Vicious circles part one
Carol walked out of the house needing to escape it's confines, it was getting to much, all she seemed to notice was the concern and odd looks. Bianca was acting strangely now she knew about the cancer and David, despite what he'd said about doing what she wanted, was irritating her to no end.
Taking a step outside she let the door shut softly behind her and prayed she wouldn't be followed out. The house was like charring Cross this morning, everyone under the sun had been round. It had just been one of those days. The house currently had Whitney, Lauren and Johnny occupying it's living room. Liam, Cindy, TJ with the younger kids in the bedrooms and Bianca and Kat in the kitchen, Chaos was a bit of an understatement.
Carol took in a deep breath, closing her eyes and counting to ten… opening them again she released the breath, looking around the square, throwing a quick hello at Sharon as she walked by.
"Carol?" she snapped her head up, seeing Lola and Peter standing in front of her with Lexi
"You alright, loves?" she questioned, forcing a smile onto her face
"We couldn't put this in your bin, could we?" she asked, holding up a Coca Cola can "it's just exploded in the bag"
"Yeah, course" she replied, taking the can from her. Thanking her, they walked off, Peter pushing Lexi's pushchair, Lola's arm entwined with his. At least some good things still existed in spite of all evil. Turning to the side of her, she was about to drop the can into the bin when she spotted something, something someone had obviously tried to hide. She pulled the wrapped box out of the bin and sighed heavily. Someone was pregnant, and who, she was making it her mission to find out…
*L*L*
"Come on then, Lauren, who's got your attention?" Whitney teased, she and Johnny having got a little drunk
"No-one" she replied a little too quickly, her face flushing red as a beetroot
"Ah, is Lauren Branning in loveeeeeee?" Whitney questioned, laughing loudly as Johnny hit her arm gently. He could see Lauren's unease…
"Stop it, you're embarrassing her" he sighed
"I like you" she laughed "we'll get on well"
"He is gay, y'know?" Whitney inquired
"Erm no, not looking for anyone thank you, Whitney Dean. No offence, Johnny" she informed her best friend. He held his hands up, not minding their banter. It was nice to have friends now he was here. Things were still hostile at home
"Ha, I knew it, you are seeing someone" Whitney proclaimed
Lauren remained silent for a while, debating whether she should tell them or not. After all, no one actually knew, apart from her Dad, but he thought it was over but it wasn't. She was supposed to be meeting him later tonight actually…
"Fine, I'm seeing someone" she admitted, taking a sharp breath as Whitney hugged her "let me breathe, Whit"
"Sorry, I'm just so happy for you. You've got someone, after well, y'know" she replied
Lauren nodded her head, really not needing to be reminded about Joey. On a good day, she only thought about him ten or fifteen times. On a bad day, well…
"So come on, tell us about him" Whitney probed
"He's great. He's a little older than us and I really like him" she informed them
"Are you in love with him?" Johnny questioned
"I have fun with him?" she asked hesitantly, almost offering an answer "he's fun and we get on really well. He's like my addiction"
Whitney and Johnny exchanged a look, one of concern, possibly. Lauren couldn't be too sure…
"Well at least it's not alcohol" Whitney whispered, placing the glass she was holding onto the table. She'd suddenly realised how stupid she'd been drinking so recklessly around Lauren "God, Lauren, sorry, we're insensitive idiots, aren't we?"
Lauren chuckled and shook her head, "Don't be silly. If you two want to drink you can. It's me who made the bad choices, not you"
Before any of them could speak the front door slammed shut, the tell-tale yell of Carole's voice shouting for Bianca. Carol had done a disappearing act half way through the day and was only just returning, Whitney having no idea why.
"Bianca, Whitney! Kitchen Now !" Lauren and Johnny were quickly on their feet ready to go. "now!" Carol's voice shrilled through the house.
"good luck" Lauren said sarcastically, having learnt over the years Carol could have a temper when she wanted one. The memories of her being dragged by her through the gardens, was still pretty fresh in her mind.
"you pair out now!" carol insisted nudging them from the lounge.
"We were just going" Johnny informed her, grabbing his and Lauren's coats from the hook, holding hers out for her so she could slip her arms into it. Mumbling good luck to her, they left the house.
*L*L*
"What's this all about, Carol?" Whitney asked as the three ladies made their way into the kitchen
"ye better be good Mum, me and Tel were just going out"
"This, this is what it's about" Carol proclaimed, slamming the positive pregnancy test down on the table. "well who's is it then ?"
"we're supposed to know about this?" Bianca inquired, raising an eyebrow at her Mum "It ain't mine"
"it's not ?" she asked, feeling slightly defeated that she'd fallen at the first hurdle.
"No, I'm not pregnant" Bianca informed her "and you're not, are you, Whit?"
"No" she replied shaking her head "my last time was with, well, you know who and yeah, well…"
"Oh" Carol sighed "you best not be lying to me" she pointed between them. "who's the hell could it be then"
Whitney and Bianca shrugged their shoulders, but there was a slight look in Whitney's eye. Did she know?
*L*L*
Across the square things were an entirely different story, completely oblivious to the mystery been uncovered at number 31. Lauren quickly ran across the square, having double checked her path, making sure it was clear, there was something about the whole "naughtiness" of it that made her thrill even more. She gently tapped on the front door, hearing the footsteps quickly approach.
"I didn't think you were coming" Jake admitted as he opened the front door, almost dragging Lauren from the step.
"I did say it'd be later on" she replied "I was spending some time with my mates"
"What's more important? Mates or me?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at her, a slight hint of laughter to her voice.
"At the moment, you" she informed him, pressing her lips to his, feeling herself be pushed back against the wall. Jake quickly took her hand pulling her up the stairs as she laughed.
*L*L*
A little while later Jake and Lauren lay in bed together, Jake's arms wrapped around her tightly; her eyes dropping shut occasionally as he ran a hand through her hair as she rested her head on his chest. The silence was shattered though, both of them shooting up suddenly as they heard the door slam shut.
"I thought they weren't going to be back till late?" Lauren questioned as they hurried out of bed, quickly redressing themselves, panic stricken.
"They're not meant to be" he replied "quick Lauren"
"What do we do?" she asked desperation so clear in her voice.
"You stay here. I'll go say we go to the Vic for a late tea or something" he informed her "you stay here and I'll text you when the coast is clear… just stay here"
Nodding her head in understanding, Jake leant over the bed and kissed her softly, a weak smile appearing on her face as he left the room.
Lauren waited, hearing the voices dull and then the door shut again. She stared at the mess of the bedroom, hating the fact she'd got so close to getting caught. Making the bed so Sadie wouldn't be suspicious, she cursed over and over she. She was hoping she'd remembered how it had been as she and Jake had fallen onto it. Having Sadie as a boss, she knew she was OCD about things – cleanliness, tidiness and organisation. It was key for her, one thing out of place she'd notice.
Her phone vibrated a few moments later, signalling she had a message. Pulling it from her coat pocket, she saw it was from Jake.
"Coast is clear. I'll call you tomorrow x"
Sighing with relief, Lauren made her way downstairs and snuck out of the house.
*L*L*
"Lauren is that you?" she popped her head around the lounge door smiling.
"ye…I was at Whit's didn't realise it was so late, sorry" she added feeling even more guiltily now Max accept her excuse without any questioning.
"It's Fine Lauren" he assured her
"well I'm going to head off to bed, goodnight Dad" she leaned over to the sofa kissing her father's cheek softly and sprinted up the stairs.
"ye …night" he responded slightly taken back by what she'd just done.
Part two will be up tomorrow let us know what you think ! Xxx