Authors Note: Hey! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! This chapter is up thanks to a friend of mine, however unfair her latest scheme is! Enjoy all!
Chapter 2:
Charlie awoke slowly, feeling more content than she could ever remember. Somehow she knew she was in her own room despite her eyes still being closed.
What am I doing in here? Where's Joey? she wondered groggily.
She tried to roll over but found herself firmly incased in someone's arms. She froze.
Oh my god! What have I done? Who is that? Hugo? No. Oh. My. God. That is defiantly NOT a male arm! she thought, starting to panic.
Cautiously she opened her eyes. She let out a relived breath.
Joey! Thank god! she thought.
Then she noticed their state of undress and her sated feeling.
Oh. My. GOD! she thought, as the, memories assaulted her.
I had sex with another woman. I had sex with JOEY! she thought, panicked. Okay. Think like a cop. Consider everything before you act.
Charlie took a deep breath and re-opened her eyes. She was facing a sleeping Joey. A sleeping naked Joey. Taking another deep breath she looks around the room, seeing their clothing scattered around. Judging from the light outside the window it was dawn. She looked back at Joey, bathed in the early morning light. She was gorgeous.
What have I done? I'm straight. I like men. she thought.
Then she remembered the feelings of the night before and blushed.
Or maybe not. I've never felt like that before. What the hell did she do?
She lay, silently contemplating for a few minutes.
"Isn't it a little early to be thinking that deeply?" came a soft voice.
Charlie started and noticed Joey was watching her intently with an unreadable expression. Charlie said nothing and felt Joey's grip instantly loosen. For half a second Charlie swore she saw hurt and disappointment in Joey's russet eyes.
Fuck! I'm hurting her! Why can't I just accept I'm in love with her! Charlie wondered. I'm in love with her yet I never accept it. Yesterday was the best day of my life. I need Joey. That's all that matters. That I love Joey.
With that realization, Charlie shifted closer to Joey's side. She felt Joey tighten her grip again with a bright smile.
"Morning." Charlie murmured.
"Good morning." Joey replied.
They smiled at each other happily.
"Your not gonna freak?" Joey asked, cautious.
"No. Never. I love you Joey." Charlie replied seriously.
"I love you too, Charlie." Joey happily responded.
They continued to lay in silence, remembering the night before.
Then it hit Charlie.
Oh my god! I didn't… I fell asleep without… I am so embarrassed! she thought.
She buried her face in Joey's shoulder. Joey, noticing the blush and her lovers attempt to hide, gently shifted till she was looking Charlie in the eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Humiliation engulfed Charlie but honesty came through.
Damn cop instincts! she thought.
"Last night… I didn't… um… you, for me, but… I didn't, uh, you know, reciprocate."
Yep. Charlie was officially humiliated.
She has got to be angry at me… or disappointed. she thought sadly.
Joey grinned.
"It's fine Charlie. I only cared about you anyway. I didn't want you to freak out and run away because I pressured you in some way. I can wait until your ready, until you're comfortable with 'us'." Joey explained softly.
Charlie shifted awkwardly.
"Or… am I expecting too much here?" Joey cautiously questioned.
Please don't break my heart. Please. Joey silently begged.
Charlie turned to smile at Joey, gently cupping her cheek.
"I'm not going to run Joey. You're stuck with me. Now and forever."
Gently she leaned forward and kissed Joey softly. They broke apart slowly.
"I can live with that." Joey whispered.
Leaning forward they kissed again.
A knocking sounded at the door, breaking them apart and away from their world.
"Joey? Joey? Do you know where Charlie is? She didn't come home last night." Came the worried, adolescent voice of Ruby.
Joey looked inquisitively at Charlie. Charlie took a deep breath.
"I'm here Ruby. We'll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes." She called.
There was a brief pause.
"What are you doing in Joey's room?" Ruby asked.
Having a freakin' drinking party. What do you think? Charlie snipped.
"We'll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes Ruby." She replied instead.
Geez! Doesn't she ever listen? she wondered.
She knew she was being unfair but goddamn it she was nervous and honestly, surly the girl could figure it out on her own. She was old enough.
After a few moments they heard Ruby walk off. Joey looked at Charlie with a worried expression; certain Charlie would back out at the thought of having to tell people that she was now dating another woman. She smiled slightly.
"Time to face the Calvary." She joked weakly.
Charlie smiled reassuringly and kissed her girlfriend before getting up.
My GIRLFRIEND. God that sounds weird. Guess I'll just have to get used to it. she happily thought.
"Come on." She said with a smile.
Joey got up, now smiling for real, and started to get dressed. As she turned around Charlie caught sight of her back and gasped.
"Oh my god! Joey! Your back!" she exclaimed, shocked.
Joey turned to glance in the mirror. Along her back were 8 angry red marks. Dried blood surrounded the marks in some places. The wounds were obviously fairly deep. Joey shrugged as she remembered just how they got there.
"Huh, that's odd. Looks kinda cool though." She said, trying to downplay it for Charlie's sake.
She didn't mind anyway, in fact, she rather liked them. They showed that she belonged to Charlie. That Charlie loved her and got lost in her.
Charlie moved forward and gently ran her fingers down the marks. They fit.
"I did that? I'm so sorry! I…" she didn't get a chance to finish.
"Do not apologize! I don't mind and you apologizing… it's like you're apologizing for being with me! I don't care about the marks. Hell, I like them. They're you. It shows me and everyone else that you love me and want to be with me! Do not ever apologize for that!" Joey growled.
She knew she was being dramatic but… fuck! She was already scared enough that Charlie would freak out or come to her senses and leave her, she didn't need Charlie apologizing for the best night of Joey's life!
Charlie quickly wrapped her arms around her upset lover's waist.
"Shh. I'm sorry. I love you! I won't leave you! I'm so grateful for last night and I will never regret it!" she softly insisted.
Joey nodded and held tight to Charlie. Charlie leaned back and kissed Joey softly. It soon started to turn passionate. Charlie started to move Joey backwards towards the bed, letting her hands start to run over Joey's flushed skin. Joey moaned.
"Hey! You guys still in there?" came Ruby's irritated voice.
They pulled apart with a sigh, both women wanting to strangle the youngest Buckton.
"Yes! We'll be out in a minute!" Charlie yelled, irritated.
"Yeah, yeah. That's what you said 5 minutes ago." Ruby muttered, walking off.
"I guess we'd better get out there." Charlie sighed.
Joey grinned.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you." She laughed.
Charlie gently shoved her girlfriend but couldn't help laughing to at the ridiculous image of Joey trying to protect her, fist raised and a determined look.
Actually, that's kinda cute! Charlie thought, grinning.
Joey gave her an odd look at the grin but didn't ask, instead turning to get dressed. Charlie quickly followed suit, though she couldn't help herself and started to check out Joey's back and the marks covering it.
"You know what? I think I like those marks. Shows everyone your mine." She said.
Joey turned to grin at her, enjoying the possessive tone she knew Charlie didn't realize she had.
"Yep! I'm yours. Now and forever." She affirmed.
Smiling, the two shared a last kiss before walking out the door and towards certain doom.