Hi everyone. I'm just updating very quickly. There's been a family emergency so I have to rush home. I had a chapter ready so I thought I'd update quickly before I left. I will try to update when I get free time but it'll probably be sporadic over the next however long. IJKS xxx

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sitting at home, Charlie and Hugo watched some mindless comedy together. Hugo was in pain and winced every time he moved. Being trapped at home for three whole days had been difficult for him. He was used to being out and about all day in the open air, enjoying sea breezes. The next couple of weeks were going to be horrible. At least he had Charlie to keep him company in the evenings, although unfortunately she had to go to work during the day. Apparently Mandy had offered to look in on him and make sure he was alright but he didn't want pity visits, especially not from Charlie's friends. He'd probably call Roman or Miles or someone later in the week and see if they wanted to come round for a beer or something, if he was allowed one, but other than that, all he wanted was Charlie.

"Hey, I uh... I have to work late on Wednesday," Charlie said.

Hugo looked up sharply, silently outraged.

"You have to work late?" he queried.

"Just an hour," she said. "I'm starting study sessions with a student. You know, like I did last term?"

Charlie's heart was racing. She didn't know if she was impressed or disgusted by how easily she could talk about conducting her affair right under his nose.

"Well, can't it wait until I'm better?" he asked.

"Not really," Charlie said. "That's a minimum of two weeks and it'll really cut into the term."

"Is it the same girl?"

"Yes."

"Why are you giving her extra tuition anyway? I thought she was your star pupil," Hugo remembered.

She silently cursed him for remembering the one thing she'd prefer him not to.

"It helps her study," she said.

"I heard she's a dyke," Hugo said. "Have you ever thought she's playing you and she's just using study sessions to spend more time with you?"

"Hugo, don't be ridiculous," Charlie said quickly. "And don't call her that with that tone of voice."

He shifted to face her, wincing as he did so.

"Charlie," he said, taking her hands in his. "I'm stuck here at home all day and it's driving me crazy already. Please don't stay later. I need you to get home as soon as you can. Please?"

***

The music was particularly loud when Joey, Aden, Shane, Angel, Chris and Philip entered the house party. Joey hadn't been keen on attending at first. Dating a teacher meant that she found a sudden need to behave and be better at school. Partying on a school night at the house of a well known raucous student was possibly not the brightest idea she'd ever had but then, she wasn't known for being sensible. As she and her friends threaded their way through the party, she saw Shane and Angel clasping hands. Philip and Chris were doing the same. She felt a sudden and strong pang to be near Charlie. It would be a dream come true to be allowed to do normal things with her, to go to parties, hold hands, be seen out in public. She couldn't help but count down the months. With it nearing the middle of May, there were nearly exactly seven to go.

***

"Hugo, it's just an hour," Charlie said gently. "One hour and then I'll be home."

"But you'll already be gone for the whole damn day!" he complained, frustrated at her lack of compliance.

"Hugo, I have to go to work."

"I know. I know you do. I just hate being a fucking invalid. You're all I've got, Charlie."

His voice caught on her name. She felt bad for him. He was stuck at home all day, taking painkillers and attempting to shuffle around on a shark bitten leg and she was swanning around organising fumbles with her lover. Guilt stabbed at her.

"Well..."

She pictured Joey's crestfallen face on the boat when she'd thought Charlie was ending things between them. And she recalled her elation at them getting to spend a whole hour together on Wednesday. The poor girl was hardly asking a lot. No, she couldn't make her feel sad or rejected again.

"I'm really sorry, Hugo," she said. "This is important."

***

So far, the party was pretty fun and Joey was enjoying herself. The music was particularly good and she hadn't danced this hard in a long time. She shifted over when a girl from another group nudged into her. Smiling politely, Joey kept on dancing with Aden. The girl stepped back into her line of vision again and smiled. Joey smiled politely again and attempted to lose herself in the music, still daydreaming about the day she would get to go on nights out with Charlie.

"Hi," the girl said, extending her hand. "I'm Tina."

Joey shook her hand, introducing herself and Aden whose eyes nearly fell out of his head when he saw their new friend. She was stunning. Joey had already begun dancing again, turning to giggle over something with Shane and Angel. Aden smirked. Joey definitely had it bad if she hadn't even noticed that Tina was gorgeous and that she obviously interested in her. He decided to dance with her anyway, just on the off chance that she was bisexual and might like him if she couldn't have his friend.

***

"Aren't I important?" Hugo asked, gazing into his girlfriend's eyes.

"Of course you're important," Charlie said. "But it's only an hour and I don't want to let her down. Please, Hugo, don't make a fuss. I'll be home as soon as I can and then we can spend the evening together, okay?"

She felt a little anxious. He actually looked like he might cry.

"I just don't feel like I can cope without you," he said quietly.

"Hugo..." Charlie said softly.

He sank into her lap and began to cry quietly. Feeling tense and unused to a side to him she hadn't seen in all their years together, Charlie stroked his hair.

***

Tina danced with the new crowd and she couldn't tear her eyes away from Joey. She'd seen her round school and pretty much everyone knew who she was. The girl was practically infamous. And she was just as hot as Tina had decided from afar, now that she was up close. However, she'd expected to get more attention than this. It was her little boyfriend who seemed interested rather than the girl herself. Joey seemed to be away with the fairies, losing herself in enjoying the moment. She moved and caught hold of her hand. Joey offered another smile but let go and slipped over to wedge herself between Chris and his boyfriend. Shane and Angel exchanged glances.

"What is up with you?" Angel asked, leaning over to Joey.

"What?" her friend replied innocently.

"Haven't you noticed the very hot girl attempting to hit on you?" Shane asked a little too loudly.

"I'm just..."

Joey shrugged. Angel shook her head. Joey was usually elated when women hit on her and even when she wasn't interested, she still couldn't help but flirt and play a little. She'd shot Tina down in flames.

"Something is up with you," Shane concluded.

Joey shrugged again and continued dancing.

***

Hugo mumbled an apology into Charlie's lap.

"It's okay," she said, still rigid.

"I just... I guess the attack shook me up more than I thought," he lied.

He was shaken up but it had nothing to do with the sea. Charlie was gearing up to leave him, something he never thought she'd be strong willed enough to do. Every day since they'd arrived in Summer Bay, she'd been beginning to assert her independence and he didn't know how to make her stop and stay.

"It must have been terrifying," she sympathised.

"It was. I had no control over anything," he said, speaking more of the real situation than the fake one.

"But you're okay now, Hugo. Everything's okay."

He sat up and looked at her directly.

"I'm terrified of losing you, Charlie," he admitted.

She froze, uncertain of how to respond. He reached out and snuggled into her neck.

"I love you," he told her.

It was impossible to say it back. She didn't mean it. In some way, she knew she did love him. He'd been part of her life for a long time and he would always mean something to her. But she'd fallen out of love with him a long time ago and now she was falling wildly in love with Joey Collins.

***

Joey broke away from her friends in order to get a drink. She downed a plastic cup of lemonade and poured another.

"Thirsty?"

She turned to find that Tina had followed her.

"I've been dancing for like two and half hours straight!" Joey admitted with a grin.

Tina was pleased that she was getting a conversation out of her.

"Listen, I'm guessing you're not interested," Tina said, leaning a little closer, "but I thought I'd try my luck just one last time. I think you're stunning, Joey."

Joey blushed and sipped her second drink.

"So, are you seeing anyone?"

"No," Joey lied. "I'm being very single right now."

"Single as in living a wild life or...?"

"Single like a nun," Joey smirked.

"Disappointing," Tina said. "We could have been awesome together."

Joey smiled. The girl was beautiful but nobody in the world could ever compare to Charlie. She didn't want to look at or even think about another girl again. There was only room for one woman in her heart.

"Sorry, Tina," she said.

"Maybe when you leave the nunnery," Tina suggested.

"Yeah, maybe," Joey said, heading back over to her friends.

She had no intention of ever leaving Charlie if she could help it.

***

Hugo looked up and made eye contact with Charlie. He felt like it was the closest they had been a long time. He tilted his head forward to kiss her. She turned at the last minute and gave him her cheek. He sighed against her.

"Charlie..." he said. "It's been weeks since..."

He moved to cup her breasts and stroke her thighs. Charlie cringed. She didn't want anyone touching her but Joey. She held onto his hands and looked at him.

"Hugo, if you do anything like that, you'll blow your stitches," she pointed out.

"I'm sure we can work around it," he grinned. "You could just..."

He made a gesture as to what he'd like to happen.

"We'd best not get you too excited," she said.

Yawning, she gently moved out of his embrace.

"Look, let's just go to sleep," she suggested.

He glared at her, feeling rejected and irritated. He'd thought showing his emotional side would draw her into his arms but she was still holding him at arm's length. He wondered if she knew how much she had changed. Sighing, he allowed her to help him up and he followed her, limping to the bedroom ready for a platonic night's sleep.