Caught In The Middle Chapter 8: Playing With My Heart, a home & away fanfic

Hi everyone!

Well I would reply to all you lovely reviewers individually but I'd be telling you all the same thing - I think you're gonna love this chapter! Go Charlie!

Now if only H&A would do this for real... :P

Enjoy! Don't forget to let me know what you think!

"Playing With My Heart"

"A little tough love never hurt nobody
Never saw this coming
This side of me
I know where you're goin' with your sugar-laced talkin'
And it wasn't too hard to see

You think you got me right where you want me
You think you got the whole story
But I think that a proper fair warning
Might serve you well
So I'm here to tell you

It's not too late to do yourself a favour
And walk away
Though I know that's never been your nature
By the way
You've put yourself in danger 'cause you're playing with my heart
Playing with my heart
You're playing with my heart

Every good girl's got a real good reason
To believe in breaking all the rules sometimes
And I'm that girl, baby you're that reason
And your scheming has caused me to cross the line

You lie, but I'm a pretty good liar
You chose a game I can play better
You're bright, oh but baby I'm clever
So you might as well let me tell you

For heaven's sake what are you thinking baby?
You won't catch what you've been chasing
Trust me when I say I can keep you running
But I'm not coming, oh I won't come around

Charlie sighed gently as she stood in her kitchen washing the dishes from dinner. With Leah at work and VJ at a friends' for a sleep over she had the place to herself for the evening so had sent Angelo a text message asking him to come over.

Since Joey had left that afternoon Charlie had spent a lot of time thinking about what she could do to change things. Joey was right about her, she was drowning and she needed to work out how to save herself. It had hurt her deeply to know that Joey had moved on, but what else could she have expected after the way things ended between them.

Charlie had had every chance to stop her from leaving while they stood on that wharf the day Joey left. Instead she couldn't say a thing to stop Joey from taking off to a whole new life that didn't include her. Why did I ever think she would still be waiting for me? I couldn't wait for her...God everything is so messed up! The second I saw her standing outside...I wanted to forget the last ten months and pull her into a hug and never let go. How could I ever have let her go?

I still can't believe I actually kissed her. I don't think I've been that impulsive since...the first time I kissed her. It doesn't matter that...we're both with other people...those three seconds we shared kissing each other...was easily the best time in my life since we were first together. I know Joey felt it too. I just don't quite know where we go from here. She says she's moved on and I'm stuck with- -

"Hey Charlie," Angelo greeted happily as he walked into the kitchen, interrupting Charlie's thoughts and causing her to drop one of the plates in the sink. While it didn't break it, Charlie was still not impressed that Angelo had waltzed into the house like he owned the place.

"Hi," Charlie grunted back to him as she grabbed a tea towel and dried her hands. "So you...ah sent me a message and asked me to come over," Angelo said awkwardly sensing Charlie's tone. "Mmm hmm," Charlie sighed. "You're still pissed off at me," Angelo realized, "Bout the whole..."

Charlie turned around, glaring at him, "The whole you invading my privacy, going through my stuff, then tracking down my ex so you can...flaunt yourself and us in front of her? You're right, I'm still pissed as hell at you." "C'mon Charlie," Angelo begged, "I gave Joey the letter and bought her here so you two can...sort things out. You told me yourself that you two never had any closure. And if you're gonna find a way to commit to me...you need to have closure between you and Joey."

Charlie closed her eyes for a moment, knowing in her heart she could never find closure for the woman she still loved. "Charlie," Angelo interrupted lightly, "Why'd you ask me here tonight? 'Cause if it was just to vent your frustration about the things I've done...you've kinda already done that...so maybe it's now time for me to make it up to you."

Angelo took a step forward, intending on wrapping his arms around his girlfriends' waist, but was surprised when suddenly she darted around him. "That's not why I asked you here. I'll be back in a minute," Charlie told him as she walked away from him into the living room. Angelo leant against the counter, trying to work out how he could fix things between them...and trying to ignore the fact that Joey told him that Charlie had kissed her earlier that day. Charlie wouldn't do that to me.

Angelo was bought out of his thoughts and grinned happily as Charlie walked back into the kitchen. His grin waivered as his eyes fell on a box Charlie had in her hands. "What's all this?" Angelo whispered. Charlie looked down at the box as she stood in front of him, "It's all your stuff you've left here or given me the last few months. Take your crap and get out!"

Before Angelo could react, Charlie shoved the box into his hands. Angelo stared down at its contents, then back up at Charlie, trying desperately not to begin crying. The thought of what this gesture meant...it broke his heart. "Charlie please...this doesn't mean..." Angelo pleaded with her softly.

"We're done Angelo," Charlie said firmly. "Don't say that...we can work through this," Angelo insisted. Charlie crossed her arms in front of her chest, "No we can't because I don't want to. It's over between us." Angelo gripped the box tightly, "So that's it...your ex comes back to town and you dump me? Why are even bothering to break up with me...? Joey doesn't want you."

"You don't know the first thing about Joey wants," Charlie replied. "I saw her at the Surf Club just before. Joey told me she's moved on and that...she doesn't want you back," Angelo told her spitefully. "That's between her and me. It's got nothing to do with you anymore Angelo," Charlie stated. Angelo gritted his teeth, whispering, "Did you kiss her?"

"Yes," Charlie answered honestly. Angelo looked down at the floor, "Okay...that's okay I can forgive you." "Huh?" Charlie stared at him. Angelo placed his box down on the counter gently, "You're confused and you wanted to see if your feelings for Joey were still there so you kissed her. That's okay, I can forgive you." "Well that's...great Angelo...but I really don't care...it's over between you and me," Charlie replied.

"Don't say that," Angelo begged, "We can make things work between us." "Give it up Angelo, it's not gonna work. It wasn't working before and it certainly won't work now," Charlie stated firmly. "That's not true. I mean yeah we've had our problems but who hasn't? We were getting past all our problems and...we have something really special here Charlie," Angelo told her miserably.

"There was nothing special about what we had. Why can't you see that?" Charlie asked. "Because I love you," Angelo whispered. Charlie looked down at the floor, "I don't love you...I never did. I'm sorry if I hurt you but this is never going to work between us when I don't care for you the way you do for me."

Angelo swallowed deeply, "So this is...what? Goodbye? 'Thanks for some good times but now my ex is back you don't matter to me anymore'? I'm sorry did you miss the part where Joey's happy with her new girlfriend and doesn't want to get back together with you?"

"Doesn't change things," Charlie whispered, "Even if Joey and I...can never get back together...that doesn't mean I should be with you." "We both know that ain't true! Charlie you couldn't be single if your life depended on it!" Angelo claimed forcefully. "And that's a good enough reason to be with you?" Charlie demanded.

Angelo smirked, "We both know how this will end...you're gonna think that you and Joey have a chance together, and then you're gonna see her with her new girlfriend. You'll see how in love they are with one another...and you're gonna come running back to me."

"If Joey's happy now...I am not gonna stand in her way," Charlie claimed, unable to believe her own lie, "Besides is that enough for you? The only reason for me to be with you is...'cause I can't be with the person I...love?" "I love you enough to look past that and we both know your feelings for me are strong...you know deep down you love me too," Angelo insisted.

Charlie shook her head disbelievingly, trying to stifle a laugh, "Angelo...where you been? Is there a part of your brain that has been ignoring what's right in front of you? You said you read my letter...did you ignore all the parts where I said...you know what? Forget it. This is just typical you. How many times did I state in the letter I was sick and tired of your controlling ways on top of the fact that you don't have a clue how I really feel about you? Even now I'm telling you that I don't love you and you're still ignoring that fact! We don't have a future Angelo...we never did."

"We can have a future together Charlie, a good one. Why can't you see that?" Angelo pleaded, refusing to let go, "You don't have a future with Joey...so why are you saying no to a future with me?"

Charlie bit her lip hard, tired of Angelo's insistence, "Because it's wrong. I can't be with you when my heart isn't in it. Angelo I care enough about you to know that. If I was to stay with you it would be selfish of me. I can't be in a relationship with you just because it's better than being lonely. Maybe it would work for a few more weeks...months...God we could draw this out for years...but it'll still end the same. You would hate me for staying with you. For not been able to give you the love you want. That feeling will eat away at you until you can't stand to be around me. You deserve better. You deserve someone who can truly love you and commit to you."

Angelo sighed deeply, "I will never hate you. I could never feel that way about you. You can be the person who will love me and you'll find a way to commit to me. We'll work through this--"

Charlie had had enough of Angelo's pleas, and took a step forwards. Grabbing the box of Angelo's stuff off the counter, she shoved it into his chest again, "I've heard enough Angelo. You can't make me change my mind. I'm in love with Joey and I have been since the day I met her. Being with you after she left...you were nothing but...convenient. I don't care if she never gives me another chance because she's happily moved on. If I have a chance to fight for her...then I'm gonna find a way to do that. And I don't need you getting in the way of that."

"Charlie...accept it...Joey doesn't want you and you're gonna end up crying to me when you find that out the hard way," Angelo told her smugly. "That's it," Charlie decided, "I've had enough of this. Get out now Angelo before I throw you out! It's over between us and that's final." Angelo stared at her pleadingly, "Charlie please I'm--"

Charlie finally gave up on trying to reason with him, and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, "Get out now!" Angelo sighed defeatedly, but didn't budge. Charlie yanked him by his shirt and pushed him towards the door. As he found himself outside he turned around to try again and convince her not to break it off, but Charlie had slammed the door in his face.

Angelo held his box in one hand, and slammed his palm hard against the closed door, doing nothing but bruising his hand. Angelo shook his hand and stormed off away from Charlie. Angelo couldn't believe how humiliated he felt. His girlfriend had broken up with him and thrown him out of her house all for the love of another woman...who didn't want her.

As Angelo trudged back to his place he began to relax slightly, as he decided that Charlie was just taking her frustrations out on him. Charlie was nothing but upset at the fact her life is in 'ruins' and Joey's life is...damn near perfect. It's okay...I'll forgive Charlie for this. I won't hold her actions tonight against her when she comes crying back to me when she realizes Joey doesn't love her.

Once Charlie heard Angelo leave her place, she sighed gently and collapsed against the kitchen door. Seated on the ground with her knees pulled up against her chest, Charlie buried her face in her hands, brushing away the tears and trying to ignore the thoughts that kept telling her that Angelo was right...Joey doesn't want me.