Here's a small update. I've had to spread my original ideas for chapter 5 over two chapters; as I have decided not to write a certain part of this story.

Be nice and review (btw I accept anonymous reviews *hints*) and I will post the next chapter tomorrow! Assuming I get enough reviews

from people wanting more of this story!

Enjoy chapter 5.

MissToastie.

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Can't Fight This Feeling.

Chapter Five.

Ruby and Nicole were walking up the footpath on their way home for their lunch break; Ruby was telling Nicole how she and Xavier were officially over.

"I can't believe he broke up with you via text" Nicole shook her head and put her arm around her best friend.

Ruby leaned her head in on Nicole's shoulder. "That just proves how much of a jerk he really is" Ruby sighed.

"I know I've said this before, but it's true - you deserve better than him!"

"I am actually starting to believe that now." Ruby smiled. "I do deserve someone better than Xavier Austin. I'm an awesome chick; I'll find someone who deserves me." Ruby laughed.

"I can see myself rubbing off on you" Nicole hugged Ruby tightly. "I'm an amazing person like that"

The two girls walked along laughing, til they saw Joey running out of the house.

"Joey?"

"Not now Ruby" Joey snapped as she wiped away her tears and ran down the street.

"What was that about?" Nicole raised her eyebrow.

"I don't know, but I'm about to find out" Ruby said as she entered the house and saw Charlie sat at the kitchen table, crying. "Charlz, what happened?" Ruby kneeled down beside her mum.

"Oh you know" Charlie sniffed. "Just me stuffing things up as per usual" She let out a small fake laugh before she continued crying.

"How?" Ruby rubbed her mums back.

"By bringing up the past. I should have just kept my mouth shut and stopped apologising and making things difficult." Charlie wiped her eyes.

Ruby stood up and sighed.

"What?" Charlie looked up at Ruby.

"Why are you making life so damn difficult for yourself?" Ruby questioned as she threw her hands in the air in frustration. Charlie went to speak but Ruby cut her off before she could get the first word out. "You hardly sleep, eat or socialise with anyone, you are in a relationship with a guy that you don't love, you constantly torcher yourself and find the lamest excuses not to be with the person you do love." Charlie opened her mouth to say something but once again Ruby cut her off. "Being with someone because its 'safe' falls under the category of lame excuses Charlie. Why don't you allow yourself to follow your heart and be with the person you are madly in love with? Seriously, who cares if it's a girl? The people who love you the most have told you before that they support you. What have you got to lose?"

"Ruby's right Charlie. You and Joey are meant to be together. Don't let anything stand in the way."

Charlie looked from her daughter to Nicole. She knew they were right. She nodded and stood up. "I don't know what to do though"

"I've told you this before Charlie; Fight for her." Ruby smiled at her mum.

"I don't know where she is though" Charlie ran her hand through her hair.

"Find her! In a town this small, it won't be hard!" Ruby almost yelled.

Charlie nodded and headed out the door, yelling "thank you" as she ran off.

"Do you think it will work out?" Nicole asked Ruby as she sat down opposite of her.

"It has to Nic. I hate seeing Charlie unhappy"

---

Joey ran along the beach as fast as she could; her thoughts raced her mind; as if they were trying to out do her legs.

How could you be so stupid Joey? She pushed herself to run faster.

You knew going there today would end like this; you should have listened to yourself and stayed away. She angrily wiped tears as they continued falling down her face.

If only you could switch your feelings off. Charlie is in a relationship. You need to get over her, you need to leave Charlie alone and let her get on with her life.

"I can't" Joey softly spoke as she fell to the ground crying. She wanted to scream but she couldn't, all that come out were her uncontrollable sobs.

I wish I didn't love her. Joey punched the sand and curled up in a ball as she continued crying.

---

Charlie ran along the top of the beach, it had been a few hours since she left the house and started looking for Joey; she had searched the Diner, the Surf Club, The Caravan park and now was making her way along the beach.

You have to tell her how you feel. Charlie walked looking around the beach. It was beginning to get dark; but that wasn't going to stop her, nothing was going to, she wasn't going home until she had found Joey and talked things through.

She needs to know how you feel. You need to be honest with her; tell her everything. Charlie closed her eyes and sighed; remembering she hadn't told Joey about Ruby being her daughter. She didn't know how Joey would react to hearing that. It wasn't exactly the smallest thing in the world, for all she knew it could scare Joey off. Charlie shook her head and re opened her eyes; she needed to not think of that right now.

Charlie could see someone sitting on the beach, curled up and rocking themselves. She made her way over.

---

Joey heard someone sit down, She looked up and saw Charlie sitting across from her. Joey put her head back on her knees and the two sat in silence.

"You are good enough for me Jo" Charlie spoke softly, breaking the silence. "I freaked out and ruined things between us and it was the biggest mistake of my life and I really am sorry."

"I was pressuring you." Joey turned her head on the side as she continued to rest it against her knees.

"You weren't" Charlie began.

"I was"

"You were the kindest, generous, patient person in the world" Charlie continued. "I was stupid and ran from myself. I wanted to prove that I wasn't gay, it had nothing to do with you."

"How does that make sense?" Joey moved her head and looked up at Charlie. "How did it have nothing to do with me? You wanting to prove to yourself that you weren't gay when you were in relationship with me" Joey spoke calmly.

"The whole 'gay' label wasn't something I was comfortable with. I had people calling me gay all day and it was starting to get to me."

"It's not like being called gay is the worst thing to be called Charlie; it's not like you were being called a murderer or a terrorist." Joey shot a look at Charlie.

"I know...I know. But I was trying to figure myself out Joey...I didn't need people sticking their nose in my business telling me who or what I am. I needed to figure it out for myself"

"And you did that by sleeping with Hugo." Joey concluded. "And now you're in a relationship with a guy, obviously I was just some little experiment for you"

"You were more than that Joey, you are more than that" Charlie made the last part clear.

"Yeah, right" Joey shook her head; she didn't believe Charlie.

"I still love you Joey"

"And that's why you are with Angelo, yeah?" Joey raised her eyebrow.

"I don't know why I'm with him" Charlie replied. "There's nothing there"

"Just sex with a man, obviously more than I could give"

"There's no sex between Angelo and I. There was, I admit that. But there hasn't been over the last few months. I've had too much going on in my life to even think about having sex with him." Charlie rubbed her arms, starting to regret not grabbing a jacket as she left the house.

"Like what?" Joey asked.

"I don't think this is the right time, Joey."

"Make it the right time Charlie."