So, I wrote this chapter about *thinks* two months ago. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go anywhere with it, until I started writing some more chapters,

and now, I'm fairly confident that this could turn out to be a good long story, if people are willing to read it, haha.

I've written 6 chapters so far - which will gradually be posted, if you are interested in reading it.

The first few lines may be rather Deja Vu as I've written what Charlie and Joey said to each other in Home and Away, when they were sat down near the water and Charlie was trying to convince Joey to make a statement about Robbo and then I've taken it into an alternative universe.

This first chapter consists of a conversation about rape, It's really not that detailed, but yes, some people may not want to read. So just a friendly warning now =).

Oh and before I actually stop rambling and let you get on to read the story, I'm so gutted that I accidently named my other story "Can't Fight This Feeling" as

it's what I wanted to name this story! It would have been the *perfect* title for this story, argh, I'm kicking myself, really.

Ah well, nothing I can do about it now! haha.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter (Let me know, K?) and hopefully I will be posting some more chapters up sooner rather than later =).

MissToastie.

x

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Chapter One :

"I don't like guys... Any guys.... I'm gay" Joey turned her head from facing Charlie and looked out at the water "And that's not okay with my brother."

"That doesn't have to be apart of your statement, if that's what you're worried about" Charlie spoke as she kept her head facing Joey.

Joey breathed in to her hands and nodded.

"But" Joey began to speak; she turned her head and faced Charlie. "If this goes further, they will... start digging into my private life, and this might come out, right?"

Charlie looked out at the water and then back at Joey. "Your lawyers would probably want to argue that... you being gay contradicts him saying you were promiscuous and that you came on to him, yes."

"But it's not quiet proof."

"Maybe not, but it shows that his case is unreliable."

Joey sighed.

"I can't, I can't do it, I can't stand up in front of my brother and everyone and say it. Not When I haven't even had the guts to say it to the people in my own life, I can't stand up in a

Court and do it"

"Even if it means getting justice though? Even if it means putting this guy away so that he can't do it to anyone else?"

"Even if I thought there was the slightest chance of that happening" Joey paused and heavily breathed. "I didn't do what you told me to do, I didn't report him, I didn't go to the hospital, so what's the point?"

"Joey, there is no shame in being gay. No matter what your brother thinks"

"I guess it's easy not to have any hang ups" Joey let her eyes wonder Charlie "and you're a beautiful straight girl, but you have no idea what it's like being me"

"You're wrong" Charlie paused and stared out at the water.

Joey wiped her nose. "How am I wrong?"

"I'm fairly certain that I have some idea of what it's like to be you." Charlie pushed her ponytail to the back.

"How? How would you have the slightest clue to what it's like being me?" Joey asked through sniffles.

Charlie continued to stare out at the water in silence.

"Do you think, just because you're a cop and you've dealt with cases like mine before, that it gives you an idea to what it's like to be someone like me?" Joey snapped.

"That's not it at all." Charlie moved her head to face Joey.

"Well?"

Charlie licked her lips and looked back to the water.

"When I was 12 years old, I told my family that...I was interested in girls. It was Christmas day, so basically all of my family were there. Most of them just laughed and said it was probably just some phase I was going through, but my parents didn't think so, mum said that she always had a feeling that I was gay, and she said that she would always support me, no matter what. My father agreed with her, which disgusted my uncle. He stood there and said such awful things about gay people, all this crap that "They're sicko's" and that they "should be shot". He and Dad got into an argument and we went home early." Charlie took a deep breath and continued. "A few days later, he came around home, dad was at work and mum was next door. He was my uncle, so of course I let him in. We sat down and he just stared at me and then started asking me what it was I liked about girls. I felt very uncomfortable, so I excused myself and went up stairs, I put on some music and laid on my bed and the next thing I knew, my uncle was standing next to my bed, I sat up and asked him what he was doing, he didn't respond, he just slapped my face and kneeled on top of me" Charlie wiped away a few tears that had treckled down her face.

Joey placed her hand on Charlies back for comfort. Charlie looked at her and continued. "He pinned my arms down to the bed, I tried to move, but he was just too strong. He forced my legs apart" Charlie wiped her face as more tears fell. "I screamed, but the music was too loud for anyone to hear me."

Joey knew where Charlie was going, she knew what happened next and could see that Charlie was struggling to continue. "I'm so sorry Charlie. I honestly had no idea." Joey shuffled closer to Charlie. "I didn't even know you were gay, I just"

"Assumed I was straight?" Charlie looked at Joey, her eyes red from crying.

"I'm sorry." Joey looked down at the ground.

"Its fine...Look, I have to go. Work will be wondering where I got to" Charlie stood up. "Joey, I can't force you to make a statement. But" Charlie handed Joey a small card. "Here is my number; you can call me anytime you need to talk."

Joey took the card and thanked Charlie; Charlie slightly smiled and headed back to the police station.