For jensy25 and shyrie – you both twisted my arm. I hope you enjoy the extra update. Thank you all for reviewing. It means so much to me, especially at the moment when life isn't proving so easy. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Eleven

The party was well underway by the time Charlie, Joey and Angelo arrived. Most of the locals had turned out and were intent on letting their hair down and having a good time.

"Do we have to be a group of three all night?" Angelo immediately complained.

He had been looking forward to keeping Charlie to himself at least for a little while.

"Angelo, don't start," Charlie begged.

Joey rolled her eyes. Spotting Aden and Nicole up ahead, she bid Charlie and Angelo farewell.

"Hey!" Charlie protested. "I thought I was going to be your bodyguard?"

"Angelo would throw me in the fire if I really let you," Joey said. "It's cool. I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

Charlie nodded, trying not to feel disappointed. But Angelo noticed her expression as she watched her friend walk away.

"I'm not that bad, am I?" he asked.

Charlie leant in and kissed him.

"Only if you really did stick her on the fire," she laughed.

Arm in arm, they headed off together, finding Martha and Jack chatting nearby with Tony and Rachel.

Joey picked her way through the crowd and approached Aden, Nicole, Ruby, Xavier, Geoff, Annie and Jai sitting together in a circle.

"Mind if I gatecrash?" she asked.

"Of course not!" Nicole said cheerfully, shuffling aside in order to make room.

"Thanks," Joey said.

Aden nudged playfully into her.

"Aren't you a little bit old to be hanging with the kids?" he teased.

"Aren't you?" Joey retorted.

"I'm only older than Nic by a year," Aden protested. "You're ancient!"

"I'm twenty five!" Joey said.

"Ancient," Ruby giggled. "Nearly as old as my big sister. Where is she by the way? You haven't left her with only Angelo for company, have you?"

"Are you criticising my beloved big brother?" Joey asked, rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't dare!" Ruby replied.

"It's hard not to when he makes it so damn easy," Joey remarked.

"Jo, can I ask you something?" Nicole asked seriously.

Joey offered her full attention and nodded but she was immediately unsure. She was not a fan of personal questions.

"Is the stuff between you and Angelo real or is it just banter?"

"On my part, it's just banter," Joey said. "Mostly. I don't really have much against the guy. I wouldn't exactly choose to hang out with him but he's alright I guess."

She shrugged.

"What about him?" Jai asked curiously. "Ruby said she's heard him be awful to you."

Ruby looked a little nervous in case Joey thought she had been gossiping.

"He doesn't like me," Joey confirmed.

"Why not?" Nicole asked. "You're awesome."

Joey blushed, feeling a little self conscious.

"I knew you liked me!" she teased.

"Desperately in love!" Nicole replied.

Charlie was having a nice time. She was still a little disappointed that Joey had chosen to hang out with her sister instead of her but she was glad at least that she'd come out and seemed to be having fun. Angelo crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned around in his arms and kissed him.

"What do you think about us sneaking off back to my place?" he suggested. "And with Joey busy with her mates, we can be as long and as loud as we like."

Charlie put her arms around his neck.

"It's tempting," she said. "But can we wait a bit?"

Angelo's heart sank.

"Why?" he asked.

"I'm just... having a good time."

"A better time that you and I would have a nice, big bed?" Angelo coaxed.

"Let's just wait half an hour or so?" Charlie said. "It's not often that there's a big community event like this. Can we enjoy it?"

Angelo sighed and let go of her, heading off to get another beer.

A little later, Joey had left the group in order to stretch her legs. She tentatively approached the bonfire, which was being safely manned by her new boss. She swallowed, gazing into the flames. Spotting Charlie standing alone out of the corner of her eye, Joey smiled and headed on over.

"Having a good time?" Charlie asked cheerfully.

"Yeah, it's been good fun," Joey replied. "You?"

"Yeah, it's good," Charlie replied. "Although I'm suffering abandonment issues."

"Where is the life and soul of the party anyway?"

"He's having an in depth conversation about boats with Jack," Charlie said. "I got bored."

"How could you get bored talking about boats?" Joey asked incredulously.

Charlie laughed.

"And anyway," the police officer added. "I wasn't talking about him."

Joey looked confused.

"I invited you to the party and there you go, running off with my little sister, leaving me all alone..." Charlie said melodramatically.

"With your boyfriend!" Joey pointed out.

"Still..." Charlie pouted.

Spontaneously, Joey hugged her. She drew away quickly and the contact surprised them both. Charlie had long since figured out that Joey did not do touching unless it was by accident. Charlie hadn't quite had the courage to ask but she was definitely curious as to how Joey even managed to have romantic relationships enough to upset her foster parents with this rule in place. But she hoped to ask about it one day.

"Want some company for a bit?"

"Of course," Charlie said.

They sat down on the sand together.

"Oh, hey, I got a job today," Joey said a little bashfully.

Charlie smiled.

"Yeah," she said. "Tony mentioned it. Well done."

"Thanks."

"He said you rescued Geoff on the weight bench," Charlie giggled.

Joey nodded.

"He got a little over excited," she said with a grin.

"When do you start?"

"Tomorrow," Joey said. "And I've been looking at rentals and stuff in the paper so hopefully I'll get to move out from Angelo's pretty soon."

Charlie turned to study her friend's profile, secretly admiring how beautiful she was.

"I'm glad you're sticking around, Joey," Charlie said. "I really like hanging out with you."

Joey smiled.

"I like hanging out with you too," she admitted. "And if I can be so bold, I'd be proud to call you my friend."

Charlie returned her smile. Joey rested her head on Charlie's shoulder for the briefest moment. Angelo stood close by, watching everything.

Next time... Charlie wonders if she is in the right relationship and Angelo goes too far...