Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Seven
As promised, Ruby went round to see Geoff before school the next morning and told him about her hospital trip from a couple of days before.
"What?" Geoff shrieked. "You got taken to hospital? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to tell anyone," Ruby said.
"And I'm just anyone, am I?" he asked sourly.
Ruby reached out and held both his hands.
"No," she said honestly. "You're definitely not just anyone. I love you, Geoff. But I knew you'd panic and I just wanted to spare you that – you and Charlie and Joey. I didn't want you to worry."
"I'm your boyfriend," Geoff said, pulling her into a hug. "And they're your parents. It's our job to worry about you."
"Sorry," Ruby mumbled into his shoulder. "I won't hide anything from you again. I swear."
Charlie dropped Joey down at the docks and then headed over to see Miles, hoping to catch him before work. She found him looking depressed and unshaven and looking completely unready for a day teaching teenagers.
"Are you okay?" she asked hesitantly.
"I'm absolutely perfect," he replied sarcastically. "How about your good self?"
Charlie hovered anxiously over him. He suddenly seemed like a completely different person.
"What do you want, Charlie?" he demanded.
"I wanted to talk about Ruby," Charlie ventured.
"What?" Miles asked. "Because I have to be getting to school."
Charlie sat down.
"I found out about Ruby collapsing the other day," she said. "And you taking her to hospital."
"And?"
"And I mean I found out," Charlie said. "Colleen told me in the Diner."
"So, what? You're criticising me now?" Miles demanded. "Because quite frankly, I have a lot more on my plate just now than a student's sugar levels."
"Miles!" Charlie said, holding her hands up in defence as her friend leapt up and paced the room. "That's not what I'm saying. I'm not having a go at you. I'm just..."
"Just what?" Miles snapped.
"Just asking you, as a parent... I'm asking her teacher to keep an eye on her."
Miles stared at her for a moment before sinking back into his chair and running his hands through his hair. He stared down at the table top. Charlie watched him, noticing drops of wet land on the wood. She moved closer and put her arm around him. He apologised quietly.
"I just miss Kirsty so much," he said. "I don't know what I'm meant to do without her."
Joey, Aden and Geoff finished a long, hard day on the trawler. While Joey headed to the Diner to meet Charlie for a coffee, having not had the chance to see her all day, Geoff headed home with the intention of making a romantic meal for Ruby. Aden walked home rather grumpily, hoping that Liam wouldn't be there but, as had been the case the day before, Liam was giving a guitar lesson in the living room. Glaring at his new roommate, Aden headed into the kitchen. He then stormed back into the lounge.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded.
"What?" Liam asked innocently.
"This fucking mess!"
"Aden, there's a kid here!" Liam snapped.
The teenage girl stopped swooning over him and pouted at being referred to as a child.
"I don't care," Aden said. "You can't treat this house like this!"
Liam turned to his student and said that it probably time to end the lesson, but promised the next one would be free – and not interrupted by crazy fishermen. He saw the girl out and then turned back to Aden.
"I know you don't like it but this is my house too now," he said.
"No, it's not! Roman said that I could live here, not you. You're only here because you're screwing his daughter and if he knew that..."
"Nicole and I are in a serious relationship," Liam protested.
"You wouldn't know a serious relationship if it hit you in the face," Aden snapped.
Liam stepped forward, his eyes blazing.
"I would make comments about being hit in the face if I were you," he warned.
Aden also stepped closer, his fist trembling.
"Is that a threat?" he demanded.
Within seconds, the boys had got into a fight.
Leah came to sit with Charlie and Joey in order to take her break from work.
"Have you seen Miles recently?" Charlie asked her housemate.
She had already told Joey about what had happened when she had gone to see their friend earlier that day and she was desperately worried about him.
"Not really," Leah admitted. "I know we made up but after that row about the food poisoning..."
"I think he'd really appreciate it if you went round to spend some time with him," Charlie ventured. "I went to ask him about Rubes this morning and he totally broke down on me. He's so lost without Kirsty."
Leah sighed, feeling guilty for not being there for him.
"Maybe I'll go round tonight," she said. "If..."
"We'll look after VJ," Joey grinned.
"Thanks!"
"What the hell is going on?" Nicole demanded, standing in the doorway of her former home.
With Liam and Aden on the floor, they were either fighting or making out. She wasn't sure which was worse. Both boys paused, a little breathless and looked up at her before launching into an argument about why the other was a nightmare to live with.
That evening, Charlie cooked dinner while Joey played endless games of cards with VJ who was rather excited about being looked after by two of his favourite people. He'd had a not so secret crush on Joey since she'd first arrived and Charlie was a lot more fun to be around now that she and Joey were an item.
"Dinner's up in five minutes," the police officer said. "So finish your game and clear the table, okay?"
VJ immediately began to protest but was quietened when Joey reminded him that Charlie had worked hard to cook them a nice dinner and they should be grateful. Charlie chuckled at the adoring way VJ looked at his housemate and headed back on into the kitchen.
"Have you grown up yet?" Nicole asked sourly when Aden stormed down the stairs.
Then she noticed his bags. Glancing at Liam on the couch beside her, Nicole sat up, alarmed.
"What are those?" she asked.
"If you're intent on letting this creep live here, knowing what he's like and how much I hate him, then I'm moving out," Aden snapped, storming out the front door.
"You two are so cute," Charlie teased when Joey arrived back downstairs from tucking VJ into bed.
Joey flopped onto the sofa, feigning innocence. Charlie pulled her feet onto her lap and gently began to massage them.
"He lurves you," Charlie smirked.
"He does not!" Joey protested, leaning back on the couch and enjoying the foot rub.
There was nothing better after a long day on the boat.
"He so does," Charlie giggled. "I don't have competition, do I?"
Joey snorted with laughter.
"Have I missed anything?" Leah asked, walking into the house.
"I'm just teasing Joey about Veej," Charlie explained.
"Aw, the crush he has on you is so cute!" Leah agreed, sinking into an armchair.
"No fair!" Joey complained. "You're ganging up on me!"
"How were things with Miles?" Charlie asked.
"We talked a lot and I think it helped," Leah replied. "I hope it did anyway. We're going to have lunch tomorrow."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Joey groaned, not wanting her foot massage to stop. Leah hauled herself up instead and answered the door, surprised to see Aden standing there with a backpack, asking if there was any chance he could spend the night on their sofa.
Next time... the fate of the trawler is decided, Aden has to eat humble pie and Charlie encourages Joey to find another career to fall in love with...
