Chapter One Hundred and Ninety

"Oh, this is bad," Joey said unhappily.

"What's wrong?" Charlie asked.

The couple, along with Leah, Ruby and VJ were seated round the breakfast table together before they were due to head out in their different direction. Charlie had a shift at work, as did Joey and Leah while Ruby and VJ had to go to school. But first, Joey was going to enrol at college, ready to start in January.

"This," Joey said, offering out the newspaper she'd been flicking through.

Charlie and Leah both felt their hearts sink as they saw an article about Miles's fabricated attack on Riley splayed across the front page.

"Ugh," Charlie frowned. "Well, that's only going to make a terrible situation worse. Honestly, do you have to have your conscience removed to become a journalist?"


"That all looks good to me," the Principal of the college said with a pleasant smile.

Joey beamed back at her. She recognised her as the same woman who had been there when she'd studied the first time around. And she was rather pleased that her new Principal recognised her too.

"I really am glad you're back," Lisa said. "I gather from your records that you were doing really well at your course until you had to leave."

Joey's grin increased. She glanced at Charlie, sitting beside her.

"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," Lisa said.

"Charlie Buckton," Joey's girlfriend replied.

"And you two are...?"

Joey looked anxious.

"Partners," Charlie replied without hesitation.

She reached out and shook the woman's hand.


Romeo hovered uncertainly in the kitchen. He'd tried to hide the paper from Miles but he'd found it anyway and he'd been monosyllabic since then. Alf and Romeo were both worried about him and they knew other people were too. Even Charlie had been round to beg him to talk to her so she could help prove his innocence. But it was like Miles had completely given up on life. It was tragic to see.


VJ had finished school but been brave enough to agree to go soccer practice. So far, his new school was working out. He'd even made a friend. But soccer was a different kettle of fish. Riley and his mates went to practice with him and he was terrified. Leah had offered to sit and watch but VJ had insisted (and Joey had agreed) that that would only make it worse. So now, he was bracing himself to face his bully, hopefully under the watchful eye of his coach.


Joey was behind the bar of the Surf Club. She had an hour until she finished her shift and then she and Charlie were going to pick VJ up from soccer practice. Leah was working flat out at the Diner.

"Hey," Aden said, slumping onto a stool.

"You don't look so perky today," Joey noted. "What's up?"

Aden sighed and then launched into a rant about the fact that Liam had refused to take Nicole to the formal.

"I mean, it's one night!" he said. "How hard is it to be nice to your girlfriend for one damn night?"

He remembered how upset he had been this time last year when Belle has refused to go with him to his special night. But the difference was that she had come at the last minute and right up until Kane's car had ploughed through the wall and set the place on fire, they'd been having a good time.

"She's worked so hard," he continued. "And she's been through so damn much. Why doesn't he care about that? Why won't he be nice to her?"

"I don't know," Joey said honestly.

She hadn't gone to her school formal. The girl she had been seeing in secret had dumped her the week before and gone off to the dance with a hunky football player. So she had spent the night home alone with television and ice cream.

"It's just so unfair," Aden said. "And she's considering not going herself either. And it's not like I can take her because I have to take that girl."

He growled in frustration.

"It's not fair," he repeated.


When Charlie and Joey showed up to collect VJ from soccer practice, the child was particularly sullen.

"Veej, didn't it go well?" Joey asked worriedly from the passenger seat.

He continued to look unhappy in the backseat.

"VJ?" Charlie quizzed.

"I saw Mr Radcliffe having a go at Riley right before you showed up," he explained. "He was pushing him around. I didn't know what to do."

"Well, you did right to tell us," Charlie told him. "You should always tell us if something like that happens, okay?"

"What will you do?"

"We'll deal with it," Charlie promised.


Charlie pulled up outside the Radcliffe residence. She and Joey had taken VJ to the Diner where Miles had been complaining to Leah about the horrible news article. Then Charlie had agreed to take Miles with her when she went round to speak to Ian. Climbing out of the car, they headed up to the front door. Charlie warned Miles to stay quiet and let her take the lead. She knocked. A few moments later, Riley pulled open the door. He was sporting a black eye.

"What?" he asked impolitely.

"Hey, Riley, is your Dad home?" Charlie asked.

Riley shook his head. Charlie glanced at Miles.

"How did you hurt your eye?" she asked the little boy.

He touched it self consciously and then winced.

"I don't remember," he lied.

"It looks pretty painful," Charlie ventured. "I would have thought you'd remember doing something like that."

He shrugged unhappily.

"Is there something wrong, Riley?" Charlie asked.

"No," he replied.

"Are you sure? You don't seem very happy."

"My eye hurts," he said.

"But you don't remember how you did it?"

"My Dad hit me, okay?" he snapped. "Are you happy?"


It was late by the time Charlie eventually arrived home. It had definitely been a long day. Riley's grandmother, who had been babysitting him while his father went out, had come to see who was at the door. She'd reluctantly invited Charlie inside, sending Miles to go and sit in the car. She'd recognised him from the newspaper. Together, they had talked things through and Riley had admitted that he had lied about Miles. He hadn't broken his wrist – his Dad had. And he'd also confessed to being responsible for Miles's original injuries.

They had arrested and charged Ian with assault and with perverting the course of justice by framing Miles, who had been let off of all charges. He in turn had decided not to press charges against Riley. He felt sorry for him more than anything.

"At least it's fixed now," Joey said sadly. "And I can't believe I'm saying it about a boy who bullied our VJ but, poor Riley."

Charlie nodded. She put her feet in Joey's lap and was pleased when she took the hint to rub.

"No wonder he was acting out," Leah agreed. "Not that I forgive him for what he did to my son."

"Well, hopefully he'll leave him alone at soccer now and he seems to be settling in already at his new school."

Leah nodded and then yawned.

"I think that's my cue to go to bed," she decided, standing up and heading to her room.

VJ and Ruby were already asleep.

"How was your day, anyway?" Charlie asked, closing her eyes and relishing Joey's touch. "I never really got the chance to talk to you properly."

"Yeah, I'm okay," Joey said, switching feet. "Aden was pretty pissed though. Liam's..."

"Not taking Nicole to the formal," Charlie said.

Joey looked confused.

"Watson dragged them both in to tell them off," Charlie explained. "She caught them fighting on the beach."

"What?" Joey squeaked.

"It's fine. Nobody's pressing charges or anything," Charlie assured her. "She just wanted to teach them a lesson and stop it escalating."

"I hope it worked," Joey said. "I swear they're going to kill each other one day!"

"Aden's got pretty bent out of shape over it all, hasn't he?" Charlie said. "I guess it must be hard for him with all his conflicting feelings."

Joey nodded. She had long ago told Charlie about Aden's feelings for Nicole. She knew it was probably wrong of her to break his confidence but she never ever wanted to keep a secret from her partner.

"I hope Liam changes her mind and takes her," she said. "It's sad not to get to your own school formal."

"Did you have fun at yours?" Charlie asked.

Joey finished with her feet. Charlie shifted round and lay her head on her girlfriend's lap instead. Joey bent her head and kissed her before starting to play with her hair.

"I didn't go," Joey admitted.

"What?" Charlie exclaimed. "How come?"

Joey explained the story of getting ditched in favour of the football player.

"What a bitch," Charlie complained.

She pulled a face.

"Totally didn't deserve you."

Joey smiled and kissed her again.

"I think you might be a bit biased there, sweetheart."

"Yeah but I'm only biased because you're so lovely. You have to be special to make someone be biased!"

She grinned triumphantly. Joey kissed her again.

"How was your formal?" she asked.

"Nice," Charlie said. "I went with a very platonic friend. We've lost touch now but if he turned out straight, I'd be shocked!"

They both laughed.

"Maybe you should try and find him on Facebook or something," Joey suggested. "Share the news!"

"Maybe I should!"

"Speaking of, you rocked today," Joey said.

Charlie looked confused.

"When you came out to the Principal."

"Well, she asked how I knew you..."

"And you told her. Just like that."

Charlie sat up, gazing very seriously into Joey's eyes.

"I know I struggle with the labels and all of that," she said. "But I love you. And I am so proud to be able to call you my girlfriend. I couldn't even contemplate not being out about how I feel about you."

She stroked Joey's face, leaning in to capture her lips.

"I think I just fell more deeply in love!" Joey confessed.

"Well, I'm very glad to hear that!" Charlie giggled.


Next time... the girls make plans for Christmas, Nicole asks Miles to go to the formal with her and Charlie and Angelo have another argument...