The Very Thought of You

As it's a lovely Sunday afternoon and I'm feeling gererous (?) I've launched another chapter. I'm afraid our girls have reached a testing time. Will they survive? Read on... Stiff upper lip! S&L xx

Chapter 45

Joey stood for a long time after Charlie had left her. Her heart thumped with worry. Though she had no doubt of Charlie's love, she wasn't entirely certain that Charlie was ready to face any storms that may come their way. Their relationship was new and tender and would bruise easily. Joey was ready to face anything as long she had Charlie.

Charlie closed her bedroom door and climbed back into bed. She curled up in a ball and closed her eyes tightly, trying to shut out what had just happened. Brian Collins's face loomed up at her calling her names with such hatred that Charlie wrapped her arms around her head as if protecting herself from his abuse. Every pulse in her body throbbed with pain and emotion. She felt dreadfully alone and frightened.

Joey needed some air. She had to escape for a while to clear her head. But her clothes! She had only the clothes she'd arrived in and her party clothes from the evening before and they were all in Charlie's bedroom. She bit her lip but finally made the decision to enter Charlie's room and steel her clothes away without disturbing Charlie.

She quietly turned the bedroom door knob and opened the door. Joey glanced towards Charlie; all wrapped up in her bedclothes and envied her, her ability to sleep after what had just happened.

Joey picked her clothes off the bedroom floor and heard Charlie stir.

"Is that you Jo?" Charlie asked quietly.

"Yes. Sorry if I woke you. I'll going out for a walk."

And with that, she quickly closed the bedroom door and made her way to the bathroom to dress.

Charlie stretched out. She would have much rather Joey had crept into bed beside her so she might be cuddled and made to feel safe again, but maybe Joey was finding this hard to cope with too.

After a few minutes, Charlie heard the front door open and close as Joey left the house. Suddenly, Charlie had an overwhelming need to be with her and jumped out of bed and hastily dressed herself.

Joey walked down to the beach. The waves crashed on to the pebbles and retreated leaving a forming residue of seaweed and flotsam behind. She stood watching the sea's endeavour to reclaim the land, and she closed her eyes tightly wishing that yesterday had not happened. She sighed deeply and jumped as she felt a warm hand on her arm. She turned in alarm.

"Charlie! I thought you were trying to sleep?"

"I was, but – Oh, Jo!" Charlie said leaning against her friend. "I'm frightened!"

Joey took Charlie's hand and squeezed it gently.

"I am too, Charlie, but we have each other – I feel better just having you here with now!" She smiled. She moved a little closer and was about to place a little kiss on Charlie's lips when they heard footsteps coming towards them and their hands reluctantly separated.

They both glanced in the direction of the disturbance which turned out to be a group of three young men walking along laughing.

"That's her!" Yelled the first young man. "She's that Copper!"

The other boys laughed and whooped.

"That must be her girlfriend then?" The second suggested.

The third man wolf whistled.

Joey quickly glanced at Charlie. Charlie's face was a mixture of disbelief and annoyance.

"Come on." Joey said, taking Charlie by the arm and moving her further along the front towards the town.

They passed a lady with a baby in a pram. Joey smiled and wished her a good day, but was met with a look of hostile disgust as the lady hurried by. The girls looked at one another, continuing to walk, finding themselves heading back in the direction of the Assembly Rooms.

"Charlie!" Someone called from the other side of the road.

Charlie looked over to see Martha Holden waving and looking slightly red in the face.

"Hi Martha, I take it you're no worse for the experience of last night? How's your Grandfather and Hugo's arm?"

"They're keeping Grandad in hospital for a few days but he's cheerful. Hugo's fine. The hospital patched him up. Look Charlie, I don't quite know how to tell you this, but there's something I think you should see." Martha said, pointing towards the side wall of the Assembly Rooms.

Charlie and Joey looked in the direction in which Martha was pointing. Their mouths fell open in horror. There, on the wall, where only the evening before, they had shared a wonderful embrace, the words, "BUCKTON IS A DIRTY LESBIAN".

Charlie gasped at the words. Joey was speechless. She knew it was her brother's doing and a wave of hate and sickness engulfed her. His bitter attack in letters defiling their precious memory.

Black spots appeared before Charlie's eyes and she doubled over losing her senses. Martha and Joey caught her as she began to fall. Hot tears filled Joey's eyes feeling the pain she knew Charlie would be feeling and wishing she could shoulder it all herself.

"Charlie!" Martha cried. "Are you alright!"

Charlie felt weary with the burden she was carrying. She wanted to die.