Chapter Nine
Ruby arrived back at the hotel, after a somewhat passionate goodbye to Xavier, a little nervous of what she might find in the room. The last thing she needed was to find her sister and Joey having sex there, although she would be pleased if they were back together. She opened the door loudly, giving the girls a chance to break apart but was saddened and surprised to find Charlie sitting in the dark on her bed.
"Charles, are you okay?" she asked, full of concern.
Charlie barely looked up. Ruby rushed forwards and clicked the lamp on. Charlie's eyes were red and puffy. Ruby sat on the bed and threw her arms around her sister.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked, although she could guess.
"It's over," Charlie told her weakly.
"But... But I thought..."
"So did I."
"What happened?"
"We spent an amazing day together. We kissed and while she wouldn't get back with me, she seemed willing to see how it went. Then we had dinner and it was so nice and I held her hand under the table. Then we came up here and started making out again and then suddenly she got up and bolted."
"Did she say why?"
"No, she just apologised, said she couldn't do it, and then she left."
Charlie began crying again. They had been so close to working everything else. Now it was ruined and she didn't even know why.
"Have you tried to call her?"
Charlie shook her head.
"I've just been crying in the dark," she admitted.
Ruby sighed and hugged her sister close, not sure how to help or what to say.
"Do I smell coffee?" she finally asked.
Charlie cried harder.
Joey felt restless in her room. She paced from one end of the small room to the other, twisting her hands and fighting tears. She shouldn't have walked out. She hated the look on Charlie's face, the look of heartbreak. But the images of what Charlie and Hugo had done together had been too strong. They had overpowered her, showing her that she couldn't get over what had happened behind her back. She regretted kissing Charlie on the cliff. Now she felt like she had led her on, only to let her down. She should have known it was too soon, too much to handle. She grabbed her keys and stormed across the hall. Katie answered the door immediately and welcomed her inside.
"What's wrong?" her friend asked.
"I think Charlie and I are finished," Joey said desperately, throwing herself down on the bed.
Katie tried not to look pleased. She hadn't wanted Charlie and Joey to get back together in the first place. Breaking up again could only be a good thing. She sat down beside Joey, taking in the sight of her stretched out on her back with a hint of torso showing.
"What happened?"
"We were kissing," Joey began.
Kate grimaced.
"And all I could think about was her and Hugo," Joey continued. "I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I freaked and fled."
Katie reclined and put her arms around Joey, who allowed herself to be held.
"I just wish it could all be fixed," Joey said.
"I know, sweetheart."
"I love her so much, Katie," Joey cried.
"It'll get better."
"How? How will it get better? I can't get her betrayal out of my mind," Joey said. "And I don't think it's going to change. And if it doesn't, I have to live without her and I don't actually know if I can do that."
Katie held her closer, stroking her hair.
"This is impossible! I don't know what to do!"
"Do you want my honest opinion?" Katie asked.
Joey peered up at her and nodded.
"You need to forget about Charlie."
Joey frowned.
"I know it doesn't feel like it but you will get over her. You just need time. You'll eventually be able to leave Charlie behind and fall for someone else."
Katie couldn't help but hope it would be her.
"I can't even think about anyone else," Joey said sadly. "Charlie's my world. And I can't have her."
She dissolved into tears. Katie held her tighter and finally unable to resist, despite the lousy timing, she bent her head to kiss her. Joey, without having noticed what was about to happen, suddenly rolled over and buried her face in the blanket, growling with frustration, confusion and pain.