Hi everyone. Thanks again for all your very kind reviews and emails. I'm so glad you are liking this story and your feedback helps my writing so much. I really do appreciate it - FirstCenturyBC

Chapter 11

The lights came up. The Kings of Leon had completed their set, to the delight of the adoring crowd. They had said their thanks and their goodbyes to the audience, who clapped their hands and stomped their feet for several minutes until they came back on stage for the encore. It was an amazing night. Charlie and Joey had probably had an better time than all of them!

The waited until the crowd had dispersed before making their way back to the car park. Joey was biding her time until the right moment arrived to reveal Charlie's final surprise of the day. They approached the car, still on a high from their night's entertainment. Joey unlocked it and Charlie opened the passenger door to get in.

"Wait!" Joey exclaimed.

Charlie stared at her, confused.

Joey leaned inside the car and found the envelope she had hidden underneath the sun visor on the driver's side. She took it out and gave it to Charlie.

Charlie took it, her eyes widened. She hadn't been expecting anything else. She looked at Joey, who smiled at her.

"Go ahead ... open it." She was excited. Charlie was standing in just the right place. Perfect.

Charlie slid open the flap and peered inside. It was a letter. She read it aloud...

'Dear Birthday Girl,

We didn't think you'd want to go straight home after such a great day.

So, we've booked you into a nice hotel for the night.

Happy Birthday and ... enjoy!

Love from Ruby, Leah & VJ

P.S. It's the one straight behind you.'

Charlie swung around. Her eyes immediately caught the name of the hotel – 'Hilton.' Her jaw dropped. She turned back around to look at Joey. Suddenly she remembered Ruby's last words to them about coming home late and making too much noise – and the wink. Now she knew what it all meant. Ruby wasn't just being a torment to her big sister – for a change – she was part of a plan.

"You devils!" Charlie exclaimed, smiling broadly.

Joey grinned at her.

Charlie's happy expression suddenly turned to one of concern. "Oh wait ... I don't have anything with me to stay ... my things!"

With those words, Joey reached into the back of the car and produced and overnight bag for her.

"Courtesy of ... your little sister. She packed it for you earlier today. It has everything you need."

Charlie giggled. "You guys are too much ... really!" She walked around to Joey's side of the car and put her arms around her, pulling her close, their noses tip-to-tip. "How did I come to deserve such great people in my life?" she said softly.

"Oh I dunno ... Karma?"

They kissed with tenderness.

"So ... do you want to go somewhere for a drink ... or do you want to check out our room?" Joey asked softly.

Charlie looked at her, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. She raised an eyebrow. "I think we should go see what kind of bed these Hilton's have to offer. I'm really ... err ..." she faked a yawn and stretched out her arms, "... tired!"

Joey giggled. "I can sing you a lullaby ... if you like."

They nuzzled one another. "I'd like that."

--------x--------

The woman at the reception eyed them cautiously. A double bed for two women? She handed them the key, smiled falsely and gave them directions. Charlie sensed her disapproval. Joey didn't even notice. She was used to getting funny looks. She didn't like to hide her sexuality, and sometimes people found that difficult to deal with. But as far as she was concerned it was their problem, not hers.

"Did you see the way that woman stared at us ... like we were a couple of serial killers?" said Charlie as they walked along the corridor. Her annoyance was obvious.

Joey giggled. "Just ignore her! She has no life of her own. She's just a busy body!"

Charlie sighed. She was upset. For her, that kind of silent condemnation would take some getting used to. She was a highly-respected police officer and was used to being judged by members of the public for decisions she made in her work . However, she wasn't accustomed to having her private life judged by total strangers.

Joey became aware of Charlie's prolonged silence. They were just a few metres away from their room. Joey put the electronic key card in the slot and the green light illuminated. They entered, closing the door behind them. Joey was determined not to let anyone upset the woman she loved – ever – and especially not on her birthday. She wanted to reassure her.

She set down her overnight bag and took Charlie's from her, setting it on the floor. Charlie's head hung low, staring at the ground. Taking her hands in her own, Joey said softly, "Charlie ... look at me!"

Charlie slowly raised her eyes to meet Joey's.

"Remember what we said? You and me ... it's all that matters. No-one else ... especially not some bigoted, botox-injected, geriatric, barbie doll look-alike. She's probably just jealous anyway."

Charlie thought her description was spot-on – and it cheered her up. She smiled.

"Let's unpack our stuff before I ... err ... tuck you in for the night," said Joey.

Charlie lifted her bag off the floor and sat on the bed. She wondered what Ruby had packed for her. She unzipped it and peered inside. "OH RUBY! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Joey looked at her, in surprise. "What's wrong?"

Charlie glanced across at her and sighed. "My little sister has packed some things she thinks we need tonight."

Joey frowned.

Charlie reached inside the bag and brought out the first item. A cucumber!

Joey burst into laughter. Charlie looked at her. She was highly amused but pretended a look of non-amusement.

She brought out the second item. Lube! "Where the hell did she get THIS from?" Charlie exclaimed, "she's only fifteen!"

Joey laughed harder.

Next she brought out a photograph of a young and handsome Brad Pitt, with the hand-written words...

'Look what you're

both missing out on!'

She showed it to Joey, who stared at it for a few moments before commenting. "Nice to look at ... but ... well... y'know ... not even if it was made of chocolate."

Charlie laughed. She had forgotten all about the woman at the front desk. She looked inside the bag to see if there was anything else that her rogue younger sibling had decided to include.

Charlie's mouth was agape when she saw there was one more item. A pair of handcuffs. She picked them up and studied them. They didn't belong to her! "And where did she get THESE from? I HAVE to have a word with her when we get back." Her ability to laugh was now stifled by her outrage at her sister's premature knowledge of adult subjects. She felt she was way too young to know these things.

Joey giggled. "Well okay ... have a word with her ... just make sure you thank her first ... for this place."

Charlie realised that she was perhaps over-reacting a little and relaxed, smiling at Ruby's hard efforts. She had to admit to herself that they were pretty funny!

Joey came over and sat beside Charlie on the bed. She brushed a lock of Charlie's hair away from her face and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"So ... birthday girl ... did you have a good day today?"

Charlie gazed into her eyes and smiled warmly. She was about to answer that question in the way she had longed to do all day.

To be continued ...