Hey everyone! So it's a Tuesday afternoon and I'm bored. This is a short Jarlie fic, I'll write a few chapters, maybe more if people like it. Let me know what you think anywho. Enjoy.
This is set after the court trial. Robbo is in jail. However, Charlie and Joey never entered a relationship previous to it. They remained good friends through out. This follows after Joey has announced to Charlie that she's thinking of leaving Summer Bay. Hope you like. xXx
Charlie handed Joey a beer. "Thanks." Charlie smiled as she sat down beside her. "Here's to new beginnings!" They clinked their bottles. "To new beginnings." Joey repeated. It was all over. Robbo was behind bars, he couldn't hurt her anymore. Her time at Summer Bay had been a stressful one. But with Charlie, it had been bearable. "So any idea what your going to do now?" Charlie sat back and gazed at Joey longer then she thought she should have. Joey shrugged. "I have no job at the moment. Brett who was my only family has now moved back to the city, I suppose I should do the same." Charlie looked down at her hands and twiddled them.
God I haven't even thought of the idea of her leaving, or how weird it's going to be without her. She's become such a big part of my life and rub's, and Leah's and VJ's, and Aden's. I guess it would be just selfish asking her to stay. There are too many bad memories of Robbo for her.
Joey caught Charlie trance and nudged her, who smiled at her awkwardly. "Something tells me you're going to miss me a smidgin." Charlie stuck her tongue out. "Oh no that's right you're a cop, I forgot. Cop's don't have emotions." "Hey!" Charlie leaned over and started a tickle attack on Joey. "Take that back!" Joey giggled. "Is this what you do to all the criminals you interrogate?" Joey asked cheekily. "No, just the really, REALLY naughty ones!"
God how is it I'm never able to stay serious with Joey? It's like she sees right through me, she knows my weaknesses, my strengths, not to mention all my countless flaws.
Joey stopped wiggling in the sand, and looked up at Charlie. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." Charlie said meekly, pulling back and picked up her beer bottle for another swig. Joey frowned dissatisfied, and reached to rub Charlie's back. "You know you've come along way. I found you upset, with low self-esteem, no confidence in yourself, no loving family. Now you are this incredible young woman, who's put her past behind her, and is loved pretty much by the whole town. You've achieved a lot." Joey shifted in the sand. "I guess I'm going to miss you more then I thought I would, that's all. It's going to be different without you." Charlie continued. "Charlie this doesn't change our friendship or anything, I'll come back in the holidays to see you and Ruby, that is if you want me to." Charlie bit her lip and nodded. "Hey, come here." Joey held out her arms.
God Charlie you have no idea how much I'm going to miss you! I don't want to leave, but I can't expect you to put up with my any longer. I've taken over your personal space for too long, you haven't had a date in yonks! That's my fault. You'll be able to get you life back to order, and I won't be getting in the way of your daily routines.She held Charlie in her arms for a while, neither wanting to let go just yet.
Joey pulled back after a while giggling. "Remember the time Ruby decided she was going to cook dinner?" Charlie snorted. Did she remember? She remembered bloody well. "The entire kitchen ceiling was black from smoke! It took days of cleaning before the kitchen returned to any kind of normality." "And the look on her face when you of all people found out!" Charlie wiped her eyes. They sure had a bundle of memories to look back on. "Or the time we went through your old family album, the stories….." "Oh my god!" Charlie buried her hands. "We are to never speak of it, you hear me?" Joey giggled. "Yes officer!" Charlie caught the mischievous smile arising on Joey's face. "Joey you promised me!" "It's just so hard to contain such crippling information." Charlie giggled herself. "You're very naughty Joey Collins!" "And what are you going to do about it Charlie Buckton?" Joey smirked. "That's Senior Constable to you!" Charlie said with her eyes closed and nose in the air. "Apologies officer!" Joey winked at her.
Joey forced herself to break the silence again. "So what the hell has happened to your love life? The whole time I've been staying with you, you haven't seen anyone." Charlie bit her lip, she didn't want this conversation. "Well a certain Miss had the tendency of taking up most of my spare time." She pointed out. "Oh really?" Charlie nodded. "So I suppose you didn't get any enjoyment out of her company?" Joey searched Charlie's eyes. Maybe she was sick of having her around. Charlie just smiled, but Joey began to worry. "What about you?" "Phfft!" Joey shook her head. "I'm hardly a catch am I?" Charlie frowned. "And here was me thinking we'd tackled you're…NO SELF ESTEEM ISSUE!" Joey pulled her legs up to her chest. "There's plenty of guys around that wish they had a chance with you!" Charlie spoke up. "Charlie…I………I'm not…….." she trailed off.
No! Don't say it. It will destroy everything you have with her!
"You're not what?" Joey sighed. "Charlie I'm just not into any of them." Charlie nodded.
Fair enough! She thought. Charlie buried her head in Joey's shoulder. "Do you think there's someone special for everyone?" "Of course!" Joey replied.
They both looked up and saw the clouds breaking above them. Rain came pouring down on them. "Where the hell did that come from?" "I don't know. Maybe we should head back." Charlie shook her head. She dragged Joey up to her feet. They stared at each other. Tears of rain were rolling down both their cheeks. "You're officially mad Charlie but I love you even more!" Joey suddenly covered her eyes. "What's wrong?" Charlie was taken aback by her actions. "You…eh…chose to wear a white top today huh?" Charlie looked down. "Fuck!" Joey giggled. Charlie playfully slapped her. "You can open your eyes ya know! You have what I have." Joey snorted. "Well, their very nice." Charlie blushed. Joey took her hand in her own and both began heading for home.
Oh tell her Charlie! Tell her how you feel. God how can I think when my boobs are literally sticking out! Charlie tried to hide her embarrassment. She noticed how gently Joey hand entwined her fingers with her own. It felt nice, different.
Joey smiled at Charlie, and then laid her eyes upon their hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" "It's fine." Charlie offered her hand out to Joey, hoping she's take it. Joey hesitated. Friends wouldn't do this. She saw the hurt in Charlie's eyes when she eventually dropped it down to her side. They continued walking in the deafening silence.
*
When they arrived back at the house, they found the others had retreated to their beds for the night. It wasn't too late, but it was growing dark. They both got changed out of their wet clothes and into their pj's. Joey returned to the kitchen for a glass of milk, and took a seat at the yellow table. She rubbed her eyes. "Are you not going to bed?" Charlie asked. "No I was going to stay up for a bit." She said not catching her gaze. "Do you want some company?" "Sure." Joey replied. "You're tired I get, I'll just go." Charlie backed off disappointed. Joey sighed again. "Charlie…Charlie? Don't be like that." "Don't be like what?" Joey pulled her back so they were facing each other. "Just don't…stop being like that." Charlie frowned, tearful. "Stop being so goddamn perfect all the time!" She leant in and kissed her, placing her lips on hers for less then a couple of seconds. When she pulled back, she immediately regretted it. It surely meant her friendship was over. Charlie was overwhelmed.
What the HELL just happened?? Charlie focused her attention on Joey's eyes, now tearful too. Joey began rambling trying, apologising for it. "Joey SHUT UP!" Joey stopped completely blown away buy Charlie's tone. "Shut up and kiss me!" She said a little quieter, staring into Joey's dark eyes. She placed a hand behind Joey's neck and pulled her in. Their lips met again with more force. Their lips parted ready for each other. Both wanting more, their tongues begin to grow restless. Their bodies forced against each other, hard. They heaved for air, their lips still connected. "You…you...?" Joey couldn't get words out right. Charlie simply nodded. "Please don't leave." She was almost begging Joey. "I won't, I promise! Just perhaps…." "What?" Charlie tilted her head. "Perhaps kiss me again, just to convince me…you know…" Joey grinned, as Charlie pulled her closer again.