The Morning After
Hey guys! This is the penultimate chapter of The Morning After... well, after all, it was only supposed to be a few chapters after 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman', and here we are on chapter 12! A big "thank you" to those giving encouragement! ~S&L~ xx
Chapter 12
Angelo and Charlie sat on a high, grassy verge over-looking the bay. They ate their lunch in virtual silence; Charlie lost in thoughts of Joey and Angelo lost in thoughts of Charlie.
"Charlie..." Angelo suddenly said.
Charlie swallowed a mouthful of sandwich and brushed the crumbs from her lips.
"Charlie, I have problems within my marriage."
Charlie frowned and looked shocked as she stared at the handsome Constable sitting beside her.
"Problems?" She asked incredulously. "Already?"
Angelo sighed and nodded sadly.
"It's my entire fault; I'm having problems settling down, I guess." He said, throwing his crusts to the greedy seagulls.
"In what way?" Charlie asked, taking another bite of her sandwich.
"I can't sleep at nights!"
Charlie smirked.
"Newly weds aren't supposed to!" She giggled.
"Charlie! I'm serious here! I spend most of the night tossing and turning and trying not to think about..."
Suddenly, Charlie's mobile phone began to ring. She looked apologetically at her companion and answered it.
"Charlie Buckton... Yes, Sir. We're on our way!"
Charlie got to her feet.
"Come on Constable. It's a priority call from the old man."
"But Charlie, when can I speak to you? Later this evening, please?"
"Ang', I already have a date!"
"It won't take long Charlie! I need to talk to someone before I go off my head!" Angelo cried desperately.
Charlie stared into his woeful eyes.
"Okay, look... I'll meet you at The Surf Club at eight, but I can't be long!"
"No Charlie, not there! It's too crowded. Meet me at the lighthouse."
"The lighthouse?" She replied in surprise.
"At least we won't get disturbed there." He said pointing at Charlie's phone.
Charlie sighed.
"Constable, if we don't get a wiggle on we won't be going anywhere, accept joining the Dole queue!"
"Okay, point taken." Angelo smiled, getting to his feet and joining Charlie walking back to the Patrol car. "By the way, who was that you were talking to on your mobile earlier?"
Charlie's cheeks flushed.
"Oh, hi. Erm.. I wonder if I may speak to Joey Collins, please." Leah asked, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "Can you tell her, it's a friend of Charlie's please?"
Leah waited as the person, who she assumed was Joey's mother, went off in search of her daughter.
"Hey, it's Joey!"
"Oh, hi Joey! It's Leah here, Charlie's house mate. Sorry to ring you at home. I hope your mother doesn't mind?"
Joey frowned.
"Hi Leah. No, mum's cool. Is there anything wrong? Is Charlie alright?"
"Well, maybe... Err, I hate to stir the pot, but I thought it only right that you should know."
"Know what?" Joey asked curiously.
"Well, it's about Charlie and ... look, I really shouldn't be interfering like this but..."
"About Charlie and who?" Joey asked, tensing.
"Well... " Leah said kindly. "Oh God! I just don't want you to get hurt! You see, I've known Charlie a long time and I know what she's like!"
"I'm sorry Leah, I don't understand!" Joey said, a little discouraged by Leah's tone.
"Joey, I think she's seeing Angelo again!"
"What?" Joey whispered as she felt the blood drain from her face.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, but I've seen them together and it doesn't look good for you."
Joey fell silent. The firm walls of her world were suddenly crumbling about her. She blinked back a few tears and swallowed her heart which threatened to jump out of her mouth.
"Joey honey, are you still there?"
Joey swallowed again and whispered...
"Yeah."
"I'm so sorry, love, but I thought it best that you should know. I heard them making arrangements to meet up at the lighthouse at eight o'clock this evening."
Joey replaced the telephone handset and sat down on the nearest chair. She felt the heat creeping up her back and neck and her vision became impaired. Why was Charlie doing this to her? She dropped her head into her hands and sobbed.
"What's wrong with this bloody mobile phone?" Charlie complained, shaking it violently in frustration. "Did it work okay when you used it earlier?"
"Who are you trying to ring?" Angelo asked as he watched Charlie's performance.
"Joey. I just wanted to tell her I'll be running late. I should have rung her earlier, but what with the old man breathing down my neck all afternoon, I completely forgot." Charlie said guiltily.
She gave up and slipped the mobile into her pocket.
"May I borrow yours please?"
Angelo's face flushed.
"Err... sorry, I left it at home."
Charlie took a deep breath and sighed. She was beginning to feel a little uneasy and she knew that Joey would fret. How on earth could she let her know she would be late?
"Look Angelo, can you make this as quick as you can? I really need to be somewhere else! As you can see, I've come straight from work; I haven't even been home for a shower yet!"
"I'm sorry if I've inconvenienced you, Charlie." Angelo said sadly.
Charlie immediately felt guilty.
"No, I'm sorry Ang'. I didn't mean for it to sound like that." She said, taking his arm.
They began to wander along the headland arm in arm, little knowing they were being observed from a distance.
"So, what's on your mind? You were saying that wedded bliss wasn't so good." Charlie said, squeezing her companion's arm affectionately.
"Charlie, I won't beat about the bush... My marriage is a sham. It's my fault and not hers; you see... I'm still in love with you, Babe."
Charlie stopped in her tracks and her mouth fell open. Dropping her arm from his, she stepped back.
"Angelo! You can't mean..."
"Oh, I do! I can't stop thinking about you. You're getting to be an obsession with me! Please, please say I still have a chance, Charlie!" He said, moving his body close and wrapping his arms about her tightly.
"Angelo! No! You know I'm with someone else! I can't do this and I don't want to!" She said, struggling.
"Charlie! I can't and won't accept that you want to be with a woman!"
"What the hell's wrong with you, Angelo? I've told you I'm with Joey, now just leave me alone!"
She struggled to free herself but his vice-like grip grew tighter.
"Charlie please! I love you! Give me another chance! This time we can make it, I know!" He cried and then forced his lips against her.
"I knew I should never have trusted you! I knew you were too good to be true! I should never have fallen in love!" Joey cried from a few metres away.
Angelo loosened his grip on Charlie and she managed to free herself.
"Joey!" Charlie cried as Joey began to walk away hastily.
"Save it, Charlie! I don't wanna know!"
"Joey!" Charlie squeaked in panic as she started to follow her girlfriend. "Joey, you've got it all wrong!"
"Charlie! I love you!" Angelo cried out as Charlie started to put distance between them.
"There you go, Charlie! He loves you! Go running to him and leave me alone!" Joey yelled and started to run.
"Joey!" Charlie screamed and set off in pursuit of the angry young woman, leaving Angelo totally bemused.
"Joey!" Charlie yelled again. "Please stop running!"
"Get lost!" Joey returned with venom.
"Please don't!" Charlie called as she began to gain on Joey. "Jo! Stop for goodness sake!"
She reached out and caught hold of Joey's fingers. "Darling, please!"
Joey could hardly breathe as Charlie touched her. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she was choking from her exertions. Charlie took hold of her arms and turned her around gently; looking into her unwilling eyes.
"Joey, what you saw was Angelo making an arse of himself." He declares he is still in love with me, but you know I can't love him back!"
"How do I? How can I be sure when all your friends are telling me you are back together?"
"What friends?" Charlie asked, curiously.
"Leah. She said you were double crossing me with him and that you were meeting him here tonight! And surprise, surprise! There you are in his arms pashing him like there's no tomorrow!"
"I was not 'pashing him'!"
"Then I suppose your lips, pressed hard against his was an entire mistake?"
"His mistake, not mine!"
"You were supposed to be on a date with me! But did you bother to let me know? NO!"
"Joey! My phone isn't working and... Hold on... did you say Leah told you?" Charlie asked suddenly, looking surprised.
"Yeah. She phoned to warn me." Joey said; her tone now a little calmer.
Charlie frowned.
"Joey, I think someones trying to make a fool of us and I think Leah and Angelo are involved."
"Nice try, Senior Constable!"
"It's the truth, Joey! When I phoned you at lunch time, Angelo said he needed to talk to me about a private matter, and I agreed to it. Then we got called back to work for an emergency and I was so wrapped up in it that I didn't have a moment to send you a text about tonight, which I'm so sorry about. Then, when I tried to use this stupid thing..." Charlie said, producing her phone. "It wouldn't work... see?" She said handing the mobile phone to Joey.
Joey tried the phone but to no avail. She opened up the back to see if the battery was in place. She removed a piece of paper which had been strategically placed between the battery and the battery contacts.
"Here." She said after removing the paper. "It works now. Looks like you were sabotaged.
"Angelo! The bastard!" Charlie hissed looking back towards where he had stood.
He was nowhere to be seen.
"But why would Leah be involved?" Charlie frowned.
"Because she hates me and my kind." Joey said, quietly.
"Then, she hates me too, my love." Charlie said, taking hold of Joey's hand. "Because we are two of a kind and please Joey, never run away from me again, ever!"
Joey studied Charlie's eyes and could see truth in them.
"Charlie, I couldn't bear it if you were to leave me. I've never loved anyone like I love you! I don't think I would ever recover from it if you broke my heart!"
"Joey, I will never break your heart or leave you, believe me, please!"
Joey gladly slumped against Charlie and Charlie wrapped her arms about her tightly.
"God! I love you so much Joey Collins!" Charlie whispered. "Don't let them do this to us. Don't let them tear us apart, not when we've come this far!"
Charlie's eyes glowed with entreaty. Joey could not resist Charlie's plea and gently placed her lips over Charlie's and kissed her reassuringly; silently communicating their love was not ruined. The soft skin of their lips seemed reluctant to part and clung to each other as the girls eased their faces apart.
"You do believe me, don't you Joey?"
"Yes, I believe you Charlie and I'm sorry I lost trust, but what was I to think when one of your closest friends tells me stuff like that?"
"It's not your fault, honey. You wait 'til I get my hands on that bitch... Hey! Wait a moment! I have a better idea. Come on!" Charlie grinned, taking hold of Joey's hand and leading her back to the car.
"What are we going to do?"
"Just you wait and see!"