Reunions chapter 1

Lauren's p.o.v

I sighed as i sat down in the chair at my desk.

"No luck" Uncle Jack said a few seconds later as he leaned against the door frame, smiling.

"No, no one seems to get just how much work this job is going to be"I moaned banging my head on the table.

I bought Micheal's gym a year ago, just after he died... i have bought 3 more since then. This is the newest one and it opens in just over a month but i can't seem to find someone to run it for me when i can't be here.

"Would you like me to take over for the rest of the day Lo..."

"Nah, your okay there is only supposed to be one more person today anyway although they forgot to fill in the name part of their application form, so I'm not really sure what to expect"

"Do you want me to stay for a while"

"Yes please... Just until you have to pick up Amy"

A while later...

"Hey I'm here for... Oh my god Lauren" I heard a voice exclaim, A voice i would know anywhere, and i was out of my seat and hugging him before i said anything.

"Joey..." I sighed happily as i rested my head on his shoulder and then i closed my eyes. After 3 years of not seeing him it feels so good to be hugged by him, its been so long since we last spoke too. But then i guess that's just cause life has really taken over and we are both really busy people. Last i heard Joey builds cars for a living and of course i have my businesses, but i think for 2, 19 year olds we are doing pretty well.

"What are you doing back here" I asked as we pulled away from each other.

"Oh charming, and here was me thinking you would have missed me as much as i missed you" He said smirking slightly as he crossed his arms, his dimples showing which is one of the reason i have to say that i can understand why all of those girls find him so handsome. Not that i like him like that, he is my cousin after all.

"I did miss you of course i did, its just last time we spoke you were living in Cornwall with your mum and Alice and you didn't want to come back"

"I know but i have been there a long time now... so i thought i would come back for a while, Al is coming back here tomorrow for her Easter break anyway and i haven't seen her in ages... I thought i could maybe keep my options open while i am here you know see if i find anything worth sticking around a while for" "Besides i thought i would come here a day early so i could catch up with a few people including my favorite cousin... Speaking of, have you seen Whitney"He said smirking when i slapped him on the chest playfully.

"Hey"

"I'm only joking babe you know you will always be my favorite"

"Too right... Is your mum here and where are you guys staying"

"Nah my mum couldn't face being back here , not now dad is gone"He said before clearing his throat to try and get rid of the sadness in his voice. "I will probably just stay in a b&b or something"

"You can stay at my flat if you like... rather then spending all that money i mean, i do have 2 bedrooms"

"Are you sure... I don't want to get in the way of you and any boyfriend you have"

"I don't have a boyfriend" I said it now being my turn to clean my throat. "And you wouldn't be in the way, i would love to have you around again we used to have so much fun even at 16, But I'm sure nothing has changed, i mean it is us after all"

"True we did have a lot of fun... Thanks Lo your the best"

I smiled sweetly before saying " I know i am,how did you know i was here anyway, did you ask my mum or dad or something"

"Oh erm... I didn't know you were here, i was going to come and find you later... I heard there was a job going here... and it pays well ,so i thought i would come and check it out"

"So that mean this could be the thing that gets you staying for quite a while and do you realize you forgot to fill out the name part of your form"

"I did... sorry i was on the phone to Al at the time and she was telling me about her new boyfriend, i mustn't have been paying attention, he goes to uni with her and that... And as i said i am keeping my options open, i definitely want to be closer to here you know cause of family and that"

"Well you can stay at mine for as long as you want... But it would definitely be really cool if you moved closer ,we would be able to hang out a lot more"

"Thanks Lo... And i would really love that, being closer to you and everyone one again" He said clearing his throat . "Anyway shall we get on with the interview and Hey uncle Jack by the way"

"Hey Joey" He said smirking at us both which is weird. "I assume you will be okay now then Lauren, now you know its not a crazy person you were waiting for"He asked and Joey frowned before looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"I'll be fine uncle Jack Thanks" I said and i could feel myself going red as i did and he nodded before walking off to go and get Amy.

"So you thought i was a crazy person then..."Joey smirked.

"To be fair you didn't put your name and i didn't for one second think it might be you i haven't seen you in over 3 years"

"True... I think it would have been funny to see how you would have reacted if i was crazy, cause you can be pretty scary you know"

"Shut up"I laughed before throwing some sticking notes at him and he chuckled when i did.

A while later...

"So how many times a week do you work out" I asked, for some reason and i wanted to kick myself as the words left my mouth, its not even one of the questions down here ,obviously, I just looked at him as he stretched and his muscles are quite impressive, then the question just came out of my mouth and he looked at me with an amused look on his face after being shocked for about a second.

"A few i guess and i didn't think you would need to know that to decide weather i can work in a office" He asked smirking.

"Oh no i don't... Its just you clearly work out and i was just curious, It clearly works for you though, with all the girls... That is if you are anything like you were before you left "

"Erm ,excuse me... I was never a playboy you know and its their fault if they could never resist me"He said faking offence before smirking and i rolled my eyes as he did. "Besides you don't seem to mind the way i look"

"Eww, gross your my cousins and you know i wasn't looking at you like that... Just no, anyway you know i am an art girl really, and i like to look at people"I smiled before looking down as i blushed.

"Yer i know and you are still a weirdo by the way"

"Shut up" I mumbled pouting at him.

"So do i get it then" Joey asked a while later as we sat in a comfortable silence.

"Get what" I asked snapping from my thoughts.

"The job, you know the whole reason I'm supposed to be here" He said rolling his eyes.

"Oh right that... Yer, i thought you said you were just keeping your options open"

"Well, yer but it would be nice to know if you think I'm good enough for it"

"Joey Branning not being sure of himself... Well that must be a first" I laughed and he pouted.

"Not really, I'm never that sure of myself... when it comes to you"He said smiling almost shyly for some reason before he cleared his throat.

"Erm... Sure, the job, i mean if you want it its yours"

"Really"He said smiling wildly.

"Yes" I said smiling brightly. "How about i meet you in the Vic at about 5 and I'll take you back to my flat" I said before closing my eyes. "That sounded wrong but you know what i mean" I blushed and he laughed.

"Alright, alright i know where I'm not wanted... I'll see you tonight ,I'm going to see if i can find the boys anyway" He said smiling as he slipped his coat on.

"Bye Joe"

"What i don't even get another hug" He pouted and i got up when he did but not before rolling my eyes.

"If i must" I smiled as he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.

"Bye Lo..." He said kissing me on the cheek before tucking some hair behind me ear just like he always used too and then he pulled away from me and headed towards the door, looking back at me once more before he walked away and ran up the steps of the gym.

2 hours later...

"Amy can i have that back please"Tyler pleaded as she ran around with some boxing gloves that he was unpacking and me and uncle Jack both laughed as she ran out of the room again and Tyler ran after her.

"So has Joey got the job then"Uncle Jack said smirking as he turned around and faced me.

"Yer he has if he wants it, i don't think he has decided yet though and why do you keep smirking" I questioned.

"Oh no reason and i have a feeling that he is going to take the job, anyway i better go and save Tyler I'll see you tomorrow at Alice's welcome home party yer, unless you need me in before then" He questioned grabbing his jacket.

"Nah, I'm having the day off tomorrow, i thought i would take a long weekend off now Joey is here, so i can spend some time with him"

"Really, well this is a surprise you never have time off, anyway i hope you have fun spending time with Joey then, although he is probably going to want to spend time with Alice when she is back from uni so you will probably only have him for tonight"

"I know but i kind of want to spend time with her too... Bye uncle Jack"

"Bye Lo..."

A few houts later...

"Guess who" I whispered as creeped up behind Joey and covered his eyes.

"Erm, Phil Mitchel" He said earning a slap on the back from me to which he just turned and smirked at me. "Hey babe what would you like to drink"

"Vodka and coke please" I smiled.

"I should have known it always was your favorite drink when we used to sneak alcohol form our parents houses when we were younger"

"Yer and yours was my dads whiskey, which we got in trouble for stealing loads of times as i remember"

"Yer well what can i say we were wild, well you more then me"

"Ha, says the guy who came out partying with me every Friday night" I said poking my tongue out at him.

"Oh hey guys..." Tyler said as him, Fats,Whitney and Lucy came over to us.

"Hey"Joey said smiling as he put his arm around my shoulder when we turned to face them.

"What are you doing back here then"Whitney asked.

"Well Al is coming back here for her Easter break and i promised her i would spend the holiday here with her, anyways i thought i would get here a day early so i could spend some time with Lo, before she gets here, and of course i want to spend time with everyone else too" He said as we walked over to a table so we could all sit down together, and Joey ended up pretty much squished up next to me so everyone else can sit down.

"Of course you did, why wouldn't you have come here to spend time with her, she was always you favorite person after all" Whitney mumbled, clearly she is still bitter that Joey ended things between them when she in his words got too clingy, he always did the same when he had been with someone a while. But for some reason Whitney got it into her head that something was going on between me and Joey but then he did say to her he would rather spend time with me then with any of the girls around here.

"Its nice to see you too whit, i see you still haven't got over the fact that Lo will always be my favorite girl to be around, even though i broke up with you about 4 years ago now and your clearly with Fats"He said and i elbowed him in the chest as he did.

"Joe be nice" I hissed. Me and Whitney have never really been friends...especially since she was one of the mean girls in school ,but i still don't like the way Joey is with girls sometimes.

"Why you don't even like her" He hissed back.

"I am right here you know"She snapped before rolling her eyes.

"Everyone knows that"Joey sighed.

"Joe" I hissed again. "Right come on lets go back to mine and you can cook us some dinner" I said tugging his arm as i stood up.

"Uh why do i have to cook dinner" He pouted.

"Cause i said so, besides you are quite good at eggs on toast" I quipped.

"Ha very funny... And you better be cooking breakfast" He muttered.

"Well we will see" I smirked. "Now come on I'm hungry"

"Fine"

"Oh you are staying at Lauren's cause that says there is nothing going on between you 2 at all"

"Oh shut up Whitney" I snapped.

"And you say i have to be nice"

"You do, but she annoys me and I'm not the one who broke her heart, you are"

"So..." He asked raising his eyebrows but i just grabbed Joey's hand and leading him out of the Vic and over to my flat on Victoria street after i shouted a quick goodbye to the others of course.

Half an hour later...

"Mm... That smells surprisingly nice"I joked as tickled Joey's back and he jumped when i did.

"Yer well you will be surprised with what i have leant since i have been gone, and you have a really nice place here babe"

"Thank you... Its alright i guess, the gyms are doing quite well so i managed to buy this place a few months ago" I smiled.

"Wow... You must be doing well if you have managed to buy this place, i bet your parents are really proud of you, so have you thought about what you are going to do when your new gym is open"

"Erm... Well I'm not sure yet, i have been thinking about what i want to do though... One thing i do know is i am going to go on a holiday for a bit when it is open" "Anyway I'm going to go for a shower so i will see you in a bit" I said reaching up and kissing him on the cheek, our eyes locking as i moved away from him moments later and for some reason it was like i couldn't look away, its like we are in some sort of trance, neither of us looking away that was until the alarm on the oven went off.

"Ow"Joey hissed as oil spat out of the frying pan and hit him on the hand, when he span around quickly to face the cooker.

"Are you okay" I asked as i grabbed his hand and put it under the cold tap.

"Yer i just... Wasn't watching what i was doing, you go and have a shower i have got it from here... besides dinner will be ready soon and it will get cold if you don't hurry up"He said smiling as he cleared his throat.

"Okay bossy i will see you in a bit" I said smirking before i headed off towards the bathroom.

Joey's p.o.v

"Stupid oil" I mumbled as i heard the bathroom door close. And i thought i was clumsy enough in front of Lauren before , but its much worse now it appears, i mean i have never hurt myself cause i wasn't paying attention before, i can't quite work out what it is but something is different between me and Lauren , something has changed quite a bit since we last saw each other, but then that was 3 years ago now and we are grown ups so maybe that's why, Last time i was here me and Lo would go out drinking on Fridays and well we wouldn't really stop until Sunday, but when my dad died and me , Al and my mum left as much as i missed Lo i just couldn't face being back here. Even today i couldn't force myself to go in the cafe where he had his heart attack. Luckily i didn't make much of a fool of myself by standing outside and staring at it cause auntie Tan saw me and invited me over to number 5 for a coffee.

One thing that hasn't changed and i doubt ever will is how unbelievably beautiful Lauren is, but then everyone knows that its not like I'm the only one that has noticed... besides Lo thinks i have a good body she pretty much said so earlier and it did feel good to hear her say what she said but then it does when any girl says it.

Lauren is not just any girl though, she's my Lo, one of my best friends and that's why i am closer to her then i ever have been to any other girl no matter what anyone says especially my annoying ex girlfriends.

"Mm... Thanks Joe this looks amazing" Lauren said kissing me on the cheek as she put her dressing gown on over the top of her towel and sat at the table with me.

"Good and your welcome, did you have a nice shower" I asked not being able to help the fact that my eyes lingered on her body a few seconds longer then they should . She looks good. But then I'm allowed to think that right and her legs are so long and shiny i noticed as she moved slightly in her seat and i swallowed hard as she did.

"You okay, you look a little pail"She asked touching my arm and a shiver ran through me as she did.

"Yer i just need a drink" I said before quickly getting up and going and getting a glass of water our moment earlier not really helping cause i can't get it out of my head and i can't figure out what it meant

Lauren's p.o.v

I frowned as Joey got up, he has been acting really weird since i sat down, maybe its whatever it was that happened between us earlier.

"So are you going to fill me in on what's been going on around here since i last saw you" Joey said breathing deeply as he sat back down next to me and he smiled brightly as he did.

"Okay but get ready cause there is quite a lot" I sighed.

A few hours later as i got ready for bed there was a knock at my bedroom door.

"You alright Joe" I smiled as i opened my door.

"Oh erm, yer i was just going to say goodnight... Nice pj's by the way,who knew you would still be into minnie mouse" He smirked.

"Says the boy who loved Bob the builder until he was like 15"

"I was 12 and the songs were catchy" He pouted.

"Whatever" I mumbled looking down at myself.

"Goodnight Lo..."He whispered kissing me on the cheek and as he pulled away our eyes locked again, the air changing around us and before i knew what we were doing our heads were moving closer to each other. Luckily before anything could happen though my phone started ringing loudly causing us to spring apart.

"Night Joe... I better go and answer that" I said awkwardly before quickly shutting the door and running over to my phone before it stopped ringing.

"Hey dad" I sighed as i looked towards the door feeling half disappointed half relived that nothing happened moments ago, not that I'm really sure what's going on between us and I'm not sure that i want too if I'm honest !

Hey everyone :) so this is my new story... there is only 5 chapters though,so what do you think ? do you want more?

Sorry that i didn't post this last night, i meant too i was just writing some of Love flames :) but it wont be ready to post yet.

please review everyone i would love to hear your thoughts

thank you for reading and i hope you enjoyed xxx