The Morning After

Chapter 5

Charlie watched as Leah prepared VJ's lunch box. Leah had been a little quiet since Joey had arrived home with Charlie a few days previously, but had not mentioned her name.

"Leah, is everything alright?"

"Yeah."

Charlie waited but Leah said no more.

"You seem a little... distant; I just wondered if you had something on your mind?" Charlie persisted.

"No. There's nothing on my mind."

Charlie bit her lip. It was as if Leah knew exactly what had been going on between her housemate and Joey and was acting strangely. But how could Leah know? She had only met Joey once before and that was at the club. Joey hadn't announced herself as being a Lesbian and Charlie did not identify as one, so why would Leah surmise a relationship?

"You just don't seem yourself."

Leah did not reply.

"You know if you want to talk, I'm here?"

"Thanks, but that's not likely." Leah said, walking away and into another room.

Charlie watched her departure and sighed. Maybe it was pure coincidence that Leah's mood had arrived since Charlie's appearance with Joey. Or maybe Leah had something else on her mind.

Charlie rose from her chair and made her way to Ruby's room; knocking politely at the door and walking in. Ruby looked up in surprise to see her sister.

"Hey Charlz. Thought you'd be hitting the sack by now!"

"No, I'm going back into Yabbie later. Hey! Do you know what's up with Leah? She seems a bit weird at the moment!" Charlie said quietly; closing the door.

"Weird? Can't say I've noticed. Maybe she's feeling unwell. So, what are you going back into town for?"

"I... I have some shopping to do." Charlie improvised.

Charlie had managed to get through her shift with Angelo, but though he had made no more remarks about her new circumstances, she caught him, on several occasions, staring at her in bewilderment. This made her feel uncomfortable and jittery and any confidence she had gained, seemed to slip through her fingers like the dry sand particles down at the beach.

"Cool. Well, I'm off back to school now, so enjoy Yabbie, but don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked sharply.

"What?" Ruby said, as she picked up her backpack.

"Oh... nothing. Do you wanna lift to school?"

"That'll be good."

***

Charlie looked over at Ruby in the passenger seat.

"What did you think of Joey?"

"Who?"

"Joey; the girl who gave me a bed for the night and you met at The Diner."

"Oh yeah, awesome! She seems really nice and good fun, too! Why?"

"I just wondered. After Leah met Joey the other day, she went a bit quiet."

Ruby laughed.

"Ha! Maybe Leah fancies her!"

"What?" Charlie spluttered.

"I'm joking, sis! Leah's no lesbo any more than you and Joey are!" Ruby giggled. "Are you meeting up with Joey in town?"

"Yeah... well, no; she's actually working, but I'm hoping to catch her on her break."

"Okay, so say 'hello' from me." Ruby said as Charlie pulled up at the school gates. "See you later, Charlie and thanks for the lift!"

"Yeah, bye Rubes." Charlie said, uncertainly.

Charlie watched Ruby walk up the slope to join Annie and Xavier. She bit her lip and wondered how she was going to explain her new life to everyone. She had a feeling that no one was going to take her seriously!

***

Joey placed the garment into a bag and handed it over with a big smile to the very attractive woman who smiled back and headed for the exit as Charlie walked in. She saw Joey's eyes as she watched her customer walk away and wondered if Joey reserved that look only for the pretty ones. She hesitated for a moment until Joey noticed her entrance. But the smile which now lit up Joey's face was completely different; her eyes sparkled and her smile came from her heart. Charlie felt relieved. She had not known Joey for long and was uncertain if to completely trust her yet. So often she had been fooled by guys who identified as being honest, with much integrity but in time had shown their true colours.

Joey left the till and walked over to Charlie, full of excitement.

"Hey you!" She grinned; her insides beginning to do cartwheels.

"Hi, can you take your break now?" Charlie asked hopefully.

She was suddenly aware that all eyes were upon them and she began to feel a little uncomfortable. Joey glanced at her watch.

"Give me another fifteen minutes then I'll be on my lunch break. It's good to see you." Joey said quietly, touching Charlie's hand.

"You look a little tired. I guess that's my fault!" Charlie said, feeling a pang of guilt from her early morning visit to Joey.

"I'm a little tired, but I'll survive!" Joey grinned. "Go take a good look around at our expensive range in the mean time!"

"Only if you'll accompany me!" Charlie grinned.

Joey inclined her head and gestured for Charlie to follow her. Charlie was delighted, but noticed the scary sales assistant who had tried to sell her a ball gown some days before, looking at her through narrowed eyes.

"Watch it! 'Scary bird' is approaching!" Joey hissed, picking up a garment and showing it to Charlie.

"Miss. Collins, do you need any assistance with your customer?"

"No thank you, Miss. Houghton. I can mange very well." Joey said with certainty; raising her eyebrows at Charlie. "Won't you come this way, Madam? I will show you our beautiful lingerie range." She suggested with confidence.

"Thank you so much." Charlie said in an affected tone. "There is always such wonderful service in your store!" She said, turning with a smile to the scary sales assistant.

Joey steered Charlie away and when out of ear shot, both giggled.

"Thank you for that! I think if you'd passed me over to 'Scary Bird', I'd have been stuck with her for hours!" Charlie grinned.

"Well, I hope you appreciate the gesture, coz I'm likely to have to pay dearly for it!" Joey said, widening her expressive eyes.

"Why?" Charlie cried in amazement.

"When Miss. Houghton approaches one, one never holds back a customer! If she wants her, you give the customer up!" Joey advised, grimly.

"Oh my God!" Charlie gasped in horror. "Look, if it makes your life any easier, let her have me!"

Joey raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"I don't mean like that, stupid! I mean... "

"It's okay, I know what you mean, but there is no way I am passing you, my delicate bloom, over to old iron draws, so she might get a commission. It's time someone stood up to the bullying dragon!"

"Well, if that's the case, I'll buy something and get outta here pretty damn quick!"

***

After choosing some very over-priced, but pretty underwear, Charlie waved Joey 'goodbye' at the till and looked forward to meeting her outside the store very shortly.

But after fifteen minutes, Joey still had not shown. Charlie frowned and fidgeted around, feeling as if she was loitering with intent. After another ten minutes, Charlie checked her watch and walked back into Cue.

She looked around but could not see Joey anywhere; neither did she see 'Scary Bird' either. Catching the eye of another young sales assistant, Charlie asked if Joey was on her lunch break. The young assistant informed Charlie that 'Miss. Collins had volunteered to do stock-taking during her lunch break and therefore, would not be back at her station until after two o'clock'. The assistant offered her own services, but Charlie thanked her for her help and walked slowly out of the store.

***

Charlie was more than disappointed and for a few fleeting moments was confused to why Joey had not told her about the overtime. Then suddenly, the penny dropped! Obviously, Scary Bird had got her own back on Joey by making her work her lunch break. Charlie sighed and resolutely started to make her way back to her car. Before she had walked far, she heard someone hissing her name. She looked behind her and saw her girlfriend standing in a doorway to the side of the shop, wildly waving her arms about. Charlie smiled and ran back. Joey took hold of her and dragged her into the little room.

"I've been waiting for you to walk past! Where have you been?" Joey cried, gathering Charlie into the arms.

"I was waiting out front as we arranged and then I found out from one of your colleagues that you'd 'volunteered' for stocktaking during your lunch break. I take it this is your penalty for not handing over your best customer to Scary Bird?"

Joey sighed.

"Afraid so! Still, she's back on the shop floor now, so if you have the time, I certainly have the inclination!" Joey said with a wink.

Charlie gulped. She did not quite know what to make of Joey's statement.

"Don't look so freaked, Charlie! I'm only after a quick kiss and cuddle in the store cupboard!" Joey giggled.

Charlie looked somewhat relieved. She had grown very fond of Joey in the few days that she had known her, but she was not sure if 'naughties' in the stockroom was quite on the agenda... yet!