Charlie sat at her desk, strumming her fingers impatiently as she stared at the clock, watching it inch agonisingly slowly towards 4:30pm. Finally the hand beat its war against gravity and Charlie was up like a shot and out of the office. She was desperate. She needed to see Joey. She couldn't bear it any longer. From the moment she had kissed her good bye this morning Charlie had felt a dull ache in her heart, which only intensified as the day wore on. All day she had ached for Joey, she longed to see her smile, kiss her lips, holds in her arms and feel her warmth. Every minute of the day she had pined after Joey like a love struck teenager, hoping with every call out she might catch a glimpse of her on the street. But there had been no such luck, as they had been run off their feet helping out with issues down at Yabby Creek. She even had to eat lunch on the run which had meant no trip to the diner, where she secretly hoped Joey had been waiting for her, just as much a love struck wreck as she as. Then to further rub salt in her wounds everywhere she went in the afternoon she saw couples. The longing and frustration had finally gotten the better of her; she needed Joey to know how much being apart was killing her. So she had sent her a message, simply stating that she missed her, hoping that everything she was feeling right now would travel to Joey along with the message. That had brought relief from her heartache for only a moment because Joey replied instantly with I miss you too xo which had caused Charlie's heart to explode with love and longing, which caused the ache in her heart to burn white hot. But finally she was free, or so she thought. "Hey Senior Constable just before you head off I need to talk to you about Joey Collins" yelled out Constable Dave.
Charlie stopped dead in her tracks, the blood rushing from her face, and a blind panic caused her hands to shake. Did he know? How could he know? Did everyone know? Did Ruby tell people? Is he going to be disgusted to? I can't deal with this! Charlie turned slowly to face her collegue, managing to mask her emotions behind a quickly constructed mask. "Ah... sorry Constable... Joey Collins? What about her?" Charlie's heart was racing with fear and insecurities and she felt like a deer caught in the headlights. "Just wanted to let you know a date has been set for the trial, it'll be in 3 months time. I just wondered if maybe I could sit in on this one, I'm just aching to get some court experience!?" Charlie felt dizzy as the relief was over her. "Ah of course... I can't see that being an issue. See you tomorrow."
Charlie made a hasty exit but she didn't make it far from work before she had to stop and brace herself against a tree, as another round of dizzying emotions washed over her, this time it was guilt. She had just panicked. If she was truthful with herself she had just been embarrassed, ashamed of their relationship and she was pretty certain she would have denied it. Charlie felt so guilty for betraying Joey like that, for not having the strength to love her openly. Would she ever be ready? Would she ever be able to be with Joey in public? Would she ever be able to put what she wanted first before the opinions of others? Only two nights ago she thought she had freed herself enough to be able to face people, but ever since Ruby had left she just wasn't sure. The one person she thought who would support her had made her feel like loving Joey was wrong, unnatural, a lie and a silly phase, and this had just forced her back to hiding her love. Why couldn't she be as strong as Joey?! When they were together everything was amazing, it was right. But how would she feel if they walked down the street together holding hands? Would she be embarrassed?! Charlie felt another stab of guilt wrench her heart as she realised that yes she probably would be. Charlie felt the frustration begin to rise in her. Why shouldn't people be happy for them? Why should she be made to feel embarrassed or ashamed to hold the hand of the one she loved? She loved Joey, she wanted to be with Joey, its their decision not anyone elses yet why didn't it feel that way? Charlie stood there for a few moments resting her head on her arm against the rough bark of the tree. She breathed deeply, trying to calm all the swirling emotions. She found herself starting to chant Joey's mantra in her mind "I'm here, I'm not letting you go, I love you, it will be okay". She wished she was in Joey's safe arms, protected from the world. She wished she could just hold her in her arms and kiss her endlessly, her heart filled only with love and happiness again. Slowly but surely Charlie began to feel the ache for Joey return to her heart, its intensity banishing all her demons for now. She needed Joey.
Charlie came rushing into the house madly, the need to kiss Joey, to tell her she loved her, to be reminded of how right being with her felt causing her to yell like a crazy person. "Joey are you here!?!?!? Joey?!" Charlie ran into the lounge room and stopped dead in her tracks when Joey came running from the bedroom. She was beautiful. She was real. She was here. Charlie felt love explode in her heart at the sight of Joey, everything else forgotten. They ran to meet each other, smilling like lunatics. Charlie wrapped her herself in Joey, burying one hand in her hair the other around her waist both acting to pull Joey as close as possible, their lips crashing together. They devoured each other madly, a day of longing finally finding release. "MMM god I'd mmmmm missed. Mmm you Charlie mmm" Charlie laughed between kisses at just how gorgeous and cute Joey was. "MMMmmmhm I missed mmm you more mmmm Joey" Charlie felt Joey suddenly pull out of the kiss, a mad grin on her face, and before Charlie knew it she was being tickled crazy. "Oh no you didn't! I totally missed you a hundred times more!! I walked around town the entire day just to catch a glimpse of you! So I win!!" Charlie could hardly breath from all the laugher, her eyes watering. Unable to get a tickle of her own in edge wise Charlie resorted to grabbing Joey in a big bear hug, locking her arms by her side and dragging her to her room. "You are going to regret this missy!! I watched the clock all day waiting till I could see you again; I practically bore a whole in it with my stares. I missed you 1000 times more!" Charlie pushed Joey back on the bed before climbing atop her and launching her own tickle attack until Joey was red in the face. Flopping back down beside Joey, Charlie continued to laugh with joy as she was overcome with happiness and love; she hadn't felt this crazy and carefree in years. "I love you Joey" she whispered as she drapped herself over half of Joey, entwining her leg with Joey's. "I love you too Charlie" whispered Joey capturing Charlies lips with her own. Charlie felt herself drown in the kiss, the world around her melting away until it was just her and Joey, making out like teenagers without a care in the world.