Howdy Doody all!
I started writing this about 3 weeks ago, haven't written much of it, but I wanted to post it up
and see what people thought of it and if it would be worth continuing (when I can!)
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I was a bit worried about posting up another story as I still have two other stories on here that I've not yet finished,
but, that hasn't stopped me! haha.
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And I know there is another story on here that has 'Second Chance' in the title,
but this whole story started when I was listening to 'Second Chance' by the amazing Shinedown,
So, I couldn't change the title as it fits perfectly with how I want the out come of this story to turn out =).
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Anyway, enjoy and I will update it whenever I can...
I've almost finished chapter two..it's just a matter of how I want to end the chapter! haha.
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MissToastie.
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Chapter One :
My eyes are open wide, and by the way, I made it through the day
I watched the world outside; by the way, I'm leaving out today.
"God damn it, RUBY!" Charlie lifted her head up and groaned; today was the fifth day in a row that Ruby had blasted the same damn song through the house. Charlie swung her legs out of bed and moved the empty beer bottles from in front of the clock so she could read the time. "Seven thirty? Aargh!" Charlie got up and opened her door to see her sixteen year old sister sat on the couch screaming lyrics; not that you could hear her over the voice of Brent Smith blaring through the speakers. Charlie rolled her eyes and marched over to the stereo player and switched it off.
"Tell my mooooother, tell my faaaaaather!" Ruby screeched loudly; she was so caught up in the song that she hadn't realised the music had stopped.
"I am so over waking up to this stupid song blaring in the morning Ruby. Today was my first day off in ages and you play loud music at seven thirty in the morning!" Charlie snapped at her little sister.
"Whoa, chill out sis, I'm sorry, I actually didn't know it was your day off and I assumed that you had gone to work"
"Well you assumed wrong, didn't you?!" Charlie moved back toward her bedroom door. "And can you please clean up your mess, just because Leah is away doesn't mean you can treat the house like a tip" Charlie ordered her younger sibling before closing the door.
Ruby rolled her eyes and started to tidy the house to avoid fighting with Charlie.
---
Wanna be with me; let me show you, that I love you. Oh-yeah
Wanna be with me, you'll be stronger, I will hold you if you wanna be with me.
The sound of a mobile ringing surrounded Charlie's bedroom. She fumbled for the phone on the table next to the bed.
"Hello?" Charlie mumbled in to the phone when she finally found and answered it.
"Charlie, its Watson" the voice on the other end of the phone spoke. "Sorry to phone you on your day off, but we are really short staffed and need you to come in, it's only Rosetta, Andrews, Mason and myself and we are really flat out"
Charlie sighed and rolled over so she was laying flat on her back. "Is there no one else you can call in? This is the first day off I've had in ages!"
"I know, but we called around and no one else is available to come in"
"Fine, I'll be there in fifteen" Charlie hung up the phone and placed it back on the bedside table, glancing at the clock as she did. "Nine o'clock." Charlie said angrily as she got out of bed and headed for the shower.
---
Charlie arrived at the station 45 minutes later; she didn't care that she was later than what she said she would be; it was supposed to be her day off so she wasn't in any rush to get to the station.
Angelo spun around in his chair as he heard someone entering the station. "You took your time"
"Can it Angelo, where is everyone else?" Charlie asked as she noticed they were the only two in the station.
"Mason and Watson are attending a disturbance in Flight Street and Andrews is out on patrol"
"And you're doing what?" Charlie asked her colleague.
"I was just doing a thorough rego check on a car involved in a hit and run this morning" Angelo stood up and walked over to the printer.
"Where abouts did this happen?"
"Higgins Avenue, a teenage boy was knocked down; he has a broken leg and a cut on his head. Rach is keeping him in for observation as he complained of dizziness and blurred vision, but he should be alright. Other than that, we've had a report of a burg, a fight at the high school and some equipment stolen from the gym" Angelo finished filling Charlie in and grabbed the pieces of paper fresh from the printer.
"So much for a small quiet town" Charlie mumbled and walked in to her office, placing her bag and jacket down. "So what are you up to now?" Charlie asked as she walked back in to the station.
"I am going to go interview the guys' car that was stolen and then having my lunch break. I'm meeting up with May and asking her where she wants to go for our honeymoon" Angelo grinned.
Charlie smiled, she was happy to see how happy Angelo was, after things had settled down between the two of them and Angelo had come clean to May about sleeping with Charlie, he realised how much he liked May and that he was falling in love with her, six months later they were engaged.
"What are your ideas?" Charlie asked as she grabbed the pieces of paper from Angelo's hand. "Bora Bora, Italy and Madagascar! Wow, why aren't I marrying you?" Charlie joked.
"Because, as much of a lovely girl you are Charlie, you are no match for my May and also, you're into the ladies now!" Angelo winked as he grabbed the papers back from Charlie and began to walk out the door. "I'll let you know where she decides to go" Angelo grinned as he left the station.
Charlie looked around the station and realised it was going to be a long boring day.
---
Angelo entered The Diner at twelve on the dot and saw Ruby sitting at one of the computers.
"Looking up porn?" Angelo asked as he sat down next to Ruby.
"Ha ha, very funny wise guy. No, I'm facebooking; giving Charlie the house to herself so she can sleep" Ruby sighed.
"Err; Charlie got called in to work."
"You're kidding right? Oh great; she will be even grumpier tonight!" Ruby sighed even louder than she had before.
"She has been a bit grumpy, hasn't she?" Angelo felt sorry for the young Buckton; Charlie had been going to work grumpy and was at times, rather miserable to be around. It was like walking on egg shells around her some days.
"She is becoming horrible to live with, I know that being dumped like she was is pretty gut wrenching, but she doesn't need to make everyone else miserable. I actually hate being there at times." Ruby looked at Angelo and frowned.
"Stacey hurt her pretty badly, didn't she?"
"Would you be hurt if you had fallen for a girl, dated her for a few months and then she announces that she is going back to her ex?"
Angelo nodded and looked up at the door and saw his fiancé walk in the door, he started grinning and stood up to greet her.
"Sorry I'm late! I was in the staff room marking some assignments and I didn't hear the bell ring because I had my iPod on and I was carried away in my own little world until Martin came in, scaring me half to death when he tapped me on the back and told me it was lunch time, so I packed up all my things and walked out in to the hall way and bumped in to Mrs Croft and I spilt coffee all over her and I helped her clean up her mess and now I owe her a coffee, oh Angelo please don't let me forget to get her another coffee, flat, white, no sugars" May spoke fastly as she approached her fiancé.
Ruby looked at Angelo and laughed silently to herself, he looked like he didn't catch one word May had said.
"I'm sorry, I'm doing it again aren't I?" May placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head. "I really need to calm down!"
"It's okay Puppy, I understood what you said, and men just can't grasp a thousand words spoken to them at the one time" Ruby laughed.
"Thank you Ruby" May smiled at the young girl. "You will have to fill me in on this puppy business next time we bump in to each other" May smiled and pulled Angelo with her, he smiled and followed May's lead.
Ruby laughed and turned her head back to the computer screen. She didn't know how May would take to being referred to as 'Puppy', it had been a nickname that stuck when Charlie and Ruby had played a game of "Two words to describe people"; Ruby had asked Charlie what two words came to her mind when she thought of May, "Excitable Puppy" slipped out of Charlies mouth, and the pair had called her Puppy ever since.
---
"Yabbie Creek police station, Acting Sergeant Charlie Buckton speaking" Charlie spoke as she answered the phone, it had been the eighth time it had rang since she had arrived, the town was certainly alive today. "Mr Turner can you please calm down and start again" Charlie grabbed her pen and paper and listened carefully. "Someone graffitied your car? Okay, I will send someone there as soon as possible" Charlie wrote his details down on a piece of paper. "I'm sorry Sir, but we are very busy and short staff..." Charlie was cut off. "I can't come myself Mr Turner as I am holding the fort here at the station." Charlie rubbed her brow. "Yes, I can see how it would be an inconvenience for you Sir, but I'm sorry at the moment there isn't a thing I can do." Charlie sighed as she heard the phone line go dead, she placed the phone on the hook and walked over to the radio.
"Main station to portable 365" Charlie spoke in to the radio.
"Portable 365 go ahead Charlie" Watson's voice came from the radio.
"How's the situation on your last?" Charlie asked.
"Finally settled. Neither party want to pursue the problem any further" Watson responded.
"Good. I was hoping you could respond to another graffiti job in Thomas Lane?"
"Affirmative" Watson replied.
"Thanks Watson. Main station back on channel" Charlie switched the radio back and walked over to the main desk.
"Excuse me"
Charlie looked up and saw a young girl walking in the station.
"Yes, may I help you?" Charlie asked the young girl as she stood in front of the main desk.
"I am here to report a theft" The girl placed her hands on the desk.
"Okay, what's your name?" Charlie asked as she grabbed a clip board.
"Samantha Truscott"
"Okay and the theft?"
"Thirty grand"
Charlie looked up at the girl. "Thirty grand? How and when was it stolen?"
"I woke up this morning, my back door was wide open, I checked my safe and the money was gone. I know who took it"
"Okay, come through and I'll get a statement from you"
Charlie led Samantha in to the interview room.
"Why did you have thirty grand at your house?" Charlie asked as they were both seated.
"I don't trust banks, I hate them" Samantha crossed her arms on the table.
"Fair enough. What is your address?"
"36 Bait Street, Mangrove River"
"And you said you know who stole the money?"
"You're damn right I do, my bitch of an ex girlfriend stole it from me" Samantha raised her voice.
"Name?"
"Joey Collins"