Cheers for the fantastic reviews! =)
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Oniz197 - Not too long now! I figured out the perfect way for them to get together! =D
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Henriette76 - No worries! Thank you! My writers block has gone! *does little happy dance*
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Purplemonkeyys - Yeaaah...you speak sense...sometimes *grins*
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Thank you so much to my loyal reviewers! Love to you all!
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Sorry this chapter ends a bit sudden...but I felt the next chapter would flow more if I ended this one where I did.
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Enjoyyy!
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MissToastie
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Chapter Twenty Five :
Joey had spent the last twenty minutes calming herself down; she moved her head back from Dr Freedman's shoulder and blushed.
"I'm sorry about that"
"It's all good." Dr Freedman grabbed a few tissues from the box and handed them to Joey before standing up and taking a seat on her chair. "Joey, would you like to continue or would you prefer to make another appointment?"
Joey wiped her eyes, blew her nose and took a moment to think of the two options. "I'd like to continue now" Joey said with a small smile.
---
Charlie sat on a stool at The Diner's counter, chatting to Belle every time she wasn't rushed off her feet.
"So Ruby seems to think that Joey overheard what Paige had said and that's why she decided that the two of us should just be friends" Charlie said as she finished telling her best friend the events of last night and this morning, it only took 30 minutes.
"Sounds like Rubester is right" Belle said as she turned around to make Charlie her second cup of coffee. "Unless you were a dud in bed and Joey thought that telling you that the two of you would be better off as friends was an easy way of escaping a repeat performance" Belle grinned as she placed the coffee down on the counter.
"Ha ha, I highly doubt that!" Charlie paused "I swear it's hard to find someone to have a serious conversation with around here" Charlie frowned. "If it's not Ruby being cheeky, it's you or Aden and now conversations with Joey have turned into a laughing fest!" Charlie blew on her coffee and took a sip; moving her head back quickly and placing the cup back down on the saucer and breathed out. "It's friggen hot!"
"I'm sorry; did you order a cold coffee?" Belle laughed.
Charlie rolled her eyes and watched as Belle went to take the orders from the three customers who had approached the counter.
---
"So what happened to Emily?"
Joey took a deep breath and crossed her legs on the lounge chair. "One day I was out getting a few groceries as I had to make a meal for ten people, I came home and there was an ambulance van parked out the front of the house, I thought that there had been an argument between this couple who lived there, they'd always managed to get stoned off their face and beat the crap out of each other. As I entered the house, I saw Emily's older brother Shane sobbing over a body on the floor" Joey paused "It was Emily, apparently she over dosed on heroin. Shane tried to revive her, but he couldn't." Joey frowned "I've always been ashamed of this, but the moment I saw her lying there lifeless, I wasn't sad, I was actually happy that she was gone, it meant that I was finally free" Joey looked up at Dr Freedman "That makes me a bad person"
"It doesn't really make you a bad person Joey." Dr Freedman paused and smiled at the young girl sympathetically. "What Emily put you through was horrible, she tortured you and made you feel worthless and weak. You saw that she had died and you knew that you no longer would be forced to stay there and do all those things she forced you too. It doesn't make you a bad person for being happy that you were free, Joey, it's hard to be sad that someone has died when all that person did was put you through hell and treat you the way she treated you"
"I guess you're right" Joey nodded and thought back to what her Doctor had asked her earlier. "Charlie probably hates me for telling her we should only be friends"
"I doubt that Charlie hates you, Joey. She's probably confused and a little hurt"
"I should have told her what I overheard and gave her the chance to explain. Instead I didn't think and just told her what we had done was just a one time thing. I don't want it to be a one night thing. I really like her. I've never got along so well with anyone else like I have with Charlie, she's smart, beautiful, funny, kind and she makes me feel safe and wanted, I have never felt that. "Joey frowned."And now I've gone and made a date with Jenni. I don't even like Jenni like that."
"Is Jenni the young woman I saw talking to you in the waiting room? The new paramedic?"
Joey nodded.
"Why did you make a date with her when you have feelings for Charlie?" Dr Freedman asked as she wrote Jenni's name down in the file.
"I don't know" Joey mumbled. "I guess. I know that she likes me, so I knew she would say yes to a date, I just like that she makes me feel special, I don't understand why someone like Jenni would be interested in me"
"You seem quiet fond of her" Dr Freedman stated and watched as Joey yet again nodded. "She seems like someone you don't want to lose and I think that you using her would hurt her and you'd lose a friend"
"I'm not using her!"
Freedman gave Joey a stern look. "Because you like her in the sense to date her, right? And you wouldn't only be going out on this date with her because you hope she will make you forget about Charlie, right?"
Joey sighed. "I guess I am using her" She mumbled. "I don't want to use her. I don't want to lose her, she's a friend and they're something that don't come around that often, not for me anyway" Joey paused. "I should cancel the date, shouldn't I?" Joey asked.
"I personally think you should tell Jenni that it's not a date and explain to her what you just told me and then apologise and ask if the two of you could go out for a meal as two friends" Dr Freedman suggested.
"That sound's like a good idea" Joey smiled. "Thank you Dr Freedman"
---
"So when do you finish up here?" Charlie asked as Belle finished making coffee's for some customers and passing them to Colleen to take out.
"My last shift is tomorrow night." Belle frowned. "I'm going to miss this place, but it's time for a career change." Belle placed the empty milk bottle in the recycle bin underneath the counter. "I feel bad for leaving Leah and Roman in the lurch like this though"
"I'm sure they understand Belle, they're probably over the moon for you" Charlie smiled at her friend. "So does that mean there is a job going here?" Charlie asked as Leah walked out of the kitchen.
"Yeah it does, I'm just about to take the job notice down to the paper now" Leah smiled.
"I think I know someone who might very well be interested in taking the job"
"Ah yeah, you trying to get Ruby a job over the school holidays?" Belle laughed.
"No no, but that's a good idea" Charlie grinned. "No, I'm talking about Joey. She mentioned this morning that she was going to look for a job after her appointment today."
"Does she have any qualifications?" Leah asked.
"Err, I'm not too sure. I know she's good on a coffee machine and a really good cook and she carried the plates to Ruby and I the other night, and she didn't spill or break anything"
"Okay, well if you could ask her if she wants it, then that'd be great" Leah grinned and placed the job notice in her back pocket. "Just let me know by this afternoon in case she doesn't want it and I can take the notice to the papers for print tomorrow"
"Yeah, no worries" Charlie smiled as Leah walked off into the kitchen as Irene called out to her.
"Hopefully Joey will take the job" Belle said and looked up as Jenni walked in the doors behind Charlie. "Hey Jenni, how've you been?'
"Hey Belle, Charlie. I've been okay, flat out from work, I decided to pop in and grab a latte to go before I head home and catch a few z's until my dinner date tonight" Jenni grinned.
Belle turned around and began to make Jenni her latte.
"Dinner date? Oh, who's the lucky girl?" Charlie asked, making small talk. It's nice to make new friends Charlie and Jenni seems like a good person. Charlie told herself.
"Joey" Jenni simply replied. "She asked me this morning" Jenni said a little nervous as Charlie's face fell. Oh shit, please don't hate me Charlie; I think we could be good friends. Jenni thought.
"Oh" Charlie said sounding hurt. "Have a good night" Charlie smiled. So Joey doesn't muck around. Ouch. Well she did tell you she wanted to be friends Charlie, its better then nothing, right? Right! Charlie thought to herself.
"Thank you" Jenni smiled at Charlie and took the latte from Belle as she handed it to her "And thank you! Three fifty?" Jenni asked and Belle nodded with a smile. "Thanks' Belle, I'll see you two later, bye" Jenni said as she left The Diner.
"Argh!" Charlie said as she hit her head down on the counter top. "Sucks!" Charlie sulked.
"That'll teach you to be a dud" Belle said patting Charlie on the head. She knew full well that Charlie and Joey would end up together one day, and until then, she was going to tease Charlie as much as she could.
"I hate you" Charlie mumbled.
"I hate you too" Belle laughed and placed a kiss on the back of Charlie's head then continued serving customers.
---
Joey walked out of the hospital and down the road, it had been a long emotionally draining morning and Joey felt like she deserved a big reward in the form of a large milkshake and a big piece of cake. She headed in the way of The Diner and felt her mobile phone vibrate; she pulled it out her pocket. Three New Messages. She opened her phone and read the newly received one.
'Hey Jo, I'm bored. Come keep me entertained before I kill someone. Bring junk food. Good friend."
Joey laughed as she read the message and hit the reply button.
'Aww poor Aden! I'll be there in 15. Loads of junk food on the way. J x"
Joey sent the message and went to read the second message, it was from Charlie.
'Leah is looking 4 a new waitress as of Wed. If u r interested, let her know. x"
Oh! Excellent! That sounds like its right up my alley! I will ask Leah about it when I get to The Diner. Joey thought to herself and went to read the other message as she saw that too was from Charlie.
'Joey, we really need to talk, I think there's been a big misunderstanding. I hope the appointment with Dr Freedman goes well. Let me know when u want 2 talk. I have work from 10 til 6. Free after that. xx'
Joey looked confused and pressed the reply button.
'Okay, will let you know. Am a bit worried. Hope everythings okay between us? C u after work. Oh & thnx for the info about the job, fingers crossed! J x'
Joey sent the message and began to write a new one. 'Hey Jen, really need to speak with u, preferably b4 dinner, give me a text when I can pop around. It's important. Sleep well J x'
Joey looked up as she entered The Diner. It was just after 10am. "Hey Belle" Joey smiled as she walked to the counter. "How are you?"
"Joey, hi! Yeah not too bad, bit rushed off my feet this morning though" Belle paused and placed money in the till and handed the change back to the customer. "Did you get Charlie's text about the job offer?"
"Yeah I did, is Leah about?" Joey asked. "Yeah, she's in the kitchen, go on through" Belle said nodding her head toward the kitchen and smiled as Joey walked past her.
"Oh hey Joey! Are you here about the job?" Leah asked.
"Yeah I am, Charlie texted me and told me about it" Joey smiled and watched as Leah continued to prepare food.
"Yes well as you know, Belle is leaving and we need a new waitress, you know someone to take the orders, make the coffees, normal waitressy stuff" Leah spoke quickly.
"I know how to do all that; I worked in a cafe for just over a year. I know how to work a till as well" Joey smiled.
"Really?! That's fantastic news Joey! I'll speak to Roman and Irene about it but I'm certain they'll be fine with you starting!" Leah grinned and turned around, placing some meat in the oven.
"Thank you Leah! I'll let you get back to work" Joey smiled and wove goodbye to Leah. "Hey Belle, can I have two milkshakes to go and a mud cake please"
"Yeah sure, what flavour milkshakes?" Belle asked as she got the two containers out.
"Um, I'll have a strawberry and whatever Aden likes, I'm heading over to your place now, Aden texted me and said he was bored and told me to come around with junk food" Joey laughed.
"Ah that'll be right" Belle laughed. "So Banana milkshake for my main man" Belle started to get the milkshakes ready. "So I hear you've got a date tonight?"
Joey looked at Belle with a confused look. "How did you know that?"
"Jenni came in and told Charlie and I this morning"
"Charlie knows?" Joey asked. "Ah yeah, it's not really a date though. We're just two friends going out for a meal" Joey smiled and took a sip of her milkshake that Belle had placed on the counter. "Mmm yum."
"Oh okay then" Belle smiled. "So are you taking the job here?" Belle asked.
"Yeah, I mean if it's okay with Irene and Roman, then definitely!" Joey grinned hoping that it would be okay with the two as she really liked the idea of working at The Diner. The staff seemed friendly and everyone in Summer Bay seemed to go there at least once a day, it would be a good way to make new friends.
"They'll be fine with it! They'd be happy to have you on board" Belle smiled and handed her boyfriends milkshake to her and excused herself to the back of the kitchen to get a fresh mud cake. "The milkshakes are on the house but I'm afraid I have to charge you for the cake, we get them specially made" Belle smiled.
"Wow, thanks' Belle. Are you sure about the milkshakes though?" Joey asked and handed Belle the money for the cake.
"Positive! Have fun and tell Aden that I love him" Belle grinned and laughed as Joey rolled her eyes and left The Diner.
http://www .cosmopolitan. com. au /funfearlessfemale. htm
(without the spaces)
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