Chapter Six
Joey and Charlie stood at the bar next to each other neither knowing how or what to say to the other but at the same time they were so hypnotized by each other that neither of them notice Watson signaling that she was leaving, It had been so long since they had been face to face they felt like they were in some sort of dream land, They stood there in silence for a couple minutes until Charlie decided to make the first move and start a conversation;
"So how have you been?" Charlie asked starting a little weakly than she planned to, when there was no reply from Joey she continued " Joey, I know you hate me but can we at least be civil we are gonna see more of each other during the court case so..." Still Joey remained silent "Okay, I'll leave you to it" She began walking away when Joey replied
"I'm sorry it's just weird being back here after so long"
"Surely it hasn't changed much"
"Well some of the structure has, your boyfriend has his own restaurant upstairs but in theory your right not a lot has changed I still know a couple people around here"
"So how long are you in town for?"
"I'm not too sure, nothings been confirmed yet by Carl"
"Who's Carl?" Charlie asked
"He's the manager of Brooke's band, The Fifth Element, you probably haven't heard of them, their more on the gay scene"
"I have heard of them, I've also heard about Brooke's reputation, the station is readying itself for an intervention between Brooke and her fans"
"Yeah, she has this effect on women that for some reason means women can't resist her charms"
"Yeah well I think there are a couple of people who can resist her" Charlie looked into Joeys eyes and saw that same look which she had secretly missed for nearly two years.
"There may be one or two" Joey replied slightly laughing
"So, how do you know Brooke then are you an item? personally I can't see you falling for her charms"
"Me and Brooke, there's no chance in hell of that ever happening"
"Thanks very much Jo, Nice to know how you feel" Brooke said re-entering the room with a t-shirt in her right hand a piece of paper in the other. Then stopping next to Joey, she handed the t-shirt to Charlie "Here, its one of Joeys, none of mine looked like they would fit you"
"Thanks, I'll give it back once I've washed it"
"There's no need to, Jo can do that" Joey looked at Brooke then lightly hit her on the arm, causing her to drop the paper she was holding on the floor "Jojo, I don't mean to state the blatantly obvious but there is a policewoman sitting arm's length away from you"
"Stop whining" Joey replied laughing a little bit, before bending down and picking the piece of paper up from the floor, noticing the writing on it she looked at Brooke, handing the paper over she asked "What's this?"
"Um, nothing much, why?"
"No reason, it's just nothing it's probably just me"
"What's probably just you?"
"Well, Maybe Charlie can give a second opinion on this but I'm pretty sure this is a phone number" She said smirking at Brooke who instantly return the smirk with one of her own, to both Brooke and Charlie's surprise Joey handed the paper to Charlie "What do you think, Charlie?"
"Yep, it's definitely a phone number, but what Joey doesn't know and I do is whose number this is" Charlie stated returning the paper to Joey then looking a Brooke.
"Hang on you know who's number it is?" Joey asked slightly confused
"Oh, yeah I should hope so I mean it does belong to my friend after all"
"Your friend who?"
"No ones, that's who," Brooke quickly replied hoping Joey would stop looking for an answer
"It's Georgia's"
"GEORGIA" Joey said slightly more louder than she meant too "You can't start seeing Georgia"
"Really why not, give me a reason why I can't" Brooke asked immediately
"How about the reason that you have a girlfriend, which is something I'm guessing Georgia probably doesn't know" Joey replied holding onto the paper
"I do not have a girlfriend" Brooke replied firmly
"So, what is Mel then?"
"Mel is Mel" Brooke replied coldly
"Mel is Mel, what is that meant to mean?" Joey asked slightly confused
"Nothing, I just made a statement from a fact"
"No, it wasn't tell me what you mean, and on second thought tell me why you're being so cold towards Mel all of a sudden?"
"Because its over between me and her okay...We broke up"
"What, when did this happen and more importantly why?"
"This morning before we got to the police station she ended it because I came here with you instead of spending time of with her doing things that don't require us to leave the hotel room"
"So that's why you went with that fan to the beach today?"
"Yeah, did you actually think that I'd cheat on Mel?"
"No I'm not saying that I know you wouldn't, but it still doesn't make any sense I mean why be angry when she knows why we came up here, and that its definitely not for fun"
"Yeah she does, but that's Mel for you"
Noticing the look of guilt on Joeys face, Brooke moved towards Joey pulling her towards her and into a hug, "It's not your fault Jo, she just doesn't understand but at least I know now"
"So, anyway..." Joey said wiping her face with her right hand, then releasing the hug "What's with you having Georgia's number for?"
"Huh, What?" Brooke asked pretending not to hear the question
"Why do you have Georgia's number for?" When Brooke didn't answer the question "You know the paper in your hand?"
"Oh that, nothing important. Right the coppers got her shirt, No offence, I'm gonna get a drink" Looking at Charlie then placing the paper in her back pocket.
"None taken" Charlie replied taking a sip of her drink "I'm gonna go put this on"
Joey turned to Charlie taking her attention of Brooke "Okay, see you in a minute" As Charlie walked towards the toilets, Joey could help but stare at her and think about various things they could do together when she was interrupted by Brooke calling her and clicking her fingers in her face
"Earth to Jo, anybody home" Brooke paused for a second looking in the same direction as Joey was "Why are you doing this to yourself ,Jo?"
After a minute or two Joey registered what Brooke had said to her "Sorry what's that meant to mean?"
"Don't act stupid Jo, I'm not Frankee, I know when you're lying"
"I really have no idea what you're talking about Brooke?"
"You eyeing up the competition?" Brooke said taking her eyes of Joey, looking over at Georgia taking the chance do some eye flirting
"What competition are you talking about?"
"Frankee's competition of course" Looking at the confusion developing on Joey's face she continued "Oh for the love of...Charlie I'm talking about Charlie"
"What are you kidding me I wouldn't go with Ch.…..not after what happened when we were together before"
"Hey Jo, I believe you its just..."
"Its just what B?"
"You say one thing and your eyes say another"
"No they don't, look it's not gonna happen anyway she has a boyfriend"
"And if she didn't Jo, what would you do?"
"Nothing because of..."
"Because of Frankee I know Jo...blah blah blah"
"What do you mean blah blah blah?"
"I mean you're always using the fact that you're with Frankee as some kind of reason that you and Charlie wouldn't happen"
"Because it wouldn't"
"Okay then, let's say in theory if you and Charlie were both single no Frankee, no boyfriend, then what would you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Would you give it another go?"
"I don't know Brooke"
"Urgh" Taking a breath after feeling her patience running thin "Do you still love Charlie?"