Posted especially for Gunni11!

Chapter Seven

Joey and Charlie headed to a café, feeling exhausted, hungry and struggling to resist grabbing hold of each other. Their connection was undeniable, although Joey was determined to do exactly that. They ordered their food and sat down at a corner table. Charlie couldn't take her eyes off Joey. She felt blessed that she was being allowed to spend time with her and just hoped that she'd be allowed to see her for the rest of the week. She made a mental note to buy Ruby a big present when they got home and an even bigger one if anything happened between her and Joey.

"What?" Joey asked, noticing that she was being stared at.

Charlie blushed and apologised.

"Nothing."

Joey thought she could guess what Charlie had been thinking. It was pretty much all Joey thought about when she was around Charlie. To be fair, it was all she thought about when Charlie wasn't around. She blushed too.

"So, what are you doing for the rest of the day?" Joey asked.

Charlie shrugged.

"I don't have any plans."

"I could show you around town. If you'd like."

Charlie jumped at the chance to spend more time with her. Joey smiled. Their food arrived and they tucked in.

"So, how is everyone?" Joey asked. "Ruby?"

"She's been an angel," Charlie said. "She's really been taking care of me since... since."

She looked down at her plate.

"But yeah, she's doing well. She and Xavier are still pretty tight."

"Did I see him in the restaurant with you guys?"

"Yeah it's me, Ruby, Xavier, Aden, Leah and VJ here. Hey, you should come to dinner with everyone tonight. They'd all love to see you, especially Rubes."

"That would be great," Joey accepted. "I'd love to see everyone."

***

The sun was high and hot the afternoon as Joey and Charlie decided to hike up onto the cliffs so Joey could show Charlie the view over the sea. Arriving first, Charlie turned round to see that Joey was struggling slightly. She reached out to grip her hands and pull her up to rest of the way. Joey landed in Charlie's arms. Their faces came so close together that their lips brushed. They resisted kissing but also didn't pull apart. Joey felt sensations rush through her as her lips tingled against Charlie's even through this faintest contact. She gazed into Charlie's eyes, unsure of what her next move should be. Charlie slipped her arms around her. She felt protected by her hands on her waist. Before she'd thought it through, she pressed her lips more firmly against Charlie's. They kissed deeply and passionately, attempting to make up for the month they had been apart. Charlie felt like all her dreams had come true having Joey in her arms, mouth to mouth. She parted her lips slightly and her tongue silently asked permission to seek Joey's. Joey accepted, pulling herself closer to Charlie. She never wanted this to end. She couldn't bear for reality to hit them. High on a hillside, they could pretend everything was healed. Eventually, when oxygen started to become an issue, they parted, breathing heavily. Joey couldn't bear the hope in Charlie's eyes.

"Shall we carry on?" Joey asked.

She caught herself.

"Walking. Carry on walking," she added.

Charlie nodded. She was having palpitations as she followed Joey along the top of the cliff. After a few moments, Joey spun around the face her, looking emotional.

"Why do I have to love you so damn much, Charlie?" she said, pleading genuinely for an answer.

Charlie stepped up close.

"Because we're meant to be together," she said simply.

Joey exhaled, feeling torn between a million emotions. She closed the gap between them and kissed Charlie again, pouring all her love and hurt into the moment. Charlie's arms clung to Joey's waist while Joey's fingers tangled in Charlie's hair. They sought each other's hearts, pressing themselves so tightly together that there was no gap between them at all. Their bodies entwined so perfectly. Love poured from their souls. Again, it took a long time to prise themselves apart. They rested their foreheads together and gazed into each other's eyes.

"I want to be with you, Charlie," Joey admitted. "But I still don't know if I can."

"Joey, we've had such a great time together," Charlie said desperately. "We click. We connect in a way that has never happened to either of us before. And kissing you... it's even better than it used to be and I don't know how that's possible. This is right. I know it is. And so do you."

Joey's lips trembled. Half of her wanted to fling herself back into Charlie's arms and the other half wanted to run down the cliff as fast as her legs could carry her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from Charlie's face.

"I'm not ready," she admitted.

Charlie looked and felt heartbroken. Her hands dropped to her sides.

"What if... what if we just keep trying?" she begged. "Hang out this week like we said. Continue to spending time together and see where it goes."

Joey nodded. She couldn't bring herself to walk away. Leaving the first time had been so painful and so far, she'd failed to end things twice since they'd met again. She knew this wasn't going to be any different. Sinking down on the floor, she stared out onto the horizon. Charlie sat beside her. She put an arm around Joey, who felt the way she was trembling. She looked back at Charlie and kissed her again. They kissed for a long time. Joey let Charlie guide her onto her back but when she felt Charlie's hand slipping to her breast, she caught her wrist. Charlie pulled back nervously.

"I need to take it slow," Joey said.

Charlie put her hands back up to Joey's shoulder, nodding.

"Sorry," she said.

They kissed again until Joey pulled back.

"We're not back together," she said awkwardly.

"I know," Charlie said, although the fact was painful. "Whatever you want. We can take it at your pace, Joey. I'll do anything to make you happy."

Joey smiled gratefully, worrying that she was messing with both their heads. She still didn't know if there was a future but she so desperately wanted there to be one. They continued kissing on the grass.