Thank you all SO much for the fab reviews!
I don't like the idea of Charlie + Angelo together either! It too makes me shudder!
But I thought I could work with it more if I wrote that they where dating.
I've got about 10 chapter ideas writen down (I'm going to be killing someone off..*hides from what people will say about the character I kill off* eek!)
and I've writen the next chapter (and half way through the 4th one)
which I will post up if people want me to continue with this story. Comment and let me know, k?
MissToastie x
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Can't Fight This Feeling.
Chapter Two.
Miles swallowed the last mouthful of his drink. "You want another one?"
"Yeah, just one more though, we better get home and rescue Jai and Annie from Ollie." Kirsty smiled and passed her glass to Miles.
"I'm sure they are coping, our curly haired little monster is probably fast asleep" Miles kissed Kirsty on the forehead before walking over to the bar.
---
Hearing Charlie speak her name made Joey's heart begin to race. It had been 7 long months since she had heard Charlie's sweet voice. Charlie looked absolutely incredible, her hair was down and straightened, she was wearing a beautiful figure hugging red dress with matching red stilettos. Joey's thoughts were interrupted by someone tapping her on the shoulder, she jumped and turned around.
"Hello stranger! I didn't mean to startle you" Miles stepped forward and hugged Joey.
"Hey Miles, its okay. My mind was just else where" Joey returned his hug. "How have things been with you?" Joey tried to focus all her attention on Miles, which wasn't easy as her ex-girlfriend was seated only metres away.
"Yeah, can't complain. Business has picked up which is making life less stressful." Miles placed two glasses on the bar. "How are things with you?"
"They're okay thank you. Am out of a job though, so I'm hoping I can get something around here; get some cash together before I leave" Joey placed her hands in her pockets.
---
"Are you going to go say hello?" Ruby asked her mother, breaking the thoughts swimming around in Charlie's mind.
"I don't know" Charlie mumbled.
"Seriously Charlie?" Ruby looked at Charlie, waiting for a reply. She couldn't believe that Charlie didn't say 'yes' straight away.
"I think it will be too awkward Rubes" Charlie picked up her drink and swallowed the remainder of the juice.
"Who is Joey?" Angelo asked. He had sat quiet for the past 5 minutes trying to figure out who she could be.
"You don't know of Joey?" Ruby was surprised that Charlie hadn't told him of her ex.
"Nope, never heard of her." Angelo looked puzzled.
"I'll excuse myself whilst you tell him then Charlz" Ruby stood up and walked over to Joey.
---
"It will only be temporary, I'm not going to be staying for all that long" Joey wanted to make it clear to Alf that she only wanted a temp job so that she could get some money together before she left Summer Bay.
"You can start here tomorrow. I know that boats are your passion, but I've already got young Aden helping out on the Blaxland."
Joey grinned; happy to have been given another chance at working at Noah's Bar, Her first time didn't go so well, Robbo had made sure of that.
"Thank you so much Alf, you won't regret it!" Joey hugged Alf, who laughed and returned the hug.
"No worries." Alf noticed Ruby walking over to Joey. "Looks like someone wants to see you"
Joey closed her eyes; she didn't want to speak to Charlie, not right now.
"Hey" Ruby spoke quietly, she didn't know if Joey wanted to see her.
Joey quickly turned around and seen Ruby standing in front of her. Joey smiled and hugged Ruby. "Hi Ruby! How are you?"
"I'm great thank you! I was a bit worried you wouldn't want to speak to me!" Ruby smiled, she was relieved Joey was happy to see her.
"Of course I'd want to see you. I've missed you!" Joey hugged Ruby again, she hadn't realised just how much she had missed the youngest Buckton til she was standing in front of her.
---
Charlie sat watching Ruby and Joey hugging and talking. She desperately wanted to talk to Joey, but she was too afraid that Joey hadn't forgiven her.
"So are you going to tell me about Joey, or not?" Angelo placed his hand on his girlfriend's arm. Charlie turned to him and began to speak.
"Joey and I, we were together a few months ago, before I stuffed things up" Charlie's eyes started to well up, she hated thinking of the pain she had caused Joey.
"Together? As in, together together?" Angelo was shocked; he didn't know Charlie was into girls.
"Yes" Charlie spoke clearly.
"Wow...for how long?" Angelo grinned.
"Not long at all, I ruined what we had by sleeping with Hugo. Which happened to be the biggest mistake I've ever made." Charlie turned her head away from Angelo and quickly wiped a tear from her cheek. She didn't want to cry in front of Angelo. She hated showing her emotions to anyone.
"So it was nothing serious then?"
"I loved her" Charlie tilted her head and watched as Ruby and Joey said their goodbyes. Ruby was walking back over to join her and Angelo.
Angelo noticed Charlie watching Joey walk out of the building. "Do you still love her?"
Ruby sat back at the table. Grinning, she was happy that Joey was back.
"Are you ready to go home?" Charlie stood up and asked Ruby.
"Charlie?" Angelo gently grabbed Charlie's arm.
Charlie looked him in the eye. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to lie. "I don't know" She finally spoke.
Angelo nodded and let go of Charlie's arm. "I'll see you tomorrow then"
Angelo got up and exited the Surf Club. Charlie sighed as she and Ruby soon followed his lead and headed home.
---
Charlie lay in bed staring out the window, if there was an award for the shittiest night of sleep ever, Charlie would have won it after last night. She couldn't get thoughts of Joey out of her mind. She was happy to see her as it put her mind at rest, every day at work Charlie had searched for news to see if there had been any boat accidents, she hadn't heard from Joey for months, and she couldn't help but think the worst on some days, especially if there had been a storm the night before. She really wanted to talk to Joey; but she wouldn't know where to start. There was so much to tell her; Joey didn't know that Ruby was her daughter, not her sister. And of course the whole relationship with Angelo.
Charlie sighed and got out of bed, still locked deep into her thoughts as she walked to the bathroom to get ready for work.
She wasn't in love with Angelo; actually, she didn't even love Angelo. He was just 'there' when she needed someone. Both of them where lonely and in need for some affection. He was there for her through some of the toughest months of her life; when Ruby found her birth certificate that listed Charlie as her mother. Ruby was angry and didn't speak to Charlie for almost 2 months; she even moved out and stayed at the Caravan Park. Charlie had started heavily drinking, she almost lost her job because of it, Angelo helped her take back control of her life and one thing lead to another and the next thing Charlie knew, she was in a relationship with him.
---
"Wow, that must have made an interesting spin on the night" Nicole joined Leah, VJ and Ruby at the kitchen table as they ate their breakfast.
"Poor Charlie, how is she this morning?" Leah was worried about her friend.
"I've got no idea. I heard her crying in the early hours of the morning, but she told me she didn't want any company when I went and checked on her" Ruby took a bite of her toast.
"Can I see Joey?" VJ asked as he pushed his empty plate back from the edge of the table.
"Maybe after your game today, now go grab your bag and I will drop you off" Leah brushed her hand over VJs hair, which he pushed off and glared at his mum, causing her to laugh. VJ hugged Leah and ran off to get his bag.
Charlie brushed her hair and tied an elastic band around it. She really wasn't in the mood for work today, she was seriously lacking sleep and the thought of seeing Angelo after the awkward end to their night made her mood even worse. She grabbed her bag and headed for the kitchen, just in time to see Leah and VJ walk past the window, heading out for the day.
"Good morning" Nicole smiled at Charlie as she noticed her walk into the kitchen.
"Morning" Charlie half smiled and walked over to put some bread in the toaster.
"You look like hell" Ruby stated. She could tell Charlie hadn't slept much, if not at all.
"Thanks" Charlie mumbled as she started to pour herself a coffee.
"So when are you going to see Joey?" Ruby asked as she stood up and walked over to Charlie.
"I'm going to go and finish getting ready. I'm not quiet the masterpiece I like to be" Nicole quickly rushed out of the room.
"Charlie?"
"I don't know Ruby, will you please just drop it!"
Ruby rolled her eyes and walked off to join Nicole in getting ready for their day.
Charlie sighed; she buttered her toast, grabbed her coffee and walked out the door. She needed to get out of the house, third degrees from her daughter where the last thing she needed right now.
---
Joey sat on the sand staring out at the water, she had forgotten just how beautiful the beach was in Summer Bay, it was so peaceful and quiet, so tranquille. She took a deep breath in, enjoying the salty smell that was in the air.
"I heard you were back"
Joey grinned as she heard a familiar voice, she turned around and seen Aden standing next to her. "I've missed your goofy smile" Aden smiled as he sat down next to Joey. Joey threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I've missed you so much Aden!"
"I've missed you too. But can we ease up on the hug; it's actually starting to hurt" Aden half joked. Joey pulled away from the hug and continued smiling at Aden. "How have you been?" she asked.
"Not too bad, what about you?" Aden was trying to keep it short and sweet. He didn't want to spill everything that has been happening over the past few months, not now anyway.
"Yeah, pretty much the same" Joey smiled, she really missed Aden. He was her first friend when she first moved to the Bay.
"Have you seen Charlie?" Aden couldn't control himself from asking.
Joey nodded and stared back out at the water. "I saw her last night. She was with some guy. Her boyfriend I presume."
"Yeah, Angelo"
"I'm glad she has moved on" Joey could feel her heart breaking inside, she bit her bottom lip.
---
"Charlie!" Angelo shouted as he ran up to his girlfriend, who was walking along the beach in her uniform.
Charlie turned around and waited for her boyfriend to catch up to her. She was still in a bad mood.
"What?" Charlie almost snapped as Angelo reached her.
"Good morning to you too" Angelo placed his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"I'm not really in the mood for small talk Angelo" Charlie crossed her arms.
"No, I can see that." Angelo paused. "I'll let you be then"
"I'll see you later" Charlie turned around and continued walking along the water.
Angelo watched Charlie walk for a little while before shaking his head and running off the beach.
---
"It's been nice to catch up Jo, but I have to go and get ready for work." Aden stood up.
"Yeah it has been nice" Joey stood up and brushed the sand from her arse. "Maybe we can have lunch today?"
"Yeah sure, I'll grab something and bring it to the Surf Club on my break" Aden smiled and hugged Joey.
"That'd be great. See you then!" Joey smiled as Aden turned and walked away. Her smile started to fade as she seen Charlie walking along the water. Joey bent down, picked up her shoes, and headed down to the water where Charlie was walking.
---
Charlie looked up seeing Joey walking toward her, her heart was pounding in her head, Joey looked breath taking, she was wearing a black singlet and black cargo pants, her hair was down and neatly brushed. Charlie smiled as Joey walked up to her.
"Hey"
"Hi Charlie, how's things?" Joey smiled at Charlie. She always managed to look super hot in her uniform. Joey blushed at her thoughts.
"Things are okay. I've missed you" Charlie almost cursed herself as she let the last part of her sentence slip.
"Yeah" Joey nodded and placed her hands in her pockets. It seemed to be the thing she did when she was nervous. "I've missed you too"
Charlie smiled; she hadn't expected Joey to have missed her. Charlie leaned in and hugged her, hoping that Joey would return the hug, which she did.
---
Angelo sat on a bench watching his girlfriend hug her ex girlfriend on the beach.
---
After several minutes of hugging, Joey quickly pulled away. "I'm sorry Charlie, I have to go" Joey practically ran away from Charlie.
Charlie sighed. She wanted to chase after her ex girlfriend, but she knew that Joey needed to be left alone. Charlie sat down on the sand and placed her head on her knees and started to cry. She felt her life was again starting to fall apart and yet again, she was to blame.
---
Joey ran off the beach, wiping the tears as they fell from her eyes. She wasn't going to allow herself to mess Charlie's life up again. She hoped that she could try and avoid Charlie for the next few weeks as she earned enough money to leave, but in a small town like Summer Bay, she knew it was going to be easier said than done.