DISCLAIMER: The characters herein are used without permission. No infringement intended.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, so I don't really actually watch Home and Away, but I was on YouTube browsing other videos when I came across the Charlie Joey Love Story, and got engrossed, and watched the whole thing. I literally lost my whole evening. Anyway I was so taken with the story I decided to write my own. As I say I don't really watch the show, so I have no idea what has happened since – well I know Joey didn't come back, and I know Charlie got hit by Brett's car, and possibly died later on at some point. But needless to say my story won't be following the reality of the show – because I really have no idea what that is!! Sooooo let me know what you think.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
FEEDBACK: To debrafitzakerley[at]yahoo.co.uk
One More Chance
By EdenAshley
Part 3
Joey's mind wakes up before the rest of her body. Instantly she can feel the booming reverberating around her skull. She is most definitely hung-over. Then she remembers Aden almost kissing her, and her almost letting him, then Charlie appeared. Oh God.
She opens her eyes slowly, not knowing exactly what kind of assault the natural light from the sun was going to have on them. It turns out the sunshine was the last of her worries.
She apprehensively opens one eye, and is startled to see Lily stood at the end of her bed smirking.
"Ah JC, you've finally decided to join the land of the living."
"Why are you shouting?" She isn't shouting, but Joey's brain is in such a fragile state she feels like she is.
Lily chuckles. "Come on grumpy, the best thing you can do to shake off that hang over is to join me for a run."
"Absolutely not." The thought is making Joey want to hurl.
"Hey it wasn't optional. Up you get. I'll shout you breakfast at the diner. Come on."
Lily throws Joey's running clothes at her while she's still in bed and exits the room. Joey decides that getting up is probably better than laying in bed all day feeling sorry for herself, although she is extremely tempted by the latter.
Around thirty minutes later, Joey is really wishing she had stayed in bed. The two of them decided to run down the beach to the diner, and the sun is sweltering, Joey is dying. She has to stop; she keels over hands on hips and dry heaves. Lily is finding this all far too amusing.
"Come on JC we're gunna sweat that hang over right out of you."
The laughter in Lily's voice spurs Joey on, she's not so much running now, more chasing after Lily. She doesn't catch her before they get to the diner. Lily is triumphant, and shows as much with a victory dance. Joey can't help but laugh.
"Woo hoo, see I told you the run would sort you right out. There's a reason I'm a nurse you know."
She hugs Joey as she's speak and continues to drape herself on her, it's weird how comfortable they both are with each other. They really have become great friends in the short space of time they've known each other.
"I must admit, I do feel a lot better than I did this morning. I'm sure I'll feel even better after this mega breakfast you're going to buy me."
Joey wiggles her eyebrows as she speaks.
"I don't recall promising you a 'mega' breakfast. . ."
Before they have a chance to continue down this particular playful road, they are interrupted.
Charlie had popped into the diner for a coffee before work, she had watched Joey and this mystery woman enter laughing and joking, she doesn't really know how to feel about how comfortable they seem with physical contact. For the second time in less than 24 hours Charlie feels insanely jealous. It's not a feeling she's used to, and certainly not one that she enjoys. Once again, she decides to make her presence felt.
"Good morning Joey." Joey and Lily instantly look up, Joey again feels a little awkward at the situation Charlie has caught her in, the pain on her face is obvious. To be fair to her Lily instantly realises that this must be 'Charlie' the police uniform, pretty much gives that away, and she removes herself from Joey.
"Charlie hey. This is Lily."
Charlie calms slightly. She knows from what Ruby was telling her, that this is the daughter of Joey's boss.
"Lily, this is Charlie." Joey finishes her introduction.
"So you're the famous Charlie. Nice to finally meet you. She never stops talking about you." She says the last part dead pan, earning her a smack on the arm from Joey, who has turned the colour of a tomato. Charlie can't help but smile, the jealousy from earlier has melted away.
Lily satisfied with her work, decides to leave them to it. "Right, it was lovely to finally meet you Charlie. Joey ill go grab us a table, and order you the works."
Lily heads towards the counter. Joey watches her leave and then turns her attention back to Charlie.
"Morning."
"Morning, how are you feeling?" Charlie smiles as Joey grimaces.
"Not as bad as I probably should be, after the state I was in last night. I'm sorry about last night by the way."
"You don't have to apologise to me for anything Joey." Joey just smiles, not really sure how to take Charlie's comment. Charlie continues.
"I would really like us to talk."
As much as Joey is dreading it, she knows they need to sort everything out, see how the land lies, and see if there's any hope for the two of them. "I'd like that too."
Charlie is relieved to say the least. "How about you come over for dinner tonight. I know Ruby invited you already, and Leah and VJ would love to see you, we could talk afterwards. . ."
Charlie is rambling now, obviously worried about what Joey's response will be. Joey thinks she looks adorable. She grabs out and touches her arm, which makes Charlie immediately cease her ramble.
"Tonight sounds great."
Charlie actually feel's elation. "Great." And relief. "Come over around six?"
"Yeah that's fine. I'll seeya later."
Charlie nods and heads out of the diner, feeling a lot happier than she had ten minutes ago. Joey finds Lily and joins her at the table; she can't help the smile that's plastered all over her face. Lily is delighted, great teasing material.
"Joey's in loooooooooooooove."
Joey rolls her eyes at her friend. "Shut up."
"I notice you didn't deny anything Miss Collins." She decides to leave the banter there for now. "I ordered you a 'mega' breakfast."
"Now that is what I like to hear."
Lily had left the diner already; she had to get ready for her shift at the hospital. Joey stayed behind and chatted to Leah, they didn't have a chance to catch up properly, the diner was rammed, but made a promise to do that later over dinner.
Joey decided to head home and have a little afternoon nap in preparation for tonight, she meanders along the beach. She's starting to feel really good about coming back; it seems she really has been missed. She had no idea she had made such an impression on so many people.
"Joey Collins?" She looks up sharply as she has no idea who the voice belongs to. She's none the wiser when she sees the figure coming towards her.
"Yes?"
"So you are Joey Collins then?" He had seen her and Charlie together earlier at the diner and he assumed as much from the way they were acting with each other.
She nods to confirm. "And you are?"
"Angelo Rossetta."
"Oh." Well this is awkward. Joey scans their current location and becomes very aware that there is no one else around. Deciding that no good can come of the two of them talking she continues on her journey.
"Hey, don't you walk away from me."
Joey ignores him, and continues to walk away from him. Angelo gets more and more irate, when she doesn't stop, he grabs her arm abruptly and spins her to face him. The action was quite violent, and it scares her, thoughts of Robbo flood her mind, she struggles to get away from Angelo, but he holds firm.
"What do you want?" Even Joey can hear the panic in her own voice.
"I want you to stay away from Charlie."
"I thought you two broke up?" Joey really hopes Charlie hasn't been lying to her again.
"We did. But like most of our breakups it's temporary." He sounds more like he's trying to convince himself.
"That's not what I've heard." Joey instantly regrets her cockiness, when his anger reaches a next level.
"Well that's only because you've come along to try and throw a spanner in the works." He tightens his grip on her arm, causing Joey to struggle a little more against him.
"I think Charlie's old enough to make her own decisions."
She finally manages to work her way free from his clutches, but such is the struggle she falls with the force. Unfortunately instead of the sand she's hoping to fall against, it appears in their struggle they have made it towards the edge of the beach, and she smacks herself fully against a wooden fence. Face first.
Angelo panics when he hears the yelp from Joey as she hits the fence, he immediately tries to help her up, but she recoils at the contact.
"Just leave me alone." It's practically a scream; Angelo is flustered, and does as she asks. He runs off in the opposite direction.
Satisfied that he's gone, Joey decides to assess the damage, she touches her eye, she can feel it swelling already. Great how's she supposed to explain away a huge shiner?