Author's note - Yes I've started another story, blame Laura. Her fault, she gave me the idea. All her fault haha. Let me know if you want me to carry on x
Brushing her younger sister's hair, Lauren tried to shake off the urge to ditch plans with Abi and go to the Vic to get a drink. Keeping herself busy was her best way of not drinking, she knew that, she did. And she was beyond thankful that after everything she's done, her sister still wanted to spend time with her.
Braiding her sister's hair and winding it into a bun, she listened to Abi ramble about some day out she was planning for her and Jay. "My turn." Abi turned to sit in front of Lauren, the sister's facing each other now. "No pigtails Abigail." Lauren warned, but it was a tease rather than her usual snarky tone. Glancing in the handheld mirror Abi tilted her face "No I really like mine. Thanks Lauren." They shared a smile.
Lauren pulled her hair down out of the messy topknot she'd thrown it in that morning to shower, pushing her bangs back she held her hand out for the brush Abi had to get rid of any knots before her sister started. But her sister's attention was gone.
Clicking her fingers in front of Abi's face to get her attention worked though, Abi leaning forward to run her fingers along the small scar Lauren had by her temple, a reminder forever.
"Does it bother you?" she said softly, Lauren shaking her head in response. "Nah. It's just a reminder." Abi pulled a face. "A reminder not to be stupid." She added. "I'm sorry" her sister mumbled, picking up the brush to start brushing her hair. "Don't be. It was probably for the best anyway." It was true, who knows where she'd be now if they hadn't crashed.
"What do you mean?" Lauren hadn't realised she'd spoken aloud until her sister questioned her. Lauren sighed. Her sister knew the truth about who was driving, but not about why they were even in the car in the first place.
"We were leaving Abs" She decided honesty was the best option in this case. Fed up of the lies and the secrets. She'd deal with the consequences of it if she had to.
"What?"
"Me and Joey. We were leaving Walford."
"What? Why?"
Lauren sighed, and half-shrugged. It was complicated and not something she wanted to really talk about.
"Because life here was complicated and we wanted to be together."
"You were together here." Lauren rolled her eyes. "Afterwards yeah. Once Derek was dead, and everything else had happened." Like him breaking my heart the first time.
"We thought it was for the best." Abi laughed sarcastically. Lauren raised a eyebrow, and looked at her sister.
"Fresh start, just the two of us."
"Leaving us behind you mean?" Lauren reached out for her sister's hand, but Abi pulled it out of the way.
"I didn't have a choice Abi. I didn't think I could have both." Lauren refused to apologize for her decision. She never would have wanted to hurt her family and friends, but she couldn't have given up on Joey.
"So you picked him." Abi said softly, anger gone from her voice. Lauren just nodded.
"You really love him then." Lauren's eyes prickled with tears she refused to cry. "Doesn't matter now, does it?"
Grabbing the brush where Abi dropped it, she spoke "Are you going to do my hair or what?" Subject changed, case closed, no more talking. Not about him.
"But it makes no sense" her sister mumbled a few minutes later having brushed Lauren's hair and pulled it into a loose side plait, Lauren pulled a face in response. "What don't?"
"You'd have left together yeah? Started a new life, just the two of you" Alright, rub it in some more Abs. Remind me what I've lost.
Abi carried on though, mainly to herself "So if he knew you'd give us up for him then, why didn't he believe you'd give up the booze for him now?" Lauren just shrugged, she didn't know, didn't particularly want to think about all the reasons he most likely had for ending it, again.
"Let's go ask him."
"ABIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Her sister had already got off the couch, and was half way out the door by the time Lauren had gotten up. This was a terrible idea but stubbornness was a Branning trait, and whilst they may not be that alike Lauren and Abi were sisters.
Chasing her sister down the steps, seeing her run across the Square, Lauren rolled her eyes and slowed her pace, knowing there was no point.
Her sister was a girl on a mission.
