Hi everyone. Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I was at a wedding and didn't get the chance before I left. And having drunk a lot of wine and danced until my legs stopped working, there was no way I could update when I got back. I'm probably going to be in a wheelchair today but it was so worth it, even if just to find out that it's entirely possible to strut your stuff with a walking stick! But anyway, I'll upload three stories to day to make up for it. I hope you are all having a good weekend. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Twenty Four

After a little shy debate, Charlie and Joey headed out of the Diner and took a gentle stroll up to the lighthouse, via the house to drop Ruby's things off. They were too full for a picnic but they had opted to take the walk that they'd never got round to, back before everything had gone wrong.

"What are you smiling about?" Colleen asked from behind the counter.

Leah shook her head. But she was silently thrilled that it looked like something good could be happening between Charlie and Joey again.

Out in the sunshine, Charlie and Joey walked side by side. Neither felt very certain over what ought to be said and done but they were happy in each other's company and hoped that this could be the first of many afternoons spent together.

"The dress you bought Ruby was really nice," Joey ventured after they left it at the house.

Charlie smiled.

"It was my way of trying to make peace with her after yesterday," she admitted.

"Did it work?"

"I think so."

"And do you feel peaceful?" Joey probed.

Charlie sighed, contemplating her answer.

"I still don't want her to sleep with Xavier," she said honestly. "I still think it's a mistake and I still believe that she isn't ready, regardless of how grown up she insists she is. But I also know that arguing with her isn't going to change anything. It's just going to drive her away and I couldn't bear that."

Joey smiled.

"That sounds sensible," she said. "I think you're right."

Charlie nodded.

"Thanks," she said. "And thanks so much for being there yesterday."

"No problem," Joey said. "I'm so sorry for everything you went through. Why didn't you tell me before? When we were together?"

"I've never told anyone," Charlie said. "Only my parents ever knew what happened and who Ruby really is to me."

Joey nodded.

"I was thinking about telling you," Charlie admitted. "I thought that eventually I'd be able to open up to you about it but then I messed everything up so..."

She swallowed unhappily, looking up and into the horizon. They continued walking in silence.

School finished and Ruby raced home eagerly with Annie and Nicole in order to get ready for the party. She hadn't told them about her plans to sleep with Xavier, wanting to keep it private and special.

"Did I see Charlie and Joey out together this afternoon?" Nicole asked when the girls had all holed up in Ruby's bedroom, stereo blaring.

"Yep!" Ruby grinned.

Annie stayed quiet and sat on the edge of the bed. She still didn't feel very comfortable with the idea of Ruby's big sister being in a lesbian relationship. It just didn't seem right.

"Do you think they might get back together?" Nicole asked, oblivious. "I know Aden and Belle are desperate for them to make a go of it again."

"They aren't the only ones," Ruby said. "Leah and I are both rooting for them. Even VJ wants them back together!"

Nicole and Ruby both giggled. Noticing Annie's silence, Ruby turned to her.

"You don't still object to the idea?" she asked.

"No," Annie lied. "I just... don't get it."

"What's not to get?" Nicole wondered. "They're two people in love."

"Yes, but they're two girls," Annie said. "Two girls aren't meant to be together that way."

"What does it matter?" Ruby asked, feeling a little defensive.

"Well, I was always brought up to believe..."

"Look," Ruby interrupted. "All I know is that Charlie was happier for those two weeks she was with Joey than she has ever been with any guy."

She glanced at Nicole, the daughter of Charlie's ex-boyfriend.

"No offence."

"None taken!" Nicole said. "Charlie and Dad weren't right for each other. He didn't appreciate what he had. But I do think that she and Joey belong together. I hope they work it out."

Charlie and Joey had spent a nice afternoon together. Now, the sun was going down, they'd grabbed a couple of smoothies from the Surf Club and were seated on the rocks further down the beach, dangling their feet over the edge.

"So, has Rubes kicked you out tonight?" Joey asked.

"Me and Leah both," Charlie said. "I think she's going for dinner with Tony, Rachel, Martha and..."

She trailed off.

"I'm not going to push you into the sea if you say his name," Joey assured her.

Charlie managed a laugh and nodded, although she didn't say Hugo's name.

"Did you hear that they're an item?" Joey asked, feeling a little nervous about the topic of conversation.

"Yeah," Charlie said.

She too felt nervous. She was worried about saying something wrong.

"How do you feel about it?" Joey asked.

Charlie kept looking out to sea. Joey took the moment to study her profile, feeling bad for testing her friend.

"I don't feel anything," Charlie said honestly. "I'm happy that Martha's got some joy in her life after everything that happened with Jack."

She turned and looked Joey directly in the eye.

"I'm not interested in Hugo," she said firmly. "I never was. What happened was just a terrible, terrible mistake."

"I thought you must have liked him at some point though," Joey ventured. "You went on that date with him. And before I met you..."

"I only went on a date with him because I was running scared of my feelings for you," Charlie interrupted. "And the first time we arranged to go out, I only agreed because everyone told me I should. I didn't want to. I was just lonely, I guess."

"Did anything happen with him before... before?" Joey asked.

"You want to know what happened when we went out?" Charlie asked.

Joey nodded.

"I bored him to tears by talking about you for approximately 95% of the evening."

Both women laughed.

"And it was only 95% because he pointed it out and asked me to change the subject!"

"You did?" Joey asked, hardly daring to believe that even then, Charlie had cared that much about her.

"Yeah," Charlie said. "I was already in love with you by that point."

The party was in full swing but Ruby wasn't having a good time. It turned out that Xavier had told people about their plan to sleep together and now it felt like everyone was talking about them. Ruby felt embarrassed and was already wondering if she should back out of the plan. If Xavier was going to gossip about her and brag to his mates then perhaps he wasn't mature enough to take that next step. She did not want to have any regrets.

The afternoon had blended into the evening and Charlie and Joey hadn't quite managed to part company yet. Instead, they found themselves in the Surf Club and were having a nice time, except for Joey feeling awkward about Crystal working behind the bar. They had parted on good terms and when she'd asked, Joey had assured her that she and Charlie were nothing more than friends. But still it felt a little strange.

"I'm wiped," Joey said after her third glass of wine. "I think I'm going to head home."

"Oh!" Charlie protested. "I'm not allowed back to my place until ten..."

Joey looked at her watch. There was an hour to go until Charlie was clear to go home and seemed wrong to abandon her.

"Okay, well, how about we go back to my place?" Joey suggested. "It'll be more comfortable there. We could watch a movie or something?"

Charlie readily agreed, silently reminding herself not to get too carried away. This wasn't a date. Joey wanted to go home because she was tired, not because she wanted to get more intimate. Together, they headed out of the building.

Next time... Charlie makes a clumsy pass at Joey and Ruby decides against losing her virginity...