Thanks for all your reviews guys! Keep 'em coming!
Title: "Someday Is Something"
Rating: T
Summary: Aden tries to convince Joey to give Charlie a second chance, while Charlie and Haley talk about their feelings for Joey.
Chapter Ten
Joey was pretty upset when her and Aden took off down at the beach. As they got down near the wharf Joey stood there with her back turned from him, sobbing. "Hey," he pulled her into a hug, "it's okay." "No it's not. Why did I even think I could come back here and things would just be normal with Charlie? Go back to the way they were. I know that she's trying, but she's just trying too hard and it's pushing me away. And Haley, I have no idea what's going through her head right now. They were practically sitting there begging for me to choose one of them. I knew there would be some tension between them. Hales knows all about what Charlie did and she's trying to use it to her advantage, and get me to like her or something. Charlie is just trying to get me back which is what she thinks she wants," Joey sobbed.
Aden let go of her, but this time tried comforting her with his words, "You don't think that Charlie really wants to be with you? That she's not going to do whatever it takes to win you back? Charlie's been an absolute wreck since you left, and now that you're back I know she's going to do everything possible to get you back. She's changed so much over the last few months. Ok so a part of her still gives a damn about what this town label her, but it doesn't mean she's not willing to be 100% committed to a relationship with you. You just need to give her a chance to prove that," he said supportably. "I know. After everything we've been through, I do need to give her a chance, but I can't take the risk that if I do, it all happens again. One bad day and she'll go racing into the arms of the first guy she meets. I don't know how to begin to trust her again when Hugo's always going to be around." (Author's note - Oh he won't be, he's all dead now – see Chapter 9) "If it's not Hugo, it'll be someone else, Roman, Angelo. Maybe I should just move on with my life and get over her. It'll hurt less." I cannot believe I'm even saying this, she thought. "Move on huh. What with Haley? What about Charlie?" he questioned. "What about Charlie. Don't look at me like that Aden. Besides what's wrong with Haley? She's been good to me the past few months. She's supportive, cute, funny, loving." Aden sighed "You're right there's nothing wrong with Haley except for one thing: she's not Charlie. You can't give up on her Jo, she means too much to you. I get that it'll take some time for you to learn to trust her again. Don't give up on her yet. You'll regret it if you do." Aden pulled her into another hug.
When Charlie saw Joey run away from her, she went to grab her purse and got up from the booth, intending to rush after her, but Haley stood up and grabbed her arm holding her back. "I don't think so sister, leave her alone," stated Hales. "You have no idea how much you've just hurt her, so don't you even dare go near her." "Like you're going to stop me. Do even realize who you're talking to? I'm a cop, so get out of my way," Charlie said standing up for herself. "Oh honey you have no idea how much I'm in your way. And you know what I know exactly who I'm talking to. I'm talking to the lying cow that thinks she can just worm her way back into Joey's life after a few simple apologies," Haley declared. At this point most of the guests were looking at their outburst. Coop tried to interrupt, "Hales maybe you should just back off for a sec." "I'm not finished yet Coop," and turning her attention back to Charlie, "You have no idea how broken she was while she was away. You weren't there for her at all while she was crying herself to sleep at night. No you were probably off getting drunk and crying on the shoulder of the first bloke who would look twice at you. Joey deserves so much better than you. I mean let's face it; you're so not ready to be in a proper relationship with her. You can't even go two seconds without talking with the guy you cheated on her with, and you certainly don't have the guts to stand up in front of a jury and confess whatever feelings you think you have for her."
Charlie couldn't take it anymore. Standing there, being embarrassed by this girl in front of what seemed like the entire town. She felt awful, it was only a few minutes ago that she had done the same to Hugo, and that wasn't with everyone listening in. She was afraid that Haley was right. That she didn't have the strength to stand up for her relationship with Joey. Suddenly Haley sat down, picked up Joey's unfinished wine and drank the rest of it. She looked up at Charlie who was still standing there frozen; they both had tears forming in their eyes. "Look I'm sorry okay, I'm just confused about everything that's going on right now," Haley said defeated. Feeling bad for the girl Charlie sat back down, "I know. I'm sorry too." Seeing both girls talking again normally, the rest of the people in the bar went back to their conversations. "After what I did, and you're apologising to me? Did you miss the screaming match we just had?" Haley said.
Charlie looked at the girl in front of her, the way she was sitting, the way she had acted just now. "You like her don't you," Charlie commented. It wasn't a question. "Yeah, I do," Hales replied. "Tell me about her," Charlie asked, and when Haley cocked her head as if to ask "Huh?" Charlie clarified, "When you first met her, what was she like over the months I missed?" "When I first met her on the trawler I thought she was amazing. She was just standing there, in her cute little beanie, wearing this gray top thing, and I think she had jeans on. And I thought...well that she was really hot. Really hot. She gave me a smile. She was beautiful. I just knew I had to get to know her. When we hung out and really started to get to know each other I thought I had a chance, but I knew deep down she was holding back. One night I found her lying in her bed, she was having a nightmare about Robbo. I spent the night comforting her, and she finally opened up and told me everything she'd been through. With her parents, her brother, Robbo, and..." "Me?" Charlie finished. "Yeah," Hales admitted, "When I decided to join Joey here I knew that she would probably go running back into your arms. I didn't want her to. I wanted her to see that you made one of the biggest mistakes of your life, and you didn't deserve her back. That she had someone who would care about her, that wasn't confused about their feelings at all. Someone that could love her like she deserves...but she doesn't love me," Hales admitted, gutted as she knew it was the truth.
Haley got up to leave, looking Charlie straight in the eyes she pleaded, "Don't hurt her okay?" Charlie looked up at the girl, who had tears streaming down her face, "I won't, I promise." Haley took off, leaving the Surf Club. Charlie sat there feeling so bad for the girl. Being in love with Joey, and not been able to be with her, I know that feeling well, Charlie thought to herself. Leah noticed Charlie sitting all alone and walked over to join her friend. "You ok?" she asked. "What? Oh yeah I guess." "So what was that all about before with Haley? I saw Joey take off, things didn't go well did they?" Leah put her arm around Charlie's shoulders. "Not as well as I had of hoped. But Haley's gonna back off for a while and let Joey and I try and sort things out on our own." "Well that's good isn't it? You girls will be back together in no time, and once the court case is settled, I'm sure she'll be back home with you, where she belongs." "I really hope so Leah, I do, but...but now's the hart part. Winning her back. I need to stand up in front of the whole court and tell them exactly how I feel." "And how do you feel about her, honestly?" Leah pushed. "I love her...completely," Charlie confessed. "Then tell the jury that. But you ah, might want to let Joey in on that before you do." Leah wrapped Charlie in a hug, hoping she had convinced her that she needed to do the right thing to get her soul mate back.