The Morning After

So, my friends... this is where it all starts to turn ugly, as I shall, if you don't continue to R&R! Enjoy. ~S&L~ xx

Chapter 10

Leah watched from the window of The Diner as Angelo Rosetta approached. She excused herself and slipped out of the door and waved furiously to attract Angelo's attention. He acknowledged her and followed when she beckoned him further along the pier.

"What is it?" Angelo asked suspiciously.

It was unlike Leah to single him out.

"Angelo. How are you?"

"Yeah, good."

"Good. Angelo, I need your help!"

Angelo frowned.

"What's the matter, Leah? Are you in trouble or something?"

"No, not at all, but Charlie is!"

"Charlie? What's happened to Charlie? Is she alright? She's not hurt is she?" Angelo fretted.

"No, no, but if we don't help her soon, she will be!"

"Is someone threatening her then?" He asked quickly; gripping Leah's arm.

"No, but I believe someone is taking advantage of her!" She replied, linking her arm through his and steering him away from the crowded area.

"Who's taking advantage of her?" Angelo asked curiously.

"Well, I don't know if you're aware, but she's struck up quite a friendship with a girl called Joey Collins."

"Joey! Yeah, I know the Joey you're talking about!" Angelo said, immediately tensing.

Leah, noticing his pallor, grinned secretly.

"You do? Well, that makes it a whole lot easier! Did you know that she's a...a..."

"A dyke?"

"Yeah, and I think she's trying to convert Charlie round to her way of... thinking!"

"I think she's already succeeded." Angelo sighed sadly.

"No! I don't believe it! I know Charlie as well as you! You know she's not that way inclined! I've had bad vibes about this Joey girl ever since they met at that damned club which her father owns. I think she spotted Charlie and deliberately set out to trap her and cast her dirty, little spell over her!" Leah said with venom.

"Do you really think so?" Angelo asked; his eyes brightening.

"Yeah, I'm dead sure! Charlie goes no more for women than I do!"

"Yeah, but Leah, I saw them together, the other night... kissing!" He said distastefully.

"Charlie was probably just experimenting, or else that bitch took advantage of her. You know, Ang', since you two split, she's been so miserable; almost depressive! She really does miss you!"

"But she would never commit to me! What was I to think?" Angelo whined.

"Yeah, but you know Charlie! It has to be her idea or she doesn't wanna know! You tried to force her to commit to you when you should have put the idea in her head gently and let her believe it was hers in the first place! Don't you men know anything about female psychology?"

"No." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "It's a mystery to all men! But I think I understand what you mean! My wife is always saying I'm too forceful about things. She's another mistake I've made!"

"Married on the rebound, huh?"

"Yeah, and now I can't get Charlie out of my mind! Oh hell, Leah! What am I gonna do?"

"Well, I dunno, Ang', but even if it's just for old time's sake, you really need to help Charlie here! This girl's gonna rip the shit out of her!" Leah argued convincingly.

Angelo looked out over the ocean; the breaking waves foaming and hissing about the pier.

"You'll help, won't you?" Leah nudged, hopefully.

Angelo took a deep breath and sighed.

"I can't live without her, Leah!"

"Well, that's good enough reason to fight for her then!" Leah encouraged, ignoring the fact that Angelo wore a shiny, new wedding ring on his finger.

"Okay! I'll do it!" He said, turning to Leah. "But what should I do?" He frowned; allowing Leah to take the lead.

"Well..."

Hand in hand, Charlie and Joey walked along the quiet stretch of headland leading up to the lighthouse. They both looked above as the white and grey Seagulls cried and cackled over head.

"I hope they don't drop any messages on us." Charlie cringed, hunching her shoulders.

Joey giggled and playfully bumped Charlie's arm with her own.

"It's supposed to be good luck." She advised.

"Yeah, but good luck for who?"

"Well, for me of course, if you're the one who gets hit!" Joey teased.

"Gee-whiz! That's reassuring!" Charlie laughed.

"Glad to be of service. Do you think we could get away with a quick kiss and cuddle here?" Joey asked, turning to face Charlie and wrapping her free arm around her waist.

Charlie paused and with a smile, welcomed Joey's suggestion with pleasure.

Their moist lips met and both smiled into the kiss in the mid-afternoon sunshine. Pausing for breath, they rested their foreheads together and smiled at each other.

"What have I done to deserve you, Charlie Buckton?" Joey asked with a twinkle in her eye.

"Something extremely good, I suspect." Charlie said, kissing Joey's cheek. "Maybe it was that night at the club when you looked after me and didn't take advantage of my drunkenness!"

"I would never take advantage of you, Charlie. I love you far too much for that. I just worry sometimes, that I'm not..."

"That you're not, what?" Charlie frowned.

"That I'm not good enough for you." Joey said, releasing Charlie from her arms.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked as she watched Joey walk a few paces away towards the lighthouse.

Joey stood on tip-toe and peeped through a grimy window. All she could see was the bottom of a spiral staircase which led to the top of the lighthouse.

"Joey?" Charlie frowned, stepping a little closer.

Joey relaxed her toes and looked back at Charlie.

"You're a successful career woman, Charlie Buckton, whereas I'm a mere shop girl. I do nothing which might enhance my standing within the community, but you my love..." Joey said, walking back to Charlie and caressing her cheek. "Do nothing but good."

"Joey!" Charlie squeaked. "That's so untrue! You are not a 'mere' shop girl. You're that wonderful shop girl who convinced me to buy that wonderful outfit which brought us together! You're the girl who changed the way I feel about life. You're the one who rescued me from living a very dull and unhappy future! You're the girl I love with all my heart and soul. You're the one who is in my dreams; day dreams and night dreams! You're the girl who makes me feel special and makes me shiver with delicious delight each time we make love or even when the merest touch of your skin against mine makes my knees go weak. No one has ever done that to me before, Jo, and no one else ever could... but you. It doesn't matter to me what job you do; all I want is for you to be happy and for you to love me as you do."

Charlie's blue eyes shone with entreaty as she begged Joey to believe her. Joey smiled and rested her head against Charlie's shoulder.

"I love you Charlie."

"I love you too, my angel."

"One thing, Charlie; if ever you grow tired of me or find out that I'm not what you want or need, tell me and tell me quickly. Don't let things get weird and unhealthy. I couldn't take that."

"Joey my love; it will never happen!"

"But Charlie, how can you say that with such certainty?" Joey said, pulling away.

"Because this has never happened to me before; no one has ever moved me like you do. No one has ever cared for me like you have. You're like a drug to me. I can't ever give you up. I need my fix of Joey Collins every day!"

Joey was silent for a few moments. She gazed into Charlie's eyes and found truth. She smiled shyly and Charlie held out her arms, which Joey gladly fell into.