Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Two

It was early the following evening and all of the seniors were abuzz with anticipation of the formal. Liam had been in a particularly foul mood to learn that Nicole was going without him, even if she was only going with Miles. But Nicole had told him in no uncertain terms that it was her right to celebrate the end of school and nobody was going to stop her from going partying. Walking across the beach in the dying sun with his hands stuffed in his pockets, Liam felt sorry for himself. He apologised when he promptly tripped over another person. He helped right the girl who had almost toppled over and apologised. She unashamedly checked him out and said it was okay.

"Are you the real Liam Murphy?" she asked in awe.

"The one and only," he replied.

"Wow," she said. "I'd heard you lived here but I've never seen you before."

She puffed her chest out a little and extended her hand.

"I'm Poppie," she told him.


"Charlie, I was hoping you'd stay late tonight," Angelo said, hovering in the doorway as he watched her hurriedly pack up her stuff.

"No way," she said without even thinking about it.

"Charlie, this is important," he insisted.

She shook her head and slung her bag on her shoulder.

"I'm partying tonight and nothing is going to stop me."

Joey had told her about her lack of date for her own school formal so she had arranged for them, plus Watson and Monica to go clubbing. It had been a long time since Charlie had let her hair down and dance the night away. And it would be the first time she would have ventured into a gay club and she was a mix of excitement and nerves.

"But..." Angelo protested.

"But nothing," she said firmly, striding past him and waving at Watson who was also packing up. "Meet you at the bar at seven?"

"You bet!" Watson replied cheerfully.


"You know, if you'd have stayed at school we could have gone to formal," Ruby complained.

She and Geoff were at Ruby's house, hanging out on the sofa together.

"Sorry!" Geoff laughed. "And besides, we'll go when it's your turn."

Ruby grinned.

"You think we'll be together in a couple of years?" she asked hopefully.

"Well, I hope so," he smiled back.

Leaning in, he kissed her but pulled abruptly away when he heard someone clear their throat behind them. It was Charlie. Geoff leapt to his feet in panic and began to explain that it wasn't what it looked like. Both Ruby and Charlie laughed.

"Geoff, chill," Charlie said. "I think I can just about accept that you kiss my daughter."

Geoff turned bright red. Ruby laughed harder.

"Is Joey home yet?" Charlie asked.

"She just got in. I think she'd gone for a shower."

"Ooh, goodie!" Charlie said.

Ignoring Ruby's protestations of too much information, she skipped off to the bathroom to see if she could catch Joey while she was still undressed.


At home, Aden finished getting ready to take his new boss's daughter, Catie to the formal. He didn't want to go. Last year, even though it had turned into a disaster, he had attended with Belle and until the car crash, it had been wonderful. They'd laughed, they'd danced, they'd been in love. And now Belle was gone. Just thinking about it broke his heart.


"Okay, we're really going to be late!" Joey squeaked.

Hauling them both off the bed, she and Charlie quickly began to finish getting ready for their night out. They had, of course, got a little carried away. More than once.

"I'm sure Watson and Monica will understand," Charlie said, sitting at her dressing table in order to start applying her make up.

"Yeah," Joey said, stepping up behind her.

Absently, she reached for a hair brush and began to run it gently through Charlie's hair. Charlie smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying the gesture. When Joey was done, Charlie turned and captured her lips in a kiss. Immediately, things became more heated. Moaning a little, Charlie fumbled with the buttons of the shirt Joey had only just put on. Joey pulled away, looking stern.

"We really have to go!" she said.


The party was already in full swing by the time Aden and Catie arrived. Aden immediately spotted Nicole and Miles dancing together. Miles looked happier than anyone had seen him for a long time and Aden hoped that things would get better for the teacher from now on.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"Oh, look at you all suited and booted!" Nicole remarked.

Catie linked arms with him and leant on his shoulder.

"I'm pretty lucky, hey?" she said.


Watson and Monica were already half way through their drinks by the time Charlie and Joey arrived, apologising profusely for being late.

"It was her fault," they stated in unison before sitting down.

"I'm not even going to ask!" Watson laughed, knowing full well that Charlie had left work half an hour before she had.

"Best not," Charlie smirked. "Shall I get us some drinks?"

Everyone placed their orders. Charlie stood up and then froze, having just remembered that they were in a gay bar. She blanched as she surveyed all the same sex couples around them.

"They won't bite, Charlie," Joey teased. "And if they do, they'll have me to deal with!"

She grinned, giving Charlie the confidence to go up to the bar as she'd originally intended.


Despite himself, Aden was having a lot of fun. Catie was more of a laugh than he'd expected, although she seemed to think it was some kind of proper date or something. But she was nice and got along with Nicole so it meant that Aden could hang out with his friend too.

"I'm just going to the bathroom," Catie told him, tugging on his arm.

"Okay," he said.

She leant in close.

"You could escort me if you wanted to."

Aden's eyes widened in horror. He shook his head. A little put out, she stomped off to the ladies. A slow song came on. Miles hurried away, trying not to think too much of Kirsty. Nicole stepped up in front of Aden.

"Dance?" she asked.

A little hesitantly, he agreed.


Charlie, Joey, Watson and Monica were laughing loudly at their table.

"I've never been so embarrassed in all my life!" Monica admitted, having revealed that she'd once been caught in bed with her girlfriend by her mother.

"Don't worry," Charlie said with a smirk. "It happens to the best of us."

"Okay, who caught you two?"

"Ruby usually," Joey laughed.

"Usually?" Monica asked in shock.

"We've got inappropriately carried away a handful of times," Charlie mumbled shyly into her wine glass.

"Witness me shocked!" Watson commented sarcastically.


Leah stepped up beside Miles and took a seat, placing her hand gently on his back.

"How are you holding up?" she asked.

He shrugged.

"I'm doing better," he said. "But every day's painful."

"Yeah," Leah sighed. "But I know it will get better."

"Will it?" he asked.

"It has to. For both of us."

They hugged.


Across the room, Aden was surprised to find himself captivated by Nicole's eyes. His heart pounded at how beautiful she looked. Suddenly, he was struck by memories of dancing in this very room, just like this with Belle. He broke abruptly away and fled.


A little tipsy, Charlie, Joey, Watson and Monica had found their way to a club and were merrily dancing the night away. Charlie was feeling less startled by girls making out with girls and guys doing the same thing with each other. It was odd to see this as the norm and to feel part of a different kind of community. Turning, she pulled Joey into her arms, grateful to the woman who had opened her heart and her mind.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," she said.


"Where's Aden?" Catie asked Nicole when she returned from the bathroom.

"He... left," Nicole said, still bemused.

She expected the girl to get annoyed. Instead, she spotted an attractive guy from their year and approached him.

"Hey," said a male voice over the music.

Nicole turned in surprise to see Liam standing there, all dressed up and ready to play the part of an attentive boyfriend.


Geoff kissed Ruby goodbye. They'd hoped that they might make love for the first time tonight but it hadn't worked out. Geoff had been particularly paranoid about Charlie and Joey coming home early and catching them at it. Then he had got paranoid that the cop would beat him up and throw him out in his underwear or something. That hadn't quite set the right mood and then Ruby had started feeling a little unwell so they had just watched television instead.


It was well past midnight before Charlie and Joey stumbled out of the taxi and in through the kitchen door. Without so much as bothering to turn the lights on, they kissed their way the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them. Moving to cover Joey's body with her own, Charlie ran her fingers through her hair.

"Did you enjoy your formal at last?" she whispered.

"Definitely," Joey smiled. "Thank you."


Next time... Aden tells Charlie and Joey about what happened at the formal, Suzy returns and Martha finds an engagement ring in Hugo's bag...