This is just an extra update in order to thank jensy25 and Oniz197 for being so lovely. I really appreciate your messages. I hope you enjoy the chapter. The one after this should be pretty eventful, not to mention the chapters following that! For now, I hope you enjoy this one. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Sixteen

"What happened this time?" Ruby asked.

She and Charlie were sitting at dinner in a nice restaurant in Yabbie Creek. Charlie had promised to take some time to reconnect with her sister and both were glad that she had.

"Nothing really," Charlie said vaguely. "I'm just kind of confused as to where I stand with Joey at the moment."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she thought there was something going on between Angelo and I..."

"Angelo?" Ruby screeched in horror. "There isn't, is there?"

"Ruby, what do you take me for?" Charlie snapped. "I'm in love with Joey. I'm not interested in anyone else. Why does nobody seem to get that?"

"Chill out, Charlie," Ruby said gently, touching her hand across the table. "We do get that. We all do. But why does Joey think there's something between you and Angelo all of a sudden?"

"I'm not really sure how it happened," Charlie said more calmly. "One minute everything was normal and the next, Angelo was freaking out because May broke up with him. He joined me for a drink last night and she somehow got it into her head that he still liked me."

"Oh," Ruby frowned.

"And what's even worse than that is that he does!" Charlie exclaimed.

"What?" Ruby screeched again.

People were starting to turn and look.

"He made a pass at me," Charlie sighed. "Right outside the Diner – just as Joey was sitting there."

Ruby pulled a worried face and asked what happened.

"I stopped him. Joey saw us and stormed off. I chased after her and we had another row and..."

She sighed heavily and shook her head.

"I really thought for a moment there that she was upset because she still has feelings for me but now I'm not so sure. I don't know what to think anymore, Rubes."

Belle had a headache so she decided to stay at home, leaving Aden and Joey to a video game night at their place.

"So, when are you going to pop the question?" Joey asked as they raced cars across the television screen.

"When I have enough money for the ring," Aden replied, not losing concentration. "Soon. I'm nearly there."

"How are you going to do it?" Joey asked, inching her car in front of his.

"Stop trying to make me lose my concentration," Aden warned, inching back in front.

"I'm not!" Joey lied, continuing to battle with her best friend. "I'm showing an interest in your future."

"Well, you can do that once I've kicked your arse in..."

He growled in frustration as Joey sailed past him over the finish line. Tossing the controller down, he glared at how triumphant she looked.

"So, wedding plans..." she said brightly.

"I'm sure she still loves you," Ruby said confidently. "She's just really hurt. And yes, she's shocking everyone with how angry she is but if you give it enough time then I'm certain that you'll get back together. You two are perfect for each other."

"We're not," Charlie sighed. "She was always too good for me and I guess I ended up going to great lengths to prove that."

She sipped her Diet Coke unhappily.

"You were messed up that night," Ruby said reasonably. "And you absolutely did the wrong thing. Cheating on Joey and then lying about it was awful. It was horrible. It was so..."

"Okay!" Charlie interjected. "I know. You don't need to bash me over the head with it. Joey's already doing that."
She gulped down the rest of her drink, wishing she wasn't driving so that it could be stronger.

"My point is," Ruby said, "that despite all of that, you love her. And as far as I'm aware, she's the first person you've ever felt that way about."

"She is," Charlie nodded.

"And there is absolutely no doubt about the way she felt about you," Ruby continued. "The way she looked at you, spoke to you, spoke about you... She worshipped the ground you walked on. And I know I freaked at first but when you were with Joey, that was honestly the happiest I have ever seen you. Joey's the best thing that ever happened in your life."

Charlie nodded.

"So it's only right that she hates me now," she said sadly. "I meant everything to her and I hurt her all the same. I hate myself."

"Feelings that strong do not go away," Ruby insisted. "She's angry now and she's hurting but she still loves you. And I know you'll find your way back to each other."

"How do you suggest I make that happen?" Charlie asked, eager for an answer. "Because to be honest, I'm fresh out of ideas."

"So, will you be my best man?" Aden asked.

He had outlined all this plans to propose as romantically as possible to Belle and hopefully make her the happiest woman in the world.

"I'd be insulted if you didn't ask me!" Joey grinned.

"Is that a yes?"

"Of course!" Joey said, pulling her best friend into a hug. "I'm so excited for you, Aden. If anything gives me hope for the future, it's you."

Aden blushed and held her hands, looking into her eyes.

"I was worried that me marrying Belle would be insensitive," he admitted.

"Sweetheart, we only kissed a couple of times," Joey smirked. "I'm over you!"

Aden snorted with laughter and hugged her again.

"You know what I mean," he said more seriously when they parted.

Joey nodded, holding onto his hand.

"I'm happy for you, Aden," she said. "And I think you and Belle belong together. I know I've been stomping around like a bear with a sore head for the last few weeks but I promise I will be on top form for your wedding."

"And will you be bringing a plus one or...?"

"Don't push it," Joey warned.

"It doesn't have to be Charlie..."

"It will never be Charlie," Joey confirmed. "But I'm not ready for it to be anyone else yet either."

Aden put his arm around her, surprised by how she suddenly seemed so vulnerable.

"I hope that you find your happiness, Jo," he said sincerely. "Whoever it's with."

"Me too," Joey admitted. "Now, care to let me kick your racing arse again?"

"Bring it on!"

"You really think that's going to work?" Charlie asked incredulously.

Ruby nodded and finished her last forkful of food.

"I really do," she said. "All this time, you've been offering yourself to her on a plate and she keeps rejecting you. Plus she has all the power. But if she was upset when she thought you'd kissed Angelo then she's given you a hint. She still wants you. So if you make yourself a little less available then maybe she'll pick up the chase."

Charlie chewed her lip, looking sceptical.

"How am I meant to do that though?" she asked. "Every time I see her I turn to mush. My heart leaps onto my sleeve without permission."

"I have every confidence in you," Ruby confirmed.

Charlie smiled and thanked her.

"Anyway," she said brightly. "I've been rambling since the first course. Tell me about your life. What's happening? How's school? How's Xavier? Tell me everything!"

Needing no further encouragement, Ruby launched into an explanation of everything Charlie didn't yet know about, including much swooning over her boyfriend.

Next time... Charlie's plan doesn't quite turn out how she expected it to, rumours about Charlie and Hugo resurface and Joey attempts to move on with her life...