So I take it you like *goofy smile*
pmcc: "what crawled up charlie's ** and died?" lmao. Well it's Charlie duh…sexually frustrated (of course)
I just keep swimming – thank you for your very detailed review. It's much appreciated!!
Hope you all like this one too… Review for more :)
X
Sugar.
Joey followed Charlie out the front door. She remained staring at the ground while Charlie slammed the door. Joey flinched at the sound. She walked closer to her, with her arm folded tightly. Joey tried to string a few words together but they dissolved in Charlie's fierce glare.
"I don't want you round here, do I make myself clear!" Charlie tried to prevent herself from shouting. There were obvious eyes watching them from the kitchen. Joey looked up at her quickly and noticed she looked less frightening when she wasn't in uniform. She looked normal. Her thick golden brown hair was down to her shoulders, which gave a softer look around her face. "DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" She repeated louder. Joey didn't want this kind of trouble. She had never really intended to make things difficult, but what ever the case she had always been in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and her cheeky comments didn't help either. The one thing that really did frighten her was when people shouted at her.
Charlie walked right up to her, so she was looking down at her. "You're all the same…you 'walk ins' you think you can be cheeky to who ever you like, disrupt the peace, and then expect to be accepted by the locals." Joey looked her straight in the eye. There was pause between them. "You mean…accepted…by you." Joey bit her lip.
I don't think I noticed her blue eyes before…
"If I'm brutally honest with you, I want you gone…from Summer Bay. But it looks like that's not gonna happen any time soon, so I suggest you keep to your self. I don't want to hear about you." Joey felt her mouth dry, she wanted to say something in her defence, but it was pointless. "Leave!" Charlie pointed to her. Joey looked at her one last time, and turned to follow the road back to the caravan park.
Charlie you really should have kept yourself together…this is going to look so bad! She was IN MY HOUSE! THE CHEEK OF IT! Charlie rubbed her eyes, and walked back into the house.
She saw the bunch by the door scramble back to the living room. Ruby remained behind. She was the one that now had her arms folded and glared. "Ruby, don't look at me like that." Charlie said in a softer tone as she opened the door. "I had no god damn right to talk to her like that. I don't care if you don't like her!" Ruby hissed. "She is not welcome here." Charlie insisted. "Is she a hardened criminal? Does she have any sort of criminal record?" Ruby asked quizzingly. "No." Charlie bit her lip.
Rubz you don't understand…
"You have reached an all time low Charlie…just because your not happy.." "How dare you!" Charlie cut in. Ruby frowned. "Just because your not happy..DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THAT." "Would you keep your voice down?" She urged her. "If you think I'm going to stop getting to know Joey, your dead wrong. You know what? I'm embarrassed to call you my sister!" "You don't mean that.." Charlie tried to embrace her but Ruby pulled back to rejoin her friends. Charlie leant against a kitchen chair with her head lowered.
*
A week had passed, neither had seen each other. Charlie had begun to wonder whether she had left town, though she couldn't be sure. She had plunged herself in paper work, and began over-time to keep her mind off last weeks events. Ruby hadn't forgiven her, in fact things had deteriorated. They had spent less time together then they used to. She sighed heavily into her hands.
How did one girl manage to turn my world up side down and ass ways?
Watson knocked on the open door to her office. "We've got a call about a bar fight down at the surf club. I thought you could do with a breath of fresh air, you've been cooped up here all week." Charlie smiled wearily.
Hmm I don't really want to…
"Senior Constable…it's a bar fight…you've always loved these kind of trips out...come on I must be able to tempt you?" Watson smiled at her.
I guess I can't stay in here forever…
After a few seconds Charlie nodded, almost causing Watson to jump up and down in excitement. She laughed at her too eager face. "What?" Watson asked shyly. "Nothing, come on lets go and get the baddies." She giggled with her.
*
They pulled up right outside the surf club, and legged it in.
Charlie jumped straight into action. Tony had a guys locked in his arms, trying to restrain him from doing any more damage. Tables and chairs were all over the place, numerous glasses at the bar had been smashed, and drinks spilt everywhere. Another guy was on the floor, unconscious. Charlie ran towards Tony, and took the struggling weight from him, handcuffing the guy. "Watson, take this one!" Watson immediately did what she was told and took him to the car they had driven in. "Has anyone called for an ambulance? What happened to him?" "I think young Aden did." Alf replied. "That guy you gave Watson em came in looking for trouble. He.." Aden pointed to the guy on the ground. "was talking to Joey about something private…I'm not too sure what. They got in an argument and neither was willing to back down." Charlie haulted at Joey's name. "Joey's here?"
I swear to god…if she's the cause of this I will kick her ass outa town!
"Yeah um…she..was here.." Alf swung his head round looking for her. "She must have taken off." Charlie sighed.
Just when I thought everything was dying down.She rolled her eyes.
"Alf…he's bleeding, do you have any napkins?" Alf got behind the bar to find them and gave them to Charlie.
The ambulance arrived, to everyone's relief. Charlie was as efficient as she knew how, and had taken all the statements, all except two. She had called for another officer to accompany the guy to the hospital. "Don't leave his sight. I have a number of questions for him when he wakes up!" Charlie yelled as they left. "Nice work Senior Constable!" Watson winked. "All in a days work." She replied. "Do you want me to follow up the statement from Joey?" Charlie shook her head. "No it's ok, I've a few questions for her too. Would you mind just helping Alf with the mess?" "Sure." Watson smiled.
I hope she knows what she's doing… Watson wasn't keen on Charlie taking this call.
*
Charlie was outside Joey's caravan. She didn't feel quite right doing this herself, but she did have questions she wanted answers to.
You are doing your job Charlie. There is NO way around this. Don't stay any longer then you have to…
She bit her tongue and knocked at the door. There was no answer. "Joey, are you in there?" Charlie called from outside. She heard movement from inside the caravan.
What does that bloody cop want now? I've stayed out of her face pretty well and now she wants to talk... She whimpered in pain.
"Leave me alone!" Joey yelled. Charlie had to contain her frustration as much as she could.
God damn it! Just open the door and this will be over and done with much sooner!
Charlie called out to her again. Joey sighed realising she wasn't going to leave like she wanted. She grabbed the tissue as her nose started bleeding again, and reached for the door. Charlie was prepared for a full attack of question for the girl, but when she laid eyes on her they melted away. Charlie face was wiped from any frustration she had had seconds before. "What do you want?" Joey mumbled with the tissue over her nose and mouth. She couldn't bring herself to look at her again. As far as she was concerned, she hated her. "Joey your bleeding…let me have a look.." She cleaned closer, but Joey only pulled away and moved back inside the caravan. "Joey you need to have that checked out." She insisted almost. "I'm fine!" Joey yelled at her. Charlie stopped when she was inside the door. "Joey your hurt!" She pointed out.
Well done sunshine!....I'm always hurt what difference does it make THIS time!
Charlie looked around the caravan. She noticed how tidy she was, but let her eyes rest on the empty box of tissues. She moved closer to her carefully. "Just let me have a look." It was more of a question really. Joey flinched as she pulled the tissue away slowly. Charlie couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Her lip was split down the centre, and her bloody nose wasn't letting up. "Who did this?" She asked her with concern. Joey hadn't seen this side of her before. "What the hell do you care?" She snatched the tissue back to catch the flowing blood. "Please let me take you to get that check out." Joey shook her head. "It just looks bad because of the blood, that's all." Charlie sighed and sat down opposite her on the floor. "I will need a statement from you. Do you think you're able?" Joey shook her head. "Jesus, Joey why are you making this so hard?" Joey couldn't believe she was actually letting off steam now, last week she just shouted at her instead. "I couldn't give you one, I didn't see what happened." Joey replied. "And yet you got a bloody nose and lip…What do you take me for?" Joey shrugged. I think you should go." Charlie knew she wasn't going to get anywhere.
She's OBVIOUSLY hurt, why the hell won't she let me just help her. OK so things are difficult, but surely she'd WANT help…
"If you feel the need to change that statement at anytime, you know where to find me. I might be back for further questions. I see I'm not getting anywhere at this point in time." She tried a smile and walked out.
God this is giving me high blood pressure!
Joey remained sitting on the floor. As soon as Charlie had left, she allowed her tears to flow.
Why is this happening all over again? HE'S HERE! Why is Brett doing this? Why won't he believe me?
*
"Charlie, the guy we took the hospital, he's awake. Rachel says he's fine. There was just a little more blood then expected from one blow to the head." She nodded. "Did you get his name?" Watson smiled. "Yes, you're gonna love this…its Collins, Brett Collins." Charlie's jaw dropped. "Wow one slip up and we've found him, this IS PROGRESS!" "I thought you'd be pleased. The other guys is locked up in one of the cells, he's still out of it from the exceeding amount of alcohol he consumed. Either way he's a link." "Great work! Here's the statements from the witnesses." "Did you get one from Joey?" Charlie shook her head. "She said she didn't see anything." Watson studied her face. "But?..." She waited for her to spill. Charlie sighed heavily. "But…she has a bloody nose and lip, so I know she's lying. She must have tried to intervene between the two guys. She's definatly hiding something. I've just got to figure it out." Charlie pondered as she leant her bum against her desk.
*
Joey had walked back to the surf club after she'd cleaned herself up. She found Alf cleaning with Aden. "Hi guys." They stopped what they were doing and looked up. "I'm really sorry I took off, I just panicked." Alf noticed her swollen lip. "Flamin heck Joey you got hit pretty bad there, why didn't you say something." She shrugged her shoulders. "But you're feeling alright?" Aden asked out of concern. "Yeah it's nothing." "Sorry I'm Aden, I was there at Ruby's last week. I was working here before you." "Oh right Alf mention." She shook his hand.
He's all muscle but he's gentle, I don't think I've ever met a guy like that before…
"Here let me help." They each grabbed the end of a table and swung it round back on its legs. "Thanks!" Aden smiled. Alf disappeared with a full bag of broken glass. "Alf says you're working on a trawler..." Joey continued the conversation. "Yeah I love boats." He said with a goofy grin. "Me too." She smiled. "Am I hearing this right?…a girl…loving boats as much as I do?" Joey giggled a little. "Yup!" "That's cool! I'll have to take you out sailing one day." "That's sounds good." She smiled a little too wide, causing her lip to bleed again. "You should get that checked out, you might need stitches." "I'm not going any where near no doctor. They always think they know what's best." Aden accepted her answer and didn't push it any further.
*
It was slowly growing dark out. With the recent events still floating in her head she decided the best way to ignore them was to go for a stroll along the beach.
She had taken her shoes off, and began walking a long the soft sand, squishing her toes into the sand with every step.
I've wanted to be near the sea for so long…I can't help but think that maybe I deserve all this…maybe I am good for nothing..
She watched her feet move in the sand as she walked along. She bumped into someone. She felt her cheeks go red out of embarrassment. I'm sorry!" Both said together. Joey looked up to see Charlie, who was just as embarrassed as her. "I didn't know you...I shouldn't have bumped…" "Sorry..you…I didn't see…I wasn't…" They quickly avoided any more embarrassment and walked around each other, awkwardly.
She said…'SORRY!' wow what brought that on! Joey couldn't believe the same woman that had literally growled at her last week was now apologising. She kept on walking with raised eyebrows in disbelief.