New friends, Old lovers.
Chapter 1.
As Charlie sits nursing her glass of wine she looks around and silently curses her counsellor for suggesting she do this. The bar was not exactly full but she knew that even if one person came to speak to her she would probably freak out and leave. As she looks down at her drink she replays what her counsellor had said.
"Look we have established that you are still a little confused about your feelings and that it is playing a major part in stopping you from moving on." Charlie looks at her counsellor and says,
"But before Joey I had never even considered that I may be into women. I think it was just one of those things. There was just something about her." Charlie's counsellor doesn't look convinced as she says,
"I think you should just explore that side of yourself more. In fact I insist that before our next session you should get yourself to a gay bar and just see what happens." Charlie shakes her head but her counsellor insists.
So now Charlie sits in her first gay bar and feels like a fish out of water. Looking around again she smiles at the couples lovingly dancing and gazing at each other, thinking back to the emotions and heartache she had felt with Joey she decides that she is not ready and finishing her drink she shifts along the booth, ready to leave.
Just as she is about to stand a smooth voice says,
"Oh you're leaving." Charlie looks up to see a woman standing in front of her, the woman is stunning with short dark hair and piercing blue eyes, she is slim with an athletic build and a beautiful smile. Charlie smiles and says,
"Um yeah I um…" The woman laughs and says while holding out a drink,
"I'm not going to chat you up. You just looked like you have a lot on your mind and I'm a really good listener." The woman smiles warmly and Charlie begins to feel at ease, sliding back into the seat she indicates for the woman to sit down, placing the glass of wine in front of Charlie she says while holding out her hand,
"I'm Drew." Charlie takes the woman's hand and shakes it gently, noticing how soft and warm her hands are she says,
"Charlie." The woman smiles and says,
"It's nice to meet you Charlie." Then looking around she says after a few minutes of silence,
"I love these uncomfortable silences, don't you?" Charlie smiles and Drew says,
"I hate these places." Charlie looks at her confused before she continues,
"I mean we come here looking for something or someone to connect with, but nine times out of ten we end up leaving thinking that maybe there is just no one out there for you." Seeing Charlie looking at her now Drew blushes slightly and says,
"Sorry." Charlie smiles and says,
"Don't be." Drew shifts in her seat before saying,
"First time here?" Charlie blushes now and says,
"That obvious huh?" Drew laughs and nods before saying,
"We can talk about it if you like. Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger." Charlie looks at the woman before her and feels a strange kind of pull towards her, she feels as though she may have met her before, maybe in a past life. Drew watches as Charlie drifts into her thoughts, then she says,
"But we don't have to talk if you don't want." Charlie smiles broadly at the woman's attempts to put her at ease before saying,
"You'll think I'm crazy." Drew shrugs and says,
"I think we're all a little crazy." Charlie likes how comfortable she feels speaking to Drew and taking in her voice she notices that she has a strong English accent, realising she wants to know more about Drew she says,
"So you're English." Drew smiles and says,
"For my sins, yes. I emigrated here with my husband about three years ago." Charlie was shocked at the mention of a husband and quickly looks down at the woman's left hand, but sees no ring, looking up at the woman she says,
"You're married? I sorry I just figured you where…" Drew interrupts her laughing before saying,
"I am. My husband very kindly helped me figure that out." She smiles uncomfortably and Charlie says,
"Oh I'm sorry." Drew takes a sip of her drink and says,
"That's ok. It was a while ago now and we are still good friends." Then thinking for a moment Drew says,
"So how about you. I mean you are not sitting in a bar alone for no reason right?" Charlie smiles and says,
"It's a long story." Drew smiles back and says,
"I've got a lot of time on my hands as my date didn't show." Charlie looks at her and says,
"So you where on the pull tonight?" Drew smile caught out and says,
"I was, but now I'm not. Now I am having a very nice but very bizarre conversation with a beautiful woman." Charlie blushes and looks away and Drew smiles and laughs.
As the night progresses Charlie realises that she is comfortable with Drew and that she feels as though she can tell her anything, laughing again at something Drew had said Charlie says,
"You're very easy to talk to you know." Drew shrugs and says,
"So they tell me." Noticing Charlie withdraw again Drew says,
"So who is this girl who has broken your heart?" Charlie looks at Drew shocked by her sudden observation she says,
"How do you know…?" Drew interrupts,
"I know the signs of a broken heart only to well unfortunately." She smiles and decides to wait for Charlie to talk, watching her she thinks.
She is so beautiful but so obviously broken. I wonder what could have happened to her to make her so sad.
Charlie smiles before tapping her glass and saying,
"Think I need a refill, would you like a drink?" Drew smiles and shakes her head politely saying,
"I don't drink." Then taping her glass she says,
"I'll stick to my water, but thank you." Charlie walks off and stands at the bar. While waiting to be served she looks back at Drew and notices that she is talking to another woman, Charlie doesn't know why but she begins to feel a little jealous before saying to herself. God Charlie pull yourself together. I mean she's nice but remember Joey. Just get your drink.
Turning back to the bar she orders her wine and then fiddles with a napkin before looking back at Drew who was laughing with the other woman. The bar man hands Charlie the wine and she slowly makes her way back to the table, the other woman leaves as she arrives, sitting back down she says,
"Your friend can join us if you want." Drew smiles and says quietly,
"Actually that was my date but…" Charlie shuffles feeling slightly gutted by that but not knowing why, she says,
"Oh well then I guess you had better go." Drew pulls a face and says,
"I blew her off; truth is she's not really my type. I told her you where a friend and that you are upset about a break up. I hope you don't mind." Charlie was relieved and she says,
"Well you didn't really lie to her." Drew puts her head to the side and says,
"So some evil woman has broken you heart?" Charlie nods and says,
"I broke hers, she broke mine. Then she left." Drew touches Charlie's hand to comfort her and Charlie instinctively moves it away, seeing the look on Drew's face she says while cursing herself,
"I'm sorry. I…" Drew finishes her sentence,
"You're just new to all of this and you are unsure of the boundaries." Drew laughs at Charlie who pulls a face, and then Drew says,
"Look Charlie, if it makes you feel any better I am way to messed up myself to get involved with someone who is obviously still completely in love with her ex." Drew holds out her hand and says,
"So let's get this clear right from the word go. Friends?" Charlie shakes her hands again and says,
"Friends."
A few hours pass as both girls share a few funny relationship stories and laugh at one another's tragic lives, then Drew looks at her watch, noticing this Charlie says,
"Oh God I'm keeping you aren't I?" Drew smiles politely before replying,
"Not at all, it's just its 1am and I have to be up in…umm…6 hours for work. So I hate to cut this short but I really have to get going." Charlie smiles and gets to her feet, stumbling slightly she sits back down again before saying embarrassed,
"Think I have had one to many." She laughs as Drew says,
"I'm on to you Miss Buckton, You got yourself all drunk so I would have to drive you home and therefore you could spend just a little more time with me." Drew smiles cheekily at Charlie who shakes her head in denial saying,
"I would not do such a thing, but I may need a lift to a hotel. Can't really drive all the way back to the bay like this." Drew laughs and says,
"I'll tell you what; I have a spare room so you can crash at mine tonight." Then helping Charlie up she says, looking her right in the face,
"But no funny business, you understand." Charlie laughs and stumbles as Drew holds her up, pays the tab and drags Charlie to her car.
Charlie wakes as the sun beams through the window, clasping her head she groans and then suddenly realises where she is. Unsure of exactly what happened last night she lifts the sheet to see that she is naked, Closing her eyes and groaning she throws herself back onto the bed saying,
"What did I do?" Just then a knock startles her as Drew enters the room with a cup of coffee in her hands and her eyes closed saying,
"Your not naked again are you?" Charlie blushes and pulls the blankets up as Drew opens her eyes and smiles while saying,
"Good morning sunshine. How's the head?" Charlie takes the cup of coffee and takes in the aroma as Drew sits on the edge of the bed, trying to remember what happened last night Charlie says,
"Um…I'm really sorry about last night." Drew watches Charlie squirm a little before saying,
"You where fine. It's fine. Don't worry about it." Drew smiles at her warmly as Charlie shift in the bed saying,
"We didn't um…" Drew laughs and says,
"God I hope not other wise I'd be very disappointed that you didn't remember." She smiles again and Charlie breaths out, relieved before saying confused,
"So you didn't take my clothes off then?" Drew blushes slightly before saying,
"Nope, that was all you. Apparently you always sleep naked." Charlie goes bright red before putting her cup down and apologising to Drew, who simply says,
"Don't worry about it." Looking at her watch she says,
"I don't mean to rush you but I really have to g to work." Charlie says,
"Oh right yes, sorry. I'll um just get changed and then I'll be out of your way." Drew gets off the bed and leaves the room as Charlie sighs and leaves the comfortable bed.
A few minutes later Charlie emerges and hands Drew her cup, thanking her for the coffee. The two women leave the house and Drew tells Charlie's she will take her to her car.
Charlie sits in Drew's car feeling slightly uncomfortable and completely embarrassed she says,
"I'm sorry again." Drew laughs and says,
"Stop saying that. It's fine really. I mean I would have taken you for breakfast this morning but you refused to wake up and now I have to get to work." Charlie shifts in her seat feeling a little better she says,
"What do you do?" Drew smiles and says,
"I'm a paramedic." Charlie sees the smile on Drew's face and understands that she enjoys her job; she recognises the signs because she gets the same look when talking about her job. Drew asks the same question and Charlie proudly tells her that she is a police officer, impressed Drew says,
"Wow." Charlie smiles and says,
"I wonder if we have ever met before, you know at the scene of an accident or something." Drew smiles and looks briefly at Charlie before saying,
"No I don't think so." Charlie smiles back saying,
"How do you know?" Drew hesitates before saying,
"Because I would have remembered."
Charlie feels her heart beat faster at Drew's word but before she could say anything Drew pulls the car over and says,
"There we go. Your car awaits Constable. I hope you are ok to drive." Charlie smiles at this remark before assuring her she is fine to drive. Thanking Drew Charlie opens the door and tells Drew to take care. Closing the door behind her she watches as Drew drives away.