Chapter Sixteen

Thanks to all of you who read (and reviewed) the previous chapter. This one's a little more… sedate lol.

It's time for some female bonding. And as you can see, this chapter introduces a certain messy haired young lady into the proceedings :)

Btw, please feel free to R&R. It's always helpful to hear what you guys think!

Paperheart18 x

Three weeks later

I miss you x

Charlie Buckton starred at the text message on her mobile phone. She smiled inwardly, as a huge grin spread across her face. Charlie was powerless to prevent herself from basking in the warmth the message conveyed thanks to just those three simple words. Three powerful words. Words that mirrored the desire and longing that Charlie felt in equal measures.

Charlie sighed as she took a sip of her coffee and glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. It was almost five in the afternoon and she wasn't due in to work for a good couple of hours. Thinking that she should probably try and russle up something for dinner, Charlie skulled what remained of her lukewarm latte and began to toy with her iPhone.

I miss you too x

As she texted back her reply, Charlie smiled to herself as the inevitable images of Joey Collins began to flood her mind. From Joey's gorgeous chocolate brown eyes that projected such warmth and sensitivity, to her cheeky endearing smile that betrayed a level of naughtiness that far exceeded her innocen persona. If she didn't know better, Charlie would have sworn for certain that the attractive brunette had been sent down from heaven to change her.

Sent from heaven to change you? What's the matter with you, Buckton? Are you getting soft in your old age? You never get this mushy over a girl. Maybe you're a bit under the weather… perhaps you're coming down with the flu or something.

"Earth to Charlie, come in Charlie."

Charlie was inadvertently and rather rudely distracted from inwardly scolding herself by the sudden appearance of her younger sister, Ruby. Crashing noisely into the kitchen, Ruby threw her backpack onto the kitchen counter. Walking over to the refridgerator, she pulled out a can of diet Coke before parking her backside on one of the kitchen stools opposite Charlie.

"So, when do I get to meet this girl?" Ruby said, before taking a sip of the cool freshing soda.

"What girl?" Charlie said, as she continued to flick through some text messages on her phone.

"The girl that's causing you to act all mushy and loved up." Ruby replied, with a knowing smile.

"Excuse me?" Charlie immediately turned her attention away from her phone to look directly at her sister.

"You know, Charles… loved up. Smitten. Glowing. In lurve."

"Don't be so ridiculous. I don't know what you're talking about, Ruby." Charlie scoffed.

"Really? Well, let's examine the evidence shall we, because you could have fooled me. First off, you're easily distracted. Secondly, you don't nag me about school or homework or chores. Third, you seem permanently attached to your mobile phone. And last but not least, you have had the same stupid cheesy grin plastered across your face for the last few days."

"No one likes a smart arse, Rubes." Charlie said, somewhat annoyed by her little sisters sudden declaration. Not to mention her ability to read her like a book.

"Sorry sis, but I can read you like a book. So what's her name?"

"Ruby…"

"On come on Charles, spill…where did you meet her? And, more importantly, when am I going to meet her?"

"Okay, just stop with the interogation, will you," Charlie sighed. "Look if you must know, her name is Joey, okay."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Good god, sis, you're hard work. What's she like?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I dunno Charles. Call it sisterly concern. I've been worried about you, you know, since…"

"Since?"

"Well, since… Kristen… and the funeral… I guess it's just nice to see you smiling, Charlie. You've not had the easiest ride so far this year. "

Charlie lowered her defenses and smiled at her sister. "There's really no need to worry about me, okay. I'm fine. Granted, Kristen's death has hit me hard. But Joey's been a real god send."

"So, what's this Joey like?"

"Rubes…"

"Humour me sis… please." Ruby said, pouting at her older sister.

"She's… she's… nice. There, okay, are you happy now?"

"Nice," Ruby groaned. "Judging from the smile that's been lighting up your ugly mug lately, I'd say she's a lot more than just nice."

"Ruby, you're freaking me out. Seriously, what's with the sudden interest in my love life?"

"You're my sister, Charles. And forgive me, but I'd kinda like to meet her. You know, give her the once over. Make sure she gets the Buckton seal of approval."

For an annoying little sister, sixteen-year-old Ruby had a pretty old head on her young shoulders. Charlie smiled as she studied Ruby. Her long messy curly hair was perhaps her most striking feature. Charlie had lost count of the number of times she'd teased Ruby about her tresses, liking them to a bird's nest, particularly first thing of a morning. Although they would fight and tease each other like typical siblings, theirs was undeniably not a typical relationship. After both their parents had died in a car accident almost two years ago, Charlie had taken on a kind of surrogate parenting role. Since that life-changing event, Charlie had taken over guardianship of her little sister. It hadn't been easy to begin with, suddenly forcing herself to take the leap from acting as a big sister to a hormonal fourteen-year-old teenager. But in time she'd learnt to balance her parental skills whilst continuing to play the equally pivotal role of a big, if somewhat overprotective, sister.

"So?"

"So… so she's… she's pretty awesome, Ruby. Just being around her makes the world seem like a better place. She has this way of getting underneath my skin – but in a good way. It's like sometimes, I have to pinch myself that she's real, you know? She almost seems too good to be true at times. I mean she's so lovely. I know it's a total cliché, but she's beautiful, from the inside out. And she's sweet, funny, genuine and…"

"So the total opposite of Kristen then…"

"Ruby. That's uncalled for."

"Sorry sis, but Kristen was two sandwiches short of a picnic. I don't know what you ever saw in her."

"Kristen… Kristen had her good points."

"Sorry Charles, but other than having a banging body…"

"Ruby," Charlie squeaked. Almost choking on her own words, she was somewhat intimidated by her sister's openness. "I don't think it's appropriate for my little sister to talk about my ex girlfriend's 'banging body'. Especially given the circumstances. So will you please stop."

"Okay," Ruby said, nonchalantly. "So does Joey have a banging body?"

"Ruby!"

"Come on Charlie, I just wanna know what's so special about this mysterious chick who's gone and gotten my sister all smitten."

"I'm not smitten."

"Really?"

"Really… oh, okay, yes, maybe I'm a little bit smitten. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic. So, on a scale of one to ten, how hot is this new chick of yours?"

"Ruby!"

"Charlie."

"Okay, she's… she's hot. But there's so much more to Joey than just asthetics. It's like… it's like she takes my breath away. Literally. Just by looking at me."

"Sweet. So have you two … you know." Ruby said, making an inappropriate gesture with her fingures.

"RUBY!"

"What?"

"You don't get to ask me that. That is so not any of your business."

"Gee Charlie, take a chill pill. You've been bringing girls home since I was like nine or ten. It's really no big deal. In fact, I've always thought it kinda cool, to have a gay big sister." Ruby said, sticking out her tongue.

"Gee thanks Rubes, I'm glad I meet with your approval."

"So, am I likely to get to meet this girl anytime soon or are you scared that I'm gonna embarrass you and scare her off?"

"Don't you have homework to do?" Charlie said, ignoring the question completely.

Ruby rolled her eyes at her sister. Two could play that game. "So, what's for dinner then sis?"

"I dunno."

"Take out it is then."