Sorry for the delay with updates, I've been really busy as of late.
Thanks for the brilliant reviews and support, I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
x-x
Chapter 38.
Charlie pulled her cardigan around herself tighter as she walked down the beach. The cold, evening air assaulted her as she walked to her meeting place to talk to Brax.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw him sitting on the sand, looking down as his hands sifted through chunks of sand, he looked utterly broken.
"Hi," Charlie spoke softly as she sat down beside him.
"Charlie," Brax turned his head swiftly at the sound of her voice, "I eh- I didn't think you'd come."
"I wasn't going to, but I guess I'm here now."
Brax nodded, smiling lightly as she shivered, "Are you cold?"
Charlie nodded, Brax shuffled closer to her, and extended his arm towards her, ready to wrap it around her, but Charlie shook her head and moved away, "No, Brax."
"I was just-"
"I know," Charlie interrupted, "But still... no."
Brax sighed lightly as he withdrew his arm and returned to his previous position, "I got the bag you left on my doorstep."
Their eyes met as he spoke, "Why did you give it to me? Why not keep it?"
"I didn't buy the stuff for me, I bought it for you. It just reminded me of things that you've done, so I didn't want to keep it."
"Natalie was just a meaningless mistake, Charlie, you know that. I didn't lie to you when I told you I had no feelings for her."
"Brax, that clearly isn't true." Charlie shook her head and exhaled lightly, "To sleep with someone, you have to feel something towards them."
"I don't know what, Charlie. But I promise you, it's you I want, it's you I love."
"Please- don't say that," Charlie pleaded with him.
"Say what? That I love you? Because I do, I love you."
"You say that, but you have a funny way of showing it."
"Why?" Brax snapped, "Because I made a stupid mistake? Don't wreck what we have, Charlie- don't."
"I can't understand how I'm wrecking this when you are the one who kissed my best friend, and then slept with someone else?"
"Quit blaming me, Charlie."
"BUT IT'S YOUR FAULT!"
"Are you telling me you've never made a mistake?"
"Oh, plenty. Falling for you was one of them."
Brax inhaled sharply, "Jeez, Charlie, thanks a lot."
Charlie sighed as she ran her hands through her hair, "I can't believe this has happened," she whispered.
Brax glanced in her direction before focusing his gaze back on the sea.
The couple sat in silence for a few minutes, Charlie soon began playing with the buttons on her cardigan.
"Why are you nervous?" Brax asked, gazing in her direction again.
"I'm not."
"You are, you always do this when you're nervous," Brax replied softly, running his fingers across Charlie's hands which stopped playing with the buttons upon his touch.
"I miss you," Charlie whispered as she gazed into his eyes, "So much."
"I miss you too," Brax sighed as he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her temple, "I'm so sorry for everything, Charlie, I don't know what else to do, I don't know how to show you I'm sorry."
"You can't," Charlie shook her head as her eyes filled with tears again, she pushed Brax's hand away as she wiped away her tears that had now began to cascade down her cheeks, "Do I not deserve better than to be cheated on and lied to?"
"Of course you do," Brax agreed, "But Charlie, I didn't mean to hurt you like that."
"I know, but it still happened, and I'm hurting, badly."
"So am I."
"Somehow, I think you'll cope," Charlie spat.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Charlie shook her head.
"Please, Charlie, let's have another go at this."
"Brax, do you actually have any idea how it feels to be cheated on? To be lied to by two of the most important people in your life?"
"Nah, I don't."
"Then don't force me into this, because I can't guarantee it's going to happen, I'm not sure if it ever will."
"So I don't mean enough to you for you to fight for us?"
"Nah," Charlie shook her head, "You mean more," she answered sincerely, looking him in the eyes as she spoke.
"Charlie, I don't want you anymore, I need you, and I can't let you go without a fight, I won't."
Charlie felt her heart warm at his words, butterflies rose in her stomach at the same time, but she refused to let herself trust Brax again, "You have to, because I hate you, and it's time to stop fighting now because I can't be in this position again, it hurts too much."
"Charlie-"
"Brax, I've hated the past few days, I'm still hurting and I'm still angry... please." Charlie begged.
Brax ran a hand through his hair, thinking for a minute before he nodded reluctantly.
"I want to stop fighting with you. You're right, these past few days, you've been someone else, someone so hateful and cruel, and I don't want to be the person that made you feel that way."
"I hate feeling like this," Charlie muttered.
"I know you do." Brax smiled lightly, running his hand gently across Charlie's cheekbone before he took her hands in his.
"Please stop hurting me," Charlie whispered as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
Brax couldn't help but feel angry with himself at the state someone he loved so dearly was in, and it was his fault, all his fault, "I know I've fucked up, I know there's no going back from this- it's too much for you to handle, and I can accept that. I just want you to be happy, because you deserve it."
"You do too," Charlie smiled as Brax squeezed her hands before brushing away her tears.
"You okay to get home, or shall I walk you?" Brax asked as he stood up, Charlie following suit.
"I'm okay, I have the car," Charlie smiled up at him as they made their way up the hill, towards the car park.
Brax sighed as they reached the car park, they stood at Charlie's car in silence, before Brax spoke up, "Goodbye, Charlie."
Charlie watched as he turned around and began walking away from her, "Brax!" she called after him.
Brax turned around and smiled as Charlie bounded toward him and fell into his embrace, "I'll miss this," she whispered as she placed a kiss on his chest, breathing in his scent as she nuzzled her body further into his.
"I will too," Brax sighed, watching as Charlie stepped out of his arms, she flashed him a gentle smile before leaning closer, smiling as her lips met Brax's in a soft kiss.
"I have to go," she whispered as she pulled away, gazing into Brax's saddened eyes, she ran her hand across his cheek, placing a final kiss on his lips before she got into her car and drove off.
x-x
-2 days later.-
"So mum, you and Brax seem much happier than you were a few days ago," Ruby began conversation with her mother as she picked up her bag and keys.
"Yeah, we managed to sort things out the other day, Rubes, so things are much clearer between us."
"Just friends?" Ruby clarified.
"Yes," Charlie nodded, somewhat sadly at the prospect of her relationship with Brax being officially over, "So, where's Casey taking you tonight?"
"Out for dinner is all I know," Ruby smiled, "Do I look okay?"
"No," Charlie answered sternly, "You look much better than okay, you look drop-dead gorgeous." Charlie grinned proudly at her daughter and kissed her temple, "I'm heading out, will you remember to lock up?"
"Sure, see you tomorrow."
"Yea, night, honey." Charlie flashed her daughter a smile before she picked up her keys and exited the house.
x-x
Charlie ended up walking to her favourite bar just outside of Summer Bay. She knew it would be pretty quiet and peaceful in the late evening.
Charlie sighed as she sat at one of the booths; she was on her second glass of wine only, when she looked up to see a tall, handsome male approach her. She did want to get her life back to normal as soon as she could, but whether that meant getting involved with other men and starting new relationships yet, she wasn't sure.
"Hi," the stranger smiled warmly at Charlie.
Charlie couldn't help but smile back at him, he had an infectious smile, and he was incredibly good-looking. He was tall, fairly well-built, he had dark hair, similar to Charlie's, and striking brown eyes.
"Hi," Charlie replied, watching as the man before he gestured to the seat opposite her.
"Is anyone sitting here?" Charlie shook her head, "Are you waiting for someone?" Again, Charlie shook her head, "Do you-"
Charlie was quick to cut him off, whilst trying to stifle her laugh at the same time, "You can just sit down."
"I'm Liam," the man smiled, offering his hand to Charlie.
"I'm Charlie," Charlie smiled back at him, shaking his hand and watching as he sat down.
"So, what brings you in here on a Friday night, haven't you got a boyfriend to be out with, or a girly night in, or something?"
Charlie laughed, thinking of how ironic it was that she had most recently lost her boyfriend and her best friend, "Nah, just all on my lonesome tonight. How about you?"
"Pretty much the same," he shrugged before taking a sip of his beer.
"I should probably get going soon," Charlie announced as she put on her jacket.
"Already? I just met you."
"Walk me home then?" Charlie suggested, smiling at the look of alarm etched across his face.
"Sure," he grinned at her, draining his beer before he stood up, "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," Charlie smiled as she stood up and made her way out of the bar, Liam following close behind.
x-x
"Wow, so you've had a handful of a week," Liam exhaled heavily as he walked down Charlie's road toward her house with her.
"Tell me about it," Charlie laughed lightly as she rummaged through her pocket for her keys, "Thank you for walking me home," she smiled sweetly at Liam as she stood on her doorstep.
"It was my pleasure," Liam smiled, "I'd like to see you again, Charlie," he admitted sheepishly.
"I'd like to see you again, too." Charlie smiled up at him, "You have my number, so just call me whenever you want.
"Okay," Liam nodded, "Enjoy the rest of your night."
"Thanks, you too." Charlie smiled, leaning on her tip-toes, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek, bidding him goodnight before she walked into her house.
x-x
Brax walked down Charlie's road with a smile on his face, he had a bottle of wine in one hand, a DVD and takeaway in the other.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Charlie kiss another man's cheek.
He stood still for a minute longer, trying to comprehend what he had just seen, before he turned on his heels, and made his way back home.
x-x
Charlie smiled as she sat outside the Surf Club with Heath, each of them drinking a juice as they caught up with each other.
"I had a talk with Brax a few days ago," Charlie muttered as she ran her fingertips around the rim of her cup of juice.
"Ah yeah? How'd that go?"
"It was really good," Charlie beamed, "We're in a good place right now, we're friends."
"Well, that's good," Heath nodded.
"I think you should sort things out between you and him."
"I can't, Charlie."
"You need him, Heath. You boys help each other through anything and everything, so you really need each other, you can't afford to lose him."
"He really stuffed up, Charlie."
"I know, Heath, but it's not worth holding a grudge. Trust me, I tried to live without him and I can't because he means too much to me."
"I'll think about it," Heath sighed lightly, he frowned when he looked up at Charlie to see her smiling to herself, "What are you grinning about?"
"Nothing," Charlie answered quietly, a light, rosy glow spreading across her cheeks.
"Charlie," Heath prompted.
"I met somebody last night," Charlie bit her lip as she looked up at Heath, "He's so lovely."
"Where'd you meet him?"
"At a bar, he ended up walking me home too, and I told him about Brax too."
"What'd he say to that?" Heath asked.
"He just acted so nice and supportive."
"Are you two going to start something?" Heath smiled lightly.
"I'm not sure," Charlie giggled softly, "He just seemed so nice, I'm looking forward to seeing where things could possibly go."
"Well, go for it, you deserve to be happy." Heath grinned.
x-x
Charlie sat at home on the couch later that day, reading a magazine when a knock on the front door interrupted her, "It's open, come in!" she called, she looked up and smiled widely as Brax walked into the room, "Hey, you."
"Hey, is Ruby home?" Brax asked as he sat on the arm of the couch, looking down at Charlie.
"She's having a shower," Charlie raised an eyebrow questioningly as she looked up at Brax.
"Well, I was wondering f I could take her out... spend time with her, if you're okay with that."
"Yeah, it sounds perfect," Charlie grinned up at him.
They both turned and looked up when Ruby walked into the living room, "Hey, Brax."
"Hey kid, I was wondering if you wanted to come out with me?"
"Where?" Ruby frowned.
Brax shrugged, "I don't mind, you choose, I just thought maybe we could hang out."
"Okay," Ruby nodded, smiling widely, matching her mother's, "I'll just grab my stuff."
Charlie smiled up at Brax once again before she commenced reading her magazine, thinking maybe everything could work out well after all.
x-x
Just to clarify, in case any of you are confused: the Liam in this story is most certainly not Liam from the show, he's just a made-up character.
And just in case you're thinking things are plain-sailing from this chapter, I'm giving you advance warning now that they're not, my big idea is still left to come!