Sitting in the diner opposite Charlie, Joey feels a torrent of peculiar feelings rush over her.
She notes a crazy wish to turn and run; which battles dangerously along side, a deep desire to lunge across the table and let her fingers run delicately, over Charlie's soft skin.
Feeling awkward, inadequate and childish, Joey glances over at Charlie, she finds Charlie returning the look.
Joey smiles and turns in confusion; ashamed of her thoughts.
She's concerned her face will give something away.
Her feelings for Charlie are strong.
***
Sitting in the diner opposite Joey, Charlie feels a torrent of familiar emotions rush over her.
She notes her sensible side tell her to take things slowly, which battles mildly along side, a deep desire to lunge across the table and let her fingers run delicately, over Joey's soft skin.
Not feeling as confident as she would like, Charlie glances at Joey, she finds Joey returning the look.
Charlie smiles and turns in excitement; thrilled at her thoughts.
She's concerned her face will give everything away.
Hey feelings for Joey are strong.
***
Sitting there, Joey is immensely surprised that her deepening thoughts of Charlie do not shock her.
Enjoying the curious new sensations, she feels honest, she feels natural, she feels beautiful.
Then the thought wanders slowly to her, 'is this what I've been feeling is missing in my life?'
She sits quietly, lets everything swirl freely in her mind.
She is unsure how to process everything or what to do.
Distracted and drifting, absently pushing food around her plate, she is embarrassed to feel her conversation with Charlie is stilted and lame.
It's her sudden ringing phone that startles her back to the moment.
***
Looking at the screen, a long sigh escapes her lips.
"Sorry" she looks at Charlie, "I should really take this"
Charlie nods and watches longingly as Joey heads for the door. Then laughs softly to herself as Joey and Ruby bump into each other.
"Sorry" they both say in unison
Without looking up, Joey steps through the diner door.
Ruby, spots Charlie, waves and heads straight over.
She lets herself fall loudly into the booth opposite Charlie. The seat still warm from Joey.
"Hey Charlie. What's going on?"
Charlie drags her eyes from the empty doorway, back to the table.
"Charlie! I know that look" Ruby's eyes flick in the direction of the door and immediately back to Charlie; "Charlie, no?" the words explode from Ruby as she leans across the table, then whispers, "You know she's not gay?" Ruby's eyes flick again "Oh my god Charlie? No! Joey just broke up with her boyfriend before she moved to the Bay"
Charlie feels her face fall, she can't stop it, "Yeah, I kind of figured" she hears the words fall feebly from her lips.
"Oh my god, Charlie; you really like her!"
"Ssh, Ruby, keep it down" Charlie becomes very aware Joey could be back at any moment, leaning closer to Ruby; "You didn't tell her I was gay, did you Rubes?"
"No Charlie. Believe it or not, as surprising as it may be, talking about your love life is not my top priority. Why?"
"No reason. She just seems a little nervous and distracted around me, that's all. Maybe I'm just reading too much into everything, you know still aware of the towns reaction to Emily and I. Don't worry about it."
***
"Hey Ruby. Sorry for knocking you on my way out before." it's Joey as she falls back into the booth next to Ruby.
"Don't worry about it." Ruby says shrugging it off, then gesturing to the phone still in Joey's hand, "Important call?"
"Important? No. Not really." Joey's eyes dart about anxiously, she is very much aware of her inability to look at Charlie or keep her eyes away from her; "It was Josh."
Ruby feels her eyes tear protectively towards Charlie, she has immediately recognized the name; "Josh? What did he want?"
Charlie feels the floor fall from under her once again, "Who's Josh?"
She is absolutely sure she doesn't want to hear the answer but is unable to stop herself asking.
"My ex." Joey's eyes are downcast, they can't leave the table. Her very recent thoughts of Charlie are now colliding violently in her mind with thoughts of Josh. She feels a massive rush of confusion, feels it weigh down on her.
Ruby watches as Charlie's shoulders slump, "What did he want Jo?" the question is a little pleading, Ruby does not like to see her sister hurting.
"Um, he, um" Joey feels her words struggle, "he, wants to come down and talk."
"Do you want him to?"
"I don't know Ruby. I hadn't really thought about it. I mean, I haven't even spoken to him since I arrived." Joey feels confusion weigh heavily on her, "I mean, there have been so many other things on my mind recently. I don't know what I want." Joey hears her words, they sound a little anxious, she is acutely aware Charlie is at the table.
"Do you still love him?" The question almost squeaks from Charlie's dry throat.
Joey looks suddenly, directly, at Charlie, "No. No I don't think so" she becomes lost in the pools of Charlie's blue eyes. "Sorry, I have to go."
Standing, Joey drops some money on the table and hastily leaves the diner.
Ruby and Charlie stare after her.
"Charlie, Charlie? Are you OK?"
Feeling like she has just been hit in the stomach, Charlie turns to her sister,
"Yeah Rubes, yeah, I'll be fine" her words are unconvincing. She reaches across the table, strokes Ruby's arm. "Let's go hey?"