Its a shame Joey's dad didn't overhear the conversation between Joey and Romeo, I think then maybe he would have seen the error of his ways and that Charlie hadn't acted inappropriately. And Ross should not call himself a father, there is no way on earth I would ever let him speak to my daughter that way if I was Elsie, I'd have thrown him out on his ear until he, like Joey's father, saw the error of his ways. I just hope Charlie manages to start again and Joey escapes the controlling clutches of her father now.

Poor Charlie she really has hit rock bottom. Will Joey be able to find her?

Ross is an arsehole and I can't believe her mother sat there and said nothing! Yay for Ruby :0) I can see Ruby running away from home and I can see her going to see Mr Collins and telling him what for! Then she will track down Charlie. I hope Joey does what Romeo has asked her to do and confront her father or maybe talk with her mother. The parents in this fic really suck! Dominate dickhead fathers and cowering weak mothers! Also Joey's parents have shown how much they really care about with neither comforting her for the trauma that she went through. So I think both Charlie and Joey are better off without their parents!

How very sad this chapter was, poor Charlie is a lost soul going back out into the world with no job and no Joey. So much for parental loyality.

It has to start improving for Charlie soon. Great work IJKS. Thane3

Ross is horrible, I can't believe he chucked Charlie out without listening to her. I hope that somehow she gets to see Ruby and that she can settle down somewhere. I'm glad that Romeo suceeding in getting through to Joey. Hopefully wherever Charlie ends up Joey can still find her. Mr Collins has the chance to prove he is not like Ross and hear Joey out...

Excellent chapter. I'm so pleased Romeo didn't give up on trying to talk Joey round to having a go at escaping their lives as they currently are and trying to carry on the plan about making it to university and getting away from needing to have a guard. It's nice he wants to do it with her too. Poor Charlie, as Joey pointed out, she seems to be getting punished for something she didn't actually do. I can't believe Ross' attitude and behaviour towards her. She hasn't let anyone down, let alone him, as he never appreciated her in the first place anyway. It was nice to see Ruby trying to fight her corner even if she didn't get very far it will still mean something to Charlie. Very intrigued as to where she will go now. Fantastic writing.

Romeo seems like a guardian angel of sorts, a means to escaping the trapped life in which they both live.
I like that he has thought of a way out for both of them. Charlie is going to muster some serious strength to face her father. I hope Joey can get it contact with Charlie and Ruby, if every mobile number is disconnected it will be a challenge but there are other ways like online so heres hoping they can still reach each other.

Well this story has a couple of twists I was not expecting. Obviously, I missed it in the earlier chapters but I do not remember Romeo having issues as well. Anyway, for the most part he is a nice guy and if he can he will help Joey.

Very proud of Ruby for sticking close to Charlie and doing nothing but love her. Ruby being sneaky willing to help Charlie get a message to Joey was spot on. Yea for Ruby for what she was willing to do.

Now to the next issue, having had many occasions in having to face my father over the many years, with most of them never being very good or pleasant - I have the upmost compassion for Charlie, and yes I would be exactly like Charlie willing to avoid him like the plague. I did exactly that avoided my father for the better part of 2 years. I should of been stronger and forced myself to go out on my own, even if it meant poverty. However, I did not for not good reasons, and since 1988 I have been paying for a legacy of bad decisions on my part. So yes I will be reading how Charlie deals with facing her father with much interest.

Very well done IJKS. One of the best things I ever done was to write you almost now 2years ago directly, after the first reading of your work on-line. Since then it has been a nice friendship. You really are too good to be true sometimes. Joey is your alter ego I still believe. Many of the things that Joey does or say I can honestly imagine that IJKS would say in real life. Thank you for being there for me. One hug. Thane3

Amazing story well done

I'm glad Ruby was there for Charlie it was so sweet :0) I hope Ruby does get in contact with Joey to let her know that Charlie really misses her and loves her ;0) Also I'm glad Romeo has gain some sense and is going to get away from the group he hanged with :0) Also it is nice that Joey has someone to talk with even though she does have Leah if she would open up and let her in.

Great chapter. I'm so pleased Charlie and Joey both had someone fighting their corner. Ruby was so sweet and was exactly what Charlie needed. I'm glad Romeo has stepped up too and look forward to reading more about him and Joey and their plans.

I am glad that Romeo came to visit Joey and that he wants to be a proper friend to Joey. With Romeo and Ruby on board I am positive that somehow Charlie and Joey will be reunited before university! Ruby is so great and I love how she just comforted Charlie and was there when she wanted to talk. I hope that Ross is not too hard on Charlie. Will Mr Collins hire a new bodyguard for Joey, I wonder?

Yay for Ruby and Romeo. Ruby is mature beyond her years and its aweome how she's completely there for her big sister. And Romeo seems like he's a genuine friend for Joey and his plan sounds fantastic. Make a future for themselves, one they control, not one thats controlled by others. He's right because their destiny should only be in their hands. Heartbreakingly good chapter.

I think Joey's father has to realise Joey's grown up so much under Charlie's charge and she'll be 18 soon, nothing to stop her following her heart then. Seems to me he just wants to keep her under his control. He should never have forced her to change so much in the first place, she was a good girl, but his fears about her turning like Brett forced her down that path anyway. I just hope Charlie's own dad isn't too harsh on her, he certainly hasn't been quiet in his past criticism of her. And who is the visitor Joey receives? As ever cannot wait for more IJKS.

Excellent chapter. I felt so sorry for both Charlie and Joey. I could see why Charlie couldn't lie to Joey's parents but I could see why Joey wished she had. I wish Mr Collins could have been a little more understanding, I think if he doesn't start trying to be he might just end up losing Joey forever anyway. I thought you wrote that chapter brilliantly and you could really feel both of their anguish. It is going to be so difficult for them both now they have been separated and I can't wait to see who the visitor is.