Author's note: Just so you all don't get confused, Ruby and Casey are in their last year of school.

Chapter Two

Charlie's P.O.V.
Once Ruby came through the door, she was completely out of breath. Since when did she ever want to get home so quickly? She almost ran into me because I was just about to meet Bianca at the diner. According to her, I was only allowed to go out after she had spoken to me.
"Rubes, what is it?" I asked her.
"A barbecue. Casey's family is holding a barbecue. Can we go? Pretty please with cherry on top?"
"Hold your horses Rubes. What do you mean by 'we'?"
"You and me, duh."
"Why would Casey want me to come? The Braxton's hate my guts, especially their mum. The amount of times I've turned up at their doorstep in my police car is insane."
"But still! You're my mum so he wants you there."
"Yeah, only Casey."
"What? No?"

Ruby's P.O.V.
Oh no... I did not just say that. Casey told me it was Brax who kept begging him to tell me to bring Charlie along. How am I going to get myself out of this?
"What do you mean no? Who wanted me there then?" Charlie asked.
"Oh jokes, I meant like he was the Braxton who asked you there... I want you there too!"
Real smooth Ruby, I thought to myself.
"Fine, whatever you say. When is this barbecue?" she asked.
"Tomorrow night."
"Really? That soon?"
"Yeah, it's not a problem is it?"
"I'm not too sure Rubes, I'll see if I can swap my shift..."
"Okay, but please try to come along! For my sake Charlie!"
Brax was counting on me to get her to come along. I don't know why he her to come so desperately, but with him, it was best not to ask. Besides, I didn't want to get on the wrong side of a Braxton.

Charlie's P.O.V.
I honestly don't understand why they would want me at the barbecue. Well, it Brax may have put the idea into Casey's head, but that will probably be it. I have no idea whether I should go. Besides, I have a night shift tomorrow. It's not like it'll go down well with Inspector Joyce if I said I needed to have tomorrow night off because the Braxton's have invited me for a barbecue. He would probably kill me. Joyce and the Braxton's have never gotten along well. I could lie about it, except if it had any flaws, I'd be in even more trouble. I kind of do want to go to the barbecue. It'd be kinda cute to see Brax with his family. I could always get Watson to cover for me seeing as I pretty much only have to do paperwork. Oh wait; speaking of Watson, she has the afternoon shift tomorrow. Perhaps I could swap with her? I'll be done by the time the barbecue starts.

Casey's P.O.V.
Brax wouldn't stop pestering me all night.
"Has Ruby told you if she and Charlie are coming tomorrow or not?"
That's all he said to me. I kept asking him why he wanted to know so badly. I'm his own brother, yet he doesn't even want to tell me. He just keeps saying it's none of my business and I should get back to studying. None of my business? As if. Obviously I'm not the person he keeps asking about the guest list for tomorrow. I was in the same room as him when my phone vibrated.
"Is it Charlie?" he asked me.
"No, it's Ruby... Hold on, let me read the message first."
What on earth makes him think that Charlie would be texting me? The only reason I have her number is because of Ruby, in case she gets in trouble or anything. There was something I had to ask Brax.
"You have the hots for Charlie don't you?"
"No? She's your girlfriend's mum, that's completely wrong."

Brax's P.O.V.
He did not just ask me that. Never in a million years would I tell him. He and Ruby would find it wrong in so many levels.
"Then how come you keep asking me if they're coming?" Casey asked.
"Well, the more the merrier," I said.
"Sure, sure. If you say so Brax."
This was the perfect time for me to escape from this conversation. I did not want him to know about my feelings. Just as I walked out the door, I heard Casey yell to me.
"Oh, and just so you know, Ruby and Charlie (emphasis on her name) are coming!"
Emphasising Charlie's name? Was that really necessary? But oh well, Charlie was coming and that's all I could think about. I went back into the room to grab some cash and went off to the diner.

Casey P.O.V.
Was it just me, or did Brax have the biggest smile on his face when he came back into the room..? I would've told Ruby, but knowing her, she probably would have freaked out. I decided I'd find a moment where Brax was even happier to ask him about Charlie again. Although I don't understand what would be so bad about telling me? I get that the cops are constantly after us; actually no. They're always after Heath except Brax always bails him out. Anyways, nobody can help who they fall for. Speaking of Heath, he would be a lot worse. He would completely flip out.

Brax's P.O.V.
Once I got to the diner, the first person I saw was Charlie. What perfect timing, I thought. She was busy reading the paper so I decided to order some food first. I wasn't planning on staying for too long, but I wanted to have a chat with Charlie. Unfortunately, when I looked back at her table, she was in a conversation with Leah. Damn you, Leah. Don't you have a job to do? Luckily by the time I got my order, Leah was back in the kitchen. Charlie saw me walking over to her table and smiled. That's gotta be a good start right..?