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Leah was shocked. Charlie was covered in bruises.

"Charlie… what happened?" whispered Leah.

Charlie seemed reluctant to tell.

"C'mon Charlie, this is me. You can trust me."
Tears filled her eyes.

"Joey."
"What about her?"
"She did this."
"What? Why?" Leah was appalled. She was shocked that Joey could do something like that.

"Things were rocky because I wanted to come back almost as soon as I got in the car but she wouldn't stop. Then we got to her house and she locked me in the bedroom. Eventually I agreed not to run. She let me out and I pretended to happy. But I was miserable. She took my phone, my wallet… she was prepared to do anything to stop me leaving. Then things started going bad with her work and she started drinking…" Charlie was crying now but she needed to tell somebody. "And one night she came home drunk and I wouldn't kiss her because she stank of alcohol. She… she went mad… she started hitting me and… calling me awful things… a-a-and it c-c-continued until l-l-last f-f-Friday w-when I r-r-ran… I stole some of h-her m-money and g-g-got on the first plane here."

"Oh Charlie…" Leah embraced her friend in a tight hug. She knew they needed to leave the beach as people were beginning to stare but Charlie seemed so fragile she couldn't bear to move her.

Finally Charlie stopped crying and they headed back to the house.

There they found Ruby.

"You!" she spat. Leah excused herself.

"Look I'm sorry-"

"You're sorry? Sorry? You think that's going to change anything?"

"No. and I know I hurt you but please I'm begging you please let me explain."

Ruby just nodded.

Charlie told her everything she had told Leah. Ruby melted almost instantly.

"Oh my God Charlie!"
It wasn't long before Ruby had forgiven her.

Meanwhile Leah goes over to Angelo's. She tells Brax everything. He is shocked and instantly rushes over to her house.

When he arrives he hears Charlie and Ruby talking. He steps into the room. Ruby excuses herself and there is an awkward silence.

"Look Leah told me what happened with Joey…"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"For pushing you towards her."
"It was my stupid mistake to leave with her."

"I know but I started it. And for that I'm sorry."

"Well then you're forgiven. Am I?"
"Yeah. But Charlie when you left you broke my heart. I can't go back there now. I'm sorry."

He left Charlie with a splintered heart.

Next Time

Joey comes looking for Charlie. Who will be caught in the crossfire? And what lengths will she go to get Charlie back?

Please review and let me know what you think!

And to anon () this is not a version of the story on as I have never been on !