Chapter Twenty-Seven

The week had been amazing. Charlie and Joey had been tentatively getting to know each other better behind closed doors and everything felt amazing. Their kisses had only got better and better, not to mention more intense. On Sunday night, they were enjoying a prolonged goodnight kiss when Charlie's hand slipped to Joey's breast, surprising both of them. Charlie jolted away from Joey momentarily.

"Sorry, I… I didn't mean to," she said shyly.

It hadn't been planned. It had just happened.

"Really not complaining," Joey grinned.

Charlie looked at her hand, which was now hovering between their bodies. Slowly, she guided it back down. She enjoyed the feel of Joey beneath her palm. It felt good and it felt right. She was still nervous of being with Joey but taking things slowly seemed to be working for both of them. It lacked pressure and it meant that they could just enjoy being together, getting to know each other at a gentle pace. Charlie had always been the kind of person to sleep with someone first and think later. It got her into trouble, was more often than not, a mistake and she so frequently ended up hurt. With Joey, everything felt different. They already knew each other so well and their relationship was developing naturally and carefully. It felt innocent, loving and respectful. She gazed into her eyes, enjoying the smile on Joey's face as she relaxed into her touch. Charlie moved her hand, exploring Joey's left breast carefully through the fabric of Joey's pyjama top. She felt her responding through the material and a thrill of excitement shot through both of them. Shifting the position of her hand, Charlie gently caught Joey's nipple between her thumb and forefinger. Her heart was racing and she felt overwhelmed to be causing a sexual reaction in Joey. Kissing her again, she let her hand play, too nervous to delve beneath her clothes just yet. She felt Joey kiss her back passionately and wrap her arms around her. Charlie wondered what it would be like to see Joey topless, what it would be like to touch her without any barriers. She wondered if she would ever have the courage to touch her with her tongue, to taste her and take her into her mouth. Just the thought excited her and terrified her in equal measure. She continued her touch and lifted her mouth from Joey's and began to nuzzle her neck. Joey moaned and held Charlie tighter, thrilled with the latest, tentative development. All week she felt like she and Charlie were getting closer and closer, falling more deeply in love.

***

On Monday evening, Charlie and Joey sat nervously with Amber at auditions in their drama group. Most people had already taken part, including Amber.

"Right, who's next? Um… Joey?" Ms Harboard said, smiling at Joey who blanched.

"I um… I didn't know which part to read for so… um…" Joey faltered.

"How about Juliet?"

Joey squeaked, utterly horrified.

"I think you'd make a wonderful Juliet if we can build up your confidence."

Joey looked at Charlie for help but only received an 'I told you so' smile in response.

"Come on up," Ms Harboard said.

Joey shakily got to her feet, aware that everyone was watching her and wondering why she thought this stupid drama class was a good idea. She clutched the script tightly and looked at the teacher.

"Well, do not swear," she began shyly. "Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight."

With the first sentence out of the way, fixing her eyes on Charlie, she gained some confidence and momentum.

"It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; too like lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say, 'It lightens'. Sweet, good night!"

Ms Harboard smiled. So did Charlie. Joey finished to the end of the passage, feeling like she hadn't done badly. She smiled anxiously and hurried to her seat.

"That was great, Joey."

"Thank you," Joey said quietly.

"And I think our last person to audition is Charlie."

Charlie stood up, ready with her excuses.

"You see, the thing is, I'm really only here to support Joey so I was thinking maybe, I don't to be in the play," she said.

Ms Harboard looked unimpressed. She folded her arms.

"Maybe I could show people to their seas and perhaps pull the cur…"

She frowned and stopped making her gesture of pulling curtains. The teacher was having none of it.

"Okay," Charlie pouted. "I didn't actually plan a part to read either though."

"Well, as you're here as Joey's other half, why don't you audition for Romeo?"

Charlie's face fell. She really just wanted to pull the curtain. Ms Harboard directed her to the piece she wanted her to read.

***

That night, having finished class, been informed of the roles they would be played and dropped Amber home, Charlie and Joey were sitting in the kitchen with a snack before bed.

"Read for a bigger part, you said," Joey snapped, her head in her hands. "Gain some confidence, you said!"

Charlie's mouth hung open in disgust.

"Go to drama class, you said! It'll be fun, you said! All of this is your fault!"

In the production, Joey was playing Juliet and Charlie was playing Romeo and neither of them was happy about it.

"My fault?" Joey asked.

"Yes! This whole thing was your idea!"

Ruby entered the room to get a glass of water.

"What's up with you two?" she asked. "You look like the world's ending."

"I have to play Romeo in a play!" Charlie told her. "Thank to someone!"

"She wouldn't have made you do it if you hadn't made that stupid speech about the curtains but no; someone had to get cute, didn't they?" Joey challenged.

"It was nothing to do with the curtains! It was your fault."

"It was your fault."

"Yours!"

"Yours!"

"When did you guys become old and married?" Ruby asked with a sly grin. "You're bickering like our parents."

"We are not!" Charlie said quickly.

"You totally are. You sound like Dad."

"I am not! Now get to your room and do your homework."

Ruby snorted and left the room. Joey raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not my Dad," Charlie insisted. "I'm Romeo!"

She giggled. Joey laughed too and then sighed.

"How the hell am I going to manage to be a lead in a play, Charlie?" she asked.

"You'll manage," Charlie said. "You can do anything."

They kissed.

"Hey, Romeo," Joey whispered. "Care to get some early practice for the romantic scenes?"

Charlie got to her feet and led her to the privacy of their bedroom.