Thanks again for your great feedback guys!
JSCO81 - You might be onto something...
AuthorW - Honesty is the key for these two now
PMCC - You could be right about that - hope you like the last line of this chapter :P
Oniz197 - Yep Charlie's got a few days - so how will she use them? Oh did I steal the name Gabby from another fic? Aww I'm sorry to whoever it is - total coincidence lol!
Kim - Never ocurred to me but I do tend to torture Charlie in my fics a lil don't I? Hmm is this a serious problem for me? Do I need help? Maybe I do - absolutely not spoiling which of my fics so I won't ruin the surprise - but Charlie's certainly going to go through some slight 'torture' in one of them soon...all in the name of drama :P So is there medication or meetings I need to cure my Charlie tortureness? :P
Funkyshaz - There could be some CJ love in the future...I'll keep you posted :P
Ok now on with the chapter - not my best writing but I thought the new confidant Joey needed a one-up on a certain character... :P
"A Place Called Home"
"Well, it's not hard to see
Anyone who looks at me
Knows I am just a rolling stone
Never landing anyplace to call my own
To call my own
Well, it seems like so long ago
But it really ain't you know
I started out a crazy kid
Miracle I made it through the things I did
The things I did
Someday I'll go where there ain't no rain or snow
Til then, I travel alone
And I make my bed with the stars above my head
And dream of a place called home
I had a chance to settle down
Get a job and live in town
Work in some old factory
I never liked the foreman standing over me
Over me
Oh I'd rather walk a winding road
Rather know the things I know
See the world with my own eyes
No regrets, no looking back, no goodbyes
No goodbyes
Someday I'll go where there ain't no rain or snow
Til then, I travel alone
And I make my bed with the stars above my head
And I dream of a place called home"
Joey nervously made her way to the Surf Club, unsure of the prospect of bumping into some of the locals. Walking into the building she immediately bumped into someone. Apologising profusely, she found herself looking up at a grinning Aden. Before she could even greet him, Aden wrapped Joey up into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
"Oh God Aid...put me down," Joey begged. Aden placed her back on the ground, but pulled her into another quick hug, "Well I'll be damned! Joey Collins back in Summer Bay!" "It's good to see you too Aid," Joey grinned, "What's been happening?" Aden smiled down at her, "Like I want to tell my tales when I'm much rather hear all about yours. So what brings you back to town? Oh please tell me you've returned to rescue Charlie from that incredible lunk head of a boyfriend of hers...wait you do know...?"
Joey punched him on the arm playfully, "Yes I'm well aware of the...incredible lunk head! And to answer your question...I'm not here to rescue Charlie. Well kind of...but not the way you imagine." "Yeah I'll bet," Aden teased, "Well if you're not too busy...I was on my way to go see Nicole...but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I cancelled our plans to hang out with you for the evening." "You call Nicole then and I'll get us the first round," Joey agreed, happy to go and say hello to Alf.
An hour later, Joey and Aden were still seated in one of the booths' at the bar enjoying a few drinks. Happy to be back in her home town, Joey relaxed and enjoyed hanging out with Aden. After she'd left Summer Bay, Joey had stayed in contact for several months by text messages with Aden. Eventually Joey had found it too hard to keep in contact with him, due to the constant memories of Charlie, and stopped replying to Aden's messages.
Joey had regretted her decision then, and even more so now as Aden soulfully and tearfully informed her that he had married Belle, the love of his life, only to have her pass away in his arms only a few weeks later. Joey couldn't comprehend how he had survived the pain of losing Belle, but was glad to see that somehow he'd managed through the pain and had paved out a new life for himself.
Aden explained to her that he had started dating Nicole several weeks ago, and while they were taking things slowly, he was beginning to enjoy life after Belle. Joey expressed her own contentment having managed to find someone after Charlie, and while she wasn't sure if she could ever fully get over Charlie, she was happy to have found someone new. She shared her concerns over not being able to help Charlie and Ruby get their relationship back on track like she promised. Joey was also concerned that Angelo wouldn't be pleased by her spending time with his girlfriend. Aden pointed out that was up to Charlie to deal with.
Aden joyfully invited Joey to come stay with him during her stay in the Bay, as his housemate Liam had recently decided to move out and go and live with Martha. Joey didn't hesitate to accept his invitation, feeling more comfortable staying with him than at the Caravan Park. Joey smiled at the prospect of settling down back in Summer Bay...even for a short time she had to remind herself.
After their drinks Aden decided he'd better go home and spend some time with Nicole, who was still freaking out about her decision to return to Summer Bay High in the next few days to repeat her senior year. Aden gave Joey a spare key for the apartment and told her which room she could crash in, as Joey decided to hang around the Surf Club for another drink before calling it a night.
Not long after Aden had left her, Joey was ready to leave herself. She'd texted Ruby and organised for her to meet up with Charlie and herself for lunch the following day at the Diner. Then messaging Charlie to confirm the lunch, she was pleasantly surprised when Charlie immediately replied, thanking her for helping her with a chance to speak to Ruby.
Joey made a move to stand up and make her way to Aden's but noticed Angelo strolling into Noah's Bar. Trying to make herself invisible so he wouldn't spot her, she rolled her eyes when he immediately saw her sitting alone in the booth. Hesitating for a moment, he then made his way over to her. Joey braced herself slightly, unsure of what Charlie's boyfriend would have to say to her, and casually stroked her hair behind her ears.
As Angelo reached her, Alf walked past them, and Angelo called out to him, "Two beers thanks mate." Alf nodded uncertainly, but returned to the bar to get Angelo's order. Angelo nodded at Joey when he stood next to the booth, "Mind if I take a seat?"
Joey bit her lip, "Long as you're not planning on getting drunk over quite a few beers." Angelo raised his eyebrows and sat down opposite the younger girl. As Alf strolled over with the beers he placed them both in front of Angelo.
Alf had been used to Angelo coming into the bar the last few weeks, as his problems with Charlie refusing to move in with him or commit to their relationship increased, Angelo was constantly found to be drowning his problems. Alf was determined to have a chat with Angelo about his increased drinking but thought tonight was not the best time, having been surprised to see Joey back in town and now talking with Charlie's boyfriend, and served him anyway.
Angelo glanced down at the two bottles, and slid one across the table, neatly landing it in front of Joey. Angelo raised his bottle, taking a sip, daring Joey to do the same. Joey took a quick swig of the liquid, unafraid of Angelo's silent threat. "So...how long you gonna be in town?" Joey shrugged, taking another sip, "Couple days...maybe longer."
Angelo sighed, "Better be the truth. You're not...staying with...?" Joey shook her head, "No I'm not staying with Charlie. Crashing at Aden's while I'm here. He and I were pretty close friends when I lived here." "Glad you're looking right at home back in the Bay," Angelo smirked, then nodded apologetically, "Sorry about the whole...spying on you in the City thing. I was just...trying to work out...if you should know about what Charlie's going through."
"Apology accepted," Joey replied simply, "Gotta say I'm still surprised you sent the letter." Angelo shrugged, "Couldn't exactly ignore the things she wrote." Joey took a swig of her beer, "Seems to me that's exactly what you're doing. Otherwise you wouldn't have threatened to fight for her when...it's hardly what she wants."
"I've been good to Charlie and I'd never hurt her. I'd never run off on her," Angelo claimed. "I get it okay...you're here to stay and you're not gonna walk out on Charlie the way I did. Long as you're who Charlie really wants to be with...I'm not here to get in your way," Joey told him. "Really?" Angelo questioned disbelievingly.
Joey nodded, "I'm here to help Charlie out...as a friend. She needs someone to help her try and get things back on track with Ruby, as well as trying to sort through her commitment issues. Not to mention all the emotional scarring she still has from what that guy Grant did to her. I've been in a similar situation and I needed a friend to help me through it. Charlie was there for me. And I feel as if I can help her cope with what she's going through. Charlie needs someone who's not as...closely connected to her like you and Ruby to help her through things."
Angelo stared at Joey intently, "And you're...not closely connected to Charlie?" "Not currently," Joey answered. Angelo glanced down at his drink, "Well that's very convincing that you're not here to try and win her back."
Joey pursed her lips, "Not that it's any of your business but right now...I'm not interested in trying to get back together with Charlie. You were wrong about what you saw when you spotted me in the City...I have moved on and I'm...dating someone new. I've really started to put my life together since I left Charlie." Angelo couldn't contain the half smile that crossed his lips, "I'm...glad to hear that. Does Charlie know?"
Joey had her bottle of beer in front of her, which she was nervously fiddling with the label on the bottle as she began scratching it off, "Yes. Safe to say...she wasn't as pleased as you are. Charlie...she asked me to give her another chance. She told me she...wanted us to be together again."
Angelo's smile faded, replaced by a scowl, "Why should I believe you? Charlie wouldn't do that to me." "You really are trying everything to ignore the things she wrote to me aren't you?" Joey pointed out. Angelo glared at her angrily, but as he was about to let loose with some verbal abuse, his phone beeped.
Angelo flipped open his phone, reading the text message from Charlie:
'Can you come over my place? Need to see you.'
Angelo's smile returned to his face, and he happily repeated the message to Joey, while he replied telling Charlie he'd be over soon. Joey rolled her eyes at him, "And what makes you think its good news?" "Let's put it this way," Angelo said pausing before wriggling his eyebrows suggestively, "You return to town...and I'm the one who gets the 'booty call'."
Joey nearly spat out the mouthful of beer she'd just swigged, "Booty call...? You really think Charlie would message you for that? Lucky for you if it's true...but all I'm gonna say is...its interesting timing." Angelo stood up to leave, but turned back to Joey as she said that, "And why's that?"
Joey grinned, "'Cause I doubt you'll be the person she's thinking of tonight." "Is that right?" Angelo managed to say through clenched jaws. Joey smirked, then matched Angelo's previous action of wriggling her eyebrows suggestively, "Just between you and me...Charlie kissed me this afternoon before I told her I've moved on. And if it wasn't for my...self-control...we'd probably be in bed together right now...So you go enjoy the night with her...I'm sure she'll be thinking of you the whole time."
Angelo tightened his fists angrily, resisting the urge to become violent, and stormed out of the Surf Club fuming that Joey could suggest such a thing about his girlfriend. Sure Charlie had been confused about committing to him but it didn't mean she would cheat on him. Taking a moment down at the beach to calm himself down, Angelo decided that Joey was doing nothing but riling him up so he would get angry at Charlie when he went over to see her. She's not gonna win by playing games Angelo thought as he headed to Charlie's.
The moment Angelo had stormed out of the Surf Club, Joey had nearly burst into hysterics. Which is not the kinda thing one does when sitting alone in a bar booth. Joey couldn't help but have a silent chuckle over his antics. While Joey had honestly felt bad about telling him that Charlie had kissed her, she felt proud of herself for standing up against him.
It'd taken a long time to get her confidence back, and while she probably shouldn't have been that mean, she thought back to all the things Charlie had written about the way Angelo treated her, and couldn't help but indulge in his antics.
As Joey stood up to leave, she took one final mouthful of her beer. Joey smiled softly, and touched her lips with her fingertips, as she remembered the feel of Charlie's lips against hers...
***
Is everybody wishing Joey didn't have any self-control right about now? :P