Hi everyone. The idea for this story popped into my head a little while ago, when someone mentioned that they liked stories of Charlie and Joey being younger. I'm really sorry that I can't remember who said it to me but if it was you, please say so! Anyway, the idea for this one is that Charlie and Joey are in high school together but come from completely different worlds. I hope you enjoy the first chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Opposite Sides

Chapter One

There was no doubt that seventeen year old Charlie Buckton was the most popular girl in school. At seventeen, she had it made and she knew it. She was stunning, came from good parents, had a lovely boyfriend and lots of friends. She was good at school work without being labelled a geek and all in all, she was very content with life.

On Thursday morning, as usual, she walked to school with her two best friends, Bianca Scott and Leah Poulos. The three of them had known each other for their entire lives and it was rare to see one without at least one of the other two.

Spotting her boyfriend up ahead, Charlie called his name. Darryl 'Brax' Braxton turned around and smiled, waiting for her to catch up. His younger brother, Heath waited with him, as did their other friend, Liam Murphy.

"And here comes the reason that Thursdays aren't really that bad," Brax said by way of greeting, pulling his girlfriend into a hug and kissing her.

Liam did the same with Bianca, who he had been dating for the past year. Leah and Heath both stood back. Heath didn't feel awkward. He was never short of a date or two and certainly didn't envy his brother being practically married since he was just a child. But Leah felt like she was eternally single and was desperate for her two best friends not to leave her behind.

Nobody ever seemed to notice Joey Collins. She was a quiet, mild mannered girl who got on with her work and didn't have a lot of friends. Her life wasn't the happiest but she had settled for her lot a long time ago. Home was difficult and school was rather lonely but she had always persevered in getting on with things as best she could.

Her one consolation was her friend, Miles Copeland. Like Joey, he was a bit of an outsider. They weren't bosom buddies or anything but they passed the time together and trusted each other.

"Hey!" Joey protested in the school corridor when someone bumped into her.

Brax didn't even notice her as he sauntered down the hall with his arm around his girlfriend, Charlie. Joey rubbed her shoulder, where it had hit the locker and frowned. If there was one group she couldn't stand, it was Brax, Charlie and their cronies. It wasn't that they were horrible as such, they just thought they were too cool. They didn't give her any hassle but that was likely to be because they didn't know she existed.

"You okay?" Miles asked, appearing beside her.

His wild, curly hair just about framed his face and she smiled to see him.

"I just got a bit shoulder barged," Joey told him, opening her locker and sorting out her bag and her books.

"Mr and Mrs Prom?" Miles asked.

Joey giggled at the nickname they had come up with some time ago. Brax and Charlie were exactly the kind of people they assumed would make Prom King and Queen in some American high school.

"Yep," she confirmed. "I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my powers of invisibility."

"What are the options?" Miles wondered.

"Either something really heroic or really bad," Joey said. "I haven't figured out the details."

"My own personal options are mostly limited to spying on the girls in the locker room," her friend smirked.

Joey laughed. It had definitely occurred to her as an option too, although not even Miles knew that she was gay. Her hope was to leave Summer Bay as soon as she could and move to the city where she could really be herself. She wouldn't have to worry about her parents' approval or being picked on by her peers. It was desperately looking forward to finishing high school and setting herself free.

Sitting in class for their first lesson of the day, Joey sat with Miles at the back of the room. The 'cool gang' were in the row in front, all paired up. Brax sat with Charlie, Leah and Bianca sat next to them and Liam sat on the next desk over by himself.

"Okay, we've got a new project to do," the teacher, Mr Hill announced. "It'll be partner work…"

There was flurry of noise as people began to figure out who they should work with.

"But this time," their teacher said. "I'm going to choose who you go with."

All the students complained.

"So, Leah, you're working with Miles," Mr Hill announced.

The beautiful Greek girl pulled a face and looked round to see her partner sat in the back row. She was sure Miles was perfectly nice but she didn't like his hair and he was a bit of a geek. Ignoring her, the teacher continued to put names together.

"And finally, Charlie, you're with Joanna," he concluded.

Charlie looked puzzled.

"Who's Joanna?" she asked, looking around the room.

"That would be me," Joey replied from her seat.

Charlie studied her.

"I thought your name was Joey," she said.

"It is," Joey replied as if she was stupid. "Joey is short for Joanna."

"Oh!" Charlie said, blushing and feeling rather stupid. "Sorry."

Joey merely shrugged and returned her attention to the teacher.

Next time… Joey overhears Charlie and her friends talking about her…