AN: hi guys im new to this site, but ive been writing this story, and thought i would share it. i hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think or if theres anything i should change, and if you want me to carry on posting. thanks.

Lauren stood watching the scene in front of her, people in mourning, a family without a loved one. She didn't want to be here but she couldn't just leave. She had told her mum she probably wouldn't be able to make it, but something in her mind made her go. She carried on watching as the coffin was lowered into the ground, tears ran down her cheeks as she whispered goodbye to her granddad Jim. She looked around at all the sad faces, recognising most of them. Her attention was caught when she spotted him. He had his back to her, but she could tell from the build and hair that it was most defiantly him. Joey. Her cousin. The love of her life. And the person she most feared seeing.

Joey was the reason she came today, but now she was this close to him she felt sick, she turned and saw her sister who caught her eye, abi walked over to where Lauren stood

"How are you?" Lauren asked

"Getting there, how about you?" abi asked back

"Yeah I'm ok. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you abs" Lauren sighed

"It's ok, I understand, you're here now" abi smiled

Both girls looked up when they heard their mother's voice; Tanya hugged Lauren tightly, thanking her for coming. The coffin had been placed in the grave and people were now heading to the reception.

"Do you want a lift with us love, or did you drive?" Tanya asked Lauren

"Actually mum I'm not coming" Lauren said, seeing the look of sadness in her mums eyes

"Lauren you've got to" Tanya pleaded

"I'm sorry mum I can't" Lauren replied

"Ok, well maybe come by the house this evening" Tanya smiled

"I will" Lauren smiled before hugging her mother and sister.

Lauren rushed to her car, fumbling in her bag for her keys,

"Lauren" she heard him call

"no" she replied sharply, she needed to get her emotions under control before she spoke to him, she found her keys and unlocked the door, she reached to open it when joeys hand closed over hers

"Aren't you even gonna say hello babe?" the smooth sound of joeys voice brought back every ounce of hurt and pain of the last 5 years

"Let go of me joey" she said her eyes still focusing on her car

"I don't wanna fight babe" joey whispered in her ear.

Lauren turned her head and glanced up at him, he was even more handsome than she had remembered. It wasn't fair, she looked straight into his deep brown eyes that melted her heart every time. He let go of her hand but his stare kept her pinned to the side of her car, as much as she wanted, she couldn't move.

"I've missed you" he told her

"Joey please" Lauren pleaded

"How's my son?" he asked

"Don't do this joey please" Lauren begged

"He's my son to Lauren, I have a right to know" joey declared

"You made it clear a long time ago that you wanted nothing to do with him, you've never even seen him" Lauren proclaimed. Lauren pulled the handle and opened the car door, she climbed in and was about the shut the door when joey stopped her

"I'm Leon's father, I have questions" joey told her, Lauren knew this would be the mistake of coming back, she knew joey would hassle her over their son, but she still held a lot of hatred for joey

"I'm sure you've got questions joey, but I don't have to answer them, especially not here and now" Lauren told him, she saw his jaw clench,

"Then where?" joey asked

"I don't know" Lauren said, she could feel her chest tightening; she just wanted to get away,

"Joey" Alice called to her brother "we're waiting for you"

"You better go" Lauren said, the words a whisper

"We still need to talk" joey smiled, before walking away.

Lauren slammed her door shut and flipped the switch, locking joey out of the car, her heart and her life. She started the engine and drove off.