Frozen in Time

[Freakie42]

Waiting for the next chapter

[Shezza]

I miss this story I really hope you can update soon

[Jen1205]

I joined the forum just to comment on this story, I absolutely love it and you are a brilliant writer. Please update again soon.

[Claire_Blake]

Hey everyone, so sorry for the delayed responses in updating. I've been really busy and have suffered from a bout of writer's block. I tried to make the chapter a bit longer than normal in light of my silence of late. Hope you enjoy.

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Jude reached across the table for her glass of wine as she leaned back in her chair forlornly. Despite it being early evening and usually the busiest time for a restaurant the place was pretty dead. A waiter waltzed over leisurely and dropped a couple of menus down on their table before skulking away tiredly. Taking a sip of red wine from the glass in front of her she surveyed her surroundings absentmindedly. The words ‘metropolis of the young and fashionable’ now seemed a hazy memory. Had she really read that? Clearly the review had been a little bit off the mark. Quiet and empty seemed more appropriate, boring and awkward seemed spot on. Placing her glass down carefully, she watched as Brax leaned back scanning the menu lazily. Catching her watchful gaze he forced a smile before turning back to his current pre-occupation. Gone were the days of small talk.

Despite her insistence that the place was quite upper class and therefore probably required a smarter attire she’d frowned when he’d picked her up in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. That was after having arrived half an hour late with an air of bourbon about him. Having attempted to question him on how much he’d already had to drink he’d merely shrugged his shoulders and asked whether they were going or not. Apparently, formal attire wasn’t his forte. Neither was being told what to do.

Sitting there in a knee-length black dress and red lipstick teamed with curled hair tumbling elegantly over her shoulders she now felt more than a little ridiculous. Their appearance screamed ‘too much’ and ‘too little’. She’d made an effort whereas he’d viewed effort as dragged himself away from the bar and his whiskey. Glancing at the clock at the far end of the restaurant she contemplated how long it’d be before they were back home. Failing that, she’d settle for how long it’d take him to speak.

The half an hour drive out of town had been awkward in itself. He’d sensed her unease after the afternoon’s run in with Charlie and putting her mind at ease wasn’t a trait he could clearly be bothered with right now. Instead they’d opted to sit in pretty much stony silence for fifteen minutes before she’d grown bored and irritable and questioned him as to whether he’d spoken to Heath yet.

That had been her first mistake. His reply hadn’t exactly been favourable. She knew Heath was an idiot and nor did she care to be seen in the habit of defending him. On the contrary the question had merely been a favour to Casey. He’d grown tired of the atmosphere that had resulted ever since their previous encounter at Angelo’s and had bemoaned the fact that his brother’s always fell out. But never for this long. At the mention of his name, she had watched as he physically tensed up. Having spent ten minutes growling at how Heath had pushed him too far and he’s defended him too many times before she gave up trying. He ‘no longer wanted to talk about it’ seemed a favourable response of late and she’d let the silence resume.

“Anything you fancy?”

Jude fingered the menu nonchalantly as she glanced across at him. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the table as she turned the page over in front of her. Pointing at a choice and smiling across at him in recognition she set about filling up her glass from the bottle in front of her. If she was going to sit here for another hour with him she might as well do it slightly tipsy. Besides, he was already half-cut and having already driven them here he had no qualms about breaking the drink drive limit. Normally she would have argued and refused to get in the car with him but having already endured an awkward afternoon she’d hoped the evening would fare significantly better.

Almost on queue she watched, mortified, as he clicked his fingers at the waiter beckoning him back towards their table. Niceties were off tonight’s agenda as well then. Smiling at the young boy sympathetically she ordered her meal and surveyed him as he sloped off to refill Brax’s glass before making an impolite gesture towards their table upon reaching the bar. She didn’t blame him.

Placing her glass down slowly she readjusted her position in the seat and frowned at Brax’s preoccupation with his phone. “Can you put that away, please.”

Startled slightly by her forcefulness he replaced his phone in his pocket before apologising. Sensing her less than impressed appearance and her annoyance since this afternoon he made an extra effort to thank the waiter as he replaced the bourbon down in front of him before scuttling away from the Jekyll and Hyde customer. Resisting the temptation to start necking this glass as he had the previous two he smiled across at her sincerely.

“You look lovely by the way. Where’s my manners eh?”

She allowed herself a slight smile in his direction in response to his recognition of her appearance. This was the Daryll she liked. The caring, thoughtful, nice guy that she’d met a couple of months earlier. The guy who, despite clearly being in a pretty bad place at the time had made an effort with her and seemed like a relatively decent guy. Allowing herself to loosen up a little she went with the change of tone as he turned the attention to her and what she’d been up to since she’d left hours earlier. Just like that, this man could put all her worries at ease. All he had to do was force a smile and she’d forget his previous behaviour and rudeness.

She laughed as he relayed an incident with one of the boys failing spectacularly at attracting Bianca Scott’s attention in the restaurant and how Casey was on the verge of murdering the next person who asked him how his revision was going. Momentarily gone were the concerns that had rattled through her head for the past couple of weeks. To the casual observer they were a young couple who enjoyed spending time with one another. Nothing more, nothing less. Refilling her glass she ignored her head's ability to recognise the sudden lack of interest had recently coincided with his ex’s reappearance in his life. Apparently the out of sight, out of mind philosophy was as true a practice as it had ever been. And however much she tried to convince herself that this wasn’t the case, it was proven every time that woman walked into the same room as him. She could tell by his eyes. He only wanted her.

Reaching for her glass once again she pushed her concerns to the back of her mind as the waiter returned and they set about devouring their starters.

The conversation flowed more freely as they emptied two bottles of wine between them. Brax, now, sat waiting for her as she made a trip to the ladies room. Taking his phone out of his pocket he glanced at the screen as his mind directed him towards his contacts menu. Scrolling down to her name he lingered on it before typing out a message absentmindedly. He was drunk. Quickly regaining his senses as Jude’s arrival back at the table brought him back to reality he laughed lightly as she slumped into him and he steadied her as she pulled him up from his seat. Letting his phone drop down to the floor he allowed her to crush her mouth against his as he held on to her waist. Pulling away from him after a few seconds he forced a smile as she placed her hands on his waist seductively.

“Are we taking this party back to yours then?”

Allowing the amount of alcohol he’s consumed to guide his judgement he grinned at her before opening his wallet, placing some money on the table before letting her guide him out of the restaurant to where they’d parked. Watching the scene unfold the same waiter from earlier let them leave before begrudgingly moving over to where they had been sitting. Surveying the amount of glasses on the table and the mess it was in he scowled watching out of the window as the couple kissed up against a black UTE.

Irritated by the man’s previously rude demeanour and bad mood he cursed as, without thinking he knocked a glass on to the floor and it smashed around his feet. Bending down to pick the shards up he placed them on top of a plate before reaching across and picking up the phone that had fallen to the floor. Standing up and quickly stepping forward towards the entrance he grimaced as the car slowly pulled away. Sighing he glanced at the screen and read the unsent message. ‘It's only you Charlie. I need to see you.’ Looking back in the direction of where the car had been and remembering the pair’s drunken and irritating behaviour he hesitated dubiously as he let his finger hover over the green button. Charlie wasn’t his girlfriend. The boy had already heard the gentleman call his companion by a different name. Sighing nonchalantly and not caring for the consequences of his actions he smiled slightly as he gave in and pressed the send button. Having sent the message he placed the phone in his pocket and set about clearing the table.

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“Jesus, Ruby how many times can you watch this film?”

Charlie frowned as she took up a place on the sofa next to her daughter watching It’s Complicated. Admittedly Meryl Streep was a marvellous actress but there was only so many times you could laugh at the same jokes without a few months of a break. Ruby stuck her tongue out at the question and lifted the blanket up so as to allow it to envelope her mother as well. Charlie smiled snuggling up next to her before offering her a bar of chocolate that she was currently in the process of devouring herself. Taking it without hesitation, Ruby broke off a piece before shoving the contents of it into her mouth. Reaching for the glass of wine she’d placed on the living room table in front of her Charlie took a large mouthful, washing down the contents of her mouth.

“I’ve missed this.”

She stroked her daughter’s hair as Ruby resisted the temptation to mock her for her sentimentality before smiling across at her sincerely in agreement. Playing on her mother’s emotional moment she used it as an excuse to grab the glass from her hand and take a large mouthful herself. Frowning slightly, Charlie laughed as Ruby handed it back to her, a large grin on her face.

“What?”

Taking the glass back from her Charlie hit her playfully on the arm before returning it down in front of her.

“I’ve been working non-stop all day. I need a little light release.”

She watched as her mother grinned at her words and threw some more chocolate at her. Stimulants worked better than alcohol in Charlie’s eyes. Settling her head back on the armrest, Ruby smiled to herself as she continued to watch the film opposite them.

After about twenty minutes Charlie grew uncomfortable with sitting in the same position for a prolonged period of time and turned her attentions to her daughter as she repositioned herself on the couch. “So, what’s the revision plan for tomorrow? You know you can revise here with Casey. Even if Leah and I aren’t here. I don’t want you to feel as if you can only use the restaurant.’ Ruby continued to stare at the TV in front of her absentmindedly oblivious to Charlie’s watchful gaze.

“What?”

Recognising that she hadn’t been listening to a word she had said Charlie threw a cushion at her playfully. “Tomorrow…revision..Angelo’s?” she asked.

Grinning as she placed the cushion down next to them, Ruby turned her attention away from the film as she shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah probably. I know it’s a restaurant but we get quite a lot of work done there…” Charlie observed, amused, as Ruby continued to talk whilst turning her attentions back to the end of the film amidst breaking off another piece of chocolate. “Plus, Brax keeps us fully stocked up of free food so…”

Swallowing the contents of her mouth and turning to face her in recognition of her lack of response Ruby shrugged her shoulders at Charlie’s non-committal response. Reaching for her hand and rubbing it slightly Charlie thrust some more food into her own mouth before speaking as she chewed.

“Rubes, I don’t mind cooking you and Case lunch either you know.”

Opening her mouth in order to make a joke about her famous inability to cook anything, Ruby sensed her mother’s hurt expression. Shaking her head and reaching for her hand in recognition Ruby couldn’t help but laugh at her.

“Ohh Charlie I know you will. Me and Case know that we can come here anytime we want to.”

Comforted by her words, Ruby watched as Charlie allowed herself to smile and eased up a bit. Sensing that this had more to do with Brax’s constant presence there than the restaurant itself she brushed off her concerns eagerly. “It has nothing to do with it being the restaurant. We just get too comfortable here.” Passing Charlie her glass of wine Ruby continued in jest towards the TV.

“Easy access to too many distractions. That’s all.”

Placated by her words, Charlie patted her hand encouragingly as she took a large mouthful of her wine, smiled at her daughter and directed her attentions back towards the film. After a few minutes she became aware of Ruby’s preoccupation with watching her as she turned to face her in a bemused manner. Ruby shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her warmly.

“What you said about the work…” She signalled with her head to their conversation minutes earlier as Charlie set about refilling her -now-empty- glass and listened and observed her. “Is it because her and Brax were there today?”

Uncomfortable by the direction of the conversation, Charlie attempted to palm off her daughter’s concerns by waving her hand in opposition and turning back towards the TV. “Charlie?”

Ignoring Ruby’s attempt to attract her attention and aware of how she still continued to focus upon her out of the corner of her eye Charlie reached for her glass again. Bringing the liquid to her lips she turned to face Ruby’s glances and smiled at her encouragingly.

“No Rubes, it has nothing to do with that.”

Not convinced by her objection, Ruby stretched across the table and grabbed the remote, pausing the television to Charlie’s slight annoyance. Turning back to face her now that there were no distractions, she carried on regardless of her mother’s inability to look her in the eye.

“Because I can see the way he looks at you Charlie.”

Irritated, Charlie ran her fingers through her hair forcefully before turning towards her. “Ruby, I don’t want to have this…” Interrupting her, Ruby shrugged her shoulders in recognition of her inability to open up about this.

“I’ve watched him Charlie. I’ve watched him when you walk into a room and you don’t even know he’s there. He just stands there and watches you and watches you for minutes on end.”

Ruby continued as Charlie stared at her. She listening silently as her daughter carried on regardless of her inability to reply. Wiping what she was desperately trying to stop herself from doing, away from her eyes she watched her carefully.

“I’ve watched him struggle to take his eyes off you when she’s sitting right next to him and it’s like nobody else is in the room Charlie.” Ruby continued as Charlie finally gave up on trying to hide her upset and tears cascaded freely down her cheeks.

“He loves you Charlie. Only you. And I hate him for what happened and everything he did Charlie but it breaks my heart to watch him like that. Because he doesn’t want to be with her...”

Reaching for her hand, Ruby’s voice faltered and she signalled in recognition of Charlie’s appearance in front of her now. “And I know it breaks your heart to see him with her and…”

Charlie wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater as she turned in Ruby’s direction and forced a slight smile in response to Ruby's attempt to take hold of her hand.

“Ruby…” Charlie paused contemplating what it was she was going to say. She couldn’t deny that everything she had said was correct. Her appearance and response to Ruby’s words had given her daughter all the confirmation she needed. Her voice faltered as she continued nonetheless and she placed her other hand on top of Ruby's.

“Things change Rubes and…Brax has moved on. He didn’t even come…”

Feeling sick and unable to lie to her anymore after having sat and observed her for weeks on end Ruby pulled her hand away. Charlie observed the action and looked up confused by her daughter's sudden coldness.

“He did come.”

Ruby’s voice wavered as Charlie pulled her hand back from where she had been trying to reclaim her daughter's. She stared at her inquisitively.

“He came the night of the party.” Speaking quickly as Charlie shifted uncomfortably next to her Ruby’s voice finally broke as she watched tears silently fall down her mother’s cheeks.

“He was so upset…He couldn’t even speak Charlie. All he wanted was to see you and I…I turned him away.”

[Claire_Blake]

‘What?’

Charlie’s voice faltered as she glanced across at Ruby’s position in front of her. Tears fell from her daughter’s eyes as she brushed them away quickly and leant forward pleading with her.

“Charlie…I thought I was doing the right thing. I swear I did.’

She observed her mother as, confused, she shook her head desperately trying to think as she pulled her hand away from her daughter’s embrace. Hurt at the gesture, Ruby’s tears escalated at her coldness.

“After everything’s that’s happened, you seemed happier and I didn’t want him to just come back in here and hurt you again.’

Her voice wavered as, instinctively, it rose in attempts to get Charlie to listen to what she was saying. She, meanwhile, sat there with her head in her hands as she rubbed at her temple anxiously. She couldn’t think. She needed to think. Hearing her daughter’s upset in front of her she lifted her head after a few seconds and turned to face her. Her daughter was sitting in front of her upset and she physically couldn’t bring herself to comfort her. She opened her mouth to speak before hesitating and pawing at her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

“Why Ruby?”

Ruby leaned forward clasping her mother’s hands in hers as she urged her desperately to listen and believe what she was saying. Charlie’s welfare was all she had ever been considerate of and having watched her fall apart after last time he had hurt her, she couldn’t have let it happen again. Raising her voice slightly in recognition of her inability to realise this, she answered her sharply.

“He was drunk Charlie. He was completely paralytic and you were having so much fun and I…I wasn’t going to let him in and upset you again.’

Squeezing her hands she pleaded with her as Charlie sat staring at her vacantly. Shaking her head, she racked her brains as she struggled to recall the whole conversation that had unfolded between them. “He kept on saying that he just wanted to speak to you but I knew you’d lose it if you saw him in that state. Charlie, I told him to leave you alone but he just kept on saying that…’

Ruby paused, upset, as she watched her mother’s hands leave her own as she wiped away the tears that were falling from her face. It had taken her weeks to resign herself to the fact that he just moved on and that was it. Having to deal with the fact that watching him with her had made her feel physically sick but that, it was ok, because it was what he wanted. The fact that he had never come to explain. That he had just left her like that after everything that had happened. Her mind wandered as Ruby watched her before she gazed at her fixedly.

“He kept on saying what?”

Ruby’s heart broke as she watched her mother like this in front of her. Even now she knew that by telling her all this it was reverting Charlie back to square one. Having convinced herself so desperately of one thing she was now being forced to accept that the truth was another. She just couldn’t do it anymore. She had taken the decision out of Charlie’s hands and it was never her decision to make. Only one person could do that. Gulping back at the implication of her question Ruby faltered unable to continue. Looking across at Charlie’s demeanour she knew that she didn’t have a choice. If she knew everything then the ball was in her court. She could either choose to ignore it or act upon her feelings. But it was her decision. Pushing her hair back from her face, she wiped the tears away from her eyes and continued nonetheless.

“He said that he couldn’t…’

She watched as Charlie’s eyes closed at the one thing she hadn’t wanted to hear.

“He said that he couldn’t stay away from you.”

Ruby watched quietly as Charlie sat in front of her. She hadn’t moved. She just sat there and stared at her lap. Brushing the tears away from her face she exhaled before standing up abruptly. Pushing her hair back from her face she left the couch before making her way to the kitchen. Alarmed by her sudden abrupt movements Ruby called after her anxiously before jumping up and following her quickly.

“Charlie, please.”

Ignoring her daughter’s upset Charlie grabbed a jacket from the peg next to the door before grabbing her phone off the sideboard and making her way towards the door. Sensing her intention Ruby grabbed her arm before standing in front of the door blocking her exit. Impatiently Charlie stood in front of her urging her to move out of her way.

“Charlie, please. Where are you going?”

Recognising that her daughter wasn’t going to relinquish her position without being forcefully removed, something she had never done, Charlie pushed her hair back before answering her honestly.

“I can’t think Ruby. I need some air.”

Remaining in the same position, she looked up at the hurt on her mother’s face. It wasn’t about her. Even in her current emotional state she knew, given time, that Charlie would recognise that she had never meant to hurt her. It was about him. Whenever she felt as if she had sussed him out, Darryl Braxton did something that turned her feelings on their head. Against her better opinion, Ruby acknowledged this and slowly stepped out of her mother’s way. Nodding in recognition of her daughter’s decision to let her go Charlie opened the door and walked out of the house. Hesitating as a cold bolt of air sifted through the house, Ruby attempted to regain her composure and she closed the door and leaned against it thoughtfully.

Having failed to grab her car keys from the house in her hurry to leave Charlie had settled for the beach. Sitting down on the sand amidst the pitch black and whistling of the waves in front of her she rubbed at her head impatiently. The cold air and wind allowed her to breathe more steadily and she thrust her hands into her coat pockets as she slowly regained her composure.

What was she supposed to think? She didn’t know. If somebody had been sitting here in front of her right now she would have asked them to make the decision for her. Everything that had happened of late had well and truly taken its toll on her. Even before the shooting she had had enough of him. His attitude and inability to see her point of view or the hurt he was causing her had driven her away from him. She had resigned herself to that. That he had proven himself to be everything everyone had claimed him to be. That defending his brother’s actions and his criminal lifestyle would always come before her. That should have been enough. But seeing him now with her had hurt her. He’d seemed to turn his life round of late. Gone were the days of his eagerness for a fight and determination to self-destruct. Why should she have that when she never could? Everything Jude had now was what she had wanted. And she wanted him. Despite trying to convince herself of anything but, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything.

Digging her boots further into the sand she replayed in her mind everything that Ruby had said. The night of the party. She exhaled as everything started to fall into place in her mind. He had bombarded her with messages and calls that night. Begging her to answer her phone and she had just turned it off and pretended it wasn’t happening. It made sense that he would show up. Subtlety had never been one of his strong points. And what Ruby had said had been true. She turned her phone off because she was having a good time. For the first time in weeks she had allowed herself to relax and he was ruining that. If she had answered the door herself and witnessed him in that state she would have probably done exactly the same. Slammed it in his face and told him to leave her alone. That she didn’t care anymore. But time hadn’t proven itself to be the miracle cure she had hoped it was. She couldn’t get him out of her head regardless of how hard she had tried. Ruby had hit the nail on the head earlier, every time she saw him with her he did break her heart.

Guiding her thoughts momentarily to the back of her head she pushed her hair back from her face and reached inside of her pocket towards her phone. She could tell by the bluish hue to the evening that it was late but, having sat absentmindedly with Ruby for hours, she had no idea what the actual time was. Grasping for her phone she pulled up the collar on her jacket in order to retain some warmth as she stared at the screen. The time became irrelevant. Staring down at the message in front of her she contemplated deleting it straight away. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to read it. He had done this too many times before. But a part of her needed to know how he felt. Ruby had resurfaced feelings in her mind that she had tried so hard to ignore. Against her better judgement she opened the message and stared at it slowly. Turning her phone off and placing it back within her pocket she gulped back what had become all too familiar this evening and closed her eyes. Sitting, frozen to the spot for what seemed like hours she finally gave up. Thrusting her hands back in to her pockets, the cold air stung her face as she slowly stood up and walked away from the beach.

[totally]

This was so bloody amazing. I loved it. So much emotion, from both. Really, really well done. It was definitely worth the wait. I hope you continue. And I really hope that Jude is not with Brax when Charlie goes to him, asuming she goes to see him.

Thank you for this! I loved it and I can't wait to read more.

[luscious01]

OMG....i cant believe you updated & it was sooo good but please update soon i dont think my wee heart can cope with a long wait....even though i know she is going to see him drunkenly going home with jude !!!

[LMM]

Thanks so much for updating!! i love this fic sooo much...please update again soon!

[Claire_Blake]

The last two parts and this part were all part of the same chapter but I've split them up for want of giving everyone a break whilst reading. Otherwise it looked really, really long. Anyway, thank you all for your patience and I hope these three at least partially make up for the massive gap inbetween posts of late. I'm made up that you're all enjoying it. I love writing it. After this one I'll get a new chapter up either tomorrow or wednesday. When it rains it pours hey. Thanks again.

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Casey threw himself down on the couch and passed Heath a beer as they sat in front of the TV. Signalling to the noise that was coming from their elder brother’s bedroom Heath readjusted the volume on the rugby whilst opening the can.

“I feel sick.”

Ignoring him Casey raised his eyebrows at the implication and turned to watch the game. Brax and Jude had arrived back half an hour earlier and had disappeared off to his room as quickly as they’d arrived. Both were pretty drunk and Casey had glanced out of the window to see whether Brax had driven in that state. Observing the haphazard parking of the car on the driveway his fears had been confirmed. What was he? Two, maybe, three times over the limit. He was a ****ing idiot. Arguing over it now with him was pretty futile. He was paralytic, Heath would tell him to pipe down and all he’d get was a mouthful.

Listening now to the giggling coming from his bedroom he sympathised with his brother’s complaints. It was slightly nauseating. Not least because, unlike Heath, Casey didn’t buy it. Brax was only interested in Jude because Charlie wouldn’t give him the time of day. He had never been one to wait for someone to come to him. As far as his brother’s mentality extended, he was there if Charlie wanted him. If not, he wasn’t about to wait around for her. As crude as it sounded Jude allowed him to fill the gap with getting his leg over. Thinking about his brother’s girlfriend, Casey sighed. He felt sorry for her. She was a nice girl. Retreating back to the restaurant fiasco when Heath had solidified his reputation as a first class bastard, Casey couldn’t help but question Jude’s mentality. Nobody could be that stupid surely. She seemed like an intelligent girl yet seemed incapable of seeing what was so blindingly obvious to everyone else. Brax’s affections had never been up for grabs.

Watching, disgusted, as Heath managed to throw back a whole can in the space of five minutes Casey punched him in the arm as his older brother burped in his face and signalled for him to pass him another one. Despite Brax and Heath having been part and parcel of a fair share of dodgy deals in their time he still found it hard to believe how different his elder brothers actually were. Heath was in a league of his own. Throwing the can at him, Casey looked at his watch. It was past eleven. He couldn’t call on Ruby now even if he wanted to. Besides, she’d already said she had a date with the DVD player and that was his usual signal to steer well clear. There were only so many times he could watch Matthew McConaughey without wanting to throttle the guy. Picking up a magazine from a pile strewn across the table, he sifted through Heath’s collection of soft pornography before settling on one that seemed tolerable in comparison. He didn’t particularly care for cars but anything had to be better than watching their team get hammered when it should have been a pretty safe bet.

Flicking through the magazine absentmindedly, Casey’s attentions were diverted to the sound of knocking on their front door. Glaring across at Heath’s unwillingness to prize himself away from his position on the couch he got up begrudgingly at his brother’s signal for him to answer the door. Walking towards it in annoyance Casey undid the lock before reaching for the handle. Upon seeing Charlie Buckton stood in front of him wrapped up warmly he inwardly cursed before frowning at her presence in what he hoped was translated into more like surprise. Observing her appearance he noticed the lack of makeup round her eyes and her rouged complexion. Had she been crying?

Sensing his recognition of her somewhat questionably appearance Charlie forced a smile at him before rubbing her eyes quickly and glancing at Heath, can in hand, shouting aimlessly at the television in front of him. Turning her attention back towards Casey she took her hands out of her pockets nervously.

“Charlie. Hey…Ruby isn’t here if you’re looking for her? I was pretty sure she was at yours tonight.”

Casey watched as Charlie pushed her hair back from her face as he clutched at straws. Even saying the words out loud he knew how futile it was. They both knew full well that Ruby was at home tonight. She wasn’t here to look for her daughter. Cursing inwardly, Casey leaned his arm across the door in an effort to block Heath’s observation of her presence. He’d have a field day.

“No I know. Is Brax in?”

She faltered as she spoke and Casey grimaced as Heath shouted, questioning who it was. Trying to ignore him Charlie’s eyes were directed towards Casey’s glance across at his brother’s car parked inches away from them. She already knew he was here. Forcing a smile in her direction he cursed out loud as Heath shouted him from the living room. Glancing across at her apologetically he moved his arm and watched as Heath leaned back on the couch observing the visitor that was allowing cold air to seep through the house. Upon catching sight of Charlie, Heath made no effort to disguise the grin from developing across his face. Interjecting before he had any opportunity to cause any trouble, Casey turned to face her ignoring his brother’s pleas for Charlie to come in. Heath continued to shout from the living room as he waited for him to finish.

“Take a seat and wait Buckton. He probably won’t be much longer.”

Turning back to Charlie, Casey leant his arm against the doorframe again before answering the question that had remained, so far, unanswered.

“Yeah…look Charlie…now isn’t really a great…”

Casey’s words were interrupted and he closed his eyes at the sound of Heath’s wolf-whistling. Hearing the sound of a door open behind him, Casey leaned back against the door as what he had been trying so hard to avoid her seeing materialised now in front of them. Jude made her way into the living room wearing nothing but a towel. Casey closed his eyes cursing outwardly as Charlie’s gaze was drawn towards Heath. It suddenly becoming all too obvious what he had meant by Brax being nearly finished. She watched as the girl walked towards the kitchen as, as if on queue, Brax followed her and wrapped his arms round Jude’s waist seductively. Heath, meanwhile, entertained by the spectacle, revelled in what had yet to become clear to their recent arrivals. In comparison, Casey watched silently as Charlie stared across at the couple’s position only feet away from her. She looked broken.

Coughing loudly so as to ensure everybody had his fall attention, Heath turned towards where Charlie was still staring across at Brax.

“Bloody awful timing Buckton.”

Startled by Heath’s words, Brax and Jude turned around absentmindedly in the direction of Heath’s signals. Thinking that this was another one of Heath’s attempts at humour, Brax let his arms remain around Jude’s waist as he turned in the direction of the doorway. Casey watched as he froze upon making eye contact with her. Not caring for his girlfriend’s feelings he let go of her almost instinctively and stepped away from her. Jude, meanwhile, wrapped the towel round herself more tightly before looking from Charlie to Brax. Snapping out of his trance, Brax cursed as he looked down towards his appearance. His inability to grab anything other than his boxer shorts upon leaving the room left little to the imagination. Staring across at the look on her face he felt as if his insides had been cut in two as he observed how she must be feeling right now. It didn't matter that they weren't together anymore. There was shoving something in someone’s face and then there was this. He felt sick. Stepping towards her suddenly his instinct kicked in and he made his way towards her quickly.

“Charlie…”

Walking towards her he didn’t exactly know what he was going to say. Apologise? He didn’t get the opportunity. She merely stared at him before glancing at Casey and exiting the premises as quickly as her legs would carry her. Stopping at the sight of the now vacant position in front of him Brax held his head in his hands before turning his attention towards Casey angrily.

“What the hell are you playing at Case?”

Angry at himself beyond feasible recognition he punched the wall furiously. Heath, meanwhile, diverted his eyes from his brothers’ screaming match and turned his attention to where Brax had seemingly forgotten about his girlfriend. Her gaze was fixed firmly on his elder brother and she observed sadly as he screamed at Casey for having allowed that to just happen. Interrupting Casey’s attempts to direct Brax towards the consequence of his own actions, Jude focused her speech in the direction of where Charlie had just stood.

“Go after her.”

Casey stopped shouting at her words and watched as Brax turned to face her in light of the interruption. Standing there and watching him, she shrugged her shoulders complacently in final recognition of what she’d been telling herself for weeks now. The alcohol had taken its toll upon her brain, admittedly, but that didn’t mean she was stupid. She liked him. God, she really liked him but this…this she couldn’t deal with anymore. This woman was in love with him. Worse was her acceptance of the fact that he was so obviously in love with her. Aside from their own inability to recognise this, she was standing in between that.

“Jude…”

He paused as she held up her hand for him to stop. There was no point anymore. She didn’t expect him to say anything.

“Just go after her Brax.”

Hesitating, she watched him as he stood still and for the first time in a long time she felt as if she finally had his full attention. Part of her hoped beyond all reason that he would remain in that position and prove her wrong. Even now an inch of her held out in the hope that everything she had witnessed had been a figment of her own imagination. But she knew it hadn’t. Struggling to retain her composure she watched as, fixing his eyes upon her with a gaze that she knew was his only way of apologising. he ran into his room and searched desperately for his discarded clothing.

Ignoring the silence that had now developed in the living room she walked into the kitchen and turned on the tap, opened the cupboard and reached for a glass from within it. Putting the glass to her lips she remained with her back to the rest of the room. Only after she had heard the front door slam shut and the sound of his feet pounding away from them did she make her way back into his room to collect her belongings.

[luscious01]

OMG what an update........please please please update soon to let us know what happens when he catches up with her!!

i know im always on to ask for updates but its only because the story is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good xxxx