Hi everyone and welcome to my new fic. The plan is for it to be roughly twenty four chapters long, although I haven't actually finished it yet. And the basic premise of the story is that post-breakup, instead of Joey leaving town and going on her long haul, Joey just moves house. It will be a long road for Joey to forgive Charlie and we'll see quite a different side to both of them as they deal with their pain. I hope you like it! Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One

Brett Collins was putting the rubbish out when Senior Constable Charlie Buckton, dressed in black shorts that revealed long, alluring legs and a white vest that clung in all the right places, approached the house, looking fraught.

"You're not welcome here," Brett barked.

"I need to see Joey," Charlie said desperately.

He dumped the rubbish bag and straightened up, looking her up and down. Her long, dark hair was flung behind her and as much as he hated her, he couldn't help but understand a little of why his little sister, the raving lesbian, was attracted to her. She really was stunning. It made him sick.

"She's not here," he said.

"Well, where is she?" Charlie asked desperately.

She clutched her girlfriend, Joey Collins's iPod too tightly in her hand, which was starting to ache. Her heart thudded in her chest as she felt her hope draining away from her.

"She's gone," Brett told her. "She packed up and she left. So it looks like we've both lost her."

He glared at her and she froze. Feeling sick, she remembered that Joey had been all set to take off on a long haul when she thought she and Charlie didn't have a future. She'd made one last ditch attempt to win Charlie's heart and when she'd succeeded, she'd cancelled her plans. But last night, Joey had discovered that Charlie had slept with Hugo Austin behind her back during a moment of madness.

"Where has she gone?" Charlie fretted.

Brett shrugged and turned back to the house. Shaking, Charlie hurried after him.

"Brett, please!" she begged. "Please tell me where she is. I need to..."

He whirled back round, his eyes burning into hers.

"Don't even start telling me what you need!" he shouted angrily. "You corrupted my sister and you took her away from me! And it doesn't take a genius to work out that you've hurt her – just like I said you would!"

"I didn't mean to," Charlie said tearfully.

"Do I look like I care?" Brett snapped.

He turned and stalked back into the house, slamming the door behind him.


"Okay, I'm exhausted," Aden Jeffries admitted, throwing himself down on the bed.

He was perspiring and his blonde hair was a mess.

"Loser," Joey smirked.

She sat down beside him, sincerely thanking him for helping her move at such short notice. She'd left the happy home she'd shared with Charlie last night and stayed in a hotel. This morning, she had headed straight to the Surf Club where she recalled having seen an advert for a couple of girls wanting a flatmate. Relieved that it was still there, she'd phoned them and been extremely grateful when, having met them for fifteen minutes, they'd agreed to let her move in today. The rest of the day had been spent moving the rest of her stuff from Charlie's and then from Brett's. She'd phoned Aden and briefly explained before asking him to help her. He'd waited in the car while Joey had got caught up in an emotional discussion with Charlie who had been hiding out at home, waiting for her.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Aden asked anxiously.

Dressed in trousers and an oversized t-shirt that she didn't mind getting dirty, Joey closed her eyes and fell back on the mattress beside her friend. One of the beanies in her beloved collection was covering the top of her long, flowing hair.

"Is it okay if I say I don't want to talk about it?" she asked, staring at the ceiling.

Aden reached out to hold her hand. She appreciated the comfort.

"Although," she added. "If you want to go and kick Hugo in the balls, I wouldn't object."

Aden shifted onto his side, looking confused.

"Hugo? What's Hugo got to do with you and Charlie?"

Joey merely raised her eyebrows. Everything suddenly clicked into place.

"No way!" he gasped. "Oh, Jo, I am so sorry!"

He pulled her into a hug.


Charlie had Joey's headphones in, like she had when she'd been feeling sorry for herself down at the wharf. That's when Ruby had come to find her and encouraged her to go and talk to Joey, to fight for her. But now Charlie felt more lost than ever. She didn't know where her beloved was. She'd gone down to the docks but hadn't found any trawlers leaving on a long haul so all she could hope was that she wasn't planning on skipping town just yet.

Feeling haunted by the fact that Joey appeared to have put together a playlist of songs that reminded her of Charlie, the police officer walked into the Diner and sank into a corner booth. She took one earphone out but carried on torturing herself with the track 'Innocence' by Avril Lavigne, while perusing the menu that she already knew so well.

"Waking up I see that everything is okay.

The first time in my life and now it's so great.

Slowing down, I look around and I am so amazed.

I think about the little things that make life great.

I wouldn't change a thing.

This is the best feeling.

This innocence is brilliant; I hope that it will stay.

This moment is perfect – please don't go away.

I need you now

And I'll hold onto it,

Don't you let it pass you by."

Charlie looked up and pulled her earphones out when Aden waltzed into the Diner and up to the counter, ordering two coffees to take away. Staring at him, and having always seen him as a link to Joey, Charlie found herself listening in on his conversation.

"Yeah, moving turns out to be thirsty work," he said to Leah.

"Moving?"

"Joey."

Charlie was on her feet in an instant, almost tripping over several tables and chairs in her pursuit of the young man.

"Aden, you've seen Joey?" she asked desperately.

He turned around, looking awkward. Finally, he nodded.

"Where is she?"

"I don't think I'd be being a very good friend if I told you that," he said. "You've destroyed her, Charlie."

"I know," Charlie replied, her voice catching. "I know but how can I make it up to her if I don't even know where she is? I love her, Aden. I need her. I want to make things right."

"I wish you could," Aden said reasonably. "Because by the sounds of it, Joey loved you more than life itself. And then you cheated on her and broke her heart."

His words were stern but not accusatory. Charlie bowed her head, willing herself not to cry. Aden sighed, unable to stop feeling compassionate.

"Listen, she's only devastated because she loves you so much," he said. "Give her some time and maybe you'll be able to work it out."

Charlie nodded. Leah awkwardly cleared her throat to present Aden with his drinks. He patted Charlie on the shoulder and then headed back out of the Diner and down the road.


Ten minutes later, Charlie was hiding behind a tree, watching Aden and Joey move boxes from Aden's car to inside the building. She'd put the Avril Lavigne song on repeat.

"I found a place so safe, not a single tear.

The first time in my life and now it's so clear.

Feel calm, I belong, I'm so happy here.

It's so strong and now I let myself be sincere.

I wouldn't change a thing about it.

This is the best feeling.

This innocence is brilliant; I hope that it will stay.

This moment is perfect – please don't go away.

I need you now

And I'll hold onto it,

Don't you let it pass you by.

It's the state of bliss you think you're dreaming.

It's the happiness inside that you're feeling.

It's so beautiful it makes you want to cry."

When Joey came out alone to get another box, Charlie turned to music off and hurried over, calling her name. Joey stared at her for a moment.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I had to see you."

"How did you even know where I was?" Joey asked. "I didn't want you to know where I was, Charlie."

"But I love you," Charlie said weakly.

"Well, it's a shame that you didn't remember that when Hugo was getting his end away," Joey snapped bitterly.

Charlie burst into tears.

"I'm sorry! Joey, I am so sorry for what happened."

"No, you're not," Joey insisted. "You're sorry you got caught. Nothing more than that."

"No, I..."

"If you cared about what you did," Joey told her, "then you would have confessed. You would have respected me and our relationship enough to be honest with me. But instead, you lied. You lied and you've made me feel like an absolute fool."

"I..." Charlie tried.

"I really thought that we had something special, Charlie."

"We do!"

"Then why did you stamp all over it?"

"I'm sorry," Charlie repeated.

"Ironically, last week was the happiest week of my whole life," Joey informed her. "I didn't think it could get any better than being in a happy, loving relationship with the woman I thought was my soul mate. But you and Hugo must have been laughing at me the whole damn time. And Ruby! And Xavier! All of them! All laughing at poor, stupid Joey who actually believed someone could love her!"

She clenched her jaw, willing herself not to cry. She didn't want Charlie to see her weakness.

"Nobody was laughing at you," Charlie said sincerely. "Ruby hated me for what I'd done. And I hated myself. I still do. I always will."

"Well you're in good company because I hate you too," Joey lied.

She wished she did hate her. She wanted to. But the truth was, she still loved her with every beat of her heart. Aden appeared behind her, immediately clocking Charlie.

"I thought I told you to give her some space," he said, clearly irritated.

"I just..."

Charlie trailed off. She had no idea what to say or do. All she wanted was to make things up to Joey but it was quickly looking like it was already too late.

"Sorry," she said weakly. "I... um... You left this."

She extended her hand, offering Joey's iPod out to her. With trembling fingers, Joey accepted the gadget and then turned back to the house without another word. Aden followed her. Charlie hesitated for a brief moment and then turned and walked away.