A/N

Thank you all for your kind reviews. They really make my day and inspire me to continue. This next chapter is a short one, but I hope you will all like it anyway.

Author W: sorry you had to wait for the chapter, but hope you'll like it.

Purplemonkeyys: hope you still think it is cool... and they will eventually meet... it wouldn't be a CJ story if they didn't :)

Jsco81:hope you'll like the chapter.

Kgirl36: Charlie is home now... hope you'll enjoy this chapter too.

Speedracer22uk: well I hope this chapter is worth the wait for you.

Funkyshaz57: hope you'll like what you read... I don't know if it is a good thing Charlie came home... you tell me :)

1818: We really got to get you out of that clay hut, and into civilization. This chapter is for you, a belated B-day gift from me, hope you'll like it :)

Don't forget to review :)

Enjoy!

Chapter eight

Pulling her car up the drive, Charlie forced herself to get out, she knew if she sat too long she would fall asleep there, she forced her tired body up the stairs in through the door, she was slightly surprised to find the kitchen completely empty, she would have thought the guys would have been eating by now, unless they ate earlier and she missed out.

She was just about to shout Ruby and Leah when she heard laughter coming from the lounge. She unbuckled her heavy utility belt and placed it on the table along with her keys and phone, unlacing her boots she kicked them off and placed them to the side before she made her way to the fridge and grabbed a cold beer, spinning the top off she threw it carelessly towards the sink, not really caring about leaving a mess at the moment.

She lifted the cold bottle to her mouth, sighing in satisfaction when she felt the cold liquid hit the back of her throat, enjoying the taste of the alcohol. She made her way into the lounge, a tired smile playing on her lips as she walked, wondering why the guys were eating in the lounge for a change, it was normally only at special occasions they ate through there.

"Hey guys, why are you eating dinner through here tonight, what's the special occa…" Charlie stopped dead in her tracks when her eyes met Joeys; she felt her heart suddenly pitch as it began to race in her chest.

"Charlie you're home!" Ruby squealed happily as she jumped from her seat and quickly pulled her sister into a hug, the evening so far had been brilliant and now her sister was home, it was turning into one of the best evenings of her life.

"Leah invited Joey for dinner to say thanks for the other night" Ruby stated as she noticed the slight confused expression written all over her sister's beautiful features.

Charlie stood motionless, she couldn't tear her eyes from Joey, she noticed Joey staring back at her questioningly, she felt her throat dry as she realised she was stood in the exact same position she was in when she noticed Joey, but for some reason she couldn't find the strength or will to stop and move.

"Hey Charlie, I thought you couldn't make it for dinner… you haven't eaten yet have you?" Leah grinned towards her, happy that she had made it home earlier than planned.

"Charlie… Hello… anybody home? ... Earth to Charlie!" Ruby grinned as she nudged Charlie, amused to her actions, she had never seen her act so strangely, she wondered what had gotten into her, and she made a mental note to find out later after their company had left.

"Err… what, sorry what were you saying Rubes?" Charlie glanced towards her sister before quickly turning her attention back to the dark beauty sat at her table.

"Leah asked if you had eaten yet… Charlie?" Ruby nudged her again, her grin growing by the second as the realisation hit her, Charlie was so into Joey. It was so obvious from the way she was looking at her, everyone else in the room may as well disappear and Charlie wouldn't care, the room could be filled to the brim and the only person Charlie would notice would still be Joey.

The last time Ruby had seen Charlie act like this was a long time ago, it was back in the city, Charlie had brought some girl to the house while their parents were out and Ruby had caught them making out on the couch whilst she was supposed to be sleeping, after explaining everything to Ruby, Charlie had begged her not to say anything to their parents, she didn't want them finding out about it until she was completely ready.

She had agreed on one condition, that Charlie take her out more often to do fun things, Charlie had agreed and Sarah had tagged along, Ruby remembered how happy they seemed, that of course was before Sarah had broken Charlie's heart by cheating on her with some skank from work.

Ruby turned her attention to Joey, noticing the exact dreamy lost expression on her face as she stared back at Charlie, completely oblivious to the fork holding her mouthful of salad which sat frozen between her plate and mouth. Ruby grinned broader, she couldn't help thinking that the evening was about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Leah returned to the lounge with a plate and fork for Charlie, placing it at the head of the table next to Joey, she subtly bumped into Charlie as she made her way past her, apologising when Charlie snapped from her daze, her blush rushing to her face when she noticed Ruby and Leah's knowing smiles directed straight at her as if they were reading her mind.

She forced herself to sit down at the seat laid out for her, trying desperately not to stare at Joey again, but her eyes kept flicking towards her for fleeting moments.

Leah held up the ceramic tray holding the pizza, edging it towards Charlie, she cleared her throat loudly when she noticed Charlie beginning to stare at their guest again, Charlie jumped slightly as the noise invaded her ears, she glanced towards the source and noticed Leah trying to feign innocence and hide her smile.

Dinner was progressing, for Charlie it was badly, for Ruby and Leah however it was progressing brilliantly, they had sat back and enjoyed watching Charlie totally blunder her way through the meal, first she had spilt her bottle, causing it to soak into the table cloth, a moment or two later she had knocked Joey's wine glass over, whilst trying to fork a tomato it had slid from her plate, but she couldn't catch the tomato and it rolled to the floor and hidden itself under the sideboard, and to top off the list she had dropped a full slice of pizza on the floor.

Charlie was starting to get annoyed with herself, each time she mentally yelled at herself for her clumsiness, calling herself an idiot and telling herself she was a fool. It didn't help that Ruby and Leah had begun giggling softly when she had first knocked the bottle over, but as the blunders got worse, so did their giggles, worse and more obvious, drawing embarrassment and shame to her.

Joey could see the amusing side of it, but she could tell Charlie wasn't finding it funny, the none too subtle glares she had been throwing her sister and friend since the giggles began gave that away, she had refrained her own giggles not wanting to upset or embarrass her anymore, instead she helped her, mopping up the beer and wine and picking up the pizza. Charlie couldn't help but admire how sweet and helpful Joey had been.

She took a large gulp from her almost empty beer as she tried to clear her mind, the more blunders she made the more nervous she became and the more blunders she was likely to make.

Picking up her fork with the intention of finishing the small amount on her plate and getting out of the way of anything else that she could spill, drop or break, she frowned as she felt the fork slip from her fingers, she glanced down, and noticing it resting almost menacingly between her and Joey, taunting her from its resting spot.

She bent over, determined to grab it in hope that nobody would notice if she grabbed it quickly enough, as her fingers reached out for it she felt her head collide with something, wondering what she had done now, she snapped her head upwards.

She felt herself fall into those eyes, those beautiful brown eyes that belonged to Joey, she hadn't realised that she would try to pick the fork up also. Charlie suddenly realised how close she was to Joey, they were barely inches apart, and she could feel the soft tickly of Joey's breath lightly brushing against her face. She could feel her heart pounding almost nervously in her chest. She tried to breath but couldn't, her whole body had gone into melt down the second their eyes had met.

Her eyes dropped from the deep dark pools and rested upon Joey's lips, subconsciously licking her own lips, she felt the urge to kiss her, it wasn't just an urge, she needed to kiss her, and she needed to feel the softness of her lips against her own.

"Here you go… I think you dropped it" Joey stammered, forcing herself from her thoughts, she felt herself blush hoping that Charlie hadn't been able to see what thoughts had been running through her mind.

"Err, thanks… sorry about bumping your head… I didn't see you" Charlie tried to calm her nerves as she sat back in her chair, she forced herself to look away from Joey, her eyes quickly falling on the two faces watching her with amused smiles, the colour rushed to her own cheeks as she realised she was well and truly sprung