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"Collide"

This week's song - one of my personal faves - can be found on the below link. Go check it out - it's a CJ video clip!

.com/watch?v=FNxlQR6GB4w

"The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide"

One Week Later

Angelo made his own way into Charlie and Leah's house. He beamed happily as he spotted his girlfriend seated on the couch, typing gently on her laptop. Angelo walked up behind her, leaning over the couch and kissed her cheek, "Hey beautiful." Charlie shot up immediately, shocked at his intrusion not only into her house but her personal space. In her movement she slammed her laptop shut, "Damn it Angelo...don't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry babe, couldn't resist," Angelo smiled cheekily, "So whatcha typing there? Looks like a...letter." His face faltered slightly. Charlie placed her closed laptop on the coffee table, and sat back on the couch looking up at him, "It's nothing...just a police report I thought I'd get a head start on at home then email to the office. Probably not the most professional thing but it's only a quick report on that graffiti that was found all over the Bait Shop and Surf Club, nothing confidential. I can't keep my mind outta the job today and I haven't even started work yet." Angelo frowned, "How come you're in your uniform? I thought it was your day off and since I finished my shift I figured we could go get some dinner."

Charlie shrugged, "Watson asked me to swap shifts with her so she could spend some time with her partner. I'll be starting shortly for the night shift and then I'll be on again late tomorrow morning." "But tomorrow is my day off," Angelo sighed, "And by the time you've got your days off, I'll be back at work again." "Yeah so...? We work different shifts all the time. Watson asked me for a favour, what's the big deal?" Charlie replied nonchalantly. Angelo crossed his arms across his chest, "The big deal is I'm your boss. I handle the bulk of the rosters now and you two should have come to me to ask permission for this change."

Charlie looked at him uncaringly, "What? So you could turn it down just so we'd get to work together on a few extra shifts? Yeah that's certainly being a fair boss. Get a life Angelo, I was just doing a friend a favour, I wasn't thinking about you when I agreed to change my roster." "Exactly," Angelo whispered, too quietly for Charlie to hear him. "You say something?" Charlie asked when she saw his lips move.

Angelo shrugged and moved around so he could sit down on the couch next to Charlie. He leant forwards into a kiss which Charlie allowed him to continue for a few seconds. Pulling back she complained, "Not now Angelo, I don't have time for that." Angelo swallowed hard, but took Charlie's hand in his own, "I didn't mean...I can't even kiss my girlfriend without her thinking that's all I want? Just wanted to spend a quiet moment with you before you go to the station. Say...since we won't get to spend much time together the next couple days, why don't I take you out to lunch tomorrow?"

"Because I start work at 11 am and by the time I get a break, that'd be a pretty late lunch for you Angelo," Charlie answered. "And you'll be too tired from work tomorrow morning to see me or tomorrow night to go out to dinner or even bother to see me," Angelo concluded. "Probably," Charlie muttered, "Look this is just part of our jobs, you should know that. Odd shifts, bad hours, and just 'cause you organise the rosters doesn't mean you can always roster us on together. Sometimes it does me good to get out from under you and be in charge when you're not there. Not like I haven't had the responsibility before."

Angelo swallowed his pride, "You're still pissed at me about the promotion aren't you?" "I'm not...pissed at you, just at our Superiors for justifying the need for someone to be bumped ahead of me. I know you risked everything on that case you came back for...but I feel like I've got nowhere to go in my career if I stick here with you at the Yabbie Creek station," Charlie explained. "I can support that feeling you're going through, it's natural Charlie," Angelo soothed, "Why don't we talk to our Superiors about it sometime this week?"

Charlie hesitated nervously, "I um...kinda already have." Angelo stared at her upset, and feeling betrayed. Charlie took a deep breath, "I spoke to Senior Sergeant Harding this morning. They're happy for me to continue my role in the station and effectively be the second in charge behind you, and I decided that I was happy with that role for now but I still want opportunities to develop my career down the line. I don't want to sit in anyone's shadow forever. They support that and I'll discuss with them when I feel confidant moving up in my job. And um...well...this shift change with Watson...it wasn't just me doing a favour to Watson. Harding recommended it and said he'd discuss it with you when you're back in the station." "Discuss what?" Angelo demanded, frustrated.

Charlie bit her lip, "Well with me being...2IC...they want us rostering our shifts so that for the bulk of the days and early evenings...at least one of us has to be at the station during these times...every day." "You're kidding me?" Angelo snorted, "I mean tell me you're joking." Charlie raised her eyebrow, "What's the big deal? We both get to handle the responsibility and I'm happy with that...this helps me accept your promotion a bit more..."

Angelo placed his hand up, stopping her, "Okay you do realize that with a roster like that we'll never see each other?" "Don't be so overdramatic, we'll see each other all the time," Charlie insisted. "Yeah at work Charlz," Angelo scowled, ignoring Charlie's own look of disgust as he used her nickname, "We're never gonna have a day off together...much less a night or even a morning together." "Weren't you just saying last week that we don't have to spend every waking moment together?" Charlie scoffed. "That doesn't mean we can't spend any time together outside of work Charlie," Angelo yelled angrily, then sighing, "You did this so you could feel better about my promotion...you didn't even think about me in any of this."

"That's not true," Charlie claimed, "We're lucky we can still see each other at work so much." "This isn't lucky Charlie," Angelo groaned, "If it wasn't for the fact we work in the same office then I'd never get to see you. Can't you see that you are taking a huge leap backwards? If I thought you were a commitment phobe before..." "Gee thanks Angelo!" Charlie exasperated. "I didn't mean..." Angelo bit his tongue, "All I'm saying is that we went from being a perfect couple ready to move in together to you pushing me away so much that the only time we'll ever spend together is trapped in an office at work. How are we supposed to develop our relationship like that?"

"Perfect couple?" Charlie repeated, unable to suppress a small laugh, "That's hardly the way to describe us." Angelo looked away dismayed at her honesty. Charlie raised her hand pinching the ridge of her nose, "That didn't come out the way it was meant to. I'm sorry but again you keep insisting that we're so good together like we've never had any problems, not to mention you just stated that we were ready to move in together. I am not ready for that...accept that as that's your issue now."

Angelo hung his head embarrassed, "I can't help how I feel Charlie. Why are you so afraid of committing to me? I'm willing to do whatever it is you need. If you don't want to buy a place together, I accept that. If you don't want to get ourselves entangled in a rental bond for the next 6 to 12 months, I accept that. Maybe you just need to do this moving in with me thing slowly. Why don't you bring some more of your stuff to my place? Anything you want to change about my apartment to make you feel at home, go right ahead. You don't have to move in completely and spend every night there...it'd just be nice to have the place feel a little bit more like 'ours.'"

Charlie closed her eyes for a few seconds, giving up slightly to get him to give up hassling her for now, "I'll think about it." Angelo's head snapped up, "You will? Really?" Charlie nodded unconvincingly. Angelo was too happy to notice, and leapt forwards, planting a sloppy kiss on his girlfriends' lips, "See I knew you just needed some support through this. You have no idea how happy I am to hear this. I love you Charlie!" Charlie resisted the urge to wipe her mouth after Angelo pried his lips off hers, "Yeah...well I don't know if it'll help me much...but we'll see. I love...being with you too."

Charlie stood up awkwardly, making a move to grab her purse and handbag. "What the hell was that?" Angelo suddenly demanded. "Huh?" Charlie looked back at him confused. Angelo was scratching the top of his head, "You just said...'I love being with you.'" "Yeah," Charlie replied simply. "Why can't you say you love me?" Angelo asked sadly. Charlie raised her eyebrows, "Ah...I just did." Angelo shook his head, "No...you said you love being with me, you didn't say that you love me. There's a difference." "I don't see any difference," Charlie shrugged, as she picked up her phone and put it in her handbag. "Do you love me?" Angelo asked softly, his voice cracking. "I don't have time for this," Charlie dismissed, "I'm gonna be late for work."

Charlie started to walk away from him, but stopped when he stood up, "You didn't email that police report to the office." Charlie looked at him confused, "Oh...yeah it was crappy work anyway. I'll retype it when I get to the station." "No you won't," Angelo glared at her, "'Cause it's not a police report...who were you writing a letter to?" "I don't have to tell you," Charlie asserted. "Who?" Angelo suddenly growled. "I'm not telling you anything, especially when you're like this," Charlie decided.

Angelo's eyes flickered, agitated, "I know you're hiding something...and we both know I'm right about that. Do you want me to go through your laptop?" "Do so and it's well and truly over for us," Charlie resolved, then letting out a small chuckle, "Like you could even get into my laptop anyway. You wouldn't have a clue what my password is. You don't know me well enough...you know what I've changed my mind. How about you waste your entire day sitting here with my laptop, trying to guess what my password is? Prove me wrong...prove you know me."

"If you weren't hiding anything it wouldn't matter to you what I do and you would show it to me," Angelo insisted. "I am allowed some privacy in my own home you know," Charlie told him. Angelo gritted his teeth, "I'm sorry okay. I don't like secrets. They've ruined my life as it is. Can we just forget this happened? Since we won't see each other much for the next couple days...do you mind if I drive you to work? I can pick you up when you finish." "I'm kinda...I'm just in the head space for a little alone time right now...if you don't mind," Charlie admitted. Angelo nodded sadly, "So when will I get to see you next?"

Charlie shrugged, "I dunno. I'll...ah call you if I manage to get a break tomorrow arvo. Maybe we can catch up at Noah's for a juice." "A juice huh? So that's all the time you have for me?" Angelo accused as he stood up from the couch and stalked towards her. "Take it or leave it," Charlie ordered. "I just want...to spend more time with you," Angelo replied softly, "Maybe we can talk to Harding a little bit more this week about our shifts and explain to him that we need a little time to ourselves sometimes."

"We'll see what happens," Charlie half-heartedly agreed, "But for right now...I'm kinda happy to get back in charge a little bit more." "So you'll back up Harding if he decides this is the best option for the station?" Angelo realized. Charlie turned back and walked into the kitchen, while Angelo followed her briefly and stood at the kitchen entryway. Charlie placed her hand on the door handle, "I don't have time to argue about this. We'll talk about all this tomorrow during my break okay?"

"So you promise not to make any excuses to get out of seeing me tomorrow and discussing this?" Angelo pleaded. "I can't promise that. Who knows what'll happen at work tomorrow. I'm sorry if you feel like I went behind your back to our Superior about this...but I think it's a good thing for both of us to have this level of responsibility at the station. I'm not trying to overrule you, you're still in charge," Charlie told him. "That's not the part that concerns me," Angelo reminded her, "I just don't like that this change in our jobs means that we'll never see each other outside the office."

Charlie gripped the door handle tightly, as Angelo took several steps backwards, nearly turning his back on her, and Charlie called back to him, "This isn't forever Angelo. This change in our rosters may only be for the next few weeks or so while you get used to what it's like to fully be in charge of the station. In the meantime, you're just gonna have to accept the fact that our rosters just aren't gonna..." Charlie wretched open the door, "...collide!"

With that Charlie turned to walk out on him, but found herself nearly colliding with the person standing on the back doorstep who had their hand raised about to knock on the door. Charlie's eyes widened in surprise and she took a step back.

"Hi Charlie."

***

Hmm I wonder who that could be... :P