Having hardly slept at all, Charlie is outside the Surf Club early. Unable to relax, she nervously, quiet literally, bounces around.
***
Like an excited child she had spent the previous afternoon rehashing their conversation from the beach.
Her hands always involuntarily clapping, in some weird self-congratulatory action, whenever Joey's words 'utterly charming' came racing to her mind.
She had felt ridiculous but was unable to control herself.
Practically skipping around her room, she had spent forty-five minuets choosing her running outfit, then simply lain on her bed, in a pool of bliss. Fully aware she was thinking of nothing but Joey. Joey as she had stepped off the bus; Joey when they had run into each other at the diner; Joey outside the Surf Club, her arm around Aiden. Joey, Joey, Joey....
She had felt her body stir, a creeping need rising, with a rhythm all it's own.
It had been Ruby's gentle tap at her door, that put an abrupt stop to her fantasy.
"Hey Charlie. You OK?"
"Yeah. Why."
Looking intently for signs of anything, Ruby let herself flop down next to Charlie on the bed, "I don't know. You've just been a little snappy this week. Then, last night, you did drink, unusually, rather fast; I was just wandering what was going on, that's all."
"Nothing Rubes. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I would tell you if something was up." Charlie heard an uncomfortable squeak in her voice.
Gently, playfully, she pushed on Ruby's arm, wanting the conversation to end.
She was not sure how Ruby would react if she knew about her feelings for her friend.
***
Joey, on Saturday, arrived back at her caravan still giddy with emotions.
A smile still plastered to her face.
She had showered furiously, then thrown herself on her bed.
Hands to her head, exhaling loudly, Joey rehashed their conversation from the beach.
Confused and embarrassed, she heard again, and again, the flirtatious tone in her voice, remembered the nervous shuffle of her feet. Then from Ruby's dinner, came visions of Charlie: her piercing blue eyes and her long crossing legs.
Feeling curious and lightly tortured, Joey had lain there, watching herself, as she turned restlessly back and forth.
She had replayed the scene of Charlie's leg. Imagined watching again, as it unravelled from her car.
It was then, with wide eyes and the nervous flutter of butterflies, Joey felt the passion creep up on her, the sudden realization made her gasp.
She had rolled gently on her back. Allowed her arms to fall behind her head;
"Oh, my, god! I'm attracted to Charlie!" she listened quietly, staring blankly at the ceiling, as the words softly, questionably, whispered from her own lips.
Grabbing a pillow, Joey had smothered her flushed face, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" the words had not stopped coming.
***
Joey stops, as the Surf Club comes into view.
With weak legs, and a sharp intake of breath, she spots a bouncing Charlie. Yesterday's realization comes thundering back to her.
'Joey, you're being ridiculous,' she hears the voice in her head, 'we put all this out of our mind yesterday, remember? It's a silly girly crush. Charlie's not gay! You're not gay? Just breathe. Go for your run. It'll pass"
A moment later, Joey is standing next to a very still Charlie.
A Charlie that had abruptly stopped bouncing when she saw Joey approaching.
"Morning" Joey is unable to look at Charlie, she keeps her eyes out to sea.
"Hey. So which way?"
"You decide, I'll follow." Joey couldn't say anymore. Her eyes swing over Charlie's bare legs, she hears her heart, as it knocks in her chest.
***
An hour later, back outside the Surf Club, sweating and breathing hard, neither wants the other to go.
"I'm starved. Fancy getting breakfast?"
Joey, bent over, is catching her breath, she feels a smile at Charlie's words.
Finally standing she attempts not looking pleased with herself;
"Um; yeah sure." she hears her words as they head toward the diner.
Lightly walking behind Charlie, Joey feels a heat slowly mount to her face.
For the first time she lets her eyes wander.
'Stop it, stop it, stop it' she brushes the thoughts from her mind.