Perfect Match

Chapter 17

Joey looked down at her feet, unsure as to where to start. Charlie had caught her meeting Blueeyes, even though she had asked her not to.

Charlie glanced around at the gathered crowd and frowned. She took Joey by the cuff of her shirt and pulled her away, further down the beach towards the waves. When they were only a few steps away from the water, Charlie paused and turned to look at Joey.

"Joey, why did you meet her?"

"I was only going to tell her that it was over!"

"But why did you contact her again? I asked you not to!"

"Because she contacted me first!" Joey cried out in defence of herself. "She said she needed someone to talk to and... and I felt sorry for her." She said, blushing.

"What do you mean, Blueeyes contacted you? I didn't...I-I mean, s-she didn't!" Charlie cried, bemused, and stumbling over her words.

Joey looked at her quizzically.

"Sorry? What do you mean 'she didn't'? How would you know?" Joey asked, suddenly feeling somewhat suspicious.

Now Charlie was the one to study her feet. She sucked in her lips between her teeth and looked at Joey from under her eye lids.

"Joey... I'm Blueeyes." She said, quietly.

"What?" Joey said quickly.

Charlie nodded her head a couple of times and looked up at the stars which were dotted about in the dark, violet sky.

"My Perfect Match handle is 'Blueeyes'. It's me who you were supposed to have met at the Billywonger that night; it was me who stood you up; well, sort of."

Charlie glanced at Joey.

"I'm so sorry Joey. Can you ever forgive me for not telling you?"

Joey stared hard at Charlie.

"How long have you known?"

Joey's tone was as icy as her look. Charlie licked her top lip and took a deep breath.

"I've known since that night. I saw you walk into the Billywonger when I was waiting for Browneyes, or you or... but I didn't know it was you... I mean..."

Her words trailed away. She took another deep breath before continuing.

"Well, what I mean is, before I realised that you were 'Browneyes', I didn't want you to see me. So I ran out of the emergency exit before you spotted me. I didn't realise that you were her... 'Browneyes', until we met by accident in that road cafe a little later."

Joey shook her head impatiently.

"Then why didn't you tell me then? You've been stringing me along all this time, knowing who I was, and probably having a good old laugh at my expense! Why Charlie? Why?"

Charlie looked anxiously at Joey as she detected the hurt and reasonable grievance in her voice.

"Joey, I wasn't laughing at you! I just didn't quite know how to tell you. And the only reason I ran away from the restaurant that night was because..."

Charlie took another deep breath and looked out into the darkness of the ocean.

"Was because I had already fallen in love with you and I couldn't bear you to see me meeting with another girl; so I ran! Joey, I'm so sorry."

Joey stared at Charlie for a little longer; trying to fathom if she should believe the look of sincerity in her eyes. Charlie touched Joey's hand with her finger tips and whispered,

"Please forgive me, Joey."

"I...I don't know. You'll have to give me some time to think about it." Joey replied uncertainly; moving her hand away.

Charlie nodded in defeat.

Joey began to walk away the stopped abruptly.

"Then who the hell was that girl in the Surf Club just now, saying she was Blueeyes?" Joey cried with renewed anger.

Charlie blanched, remembering Anna.

"Well, when I received that message from you saying that Blueeyes meant so much to you and how she set your soul on fire, I naturally thought you were bored with me; I was hurt and confused and then I met Anna and..."

"And so you two had a nice, cosy tryst together, then, decided to have the last laugh on me, huh?" Joey hissed.

"No Joey! It wasn't like that at all! Anna isn't gay, she's an actress! I was intent on teaching you a lesson, when... when I should have told you the truth... Joey, I'm sorry, it all got out of hand!"

Joey let out a flat laugh and walked back to Charlie.

"Well, it's all a little too late now, isn't it?"

Charlie looked up quickly and could read in Joey's eyes that the damage had been done and now she would have to fight tooth and nail to save whatever might be left of their relationship.

Joey turned and started to walk away.

"Joey! Don't walk away from me, please! We need to talk!"

"There's nothing left to say, Charlie!"

"There is!"

Joey stopped in her tracks and turned around.

"I can't imagine there being anything you can say now to make this one better, Officer."

"I love you Joey."

Joey appeared stunned as she comprehended the words that Charlie had spoken.

"I love you so much I could cry. But I know I can never mean the same to you as 'Blueeyes', even if we are one and the same. After all, what were your words? 'You really have made such an impact on my life, even though we have never met! The way you wrote to me before, set my soul on fire!' Joey! I want to be the one to have impact on your life and set your soul on fire – not that faceless girl on the computer! Please can't you feel the same way about me – me in real life?"

Joey swallowed.

"I don't know what you mean about having 'impact' and 'setting your soul on fire'. I never wrote those words!"

"But Joey, you did! If you don't believe me, take a look at the message you sent me on my computer at home! That's why I was so upset and arranged all this with Anna in some sort of silly revenge, I suppose. It was stupid and infantile, but I was devastated that you preferred 'Blueeyes' to me! I wanted you to want me!" Charlie explained as tears filled her eyes.

Joey had calmed down sufficiently to listen to Charlie and was wondering where these well penned messages had come from.

"Charlie, I swear to you, I've never said those words to a living soul. If I was to say them to anyone... well, it would be to you, and only you, not that girl on the dating site! You know you are the only girl I love and want." Joey said, moving back towards Charlie.

"Then I don't understand. You say I contacted you to arrange a meeting, and I say you contacted me... So what the hell has been going on?" Charlie sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

The two young women stood perplexed, but at least in the happy knowledge that each loved the other.

Joey suddenly giggled and nudged Charlie with her elbow.

"That's how you know about my boat, isn't it?"

Charlie grinned sheepishly and blushed.

"Yeah, I nearly gave the game away that night, didn't I?"

"Oh Charlie! I do love you so very much." Joey said, moving forward and wrapping her slender arms about Charlie's waist.

"Me too." Charlie whispered as she pulled Joey near to her.

"Damn and blast!" Charlie suddenly yelled.

"Heck Charlie! That was in my ear!" Joey wailed and held her hand over the affected part.

"Oh darling, I'm sorry." Charlie said gently; moving Joey's hand and kissing her ear lobe softly.

"So what were you 'damning' and 'blasting' for?" Joey enquired as she squirmed with pleasure at Charlie's gentle nibbling.

Charlie exhaled and rested her forehead against Joey's.

"I'm pretty sure I know who has been the author of our little 'love messages'!"

Joey jerked away and looked into Charlie's blue eyes.

"Who?"

"Ruby!"