Thank you for all the lovely reviews, it means a lot to me! This is a happy chapter… I hope you will like it!
Charlie watched everyone dancing, the seeds next to her were empty. However, she didn't feel the need to get up from her chair and go to the dance floor. She was keeping low profile this evening. 'You're not dancing tonight?' a voice said coming from next to Charlie. 'Cheryl, hi' Charlie said. Cheryl went to sit on the chair next to Charlie, Charlie didn't know why but there was no doubt she would find out soon enough. 'No, I guess I am just not in the mood for dancing today' Charlie replied to Cheryl's initial question. 'Well, I can't blame you… most of them are just making fun of themselves' Cheryl answered. Charlie forced a smile on her face, she still didn't know where Cheryl was getting at.
'Do you know what is up with them?' Cheryl asked whilst pointing at Bianca and Heath. Aha, Charlie finally knew what Cheryl's intentions were, she wanted to know more about Bianca and Heath. 'No, I have no idea' Charlie lied 'I didn't even know they got along'. 'They sure get along that is for sure' Cheryl joked whilst drinking her glass half empty. 'They should get a room or something' Cheryl continued. Charlie turned her head to look at Cheryl and widened her eyes. 'What did you just say?' Charlie asked her. Charlie found it difficult to prevent herself from laughing. 'You heard me, they look like animals ready to spring upon each other' Cheryl said pretty seriously. Charlie couldn't hide her amusement. 'Why are you laughing?' Cheryl asked her. 'I'm sorry, it is just that I didn't think you would say something like that… he is your son' Charlie tried to explain. 'So you reckon I don't know he is having sex? For god's sakes he is 25 years old, if he wasn't getting any I would be worried' Cheryl replied. 'Well, it is just that I can't see myself talking about Ruby like that, you know' Charlie said slightly blushing, she didn't feel comfortable talking to Cheryl, especially not comfortable talking about this particular subject. 'You think she is a virgin?' Cheryl said whilst looking at Charlie 'Then you are wrong, because I know for a fact that…'. 'I know, I know' Charlie interrupted, she didn't want Cheryl to finish that sentence 'I just don't like thinking about that, okay?'.
Charlie had shut up about it, in fact she didn't say a word in the last five minutes and Charlie started to feel really unease. Cheryl kept looking at Bianca and Heath whilst blurting out 'God, I want to have sex'. Charlie's mouth dropped, she had to swallow… she really didn't know what to say. 'You know, I just miss getting laid, you know what I mean… the feeling of a man's sweaty body against yours, a night of hot and steamy sex' Cheryl continued. Just when Charlie didn't know how much more awkward this could get Cheryl said those words. Charlie looked away from Cheryl, searching for a way out of this conversation but couldn't find any. 'However, men are pigs, once you sleep with them, they are satisfied and they leave you lying in the gutter like a piece of trash' Cheryl told her. 'Not all of them' Charlie tried to join Cheryl's monologue 'Find one of those exceptions, or…'. 'Or what?' Cheryl asked her. 'Or just do what they do' Charlie explained. Charlie saw Cheryl didn't get what she meant so she continued 'Just sleep with a guy and then expect nothing more, that way you can't get hurt and you still got what you wanted'. 'So you reckon I should just sleep with the first guy that comes around?' Cheryl replied jumping to the wrong conclusion 'Is that what you do? Sleep with guys then drop them whenever you feel like it?'.
Charlie wanted to correct Cheryl, she wasn't like that at all… at least with Brax she wasn't, he meant more to her than just sex. But now Cheryl thought she was indeed like that, she didn't want her to think that. She was Brax' mother, Cheryl couldn't think like that about her! 'Oi, it is alright, I am only joking, relax would you' Cheryl said almost smiling at Charlie. Charlie smiled in relief. 'You know, having sex with no strings attached is not such a bad idea' Cheryl said 'However, for women like you it is probably easy, for me on the other hand'. 'Why is that Cheryl?' Charlie asked sincerely. 'You are 30, in the prime of your live and you make heads turn whenever you walk into a room' Cheryl said honestly. Charlie felt complimented, she started blushing. 'I reckon you could turn heads yourself as well' Charlie replied 'With the right clothes and make up… you would look smoking hot, for someone your age of course'. Charlie smiled at Cheryl. Cheryl nodded and tried to say something, but didn't know what. That probably hasn't happened before. Cheryl stood up and turned to Charlie again 'Thanks for this I guess…'. 'No worries' Charlie replied not too sure about what just had happened.
Brax hadn't seen his mother's conversation with Charlie, that was probably for the best because he would have been worried the two women would have a go at each other. The rest of the evening went smoothly and Charlie even managed to get away from the restaurant without having to say goodbye to Brax.
The next day Charlie had a day off and when she got up in the morning she found herself in an empty house. She was thinking about what she was going to do today but she couldn't come up with anything satisfying. She heard a knock on the backdoor, Charlie went to open it and almost got a heart attack. Cheryl stood there, dressed like a total whore: she was wearing a way to short black leather skirt, stockings with big holes in it, killer heels and a slutty top. 'Oh my god, Cheryl, what are you wearing?' Charlie managed. 'What, you don't like it? I thought I would dress up and show you I can be sexy from time to time' Cheryl said sounding offending. 'That is anything but sexy, where did you find these clothes? How old are they?' Charlie continued, determined to make Cheryl realize that these clothes were awful. 'I found them in my closet, okay?' Cheryl explained. 'No, not okay, don't even think about going out in those clothes' Charlie said. 'Why not? You know, two guys honked when they passed me' Cheryl defended herself. 'Yeah, I am sure they did' Charlie replied 'to ask how much you cost… you look like a hooker Cheryl'. Cheryl sighed, she knew Charlie was right, one guy had asked her 'How much for one hour baby?'.
'Well, then I have to buy new clothes then' Cheryl concluded. 'Yeah, I think that is a good idea' Charlie answered. 'Honestly, I don't know where to go… I haven't gone shopping in ages' Cheryl said. 'Well, there are a few great shops in Yabbie Creek, I am sure you could find something you like there' Charlie told her. 'Yeah… I might go there' Cheryl replied whilst looking at the ground. 'What is wrong?' Charlie said noticing something was wrong with Cheryl. 'What if I choose the wrong stuff? I don't think I am a genius when it comes to fashion' Cheryl replied whilst pointing at the outfit she was wearing. 'Listen, if you have time, you perhaps wouldn't want to…' Cheryl started. 'Oh forget it, bad idea, you wouldn't want to… Bye' Cheryl continued. 'Who says I wouldn't want to come with you and in fact I do have some time and I think I can help you' Charlie said surprising Cheryl and herself with that. 'You would want to do that?' Cheryl asked sincerely. 'Yes, but you must know that shopping is hard work and if I say no, it is indeed no, deal?' Charlie proposed. 'Deal, lets go' Cheryl said enthusiastically.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I think the next chapter will be a happy one as well… In fact, I know it will! :)