Chapter Ten

"I cannot wait until this stupid project is over!" Brax declared, pulling Charlie into his arms.

He kissed her passionately.

"Break it up!" Heath complained, rolling his eyes. "Do you two ever leave each other alone?"

"We've spent days apart!" Brax reminded him when they separated.

Charlie looked a little flushed, but more with embarrassment than anything else.

"I'd better go," she said a little awkwardly.

He kissed her again before allowing her to return to Joey.

"I'm in for a real treat when I spend the week with you, aren't I?" Joey remarked.

Charlie apologised, promising that she would make sure her boyfriend behaved.

"Do you miss him?" Joey asked as they headed towards their first class of the day.

"Kind of," Charlie mused. "I mean, I should probably miss him more. But I've really enjoyed spending time with you. And well, my outpouring last night is relevant. Sorry about that, by the way. I don't know what came over me!"

Joey smiled and assured her she had nothing to apologise for. Charlie thanked her and then paused mid step. She turned back to Brax who was still at his locker.

"Aren't you meant to be with that Angelo boy for the project next week?" she asked.

"And?" her boyfriend replied.

"Well, how are you expecting to spend time together when you have to go and live his life like I have with Joey this week?"

"Do you really think a stupid, little school project is going to keep me away from you?"

He grinned, making her laugh. She shook her head and allowed him to kiss her chastely before he resumed her day with Joey.

Charlie and Joey went home via the shops where Joey selected various items for a special meal she had decided to cook for everyone.

"Do you think it's a stupid idea?" she asked a little worriedly as they carried their shopping bags home.

"No, I think it's lovely," Charlie said. "Your parents will be really touched."

"Well, it's mostly for you," Joey ventured. "But it would be nice to sit down for a meal with my parents for a change. I'd even be happy if Brett was there. As long as his stupid friends aren't."

Charlie nodded. Joey had mentioned a few times that she couldn't stand her brother's friends.

"I can't promise to be of any actual assistance but I'll try my best!" Charlie said.

Joey grinned cheerfully.

"I'm sure you'll make a very glamorous assistant, Charlie Buckton," she declared.

Two hours later, Joey sat down at the table with Charlie, Brett and her father, Jim. Her mother had declined to attend, claiming that she had already eaten and Joey's copy of Jim's seafood bouillabaisse would never measure up. She had remained in the living room while Jim spent time with his daughter. Brett had just been hungry and unwilling to pass up food.

"So, how has this project of yours been going?" Jim asked.

Charlie and Joey exchanged smiles.

"Really good," Joey enthused. "It's been fun."

"Plus you get to be rich next week," Brett added.

"Well, that's not really relevant," Joey snapped. "It's not about that."

"I know your game, Joey," Brett continued. "But it's way too late to make your high school life exciting. Pretending to be mates with the most popular girl in school is lame."

Charlie looked worriedly at Joey, who hadn't bothered to reply. She didn't understand why Brett would insult his sister for no reason. And she didn't understand why Jim wasn't stepping in. Granted, she didn't have a sibling of her own so she didn't exactly know what the rules were but what was happening to her friend didn't seem very fair.

"Knock, knock!"

All four of them looked up to see Brett's best friends, Robbo Cruise and Grant Bledcoe hovering by the door.

"Ooh, food!" Robbo said, moving forward.

"It's not for you!" Joey snapped.

He glared at her and continued to look hungry.

"It sucks anyway," Brett said, wiping his mouth and standing up. "Let's go."

"It was really delicious," Charlie insisted when she and Joey went upstairs, having just finished all the washing up.

"Brett didn't like it and Mum didn't even want to try it," Joey said.

She turned away from Charlie to get changed. They were still shy but changing in the bathroom didn't seem to be a necessity anymore.

"Brett was just being mean," Charlie replied, also turning away to change clothes. "Your Dad liked it and so did I."

Joey turned around and caught sight of Charlie's bare back. Her breath caught a little and she turned back to fuss with her day clothes in a bid to distract herself.

"Well, as long as you did," she said.

Charlie turned round and slipped into her side of the bed. Joey followed suit and sat, propped up beside her.

"I dread to think what you're going to say during your presentation," she admitted.

"I'm going to say how amazing you are," Charlie replied.

Joey looked unsure.

"I think you're kind and sweet and brave," Charlie told her. "You have no idea how pretty you are and you have no sense of your own self worth. But you're determined and intelligent and the kind of person that everyone should want to be friends with."

Joey blushed a little, gazing into Charlie's eyes. She so desperately wanted to believe that what Charlie thought of her was true.

Next time… Charlie and Joey get closer during a heart to heart about love…