Thanks again guys for your support! You reviewers keep us all writing!
Rhyleigh - Super-fast reader you sure are! Glad you liked the last couple chapters!
Tclick - I don't understand it either how the writers can think we wouldn't notice how badly CHarlie and Ruby are in need of some family bonding time - that does not involve talking about Wart!
JSCO - I always loved the way Joey got along with both Charlie and Ruby - that's special!
Funkyshaz - Oh if you insist on no tears...I might just for once do the right thing lol!
Cicero66 - New reviewer! Love getting new reviewers! Joey sure has a small plan in mind :P
CJ4eva - Happiness for CJ - long overdue I say!
Oniz - No twist this time I promise! I know - that's so NOT like me! But there could be one coming up when CJ try to set up our other 'resident couple'...
AUthorW - Yes Ruby going to Joey all the time is a great lil relationship in itself! Urgh I can't even imagine Ruby ever going to Angelo for help - or Angelo ever offering to think about someone else for a change and try and get Charlie/Ruby back together :)
Enjoy CJ's 'official' date and let me know what you think about it :P
.com/watch?v=OOP3imCC-oM
"Something Right"
"Never thought that I'd be so inspired
Never thought that I'd find the higher truth
I believed that love was overrated
'Till the moment I found you
Now baby I know I don't deserve
The love you give me
But now I understand that
If you want me I must be doing something right
I got nothing left to prove
And it's all because of you
So if you need me
And baby I make you feel alive
I know I must be doing
Doing something right
It's because of you I feel so lifted
I've been looking at my life from higher ground
Never thought that I'd be so elated
You're the one who turned it all around
Now baby, I didn't know myself
Until you changed me
And made me understand that
If you want me I must be doing something right
I got nothing left to prove
And it's all because of you
So if you need me
And baby I make you feel alive
I know I must be doing
Doing something right
Oh
And baby I know I don't deserve the love you give me
But I don't really care, cause
If you want me I must be doing something right
I got nothing left to prove
And it's all because of you
So if you need me
And baby I make you feel alive
I know I must be doing(I know I must be doing)
Doing something right (Doing something right)
Doing something right
Yeah yeah
Something right
So if you need me
And baby I make you feel alive
I know I must be doing (I know I must be doing)
Must be doing something right
Yeah yeah
Something right."
An hour later, Ruby had unpacked several of her things and placed her bags in her room. She felt relieved that she'd made the right decision to move back home with Charlie. Sensing Charlie's happiness was conflicting, Ruby soon realized that Charlie was panicking about her date that night with Joey.
Charlie had offered to post-pone the date in order to spend the evening with Ruby, but Ruby had declined the offer, knowing that Joey seemingly was going to go to a lot of effort for this date with Charlie. Of course when Ruby mentioned that Joey was making a big effort to get things planned, that sent Charlie into another state of panic that she wasn't good enough for Joey.
As Ruby helped Charlie pick her outfit, Ruby calmed her down by reminding her that Joey wanted to make tonight special because Charlie was more than good enough for her. Charlie confessed to Ruby about last nights events on her 'unofficial' date with Joey, and Ruby told Charlie how proud she was of her for being honest about how she feels.
Ruby helped Charlie finally settle on a short black and white dress with black high heels and helped her with her make up and hair. Charlie felt overwhelmed that Ruby was happy to help her even though a part of her felt like she was abandoning Ruby for the evening and made sure that she would try and arrange some time off work during the school holidays to spend some time with Ruby or maybe even go away for a few days with her up the coast.
And with Joey if she was free. It had yet to be officially decided that Joey would move back to Summer Bay and Charlie was nervous about asking her if that would be her intentions as she didn't want to put too much pressure on the younger woman.
Charlie heard a knock at the kitchen door just before seven o'clock and she nervously left Ruby to go answer the door. Charlie smiled shyly as Joey came into her view. Joey was wearing a pair of tight black jeans and a loose fitted cream blouse. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by the woman she was falling in love with all over again. She blushed slightly, "Hey."
"Hey yourself," Joey whispered, "So are you ready to go?" Charlie continued staring at Joey, completely under her spell. Joey smirked, "Or we could just stand here staring at each other if you'd like." "Huh?" Charlie looked at Joey as she realized she was talking to her, "Oh ah…sorry I was just…"
"Totally checking me out," Joey chuckled. Charlie blushed deeper, "Are you saying that's not allowed?" "As of this moment I believe we're officially allowed to do that," Joey grinned, "And as much fun as it would be to start things off like this…I was kinda hoping we could get a start on our date." Charlie nodded, "I suppose we could do that. So where exactly are we going tonight?"
Joey took Charlie's hand as she led her outside, "That's a surprise. But first we're going for a walk along the beach…so you might want to take those high heels off and carry them with you." Charlie couldn't help but beam at Joey's reluctance to tell her what she'd planned.
As they walked hand in hand across the beach, Charlie informed Joey that Ruby had decided to move back in with her and how happy she was about it. Joey wasn't surprised by Ruby's decision and was thrilled that everything was suddenly falling into place for Charlie and hoped that that night could only add to it.
Charlie was so distracted telling Joey that she was planning on asking Ruby about going away together for a short holiday and was trying to gain the courage to entice Joey to come along with them that she didn't realize where they were walking to until she looked up and found herself heading towards the Bait Shop.
Charlie looked down at Joey questioningly, "You're taking me out on a date to the place where you're about to start working tomorrow…? As surprises go…you're a bit of a dork…but a beautifully cute dork." Joey chuckled at Charlie's teasing words, then pulling her by the hand she led Charlie up the wooden stairs up to the small wharf overlooking the bay, "Lucky for you this dork has some connections."
Charlie's eyes fell down to the boat that was tied up to the wharf bobbing in the water with the light current, "Is that the Blaxland?" Joey blushed, "Yeah that was the real reason why I went to see Alf this morning to see if I could borrow it from him for the night. I might've done it up a lil with some Christmas lights hanging off the edge and a few things we'll need for the night. And even though I know you aren't a fan of being out on the water…I couldn't help but…"
Charlie kissed Joey softly on the top of her head, "Recreate the time we spent on the Blaxland the last time you were here. You might be right about me not liking being on a boat…but with you…I feel safe enough to do anything. It's beautiful Jo…this really is the perfect date…and I totally take back my comment about you being a dork." Joey wrapped her arm around Charlie's waist, "Long as I'm your dork I don't mind being called that. C'mon we've got some food waiting for us."
Several minutes later Joey was behind the steering wheel of the Blaxland driving the vessel gently away from the land. She didn't want to take them out too far but just far enough for no one to be able to jump on board and surprise them. Charlie was standing behind her with her arms around Joey's waist. Charlie had claimed that the breeze was making her feel cold but honestly she just wanted any excuse to wrap herself around Joey, while Joey was happy to play along with Charlie's claim.
Joey informed Charlie that she had organised a small picnic basket for their dinner including some cold prawns, Caesar salad with avocado and fruit salad for desert, along with a bottle of champagne. All were being chilled in the cabin and could wait for them whenever they were ready to start their meal. Charlie thought it was a good idea for them to drive the Blaxland away from the shore before sitting down to enjoy their dinner.
Once Joey anchored the Blaxland a kilometre away from the shore, her and Charlie pulled out a picnic rug from the cabin and placed it down on the floor. Lying down on their sides on the rug with the food set out between them the girls eagerly dug into their food.
Nervously making some small talk between eating the food, Joey nearly burst out laughing when Charlie got to the fruit salad and began placing each fruit piece into Joey's mouth. Joey enjoyed the sensation of licking Charlie's fingers delicately every time a piece of fruit was placed between her lips. Charlie couldn't help but feel silly about her romantic actions but couldn't resist the look on Joey's face every time she swallowed the fruit pieces.
As they finally finished desert the pair then moved the food containers out of the way so they could curl up against each other. Charlie smiled down at Joey, "Well that was the best meal I've had in a long time. You made it perfectly. I can't believe you remember my obsession with adding avocado to Caesar salad." Joey grinned, "Yes well I believe last time we were together whenever we went to the Diner for lunch that was all you would order. In fact one time you nearly snapped at Colleen for forgetting. Although I can't take full credit for the meal."
Charlie curled her left arm around Joey's back, and then with her right hand she stroked Joey's cheek, "Ah let me guess…Leah helped you out." Joey sighed gently, "Well actually as it turns out I kinda got…Gabby and Becca to help with the food while I arranged the lighting around the boat. Is that okay that I let her help us?"
Charlie smiled, "Of course it's okay. As long as she doesn't hold any grudge against the two of us beginning to rekindle things." Joey nodded, "No grudges. She's okay with it. I mean I hurt her a bit but…as far as break ups go…I'd say it went rather well. No yelling or fighting." Charlie raised her eyebrows, "You know it's a little disconcerting that you handled a breakup so well."
Joey shrugged, "It wasn't like that. You know it was actually the first time I've ever had to break up with anyone." Charlie dragged her right hand to entangle it with Joey's hand on her hip, "Are you hoping it might also be the last time you ever need to break up with anyone?" "I'm hoping," Joey whispered.
Charlie blushed at Joey's meaning, "I'm hoping too. I still can't believe Gabby gave you up. I'm glad she did because it's given us the opportunity to…" Joey stared deeply into Charlie's eyes, "Yes well…maybe I shouldn't exactly be airing this to anyone…but I trust you. Gabby and I both realized that it was never gonna work between us because as much as we cared about each other…my heart always laid with you…and Gabby's heart belongs to Becca…so we did the right thing by ending it."
"Wow," Charlie whispered. Joey licked her lips, "Wow you're surprised that my hearts with you…or wow you're surprised about Gabby's secret?" Charlie shrugged, "A little of both really. And while I do plan on talking more about your feelings I find it a little surprising about Gabby. So does this mean the two of them are…?"
Joey shook her head, "No it's a whole unrequited love thing she has for Becca. Although personally I think she's blind because I really believe there's something between them. She's just stuck on the Rebecca is straight problem and won't reveal her feelings to her." Charlie rolled her tongue over her lip, "I know I've only known them for like three days…but I think you could be onto something."
"So I'm not the only one that sees it?" Joey replied surprised. "There is definitely something between them. I guess I can relate to what Becca's going through if she is denying what's going on between them," Charlie answered. Joey squeezed Charlie's hand, "You know in a round about way…they're kinda like us. I was Gabby when I first met you and was sure it was nothing but unrequited love for me. And you…were totally denying your feelings. Lucky for us that didn't last long."
Charlie sighed gently, "I didn't quite get just how lucky I was last time…but I do now and I'm not gonna screw that up again." Joey wrapped her left arm around Charlie, pulling her closer so they were lying next to each other, their lips centimetres apart, "I know you're not. I trust you." "Thanks," Charlie whispered, then smiling brightly, "Maybe we should set them up."
Joey creased her eyebrows, "Who? Gabby and Becca? And set them up…on like a date?" "Totally. We can play matchmakers but we can be real subtle about it at first…how about a double date to start with?" Charlie suggested. Joey chuckled, "Let me guess…they won't know about the double date part until their on the date with us? Do you really think it'll work?"
"Hey if they're really meant to be together…like us…it won't take Becca long to figure it out…and if it does…we'll just bang their heads together until they work it out," Charlie grinned. Joey squeezed Charlie tightly, "Who knew you were such a little matchmaker." Charlie ran her arm along Joey's side, "I can't help it…I want everyone to be as happy as I am right now."
Joey blushed as she corrected, "As happy as we are right now. But I say we leaving the planning of the subtle double date until another time…'cause I'd much rather talk about us right now." Charlie grinned, "So does this mean I can go back to the part you said that your heart never left me…? Because I want you to know…that I feel the same way about you. I always have. I can't believe you're giving me another chance…and I pray to God things will work out this time…'cause I can't lose you again." "I can't lose you either," Joey whispered back.
Charlie looked away from Joey's gaze nervously for a moment, "Jo…can I ask you something?" Joey nodded silently, unsure of what Charlie was about to bring up. Charlie glanced back at Joey, "What are your plans now…? I mean is there a chance you could be…moving back here to live…?"
Joey snuggled closer to Charlie so there was no space between their bodies, "There's a very good chance I could do that. I ah…spoke to Alf about it this morning…and he said there should be enough work for me at the Bait Shop as well as Noah's to keep me around for a while. Gabby and Becca will be hanging around here for a few days…and then heading back to the City…so maybe I could go with them…to bring all my stuff back home."
"I like the sound of that," Charlie smiled. Joey took a deep breath, "I just…when I do come back…I think it would be best for us…if I stay with Aden for a while…providing he'll let me. I just don't want to rush things again and…" "Move back home with me at Leah's," Charlie finished. "I want to do this right this time. It's not that I don't want to move back in with you to…our room…I do…but I want us to take our time this time around…and take things slow. Is that okay with you?" Joey questioned anxiously.
"Of course it is," Charlie told her, "I've got you back and that's all that matters to me. And I think you're right about…us not rushing straight into…where we left off last time before… And besides with you living at Aden's and me at my place…it's not like we can't have sleepovers every so often." Joey blushed, "Exactly…and that makes things more…adorably romantic for us. In fact…is there anywhere you need to be tonight?"
Charlie smiled shyly, "Yes…spending the night here with you…if that's kinda what you had in mind." Joey brought her hand up to stroke Charlie's cheek, "It is…it's just I still want to…" Charlie nodded in understanding, "You still want to take things slow. I like the idea of us taking things slow so there's no pressure on us…for anything to happen tonight."
Joey rested her forehead against Charlie's, "So we can just cuddle up and fall asleep in each others' arms tonight…and that's enough for you?" Charlie smirked softly, "Well I was kinda hoping there could at least be some kissing involved." Joey smiled back, "I think that can be arranged."
Without another word, the pair leant forwards brushing their lips against each others in a tender and long awaited kiss.
Did everybody like CJ's date?
Next time: Will CJ's 'subtle' double date for themselves and Gabby/Becca go to plan? Or will someone return to meddle with both couples?