Chapter Twenty-Three
The following morning, Charlie and Joey both made an effort to be natural with each other but they both felt shy and awkward. Joey still felt fragile which turned out to be fortunate because Charlie's protective instinct kicked in and she ended up fussing over her all day like a mother hen. Ruby ensured that she provided her own dose of TLC as well. Whether her friend had designs on her sister or not was irrelevant. She had nearly been killed. They had nearly lost her and that drew several things sharply into perspective.
***
At the end of the day, Charlie and Joey prepared to spend another night together. Pausing, each on their side of the bed, they looked at each other, knowing they needed to talk.
"We did well today," Charlie began, sounding cheerful.
"Yeah," Joey agreed. "It nearly wasn't painfully awkward."
Charlie looked down.
"I'm doing my best," she said quietly.
"I know. But it's a bit like an 'elephant in the room' situation, don't you think?"
Charlie nodded. She sank down on the bed and sighed heavily. She knew they had to talk about it. She didn't want to. Joey sat down as well, careful to keep her distance.
"Charlie, please just tell me what you're feeling," Joey asked.
"I have no idea," Charlie said. "That's the whole problem."
"If you tell me what you want from me, I'll try and do it," Joey told her earnestly.
"I want you to be my best friend," Charlie told her, looking deeply into her eyes.
Joey nodded, disappointed. While she knew she was never going to get a declaration of love and commitment, she couldn't help but hope for it somehow.
"I can do that," she said, forcing a smile.
***
Over the next week, the women fell back into the same pattern that had existed before they kissed. Almost. Their innocence was shattered now and it altered their perspectives ever so slightly. When they held on a little too long to each other during a hug, they were both aware of it. When they caught each other gazing, there were flushes of embarrassment and the occasional moments of clumsiness. Both were aware of every moment purposely created for physical contact and they seemed to spend even more time together than they had before. It was only in the darkness of the night, behind closed doors, when Charlie was behaving like a good and dutiful friend that they pretended their hearts weren't beating faster at the prospect of holding each other through the night. It was only then that they could lie to themselves and each other and insist that they didn't take in each other's scent or listen to each others' breathing. Curling up beside each other was a necessary function. They were protecting Joey from her dreams, from herself. They weren't indulging. They were duty bound. It was required. It was only in the harsh light of day when they couldn't seem to eat lunch without each other, make a cup of coffee for themselves without making one for the other, or keep their hands to themselves if they happened to pass each other in the hallway, that they had to silently and privately admit that they had long passed the stage of being just friends.
***
Charlie arrived home from work and found Joey looking through the paper.
"Hey," she greeted.
Joey looked up and her and smiled.
"What are you so busy with?" the police officer asked curiously.
She approached her friend who was stretched lengthways on the sofa. Joey lifted her legs. Charlie sat down and Joey replaced her legs on Charlie's lap.
"Job hunting," Joey replied.
She put the paper down.
"Any luck?"
"Does this face look like I've had any luck?" she frowned.
"I'm going to go with 'no'," Charlie said.
She began to absently massage Joey's bare feet. Joey visibly relaxed and savoured the touch.
"I think I'm just going to have to go down to the wharf tomorrow and tout my wares," she smirked.
Charlie chuckled.
"I did find something interesting in there though," Joey told her.
Charlie stopped massaging.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" she asked worriedly.
"A drama class!" Joey declared cheerfully. "We start on Monday."
"Sorry, 'we'?"
Joey nodded and waved her other foot at Charlie, encouraging her to continue the massage. Charlie obeyed but didn't take her eyes away from Joey's face.
"I don't want to go to drama class," Charlie objected.
"Oh, please?" Joey whined. "You're not really going to make me go all alone, are you?"
She pouted.
"No!" Charlie protested. "Don't pull the face! That's not fair! You know you always win when you pull the face!"
She sighed as Joey's pout remained relentless.
"What time on Monday?" Charlie grumbled.
Joey grinned jubilantly.
"Seven thirty!" she beamed.
"You owe me big time."
