Chapter Thirty-Three
Ruby had been in a world of her own at school. Now, sitting in the Surf Club, she still couldn't get Charlie and Joey out of her head, wondering what was going on with them. At first, she was content that Charlie was just helping out a vulnerable young woman. Ruby's heart broke when she thought about what Joey had been through. In private time alone with her, Joey had tearfully explained. But now, things at home were very strange. They were extreme best friends. They did everything together, even sharing a bed. Charlie had claimed it was due to nightmares and Ruby did believe her but now she wondered if it had developed somehow. She also felt a little left out that all of Charlie's time was taken up. Her sister had always been such a loner. She'd had boyfriends on and off and she had close friends but she'd never had a best friend before, certainly not one that she was unable to be parted from. It was strange to see her like this, although it wasn't unpleasant. For starters, Charlie was always happy now, if a little secretive. Ruby had assumed all this time that Joey was into Charlie, that she just had a crush on her or something but now she was fearful that there was more to it than that. What if Charlie reciprocated? What if they were doing it right under her nose? Ruby had no idea how she would feel if that was true.
"Ruby?" Jai said, waving his hand in front of her face.
"Sorry!" she said.
"Where did you go?" he asked.
She had been behaving strangely all day. He was worried.
"I'm just puzzling over something," Ruby told him.
He drew his chair closer.
"Anything I can help with?"
"I don't know."
"Well, what is it?"
"I think Charlie might have feelings for Joey."
He looked surprised. She noticed.
"Exactly," she said, glad that she wasn't the only person finding it confusing. "What do I do?"
"Ask her," Jai said immediately.
"What if I'm wrong?" Ruby asked.
"How certain are you that you're right?"
"Pretty certain. I heard them talking last night and while I didn't hear the conversation completely, it seemed pretty intimate. They were saying things like 'not being ready' and wanting to tell me before they told anyone else. And then Joey said something about wanting to be with Charlie. I mean, that feels pretty conclusive to me."
"Well, it could be that Joey does have a crush. But yeah, it sounds like there's a little more to it than that. I really think you should talk to Charlie. You guys have never had secrets before."
Ruby nodded.
***
Charlie and Joey broke apart as soon as they heard Ruby come through the door. She smiled cheerfully at her and pretended that they were watching television. They greeted each other warmly.
"How was your day?" Charlie asked.
"It required a lot of brain power," Ruby told her.
She came to join them on the sofa.
"Hey, what did you do to your finger?" she asked.
Charlie looked down at it and pouted. It still stung a little bit. She hoped she would have healed by Saturday. She thought she would probably need her hands.
"Oh, I got distracted when I was chopping carrots," she explained. "It hurts."
Joey was yet again amused that a tough cop like Charlie could complain so much about a small injury. She thought it was cute.
"So, are we being served blood in our dinner?" Ruby teased.
"Maybe a couple of drops," Charlie frowned.
"Lovely imagery, Charlie," Joey said, pulling a face. "Just lovely."
Ruby giggled. Charlie continued to pout.
"Oh, Ruby we're going to be away on Saturday and Sunday. Will you be alright staying with Leah?"
"You're going away?" Ruby asked.
This was yet another thing to add to her list of suspicions.
"Yeah, we're going into the city for a night."
"What for?"
"Just for a break," Charlie said. "We thought it would be fun."
"Are you going to see Dad?"
"Yeah, we'll stop by on our way home," Charlie told her.
She worried for a moment that Ruby would want to come. Fortunately, she didn't. She told Charlie that she'd be fine for a night and to have fun. Then she walked away somewhat bemused.
***
That night, Charlie and Joey rehearsed their lines before bed.
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers sake," Joey, as Juliet said.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take," Romeo replied.
Charlie swooped in to kiss Joey. She guided her back onto the bed, their lips never breaking contact.
"Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged," Charlie said when they parted.
"I don't think we're supposed to kiss quite like that in the script, sweetheart," Joey giggled.
"Oh really?" Charlie asked, feigning innocence.
"Mmm hmm," Joey said.
"Well, I'd better keep practicing the kissing parts until I get it right."
She lowered her mouth again, capturing Joey's lips with hers, parting them tenderly with her tongue and leaving them both breathless.
