FIRST I'M SORRY:
JOEY'S POV:
It was the morning after the night before, and I had some apologising to do. Making my way to number 5 mid-morning, I rang the doorbell…
"Morning, Joey, love, come in" Tanya proclaimed "maybe you can drag Lauren out of her pit"
"Has she said anything about what happened last night?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at her
She shook her head, signalling no… "She just stormed upstairs when she got home. I tried talking to her but she didn't answer. What happened last night?"
"Let's just say I put my foot in it" I informed her "and now I have some making up to do. Am I okay to go up?"
"Course" she replied "just take your shoes off, love, I've just vacuumed"
Doing as she asked, I took my shoes off and smiled at her warmly, making my way up the stairs. Knocking on Lauren's bedroom door, I waited for an answer. Nothing. Knocking again…
"Go away, Mum" she proclaimed
"It's not your Mum" I informed her
"You can go away too" she sighed
"I'm coming in" I admitted, walking into her bedroom. It was a mess, outfits strewn all around the room from the night before. Looking to her bed, she was buried under the covers, her brunette hair only just visible as it splayed out on the pillow
"Go away, Joey" she begged
"Nope" I informed her, vicariously making my way across to her bed, sitting down on the end
"What do you want?" she questioned, sitting up suddenly
"Wow, don't you look beautiful" I chuckled
"Whatever" she sighed "just get to the point, what do you want?"
"To apologise" I informed her "about my drinking yourself to death comment. Whitney told me about Billie. I'm sorry, Lauren, why didn't you tell me?"
"Why should I?" she asked "we've not known each other that long and we're not exactly close, are we?"
"I want to be" I admitted "I've never had a family as close knit as yours before, Lauren, and being here, it makes me want it"
"You think we're close knit?" she questioned "just you wait till the arguments start. You'll be out of here so fast your head will spin"
"You think?" I inquired
"I know" she replied "look I forgive you for what you said, now can you go? My head's pounding"
"Hungover, are we?" I questioned
She nodded her head, signalling yes… "I know, silly old Lauren getting drunk again. What's new?"
"Babe" I sighed, placing my hand over hers "in my experience, people drink to forget their problems, but I just want you to know I'm here instead of the drink if you ever wanna talk, okay?"
"Sorry but I don't believe you" she admitted
"Why?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at her
"I've been hurt by people who've said they'll be there for me in the past" she informed me "and I don't wanna risk it with you, I care about you too much"
"Well that makes two of us" I replied "but if you ever wanna talk, I'm here. No pressure, but I just want you to know. Now I'll go"
LAUREN'S POV:
I watched as Joey stood up and made his way to the door… "Joey?"
"Yeah?" he questioned, turning back to face me
"Thank you" I replied "consider yourself my go-to-guy"
Smiling at me warmly, he nodded his head… "Bye, Lauren"
"Bye, Joey" I mirrored, watching him as he left the room