Frozen in Time

[Sazzle]

This story and writing has had me hooked since the beginning and I love it!

I know you have said previously that you get very busy at times and I hope things are not too stressful but please update soon and could you please give us a hint of when that will be possible? : )

You have an AMAZING writing ability - LOVE it!! Thank you for sharing and looking forward to more!

[Claire_Blake]

Hey, I'm sorry to everyone that's reading and reviewing, I haven't ditched this story, I've just been really really busy with other stuff. I'll get another couple of updates written by the end of the week I promise. I'm pretty busy tomorrow but will get some posted by Friday. Thank you to all who are reading, it hasn't gone unnoticed or unappreciated. I'll make them extra long to make up for the recent silence.

Claire.

[Claire_Blake]

Thank you for your patience. Here goes...

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Ruby ran her fingers through her sopping wet hair pushing it back from her face. Picking her board up, she increased her pace as she walked out of the surf and towards Casey who was already on the beach and grinning in her direction. He gestured towards his wrist, beckoning towards the watch he wasn't wearing. She laughed, kicking the sand in his direction and jogging towards him before dropping down on the sand, theatrically, in a display of exhaustion.

“You’re losing your touch Buckton.”

She wrapped the towel round her shoulders and proceeded to take a large mouthful of a water bottle he passed in her direction. It had taken it out of her. Throwing the bottle at him in response to his statement she leaned back on the sand in an effort to regain her breath.

“Your brother’s are practically surfing legends.” Casey raised his eyebrow in mocking objection to the recognition of Heath’s response where he present right now. Ignoring his disbelieving look, Ruby laughed continuing nonetheless. “Charlie seems to have a nervous disposition when it even comes to the thought of going out for a surf…You’ve had more practice.” She grinned as he made a mocking gesture at her excuses before using the water bottle to rinse down his board.

“Talking of your mother…how is the convert?” Ruby frowned across at his words. Ever since the party a few weeks ago, combined with her current suspension, it was almost as if Charlie was a new woman. She’d eased up a lot. Not only had her mood increased on a day to day basis she’d become less controlling and judgemental. Gone were the days of her insistence that her daughter inform her of her every movement and itinerary. She no longer seemed to care. She’d resigned herself to the fact that waiting, bored at home, for Joyce to have an epiphany and reinstate her was likely to be a long time coming. She had spent the last few weeks occupying her time with frantically keeping busy. From helping Leah at the Diner if and when she was needed, assisting a friend of Morag’s with outstanding law case work and constantly arguing with Heath Braxton every time they set eyes on one another; Charlie hadn’t stopped. It had become a running joke between her boyfriend and his brother’s that the Charlie Buckton they knew had had a lobotomy.

Even Heath waving a lit joint in front of her face days earlier amidst the boys had not fazed her. After overhearing a conversation between Sam and Stu in the diner Brax hadn't been so forgiving. He'd hit the roof. Him and Heath were barely on speaking terms in the wake of his recent performance at the restaurant and, much to Heath’s continued annoyance, he flew off the handle every time he was privy to any of his attempts at goading Charlie. To the casual observer he was fine, normal and in the throngs of a glowing relationship with his new girlfriend. Charlie had long since given up on trying to avoid Angelo’s. It was futile. She’d bumped into him at the diner, the beach and the surf club. Steering clear of him for the rest of her life wasn’t a feasible option. They’d been forced to develop a friendly rapport. She treated him as she would any other resident of Summer Bay; friendly and hospitable. Brax did the same.

Heath, meanwhile, knew better. No amount of pleas for him to get a grip and reference to Jude’s continued presence in his life could alter his reaction to any negative reference his brother made to Charlie Buckton. It was always the same. He flew off the handle and he overreacted. Contrary to popular opinion he hated being around her. He would have found it easier for her to have disappeared than to deal with the two of them attempting the ‘friends’ approach to their relationship. He couldn’t hack it. Jude had called him up on his feelings towards her on a few occasions by now. In the wake of Heath’s routine weeks earlier he’d palmed it off on the basis of his guilt. Jude wasn’t needy. She was the complete opposite and, worse than all, she'd truly grown to like him. It was more than that, she had developed feelings for him. And one of the worst feelings in the world was knowing that, that didn't matter. His heart had never been up for grabs. It had belonged to someone else for a long time now. She hadn't pursued the subject but Brax had suspected that his words had fallen on deaf ears. She was as pleasant to Charlie as she was to Casey and every other person she knew through him. Doing otherwise, wouldn’t make the problem go away.

Ruby interrupted her thoughts and shook her head in recognition of Casey’s unanswered question. Taking his hand and letting him pull her up off the sand she regained a standing position and feigned a smile.

“Yeah she seems ok. She’s got a new job.”

Filling him in on the details she took her board from him and observed, absentmindedly, as he picked his own up.

“You’re not convinced?”

He stood in front of her observing her lack of sincerity. Ruby considered his question. Charlie seemed happy. Hell, she barely made any reference to what had happened at all. But, deep down, that was what worried her. Her new found good spirits and visible content didn’t sit well with her. On occasion she caught her staring absentmindedly in the kitchen or when they were having a conversation. This was without mentioning her mother’s tendency to still be awake at three o’clock in the morning. Even upon Charlie’s fabrication of having meant to go to bed, Ruby had heard her pottering about her room on more than one occasion, for hours afterwards. She shrugged her shoulders before glancing across at him in thoughtfulness. She hesitated watching as he beckoned in concern to her sudden silence.

“Ever get the feeling that you made a wrong decision Case? That despite thinking you were doing the right thing, you couldn’t have got it more wrong?”

“Hey…” He lifted her chin up affectionately in response to her upset. She smiled, palming off his concern before letting him take her board and pull her into a position under his arm. Kissing the top of her head gently and making their way back towards the surf club he nodded in acknowledgment of her question.

“All the time kid. All the time.”

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“Now this is what I like to see.”

Casey and Ruby smiled across in recognition of their current position, books strewn across a table in Angelo’s as Bianca took a seat down next to them.

“How’s it going?”

Ruby forced a smile as Casey grimaced throwing his pen down in mock defeat.

“Short of failing, I could scrape a pass.” He beckoned towards the table full of notes in front of him as Bianca hit him playfully on the arm in response to his pessimism.

“They don’t call it exams for nothing. It’s hard work.” She tapped on the book in recognition of his raised eyebrows. “Stick with it. You’ll do fine. Both Gina and I have complete faith in your…” She corrected herself in recognition of Ruby’s bemused presence opposite her. “…both of your abilities to ace this.” Ruffling Casey’s hair in recognition of his gratitude she surveyed the early evening bustle of the restaurant before turning her attention in the direction of the bar. Raising her eyebrow she beckoned in the direction of her eyesight. Ruby shook her head slightly, careful not to antagonise Casey, in recognition of her observation. Failing miserably she forced a smile as Casey turned in the direction of Jude’s position on a bar stool opposite his brother. Defensively he turned to Bianca’s position.

“She’s alright.”

He watched, silently amused, as Bianca held her hands up in recognition of not having said a word. Grinning he turned the page of the textbook in front of him and tuned out as Ruby and Bianca made small talk beside him.

“I hear Charlie got the consultancy job! When does she start?”

Ruby smiled in recognition of her enthusiasm, grateful for the change of subject. “A couple of weeks she said…It’s only temporary until the inquiry comes back but she seems pretty keen so I’m happy.” Bianca nodded in agreement as, distracted, she watched bemused as Charlie suddenly became apparent in the doorway of the restaurant. Surveying her surroundings, Bianca smiled, beckoning towards her friend as Charlie grinned and made her way towards their current position. Catching sight of her mother’s presence Ruby nervously glanced in Brax’s direction before moving up on the seat to make further room for her.

“Hey, I wondered where everyone was hiding.”

She motioned towards Bianca in front of her. “I just called at yours and Irene said you hadn’t been back yet.” Bianca frowned beckoning towards her formal attire. Charlie grinned in acknowledgement. “Hard day at the office?” Bianca shrugged her shoulders in acknowledgement. “No rest for the wicked.” Ruby, meanwhile, feigned a smile in her mother’s direction before returning her eyes to behind the bar. In recognition of Brax’s preoccupation with the direction of their table, Jude had now turned, glancing over at them before turning back in Brax’s direction. She could tell by her sudden stiff position on the stool and her decision to readjust her position to a more upright one that Jude was attempting to get his attention. Catching Ruby’s eye he averted it and focused upon his girlfriend in front of him nodding, enthusiastically, in recognition of whatever she was saying. Ruby turned back to Charlie’s attempts at asking her a question.

“Now I’m here I might as well get a drink...do you and Case want one? You must be due a break.” She smiled accordingly as Casey thanked her before throwing down his pen again eager for any excuse to close the textbook in front of him. Bianca took off her jacket in recognition of her agreement. Charlie picked her purse up off the table and watched, amusedly, as Bianca attempted to beat her to it.

“I’ll get them don’t worry.”

Glancing in the direction of the bar Charlie made eye contact with Brax. She averted her gaze, shooting Bianca a look of recognition before grinning and beckoning for her friend to sit back down again.

“I’m up. I’ll go.”

She stifled a laugh as her friend made a less than pleasant gesture towards their company. It didn’t go unnoticed by Ruby. Embarrassed somewhat, Bianca smiled before distracting herself with looking around the room absentmindedly. Ruby, meanwhile, watched hesitantly as Charlie took a position next to Jude at the bar and proceeded to engage in conversation with Brax. She only averted her gaze upon recognition of Casey’s attempts at asking her something.

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“Can I get a couple of drinks, please?”

Charlie smiled across in recognition of Jude’s presence as Brax smiled at her nodding in recognition of her order. Reaching for the fridge behind him, he beckoned to Ruby's position across the restaurant.

“I hear you got the job.”

Surprised by his awareness of her having an interview, not least that it had been a successful one, Charlie smiled in recognition of his statement. Turning slightly so as not to disclude Jude from the conversation she answered in the affirmative, “Yeah, head of operations for a Security firm…it’s only temp…” She stopped, hesitating in recognition of his awareness of what she was going to say. Smiling slightly in Jude’s direction she turned back to his presence in front of her. Sensing her unease he smiled at her in sincerity, nodding his head in respect to her want of not constantly reminding herself of why she needed to find a job in the first place. Averting her gaze from where he was now preoccupied with opening a new optics bottle in front of her, she turned hesitantly in Jude’s direction. Startled slightly, she averted her gaze from observing Brax and turned to face Charlie enthusiastically.

“So, when do you start?”

Put at ease by her sincere interest Charlie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know really. As soon as it takes for them to sort some paperwork out. A couple of weeks at the most?” Jude smiled in response to her. Under different circumstances, she imagined that Charlie would have been the sort of person she’d get on well with. Charlie shrugged her shoulders. “Besides, I’ve decided to do a bit of redecorating in the meantime. Have you ever tried to manoeuvre a seven foot chest of drawers out of a five foot door frame?” Charlie laughed and Jude grinned in recognition of the problem it posed. Their conversation was interrupted by Brax who placed her drinks down on the bar in front of her.

“If you need any help…”

He hesitated, clearly aware of Jude’s gaze fixed upon him right now. Charlie, meanwhile, had attempted to ignore the implication and set about repositioning a stool in order to reach the drinks on the bar. Unnerved by the silence that ensued and, even more uncomfortable, by his offer she smiled across at him gratefully before shaking her head. “I can manage…don’t worry about it.” He remained focused upon her as he smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders in acceptance of her ability.

“I know you can. The offer’s there anyway.”

Averting her gaze from him and turning in Jude’s direction she forced a smile as she observed his girlfriend’s preoccupation with watching his focus upon her. Uncomfortable with the atmosphere she’d stumbled into Charlie grabbed her purse from the bar and proceeded to open it. Brax pushed the drinks towards her slightly and spoke as she held the money out to him.

“They’re on the house.”

Charlie hesitated. Turning in recognition of her momentary glance in Jude’s direction he wached as she shrugged her shoulders before smiling at him gratefully and picked up the glasses. Sensing that the gesture could be construed otherwise and fearful of pandering to Jude’s ever paranoid eye he interjected quickly motioning towards his younger brother’s position.

“They’ve been working all day. Least I can do is shout them a freebie.”

Charlie smiled in recognition, thanking him before smiling appreciatively in his girlfriend’s direction. Brax watched as she made her way back towards the table, placing the drinks down before smiling and engaging in enthusiastic conversation with Bianca opposite her. Turning his full attention back in Jude’s direction he smiled at her as she observed him thoughtfully.

“Fancy going out for something to eat later? There’s that new Italian up the coast you were reading about?”

She feigned a smile and nodded in recognition as he moved up the bar slightly and turned his attention to a waiter who appeared next to him. Turning in the direction of the table behind her she watched as the woman laughed sincerely with her friend, Casey and younger daughter. It wasn't hard to see what he saw in her. 'Pretty' didn't quite suffice when used in reference to this woman. She was so beautiful. Even worse was that she was nice. However much she wanted to dislike her, she couldn't bring herself to. Averting her gaze she took a sip of her glass before turning in Brax's direction. She watched forlornly as, unaware that he was being watched, he proceeded to stand in front of the waiter from seconds earlier. Despite Darryl nodding his head it was apparent to anyone watching that the waiter might as well have been invisible. He wasn't listening. The only thing he could see was Charlie Buckton.

[cb2180]

Great chapter! Feel sorry for all of them, really awkward! Looking forward to the next update!!

[Dingo x]

Great chapter! Looking forward to more.xx

[soph1303]

Great update,

Hmm Charlie seems to be coping with things too well. I can't see her composure being able to last forever.

Haha I loved all the awkwardness of that chapter !! I think its funny that Charlie and Jude want to hate each other but can't because they're both nice people.

Aww I want Chax to get back together, but I still felt sorry for Jude in that update!

More soon please

[Inactive User]

Great chapter Update soon xx

[mft]

Great chapter. Interesting relationships between all the characters. Can't wait to read more.

[Sazzle]

Thank you!! Well worth the wait! Relationships, characters and description continues to be fab!

Really great chapter - looking forward to more when you have the time.

Thanks and really great writing : )

[Samantha28]

Amazing chapters! They're absolutely brilliant!

Looking forward to more!