This is a short chapter guys.
Aden took Charlie home… Leah was there and Aden explained that Joey just asked him to take Charlie home and that he doesn't have any idea about what happened inside the ladies room. Leah understood and didn't ask anymore. She and Aden took Charlie to her bedroom and made sure she's tucked in, Charlie has been quiet and just managed to say a silent thank you to both of her friends.
When Charlie finally heard her door room closed, she started weeping again. She amazed herself that she didn't break down in front of Aden and Leah, and she managed to fight her tears back untill she's out of sight. Seeing Joey elated and deflated her at the same time. She was glad to see the girl back to Summer Bay as she thought she'd never see her again. She missed her so much that it hurts… but she's also sad because she can't hold her the way she wanted to hold her. Joey is so near and yet so far from her. She couldn't hold her and tell her how much she missed her and how much untill now, she loves her. Although Charlie knows that even if she's given a chance to confess her feelings, she highly doubt that Joey will believe her… she couldn't blame her for that. And that fact and thought alone kills her inside.
Aden left Leah's house after a small chat with Charlie's housemate. Now he's on his way to Joey's house hoping that she's there. Joey is one of his best mate and after what happened to Joey in the past, it made him feel very protective of her. He doesn't want Joey to be hurt again in any way. And the interaction that happened ealier that evening, he knows that Joey is hurting right now… although she doesn't show any of it. And it also surprised him as to how Joey is able to cover her feelings and he knows its unhealthy and would not do any good to anybody and especially to Joey.
Aden reached Joey's front door. He knocked silenty and was met with silence. He walked towards the back door and thankful that it's open. He let himself inside searching if there's any one inside.
"Joey!!!" he called out in the dark
Nobody answered but he heard a noise upstairs, knowing that it would be Joey he ran his way up and to Joey's room. Standing outside he silently knock again and opened the door slowly,
"Joey?" he peaked inside the room and saw Joey packing her bags.
"Joey? Where are you going?!" Aden asked worriedly
And again Aden is answered with silence. He felt frustrated and he couldn't help it anymore… he reached for Joey's shoulder and spun her around. Aden was again surprised not for the first time that night… he was met with a cold, expression less face of Joey… with her cheeks wet with tears that are flowing non stop from her now red swollen eyes.
Joey looked up at Aden… she didn't say a word. Her head is swirling with thoughts of Charlie and what just happened. She's confused and hurt and exhausted and heart broken. She didn't even realised that she has been crying.
Aden quickly wrapped his arms around Joey... rubbing her back and keeping her safe. Aden felt Joey's arms around his waist… and heard Joey sobbing and crying harder. He held Joey tight in silence and let his friend cry. He doesn't know what else he can do to ease the pain she's feeling, he knows that he'll do anything for her. After seemed like ages and Aden felt that Joey had calmed dow, he thought maybe now is the time.
"Joey… why are you packing your bags? Where are you going?" Aden asked without letting go of Joey.
"Away."
"To where? Why? You just came back, Joey."
"And I shouldn't have" Joey said coldly.
"Joey… talk to me. You can't keep running away from everything." Aden's voice full of concerned as he held Joey tighter.
"It's the best that I can do, Aden." Joey kept her answer simply as she stared blankly to nowhere.
"No, Joey… it's not. You can't keep running away from your problems, from your feelings and definetly not from…"
"Charlie?" Joey interupted him.
"Yes… from Charlie."
"What am I supposed to do Ade? I tried everything. Still I failed."
"What have you tried?" Aden asked confused.
"I tried to forget her in all those months that I was away. But I was left hoping that she would wait for me. And found out she didn't… but of course I couldn't blame her because I didn't ask her to wait nor did I communicate with her. My first day back and I saw her with Angelo, it broke my already broken heart, Aden. It hurts a lot…" Joey started crying again. While Aden listened intently.
"I cried so hard that night, as if I will never be able to cry again… and I promised myself I will never shed a tear because of Charlie. I filled my heart with anger... I stayed because I wanted to numb myself. I want to get used to the hurt that she can inflict me so that one day it wouldn't hurt anymore. But what happened Aden? I saw her tonight and all my walls melted down as she breaks down for some reason. And I'm left there, again… vulnerable, the she can keep stabbing my heart I would still wrap my arms around her!"
Aden felt sorry for both Joey and Charlie. He doesn't know what happened to Charlie but he knows about Joey. He can feel Joey's pain just by holding her. Maybe not as much pain as what Joey is actually feeling but enough to make him upset as to why life can't be easier for Joey. She has been through a lot… she deserved to be happy and not misserable. She's a good soul who wouldn't hurt a fly and yet she is always left hurting.
"Joey, even if you run away now… it wouldn't change anything and you know that. Now I understand why you put that mask the you had earlier. Trying to show everyone that you're strong and that you don't care… that you don't feel anything, but Joey it's unhealthy. You can hide your feelings from everyone… fair enough. But you can't and must not deny what you feel." Aden took Joey's chin and tilt it up so he can look into her eyes.
"Denying your feelings Joey is not a good thing. Because if you get used to it, one day you'll wake up and you wouldn't know what you're really feeling about anything. And you will feel more lonely and lost. Believe me, I learnt it the hard way."
Joey looked at Aden quizically as if asking what is he talking about. Aden read what's in Joey's head and answered.
"I'll tell you some other time."
"Aden what am I supposed to do?"
"Well… first of all, Stay! Pick yourself up and stay. And then, stop fooling yourself that you can fill your heart with anger… because Joey, you have a good heart. A forgiving one which is not capable of hurting anyone or would even want anyone to be hurt. Charlie broke your heart and yet you still stayed by her side when she broke down. You've been ripped apart by Robbo and… well you were scared of him that's why you didn't press charges at first, but… what I'm trying to say is you pressed charges because you want justice for what he'd done to you and not because you want your revenge and that my dear Joey is a completely different thing. So you see… you can pretend but you're only fooling yourself if you think that you'd be able to deny your heart its good nature."
"Thankz Ade… when you put it that way, it's as if you know me better than I know myself." Joey hugged Aden tightly as if her life depended on that hug.
"You just have a transparent soul, Joey. And a very honest eyes. So don't lose it. it's what makes you adorable and unique." Aden smiled, glad that he's able to help.
Later Aden helped Joey unpacked her bag. He decided to stay for the night as Joey wouldn't let him go. He even slept in Joey's bed holding her close, making her feel safe and letting her know that she's not alone.
***
Ruby's woken up by soft sobbing from Charlie's room. She reluctantly got up of bed and made her way to Charlie's bedroom door. She knocked quitely but when the sobbing didn't stop, she let herself in quietly in Charlie's room. In there she saw Charlie curled up like a ball, crying her heart out. Ruby's heart sunk at the sight of her sister. She loves Charlie so much and it always breaks her heart to see her like that and although it's the first time in a long time… her sister not showing any emotion in the last months also broke her heart more.
"Charlie? What's wrong?" Ruby asked quietly as she climbed up to Charlie's bed and cradle her sister in her arms.
Ruby is answered by silence. She wondered Who made Charlie human again?.
"Charls… talk to me. Please… don't block me out." Ruby pleaded
Charlie snuggled up closer to Ruby's arms and put an arm around Ruby's.
"She's back Rubes…" Charlie managed to say between sobs.
"Joey?"
Charlie nodded.
I knew it! Ruby thought to herself.
"What happened Charlie?"
"Me and Angelo bumped into her and Aden at the Surf Club earlier…" Charlie started telling Ruby what happened as she cry.
"Oh Rubez… you should've seen her. She's so different now. I cant control myself, I needed to be alone. I went to the toilet and when I didn't come back, Angelo asked her to check up on me and I broke down. It felt like all the feelings that I bottled up all the time that she was away is suddenly bursting out off me. I thought she'll leave me but she didn't. She stayed and comforted me which made me feel worst about myself. How can I hurt her… how was able to do all the horrible things I'd done to her? And even after all that, she couldn't bring herself to leave me. She held me tight Rubes… She let me hold her too and it felt amazing to be back in her arms. But then before I knew it, it was all over and… she instanly became a completely different person. You should've seen her eyes Ruby. It's so cold and empty." Charlie cried harder. "It suddenly wasn't Joey. MY Joey…"
Ruby held Charlie close. She feel for her sister. She knew how broken Charlie had been when Joey left. And although she didn't really think that Charlie would have been recovered, she still didn't think that Charlie is THIS broken.
"Charlie… why don't you get some sleep. And tomorrow, you can go to Joey's place and talk to her."
"She doesn't wanna talk to me. Plus… I don't even know if she stays in that house."
"She told me Charlie… she…"
Charlie abruptly looked up to Ruby.
"She told you? When?"
Ruby's startled… she doesn't know how will Charlie take it if she finds out that she knew and didn't tell her. But there's no point lying now. Ruby thought.
"I bumped into her and Leah last week at the diner. You should've seen her but she stayed in the toilet when she saw you and Angelo were talking to me and Leah. That's how she knew that you're with Angelo." Ruby explained.
In now made all sense to Charlie.
"So that's why she didn't look surprise to see Angelo. But Rubes… why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think it would matter. You're with Angelo anyway. So we thought Joey being back wouldn't be a big deal." Ruby lied. She knew it would be. She just doesn't know how to tell Charlie.
"Rubes, it's Joey… everything about her will be a big deal for me. Anything about her would matter to me… I love her." Charlie said out laud before even stopping herself.
It just slipped out like. It's so easy to say those words when she actually mean it and feeling it. Ruby looked surprised but not because Charlie loves Joey but because Charlie was able to say it out laud after so long and with conviction.
Charlie cried even harder. Saying those words made it more real… that she loves Joey. That she never stopped loving her and now, she can't have her.
