Joey's POV

A warm, tingling feeling ran through me as the past few days' events flashed through my head. I felt so peaceful, like no one could burst this newfound bubble of happiness.

I went to move my leg, but it was stuck. What? I tried again. Why couldn't I move? I tried shifting my whole body but failed. Panic-stricken, I snapped my eyes open. it took me a few seconds for the realisation of what had happened to hit me...

Turning my head as much as I could, I gasped as I saw Lauren next to me, her head cut open. I felt light-headed and my heart was beating ten to the dozen.

When I had finally managed to free myself, I rushed to help Lauren. Although she was breathing, it wasn't very frequent and I knew I had to be quick. I unstrapped her seatbelt quite easily and then tried to make a walkway for me to carry her out of the smashed up shop. Pushing the shelves and rubble out of the way with force, I heard a phone. It wasn't mine because I would have heard it as it was in my pocket so it must have been Lauren's. I ran to the car, grabbed Lauren's phone from her left pocket and answered...
'Abs, it's me Joey, look me and Lauren, we've been in an accident we need help.
Just get us an ambulance yeah? I rambled on. I gave her the address and put the phone down.

10 minutes later, when I had managed to clear enough space to walk, I smelt burning, and I knew we had a matter of minutes to get out.

As the fire had spread nearly over the whole shop, I carried Lauren to the opening, feeling like I was going to be sick. Where was the ambulance? Just as I was about ring Abi again, I heard a siren. I covered Lauren's face briefly from the smoke as I coughed continuously. I was having trouble breathing and I just wanted to get out of here.

2 hours, an ambulance and a police statement later, I was stepping into Lauren's hospital room, checking on her. Her face was pale and her whole body looked as if it could snap any second she was that fragile. I just wanted to help her but I couldn't and I felt worthless. In a way I was glad Lauren was 'sleeping' because it meant she didn't have to feel any pain her broken ribs would have caused her, but on the other hand I just wanted to hear her voice. I stroked her face gently and tucked some hair behind her ear, whispering to her that everything would be ok.

Half an hour later Max, Tanya, Alice and Derek were at the hospital, and I really wasn't looking forward to confronting them, so I didn't. I waited for them to come to me. First it was Max: Pushing and shoving me, he shouted in my face asking what I thought I was doing, driving at that time with his daughter, thats all I really caught of what he was saying because I had just switched off. I didn't care anymore. I just wanted more than anything for Lauren to be okay again.

Eventually Derek approached me and asked me why I was out that late, in his car, with his niece. That was the only time he referred to her as his niece, just because it would sound better. It was pathetic, he was pathetic. This wasn't how our spontaneous 'run away' was meant to end so I hadn't thought about what I would say to Derek about taking his car. I just mumbled something about borrowing it to go for a drive with Lauren because we were bored. I wasn't prepared for what he was about to throw at me.
'Really, a drive...because you were bored'? Derek raised his eyebrow.
'Yeah' I replied.
Derek chuckled as if he knew something.
'You can't fool me, son. I saw you kissing. in the car lot. ring any bells?'
My heart sunk. He did know something.
'I don't know what you're on about now Derek, but I'm not interested' I said, about to walk off. Derek stopped me, holding me back with his hand.
'Oh I think you do. You know, your cousin, the one that you could have just killed. The one you went with in my car coz' you were bored'? Derek questioned, looking me directly in the eye. I froze. I didn't know what to say, but I knew that there was no getting out of this one...

I really hope you enjoyed this!

I am fairly new to this site and this is my first story on my own, however I have helped jacquelinejossafan with her last story...be sure to check her stories out!

Please review and let me know your thougths!

Next chapter will be up Wednesday and my twitter is Lauren_and_Joey

Thankyou! XX