Stranger Things Have Happened.

A few ANs

1. 'Anything Can Happen' is on the back burner for now.

2. I debated weather or not to have Gabriella in this fic (new readers read Give Your Heart A Break, Chasing The Sun & Anything Happen to understand) and I decided NOT to.

3. This is my own take on Lauren and Joey's love story and I've mixed it all up. Enjoy xD

Chapter 1- The Morning After The Night Before.

Lauren knew she did something she shouldn't of done the night before and she couldn't remember what it was. She groaned as she got out of bed and headed towards the shower, thankful for it as she nursed a hangover. Once Lauren had finished, she stepped out of the bathroom and was heading towards her room when she heard a door slam shut behind her. Lauren turned around and the door which slammed was the door of her brothers, Oscar, room which was currently being vacated by her cousin, Joey. She stared at the door, gaining the feeling that the event that happened the night before that she shouldn't of done had something to do with him. Lauren mentally screamed at herself for not remembering as she felt she really did need to remember.

Joey quickly slammed the door shut and leaned against it, as he ran his hands through his hair after planning on going to toilet but caught sight of Lauren, walking towards her own room, in a towel, fresh from the shower. He tried to push out these thoughts as memories from the night before filled his mind.

Lauren returned drunk after an argument with Lucy for allowing her parents let Joey stay at hers. Lauren had told her supposed best friend that she did kick up a fuss but there was nothing she could do about it. Lauren's parents had made up their minds. Lucy didn't like that and left Lauren alone in the vic, as she drowned her sorrows.

She returned home approximately 11pm where she stumbled into the living room, to find Joey on the sofa, watching TV. He quickly switched the TV and helped Lauren sit down as she struggled to stand properly.

"I think it's fair to say you had too many, Lauren" Joey said, chuckling a little as she leaned over, groaning as he put a protective arm around her. She sighed, looking up at him.

"Oh whatever, I just wanted a drink" Lauren replied, not knowing where this sudden close bond with Joey had come from and the sudden urge to protect her.

"Or 10. Life can't be that bad, can it?" Joey questioned, becoming worried about the fragile young girl he was comforting. Lauren shrugged and looked up at him. He saw how lost and young she looked in that moment.

"I don't know anymore. It's seems the easier thing to do" Lauren whispered, close to tears. Joey sighed and tuck her hair behind her ear which confused Lauren as she noted that was the second time he had done it, the first time being in the playground when he was tied up the flower.

"I'm here for you, you know that? If you ever wanted to talk or anything" Joey told her, smiling a little at her. Lauren nodded and smiled a little too.

"Thank you. I know I act like a cow most of the time with you but your actually alright when you want to do" Lauren admitted, looking at him and taking him all in.

"Jeez, thanks, Lauren, but it's okay. I blame the company you keep" Joey said, laughing. Lauren giggled and she looked into his eyes, them boring in hers when she acted on a impulse she didn't know where there a few seconds ago. Lauren moved closer to him and kissed him. She felt Joey freeze against for a moment then he began to respond, not knowing he was fighting inner demons wherever or not to end the kiss or carry on. Lauren knew she was drunk but she felt fireworks, her whole skin on fire. Joey then pushed away, shaking his head, his hands on her shoulders. She had never felt so embarrassed in her whole life. Joey on the other hand, kicked himself for pushing away but knew she was drunk and couldn't take advantage of her. Lauren just wanted to run away and hide-

Lauren switched off her hair dryer as she stared at herself in her mirror, as the night before events sank in. She had kissed her cousin, who she fighting deep feelings for. Sober, Lauren had promised herself never to go there for the pure and simple reason he was her cousin and she couldn't feel that way for him. But drunk, obviously, her feelings had gotten away with her and now she had possibly ruined everything. She just wished there was way she could forget when it hit her.

Since Lauren had come into Joey's life, he had experienced feelings he had before. He felt a deep connection he didn't share with anyone not even Alice. He knew it was love but the fact she was his cousin brought him back to reality with a massive bang. But last night, when Lauren kissed him, he dared believe she felt the same but Joey came to the conclusion that she was drunk and didn't know what she doing. He finished getting ready and walked out of his room into the hallway, where he walked into Lauren.

"Hey, you alright?" Lauren asked, trying to keep calm.

"Yeah, you? Hangover?" Joey questioned, wondering if last night was going to come up.

"Yeah. I must of drank a lot. I can hardly remember a thing" Lauren replied, trying to keep her cool and trying to stick to her plan.

"Oh yeah? Must of been an uneventful evening then" Joey said. Lauren knew what he was referring to and he knew what he was as well. Joey didn't want to be the one who brought it up.

"Yeah, must of been. I mean, I fell asleep, pretty much the moment I walked through the door" Lauren replied, trying to smile. No, you didn't, we kissed and I want to know how you feel about it! Joey wanted to scream at her but he knew in that moment, she can't remember the kiss and it made him feel quite upset about it.

"Yeah, you did. I heard you. I wasn't far behind" Joey told her, going along with her out of respect for you. Lauren resisted the urge to narrow her eyes at him and demanded to know how he felt about her kissing him but she was scared he'll laugh in her face then it would complicate things. Lauren nodded, happy that her plan had worked.

"Right, I'll let you get to work then" Lauren said finally, moving aside.

"Okay, Erm see you later then" Joey replied, smiling at her and walked down the stairs. Lauren watched him go, groaned and walked back in her room, collapsing onto her bed, screaming silently.