mention chasing after Charlie, watching her backside wiggle so sexily.
"Me too." Charlie smiled, as she remembered the same events. "Maybe we could do it again sometime?"
"Yeah lets. That would be lovely." Joey readily agreed, adding. "Of course I don't want to have an argument with you when I win though. So I'll be sure to let you win." She giggled. "Just like I used to."
Charlie bit her lower lip, looking at Joey, she was unsure of what to say. Then she realised that Joey was merely making a joke, when she saw the glint of humour in her beautiful brown eyes, and the slight curling of her lips. "Ohh." Charlie giggled. Rather cutely Joey thought. "Sorry Jo. I think I'm going to take a little bit of time to get used to your sense of humour again." She blushed ever so slightly, which made Joeys heart almost flip over.
"That's OK Charlie." Joey smiled, composing herself. "It's going to take us both a bit of time to get used to each other again." Joey stated softly. "But we will." She added surely. "We're just both, obviously, feeling a little taken aback at what just happened. And that we're risking putting out hearts on the line again." She paused. "But it's going to be OK, as long as we keep being honest and open with each other." She smiled. "Just like we've just done."
"Yeah. You're right." Smiled Charlie. "We keep talking, and we'll be just fine." Charlie couldn't help but wonder at how perceptive Joey was. And how very thoroughly honest and beautiful, inside and out, she was too. Why the hell didn't she grasp Joey with both hands when they were together before, and never let her go? She shook her head. Thank God I've got another chance, she thought. I'm not going to blow it this time. I really don't think I'll be able to live without her.
Joey nodded. "Yep. I think we will." She hoped with all her heart that they would be OK. She was obviously extremely worried about putting her heart on the line again. When Charlie had cheated and lied to her, she thought she'd never survive it. But she did. She gradually rebuilt her life. She didn't want to risk getting torn apart again, but she didn't want to miss the chance that she and Charlie could actually make this relationship work. She was in love with Charlie, still, after all this time, and that had to mean something. And she thought it was worth one last shot at happiness.
They walked slowly down Michaels drive.
"So. Erm." Charlie hesitated. "Would you like a lift home?"
"That would be very nice. Thanks." Smiled Joey. "Unless, erm..." Joeys turn to hesitate now.
"Unless what Jo?" Asked Charlie, as they continued to walk towards Charlies little blue car.
"Unless you'd like to go for a coffee or something?" Ventured Joey, unsure of how to proceed.
Charlies face lit up even more. "Yeah, yeah. That would be lovely." She eagerly accepted.
Joey smiled. "Great. There's a cafe not far from my house, so we can stop there on the way to mine."
"Excellent!" Charlie said, grinning from ear to ear. They got to her car, and she opened the passenger door for Joey to get in.
"Thanks Charlie." Joey said, as she got in the car, and put on her seat belt. Charlie closed the door behind her, and walked round to the drivers side. She got in, put her seat belt on, and switched on the engine.
"Right. Where to?" Charlie asked, looking at Joey. Joey turned around to look at Charlie, and they were both struck by an invisible bolt of lightening, as they recalled their previous times in Charlies car. They both blushed, and smiled shyly at each other, as the wonderful memories kicked in.
"Towards Smithstown, but not all the way." Joey giggled when she realise what she'd just said.
Charlie went bright red, but giggled too. "Taking things slowly eh Joey?" Charlie smiled. "Just like we agreed."
Joey stifled a loud laugh, and blushed bright red too. "Very funny. Now can we just carry on, and stop embarrassing each other?" She giggled.
Charlie smiled, as she looked at Joey. Her dimples were showing, she looked so cute, and sounded so cute when she giggled. "How can I have ever thought that I could live without you Joey?" She asked emotionally.
Joey looked at her. Her big brown eyes wide and expressive. She blinked slowly a couple of times, smiled, and said. "Well, luckily for both of us, we've got another chance together now. So let's look forwards, and not backwards shall we?"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah. Let's do just that." She smiled at Joey. "Thank you Jo." She said softly.
"Enough Charlie." Joey smiled. She turned her head to the front, to the road ahead. "Right, we need to turn off 10 miles before we get to Smithstown, so 5 miles from here. I live in Lawrence River." Joey smiled. Charlie pulled off and headed towards Joeys house.