This chapter is dedicated to KimmyLove – loved your review for the last chapter. Love IJKS xxx

Chapter Nine

Within a couple of days, shark fever had swept through Summer Bay. While many of the local constabulary, led by Angelo, investigated the hand in the sand and how it might have got there, Irene had been charged with attempted murder. The police officer she had shot continued to fight for his life. Hugo had arrived back from a dive and ended up in hospital, having apparently been bitten by a shark, which only served to fuel the general wide spread panic. Charlie hardly had time to breathe these days as she got lost in work. But no matter how busy she was, she couldn't ever quite shake Joey from her mind. In the opposite position, Joey was struggling to find anything to do. With the waters deemed unsafe, the business was suffering and there was only so much stocktaking she could manage. But like Charlie, all she could really think about was her ex. And it was driving her crazy. Between herself and Aden, love seemed entirely lost as she grieved for Charlie and he hated himself for losing Belle for good.

After a particularly long shift, Charlie headed to the Diner in a bid to get takeaway and then crash out at home.

"Hey," Miles said, stepping up beside her. "You look washed out!"

"Thanks!" Charlie said, laughing a little bitterly.

He apologised quickly.

"It's okay," Charlie said. "I do look washed out. I am washed out."

"Long days and no love?"

Charlie sighed heavily and looked down but felt comforted when he put his arms around her. Not so long ago, in a moment of madness, Charlie and the curly haired teacher had shared a kiss. It had been a mistake of course and Charlie had been more than touched that, having laid herself bare, she had finally met a man who wouldn't take advantage of her vulnerability. He was a good person and both of them had realised very quickly that their relationship was purely platonic. It felt reassuring to be held by him, knowing that.

"Listen, why don't you let me take you for a drink?" he offered.

"As long as it's a soft drink, it sounds good," Charlie readily agreed.

He looked curiously at her.

"I've polished off the stock of an entire brewery these last few weeks," she admitted.

"Ah," Miles said as they walked back out of the restaurant. "Trying to find happiness in the bottom of a bottle. I know that one."

They both laughed a little self consciously.

Joey was propping up the bar and keeping her new friend, Crystal company. She sensed Charlie before she saw her. Closing her eyes, she took in the subtle scent of her perfume. Opening back up, she forced herself not to turn and to concentrate on what Crystal was saying instead. But sure enough, Charlie soon stepped up beside her and tried to say hello.

"Hi," Joey replied stiffly, still not looking at her.

Crystal approached and asked for the police officer's order. Charlie tried not to bristle at how pretty she was and how her gaze seemed never far from Joey.

"Can I get a beer and a Diet Coke, please?" she asked politely.

She turned to Joey, noting her empty glass.

"Can I get you a drink?" she asked hopefully.

Joey stared at her for a moment.

"I don't think so," she said.

Sighing, Charlie accepted the rejection, paid her cash, took her drinks and sat down with Miles. Joey turned back to Crystal and excused herself, not really wanting to be in the Surf Club anymore.

In her seat, Charlie wished she'd ordered something stronger. Joey's every rejection cut her that little bit more.

"Just give it time," Miles suggested.

"I think we could live forever and she'd still never forgive me," Charlie said sadly.

"She's hurting at the moment but if you really love each other..."

"Like you and Kirsty?" Charlie cut in, despite the risk of it hurting his feelings.

Miles grimaced.

"Okay, maybe you have a point," he said unhappily. "Women – other than you – officially suck."

Charlie snorted, ready to make a toast to the mess their lives were in.

Joey wandered back towards home with her earphones on, listening to music. She hadn't quite managed to delete the sappy playlist she had put together for her and Charlie. The plan had been that it would be there and ready for the romantic date she'd planned for their one month anniversary. Just thinking about it made her feel like a fool. They hadn't got even nearly as far as their first month together. It was only round the corner now and nobody would be celebrating. Alongside her happy playlist, she'd indulged in a sad one and it was what she listened to far more than was healthy. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she let the Glee version of 'Take a Bow' play out.

"Oh, how about a round of applause?

Hey, standing ovation.

You look so dumb right now

Standing outside my house

Trying to apologise.

You're so ugly when you cry;

Please, just cut it out.

And don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not.

Baby, when I know you're only sorry you got caught.

But you put on quite a show,

Really had me going.

Now it's time to go,

Curtain's finally closing.

That was quite a show,

Very entertaining.

But it's over now.

Go on and take a bow.

Oh, grab your clothes and get gone.

You'd better hurry up before the sprinklers come on.

Talking about 'girl, I love you, you're the one';

This just looks like a rerun.

Please, what else is on?"

Joey almost leapt out of her skin when she felt a hand on her arm. Whirling round, she made a fist and almost hit Aden in the face in panic. He ducked just in time. Joey ripped her earphones out.

"What the hell are you doing?" she snapped.

Aden apologised quickly.

"I tried calling you but you didn't hear me," he explained.

Joey turned her music off and shoved her iPod in her pocket.

"Sorry," she said.

"Fortunately you didn't actually hit me," Aden said reasonably. "It would have been a terrible shame to mess up my pretty face."

He grinned, succeeding in managing to make her laugh.

"Surf Club?"

Joey shook her head and explained that Charlie was in there, having a drink with Miles and she didn't want to have to look at her.

"Well, face away from her then," Aden said, refusing to take no for an answer.

He linked arms with her and led her back the way she came.

"All I'm saying is, how do we know Hugo was bitten by a shark?" John Palmer asked.

Both Crystal and Alf were working behind the bar and participating in the rumble of debate. Most of the customers, including Charlie and Miles were also listening.

"Why would he lie?" Crystal asked, although she didn't much care for Hugo after learning what had happened between him and Charlie and how badly it had hurt Joey.

"Who knows?" John said. "I mean, who knows the guy really? He only showed up in town a few months ago. We hardly know anything about him."

"He's got no reason to lie about it," Miles said defensively.

"Like I said," John repeated. "How do we know?"

"Look, I saw the wound myself," Charlie informed him. "And it looked like a shark bite to me."

"Were you giving him TLC?" Joey asked bitterly, having walked back through the door at precisely the wrong moment.

Charlie froze, trying not to panic. Everyone stared between them.

"I'll have a white wine," Joey told Aden, before hurrying to the bathroom.

Charlie hesitated for a moment before standing up and hurrying after the woman she loved.

Inside the far cubicle, Joey chastised herself for getting stressed out at the thought that Charlie might have visited Hugo in hospital and that even now, something might be going on between them. Tears stung her eyes. Leaning one palm against the wall of the cubicle, she used the other to wipe her face.

"Joey?" came a meek voice on the other side of the door.

"Can't I even pee in peace?" Joey snapped, relieved that her voice didn't waver too much.

"I just... I didn't want you to think that I'm..."

"Still fucking Hugo?"

Charlie hesitated. Joey could see her familiar shoes underneath the door.

"Yes," she said.

"Aren't you?" Joey asked.

"No."

"Then how come you saw his precious wound? How come you're buying into this hero crap that he's spouting? And why were so quick to defend him?"

"I saw his wound because of work," Charlie explained. "With all the hand in the sand business and everything, I had to interview him to try and see if there was some kind of connection."

"And is there? Or is the only connection between the two of you?" Joey asked.

She sat on the closed lid of the toilet, practising her breathing in order to keep calm.

"There is no connection between us," Charlie said, relieved that Joey hadn't shut her down yet.

"I'm sorry," Joey said sarcastically. "I must be old fashioned to think that sleeping with someone suggests they must mean something to you!"

"Hugo was a mistake, Joey!" Charlie said desperately, leaning on the door as if she could somehow get closer to Joey. "I was drunk and messed up. I had so many things in my head..."

"Everything but me," Joey interjected quietly.

"No! I was thinking of you! But I was thinking that I didn't deserve you and..."

The door opened abruptly. Charlie nearly tumbled into an unwilling Joey's arms.

"At least you got one thing right," she said coldly. "You don't deserve me."

Even though she hadn't actually been to the toilet, Joey washed her hands. Charlie watched her anxiously, desperate to keep the conversation going but struggling over what to say.

"I wasn't quick to defend him," she said weakly. "The conversation was going on for ages before I said anything I..."

Joey whirled around, angrily stepping up close to her.

"You think that makes it better?" she demanded.

"No. I..." Charlie faltered. "I'm sorry."

"Not good enough," Joey informed her.

With that, she turned and left the room, storming back to Aden, downing her wine in a couple of gulps and continuing her journey back home. In the darkening evening, she put her music back on, thinking of Charlie the whole time.

"And don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not.

Baby, when I know you're only sorry you got caught.

You put on quite a show,

Really had me going.

Now it's time to go,

Curtain's finally closing.

That was quite a show,

Very entertaining.

But it's over now.

Go on and take a bow.

Oh and the award for the best liar goes to you

For making me believe that you could be faithful to me.

Let's hear your speech out.

(But you put on quite a show

Really had me going)

Now it's time to go,

Curtain's finally closing.

That was quite a show,

Very entertaining.

But it's over now.

Go on and take a bow.

But it's over now."

Next time... on what would have been Charlie and Joey's one month anniversary and the girls have a 'moment'...