Chapter 14

Joey stood in the kitchen overseeing her culinary creation. She had decided to make Moroccan chicken with side salad for them. She knew Charlie would love it. She had made a spicy mixture of turmeric, cumin, garlic, ginger, a little curry and some hot chilli to flavour the chicken before transferring it all to the frying pan. The pan sizzled, making her feel even more hungry than she already was.

Charlie was still upstairs changing into the outfit she had set out. Even though she knew she was spending a night in on the sofa, she still wanted to look her best for Joey. This was their last night together at the beach house and she wanted it to be special. Then again, every night was special when she was with Joey.

Joey transferred the chicken to the oven for the final ten minutes of cooking. She was pleased with the way it was turning out. Charlie would be impressed for sure. She quickly tidied the worktop and went upstairs to freshen herself up for their night of ... watching a movie!

Charlie greeted her as she entered the bedroom.

"Wow", Joey exclaimed, her eyes widened – her jaw dropped. Charlie looked amazing. She was wearing a beautiful red halterneck top and white three-quarter length jeans. "Wow", she said again.

She blushed, then posed a little. "You like?"

"Wow", said Joey again before realising the limiting effect Charlie was having on her vocabulary. "You look gorgeous", she added.

"Thank you", Charlie said shyly.

Joey felt like the luckiest woman in the world. The most beautiful person she had ever know, inside and out, was standing right in front of her – dressed to kill. And better than that – she was going to be undressing her later. Life can't possibly get any better than this, she thought!

She entered the bathroom to freshen up. When she emerged she applied some make-up and changed into something comfortable to wear that evening. She chose cream slacks and a matching vest top with embroidered design. Charlie watched at her as she sat brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She suddenly felt a flutter between her legs - it almost took her by surprise. No-one had ever made her feel like that before and she began to consider that maybe she hadn't ever really been straight at all!

Joey stood up, turned around and looked at her. "You look beautiful", Charlie said, smiling at her warmly. Joey came close to her. They took each others hands in their own, fingers caressing fingers.

"I...", Joey began, whispering, "I..."

Charlie knew the words that were coming. She felt it. She searched Joey's expression, waiting eagerly to hear the remaining two of those three little words everyone loves to hear.

"I ... I ... have to go take the chicken out of the oven now ... it'll be burnt if i don't", Joey said, ending her sentence with a cheeky smile.

Charlie slapped her arm playfully. Joey kissed her on the cheek and walked out of the room, but not before glancing back and blowing her a kiss.

"Hmph ...", retorted Charlie with just as much mischief in her voice, "you can keep your damn kisses!"

Joey laughed as she descended the stairs.

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They sat at the dining table together. The lights were set low. Joey had bought wine for them and had laid the table, making sure to place a single candle in the middle, surrounded by some flowers from the garden.

"Where did you get time to do all this?" Charlie asked. She was impressed.

"Well I had plenty of time ... I know how it takes you ages to get ready for anything."

Charlie's mouth fell agape, her eyes widened. "It does not!" she protested - at the same time she was amused. Perhaps there was a little bit of truth in it.

Joey giggled. She was teasing – again.

"This is delicious, by the way ... thank you," Charlie said. "Where did you learn to make it?"

"I spent some time in North Africa", Joey explained.

"No kidding!"

"Yeah ... I was in Marrakech for about 9 months. Moroccan food is fantastic."

"Yes I'm starting to get that", Charlie said as she took another sip of her wine.

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After they had finished their meal, and their bottle of chardonnay, they cleared their dishes and moved to the living room. The sofa looked very inviting. It was huge. Plenty of room to roll around on it! Joey picked up the DVD boxes.

"Okay ... so what are you in the mood for?", Joey said as she held up the There's Something About Mary DVD box, "... Cameron Diaz with sperm in her hair... or"

Charlie burst out laughing.

"or ... a scary group of satanic pensioners?", she continued, holding up the other box.

"Lets go with the geriatrics", said Charlie. "If it's as good as you say it is ... then I'm gonna be glad to have you here ... to hide behind!"

"Trust me ... you'll love this movie", Joey reassured her.

She loaded up the DVD player and found the switch to illuminate the projection screen. She switched on the sound system and turned down the lights.

They climbed onto the sofa together and sat close. Joey put her arm across the back of the sofa behind Charlie. Charlie took Joey's hand in hers. It was the first time they had relaxed together like this, as a couple. It was so comforting to them – reassuring. Their cuddly friend sat happily at the other end as the creepy theme tune of the horror flick began to echo around the room.

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The movie was halfway through. Charlie was sat upright, her body rigid – holding Joey's hand tight. The expression on her face reflected her feelings of horror and dread at that moment. The scene showed a group of very old, very wrinkly and very naked people, standing around a bed – chanting as the devil was 'getting to know' poor Rosemary. Some of the old ladies' nipples were in perfect horizontal alignment with their bellybuttons.

"I think I'm gonna be mentally scarred for life after this", Charlie said, not taking her eyes of the screen for even a second.

Joey smiled, remaining silent as Charlie got her first taste of the terrors that were soon to come. Charlie pulled Joey closer to her, and put her arms around her, their faces cheek-to-cheek as they watched more.

To be continued ...