Sorry about the lack of updates lately guys, hope I can keep you interested. If you have any suggestions or anything feel free to drop a line, I have a few idea's of where I might take this but would love to head what you think:) Please don't forget to review:)

Xx

Tuesday had arrived and Charlie had so far succeeded in avoiding everyone for the weekend, but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep her distance from Ruby for much longer. Charlie was feeling at an all time low, both emotionally and physically. She lacked energy, felt alone. Thankfully Ruby had been kept busy with homework and studying for the weekend which meant they didn't discuss what went down at the weekend. Ruby was due home from school shortly and Charlie sat on the floor of her bed waiting for the tell tale banging of the door, signalling Ruby's return.

Right on cue Ruby arrived home, she shouted out Charlie's name to see if she was home.

Exhaling loudly, Charlie left the security of her bedroom.

"Hey Rubes," Charlie greeted her chirpily "how was school?"

Ruby ignored her question, "Where have you been hiding Charlie, or more importantly why?"

Charlie walked into the living room and sat on the sofa, Ruby copied her.

"Haven't been feeling great and there's been a lot going on."

"Yeah well I got the impression you didn't want me to know, but I do live here Charlie."

"I know."

"And you are my mother…"

"I know Ruby." Charlie reached out and placed a hand on Ruby's knee.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on or are you going to continue avoiding me and everyone else?"

Charlie dropped her head slightly, trying to figure out how she would phrase things without Ruby putting two and two together.

Ruby reached out and using her index finger she pushed Charlie's cheek; tilting her head to the side.

Charlie screwed her eyes shut, and waited for Ruby to pull away.

"Smooth Charlie." Ruby giggled, finding the situation rather funny.

"C'mon Rubes."

"Charlie if I came home to you with a love bite on my neck you'd freak!"

Charlie instinctively covered her neck with her hand "Yeah well you're still a child, I'm an adult."

"Exactly!"

Charlie laughed softly "Ruby, drop it ok?"

"Fine… for now." She winked "So would I be right in presuming this sullen mood of yours is in someway related to your love life?"

Charlie nodded slowly, Ruby wasn't stupid after all.

"You would."

"Does he have a name?"

No he doesn't; but she does, Charlie thought ruefully.

"That doesn't matter, but it's over now which is the important thing."

"Charlie you're obviously pretty hung up on him, or her." Ruby laughed, the possibility of Charlie finding a woman in Summer Bay.

"Look Ruby it got out of hand, it was just meant to be a bit of fun but… Some things just can't be."

"Charlie I have never seen you as upset as you were the other night, if someone can have that affect on you, then you must feel pretty strongly for them?"

Charlie was starting to get uncomfortable; she feared she might tear up if she had to talk about Joey for much longer.

"It's not always enough."

"But it's something, why couldn't things work out with you two?" Ruby further enquired.

"Two many complications, things went wrong and we hurt each other."

"Then kiss and make up?"

Charlie tried not to think of their angry love making, Joey pinning her to the wall, her hand delving into her jeans, her fingers thrusting within her. The more she tried to banish the thoughts, the more they forced their way into her mind.

"Oh my God, Charlie?" Ruby cried with shock.

"What?" Charlie looked up, coming out of her trance.

Ruby shook her head, trying to believe it all.

"What?" Charlie tried again.

"You ah, tried the whole kissing and making up, or should I say making out?"

"Ruby, that's enough. You wanted to know what's going on and now you do/"

Ruby was caught off guard by Charlie's tone, signalling the discussion was over.

"You're in love." Ruby breathed.

"I'm not," Charlie replied weakly, her eyes beginning to water. "I'm feeling tired, I'm going to go for a nap ok?"

Ruby decided not to press the situation any further, Charlie didn't seem up to it "Are you ok?"

"Yeah Rubes I'm fine, just going to lie down."

Charlie pushed herself up from the sofa.

"I'm supposed to be heading over to Joey's shortly, is that ok or would you rather if I stayed?"

Hearing Joey's name caused Charlie's heart to lurch in her chest. She smiled tenderly at her daughter "I'll be fine, you enjoy yourself."

"I'll tell Joey you said hi?" Ruby called after her.

Charlie stopped at the door, her hand lingering on the door handle "Yeah, do. I'll see you later."

*****

Ruby was laying on the floor in Joey's living room, thoughts of Charlie creeping into her mind. She was worried about her.

"Do you want anything to eat?" Joey shouted from the kitchen.

"No thanks. I'm good."

Joey came in and handed Ruby a glass of juice. She lay down on the sofa, putting a cushion under her head to make herself more comfortable

"So what's been going on with you lately little miss? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been busy with stuff you know…"

"Rubes are you ok?" Joey turned her head on the pillow; she noticed Ruby was staring blankly up at the ceiling.

Ruby sighed.

"Joey can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course you can, anything."

Joey propped herself up on her elbow.

"I'm worried about Charlie, she's not herself. There's something really wrong and she's not telling me."

Joey wasn't expecting this, she presumed Charlie would be alright.

"Maybe she's got a lot going on at the moment Rubes, just give her some time."

"Yeah but Joey she's really down and Charlie doesn't get like this."

"Ruby I dunno if Charlie would like me knowing all this, maybe you should talk to her about it?"

"But I did Joey, she didn't really tell me much, on a funnier note though she has these huge love bites on her neck, you should see them, it's hilarious!"

Joey's head slipped off her elbow and she sank onto the cushion to hide her reddening face from Ruby.

"I told her if I came home with love bites she'd kill me, someone must have been hungry."

"Or horny." Joey whispered quietly, closing her eyes for a split second letting her thoughts wander.

"Did you say something Jo? I didn't hear you?"

"What? No, I didn't." Joey shook her head against the cushion.

"Would you maybe call her tomorrow and see if she's ok? She might talk to you, I'd really appreciate it."

"Ruby it's not really my place to get involved in Charlie's business."

"But you two are friends Joey, she feels comfortable around you."

"She said that?"

"No but I can tell. So will you?"

"I'll see Ruby, Charlie might just need some time alone. When people are hurting… They just want to be left alone." Joey tried to get out of the situation, the last thing she needed was to face Charlie right now but she couldn't deny the fact she was worried about her.

"You know, you sound a lot like Charlie does." Ruby chatted with her friend. Not realising the depth of her words.

"I know how it feels to be heart broken. Like no one can ease your pain other than the person who caused it, like you'll never get over it, or them."

"That's deep stuff Joey." Ruby rolled onto her tummy, she looked up at Joey but she was unaware.

She exhaled slowly "It's all ahead of you Rubes."

"Oh God I hope not, watching Charlie mope around the house is more than enough. All she does is sleep, sit there in silence but mainly she just avoids me. Charlie has never avoided me, usually she's on my back making sure I'm eating enough and studying every evening."

"Give her time Ruby, she'll get over it seems she has no choice." Joey found it hard to stand up for Charlie when she was the one causing her so much pain, but Ruby needed her.

"Mmm suppose." Ruby said half heartedly, while curling her hair around her finger. "I don't like to see her hurting though. The other night I heard her crying so I went in to see what was wrong but she just wanted to be left alone, I was going to call you to come over."

Joey shuffled on the couch and moved into a seated position "Ruby, you know I'd never do anything to intentionally hurt you right, you know I care about you?"

"Of course I do," Ruby also sat up and looked at her quizzically "Where has this sudden declaration of love come from?"

"Nowhere," Joey shrugged it off "So what time do you need to be home for?"

Ruby looked up at the clock and groaned "Probably should be home already, wasn't even sure if I should leave Charlie. I'll call her now to pick me up."

"No," Joey yelped "am, I'll drop you home, come on."

Joey collected her keys form the kitchen table and Ruby followed her outside.

*****

Charlie sat in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom, she stared at her reflection, and let her finger tips trace the dark circles under her dull eyes, they crept down her cheekbones, over her jaw and onto the purple mark on the left hand side of her neck. Charlie bit her bottom lip and rubbed on the bruised skin lightly. Closing her eyes Charlie kept her hand in place and thought of Joey. Memories flashed before her, ones of Joey, their fun, the risks, the good and the bad. She could almost feel Joey's lips against her neck as her tongue caressed the skin and her teeth bit her while she sucked and tasted her lover. Charlie lay onto her back, with her eyes still closed and her hand trailed down from her neck and on to her chest…