Chapter Twenty-Nine
"I still think you're crazy," Ruby declared rather harshly.
Joey was already at work and Charlie and her sister were sitting down to breakfast before Charlie headed to the station and Ruby headed to school.
"You're playing with fire."
"Why?" Charlie asked.
"Playing Romeo opposite a Juliet who's so clearly in love with you?" Ruby exclaimed. "You're asking for trouble."
"Look, Joey and I know exactly where we stand with each other," Charlie said.
She wasn't lying exactly. Charlie and Joey knew exactly where they stood with each other. They were in love and exploring a new, exciting and somewhat nerve-wracking relationship. Charlie looked at her sister as she tucked into her cereal and was overwhelmed with the compulsion to reveal all to her sister. They had never had secrets before and she didn't like to have them now but she wasn't ready to tell yet.
"And has she admitted that she likes you?" Ruby asked.
"It's…" Charlie faltered.
She didn't want to make out that everything was one sided but she couldn't bear to share that she loved Joey too. But if she denied that there were any feelings at all, they'd be back to square one.
"It's complicated," Charlie said vaguely, hoping to push the conversation away.
Ruby shook her head and stood up.
"Playing with fire," she repeated, grabbing her bag and heading to school.
***
Charlie picked Joey up from work. Joey was surprised and delighted.
"What's all this in aid of?" Joey asked, strapping herself into the passenger seat as Charlie pulled away.
"I thought we could go out for the rest of the afternoon," Charlie said. "You don't mind, do you? Did you have plans?"
"No. Any time I get to spend with you is amazing," Joey confirmed. "Although I probably stink."
She sniffed the air and frowned. Pausing at a stop light, Charlie grinned and leant over to kiss her briefly. Joey dug around in her bag for some body spray. She opened the window so that she didn't gas them both while she tried to fix herself from a day's work. Joey sniffed the air again, not quite happy. She continued spraying. Laughing, Charlie snatched the spray away.
"You're fine," she assured her.
Joey settled.
"You're really, really fine," Charlie added under her breath, a smile playing on her lips and she thought back to the wonderful things she and Joey had been sharing recently.
Joey giggled and held her hand across the seat.
"So, where are we going?" Joey asked.
"Just out of town."
She refused to reveal anything more than that.
***
"You are the cutest person in the world ever," Joey declared.
Charlie had taken Joey to a small exhibit about the history of fishing and boating. It was far from the most interesting place Charlie could have ever spent her time but Joey was over the moon about the whole thing and that made Charlie happy. All she wanted was to bring some joy to Joey's life after such trauma.
"Mmm… well I don't know if that's true but if you want to believe it, I won't object," Charlie grinned.
She pulled Joey out of the way of the people milling around in the quiet street, wrapped her arms around her and kissed her gently on the mouth. Joey was overwhelmed. It was the first time they had ever kissed in public. It felt amazing. When they parted, Charlie looked surprised but calm and still very happy.
"Would you like to go for a walk along the beach before we head to dinner?" she asked.
"I would love to," Joey said.
Holding hands, they left the pavement.
***
Joey and Charlie walked along the sand hand in hand, listening to the surf and enjoying the sunshine.
"Are you nervous about the play?" Charlie asked.
They had been rehearsing together every day but it felt like a mountainous task to take on.
"Nervous?" Joey asked. "I'm terrified! I'm just glad we have ages until things start getting serious."
Charlie nodded.
"I'm proud of you, by the way," she said softly.
Joey shrugged, embarrassed. She looked down at her feet.
"I mean it," Charlie pressed on.
She stopped and turned to face Joey.
"I am so proud of you for everything."
"I've only joined a drama class," Joey said shyly.
"You have done so much more than that," Charlie insisted. "After everything you've been through, just to keep going like you have… it's amazing to me. You always say to me that I'm brave and strong and I've got you through but it's not really true. Your strength and your survival is what's got you through. You're so beautiful, so incredible, Joey. I feel very lucky to have you."
Joey couldn't stop blushing and she couldn't meet Charlie's gaze. Charlie lifted Joey's chin and silently begged her to make eye contact. Joey swallowed.
"I'm not… I'm not really all the things you've said I am…"
"You are. You're the hero in this piece, Joey."
"I wouldn't have coped without you," Joey insisted. "If you hadn't been so persistent in trying to help me, I'd probably still be hiding in my room afraid of my own shadow. I never would have pressed charges. Robbo would still be…"
She looked away. Charlie leant in closer.
"I'm glad I've helped," she said. "I want to take care of you."
"You do. You take good care of me," Joey confirmed.
Charlie captured Joey's lips with her own. Even the softest contact made them feel like the world was spinning. Wrapping their arms tightly around each other, their kiss continued.
