The Morning After
Hey! I am receiving very little encouragement to continue to write CJ stories because apart from one or two kind people, nobody else is bothering to review this or my other story, 'The Mirror' - and without encouragement, I will no longer write. No reviews, no chapters! Please, for the sake of all the author's on this site who devote a lot of time and energy to their work, please, please review! It's not asking much! Thank you. :(
Chapter 6
Leah rammed VJ's football kit into the washing machine and slammed the door closed. Charlie looked up as she buckled her utility belt and raised one eyebrow at Ruby who was doing homework at the kitchen table.
"Well, I'd better be off." Charlie announced as she picked up her Police cap. "Don't want to be late and disappoint Angelo!" She grinned, winking at Ruby.
"No, you've disappointed that man once too often!" Leah sniped.
Both Charlie and Ruby looked up in surprise at Leah's attack.
"Leah, I don't think that's any of our business!" Ruby cried, springing to her sister's defence.
"Ruby! That's enough!" Charlie chastised, but ran her hand fondly over her sister's back.
Leah picked up the washing basket and headed for the bathroom, brushing carelessly past Charlie.
"Leah!" Charlie called after her housemate.
Leah did not reply. Charlie rolled her eyes at Ruby and reluctantly followed in Leah's moody footsteps.
"Leah, what's wrong? You've been like a bear with a sore head! What have I done wrong? I apologised for making a fool of myself at the club and for staying out all night! I don't know what else I can do!"
"It's nothing." Leah said quietly and walked away.
Charlie's anxious eyes followed Leah as she took clean towels out of the airing cupboard.
"It's just... I had you all lined for a date with... Miles and ..."
"Miles!" Charlie squeaked. "What for?"
Leah took a deep breath.
"Charlie, you were sad and depressed and I thought as he was single and you're single and you both get on pretty good that I'd give you a little prod in the right direction; you'd make a good team!"
Charlie's mouth fell open.
"Well, I..."
"He's really nice Charlie, and I'm sure he'd cheer you up!"
"But regardless of all that, why have you been treating me like a leper since last weekend?"
Leah looked uncomfortable and sighed.
"Charlie, I saw that look in your eyes when you stood next to that girl. I'm not stupid you know! I had a feeling at the club that you were instantly attracted to her, but I thought it was because you were drunk! But you came home sober, but slobbering all over her! Your eyes said it all! I'm right, aren't I?"
Charlie's cheeks coloured. She had not expected her face to give away her deepest secret.
"I... err, I... yes."
Charlie looked down at her uniform boots, noticing a dusty mark on the toe. She bent down and rubbed it with her thumb as Leah continued.
"I just felt ... shocked, I guess. You went out that night, normal and came back the next day..."
"Abnormal?" Charlie suggested bitterly.
Leah swallowed, realizing her faux pas.
"No, not abnormal; different. It was like you'd been abducted by aliens; I'm not used to seeing you with such a sappy look in your eyes!" Leah chuckled.
Charlie spluttered with laughter.
"God! Am I that bad?"
"Miles will be disappointed, you know that?" Leah smiled sadly.
"Leah, I don't know how it happened, but it did! I don't know what that makes me, but I just can't keep my mind off her! It's like for the first time in my life, everything has fallen into place! I know she is the one I want and who I want to be with."
Leah did her best to understand and smiled weakly. Charlie was a good mate and she did not want to jeopardize that friendship over love.
"So you're not mad at me anymore?" Charlie asked hopefully.
"No. I'm sorry Charlie. I was well out of line; I had no right to treat you like that. What you do with your life is your concern. I apologise."
Charlie took Leah's hand.
"No worries, but one thing, Leah; I haven't told Ruby yet and I would rather tell her myself, in my own time. You don't mind, do you?"
"No, of course not. And if you can't use that date with Miles, maybe I'll take it on myself!"
Charlie raised her eyebrows and grinned at Leah.
"Well, I can't let him down now, can I?" Leah explained.
"You'll make a nice couple, Leah!" Charlie grinned, getting her revenge.
"Oh, getaway with you!" Leah said, her dark eyes sparkling and her olive skin blushing.
"Hey! What about double dating?" Charlie suggested.
"What about double dating?" Ruby asked, suddenly appearing at Charlie's elbow.
Charlie went pale and Leah blinked.
"Colleen and I." Leah said quickly.
"Colleen?" Ruby asked with a frown.
"Yeah, the two guys who deliver groceries to The Diner are real 'man-meat'!" Leah grinned.
Charlie closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief as Ruby chuckled over Leah's words.
"Well, I'd better get a wiggle on and get to work otherwise Constable Rosetta might throw a fit!"
"See ya later, sis and give my love to Joey if you see her!"
"Who said I was seeing her?" Charlie cried indignantly.
"Cool it, Charlie! Anyone would think I'd suggested you were having a torrid love affair with the girl!"
Leah tried hard not to laugh as Charlie's face paled.
"I... I think I'd better be off to work." Charlie said shakily and left the house very quickly.
"What's up with her?" Ruby asked in wonder.
"Just jittery. Think they have a station inspection today."
"Oh." Ruby said wandering off with little interest.
The days dragged slowly by and Charlie and Joey received a succession of texts, phone calls and emails from each other and exchanged the odd kiss and cuddle in various store cupboards around Yabbie Creek. But Joey was frustrated and fidgety. She wanted to see Charlie for more than fifteen minutes at a time and without having to hide away among the 'Cokes' and 'Pork Scratchings' of her father's club or the fancy boxes which contained the finest merchandise 'Cue' had to offer.
It was Saturday evening and the thump, thump, thump of the music in The Trawler Club filled Joey's bedroom as she wondered for the umpteenth time what Charlie was doing. She sighed, picking up her mobile phone; staring at the screen and contemplating sending her girlfriend yet another text. As she was about to scroll to Charlie's number, the screen lit up and a text pinged onto the screen. She smiled with delight as Charlie's name flashed up and quickly opened the message.
'Joey Collins... do I have to come up and arrest you or are you gonna meet me in the supply cupboard? x'
A wider smile broke out over Joey's lips as she slid off the bed and stepped into her flip-flops, tripping over the large dog sprawled out over her bedroom floor. The dog moaned and looked affronted.
"Oh Max! Sorry hun. Gotta run!"
Before Joey could say another word, Max was up on his feet and sprinting after her as she made her way to the back entrance.
"No Max! Go back!"
But Max was not letting Joey out late on a Saturday night by herself, even if she was only going as far as the supply room!
"Oh Max!" Joey grunted as the dog scratched at the back door to be let out.
She unlocked the back door and Max quickly loped out into the darkness. Joey looked about her, noticing a shadowy figure standing the other side of the iron gates.
"Charlie!" Joey whispered; unable to keep the smile from her voice.
"Hey!"
Joey unlocked the gate and the shadowy figure slipped inside. Joey locked the gate again and grinned at Charlie as they walked towards the supply room. Suddenly, Joey pulled Charlie in a different direction.
"Where are we going?"
"Back into the house." Joey said with a grin.
"But your parents?"
"Mum's at her sister's tonight and Dad is working in the club. So it's just you, me and Max."
"Who's Max?"
Suddenly Charlie was jolted by surprise as a long nose poked her carelessly in the groin.
"Ugh!" She shrieked.
"Max! Stop that. Charlie's a lady! She doesn't need your attention, thank you!"
Max stood looking at Charlie with a grin on his slobbering chops.
Charlie giggled and ruffled Max's head. He licked her hand gently and sat down.
"Think he likes me." Charlie murmured with certainty.
"Don't you believe it! He's testing you out to see if you'll make him a tasty snack!"
On cue, Max growled at Charlie causing her to step away cautiously, leaving Joey and Max both grinning.
"Why is he growling at me?" Charlie said, eyeing Max warily.
Joey giggled.
"I tweak his ear and he growls. Watch!"
Joey gently touched Max's ear and he performed beautifully.
Charlie grinned.
"Quite the party trick!"
"It's got dad out of one or two situations in the past. Still, we're wasting time, officer." Joey said, taking Charlie's hand and leading her though into the lounge.
Charlie entered the same room which she had intruded upon during her drunken night at the club. There was the same sofa upon which she had reclined, but now Joey was inviting her to sit down by her side. Charlie smiled and sat.
"Hey." Joey grinned.
"Hey." Charlie smiled back.
Joey's brown eyes studied Charlie's blue orbs as they twinkled in the dimly lit room.
"I've missed you, Charlie."
"Yeah, I've missed you too."
"How long have you got?"
Charlie checked her watch.
"About twenty two minutes and fourteen seconds. I'm supposed to be having a bite to eat!"
"Do you want food?" Joey said, springing to her feet.
Max, who was curled up by the door, raised his head expectantly.
"No, I'm not hungry. I just wanted to..."
"To what?"
"Well, to see..."
"To see the sea?"
"No! To... Well, to see you, if you must know." Charlie blushed.
Joey giggled and snaked her arm around Charlie's back.
"Hey, that's good enough reason."
Joey leaned towards Charlie and kissed her lightly on the lips. Charlie responded immediately by wrapping her arms around Joey and holding her tightly.
"Mmm." Joey said as she pulled away. "I like your duty breaks!"
"Joey, after my shift finishes at five in the morning, I'm going home to get some rest, but I wondered if we could spend the day together, later on? Have you got anything planned?"
"Well, there's church of course, then, I'm taking a class at the Sunday school. Then mother and I are attending a meeting of the Mother's Union at two fifteen. Then there's evensong, but after that finishes, I'm all yours!"
Charlie mouth fell open as Joey finished reciting her pious timetable.
"Charlie... I'm joking!"
Charlie started to breathe again and gently pulled Joey's button nose.
"You rotter! You had me going there."
"No Charlie; evening prayers, psalms and canticles don't offer the same attractions as you." Joey said; her hand finding a gap in Charlie work shirt and entering.
Charlie stopped breathing as Joey's finger tips touched her flesh. Joey continued to look into Charlie's eyes trying to read her thoughts as she took the liberty. She pushed her hand in further and Charlie closed her eyes as Joey's soft hand stroked her abdomen.
"Charlie, you know I want you, don't you?" Joey breathed.
Charlie's heart began to thud in her chest. A raw, basic instinct within, wanted Joey too, but was this happening too quickly? Did she really want Joey to make love to her on her parent's sofa, in her parent's lounge while she; herself was on a twenty minute duty break?