Finding A Way Back To Us.

Okay, I don't know if you have read the spoilers but Whitney & Joey are gonna have a drunken one night stand *shudders* yes, my Jouren heart is breaking right now but I was somewhat inspired for a 2 shot. Enjoy.

#1

Joey was aware of the amount of alcohol he had consumed the night before as he woke up, groaning, rubbing his head but he wasn't prepared for the sight next to him. It was a half naked Whitney Dean. He looked down at himself and saw he was naked. Pieces of the night before came back to him and he realised he had slept with her. He sighed loudly, moving aside and getting changed before nudging Whitney to wake.

"Tyler, two more minutes please, babe" She said, groggy, sinking into the pillows.

"Yeah, it's not Tyler. You need to get out now" He replied, sighing. She woke with a start, looking around, at him and down at herself.

"Did we..?" She couldn't finish her question.

"Yes, we did. Now please get out. You need to get out" He told her, pacing the room.

"I'm supposed to getting married!" She exclaimed, gathering her clothes together.

"And I'm supposed to proving to Lauren that I'm worthy of her!" He sighed, taking a glance at the window, seeing who are around.

"I won't say anything if you don't" She said, getting changed quickly before leaving his room, not aware Alice had seen her leaving Joey's room, adjusting her clothes.

•••

"You gonna tell me why Whitney was leaving your room this morning?" Alice questioned, sitting opposite Joey at the kitchen table.

"Al, what you gotta under-"

"You slept with her didn't you? She's getting married, Joey!" She proclaimed, raising an eyebrow.

"I know, I know" He sighed, his head in his hands.

"And you're supposed to getting Lauren back!" She said, slapping his arm away from his head. He looked at her, sighing.

"I know, Al. I really do" He replied, quietly.

"Look, I don't care what sort of kick you get from having all 3 best friends but it's sick and you need to sort yourself out" She told him, before standing up and leaving.

•••

"Hey, Whit. What time do you want me at the bridesmaid fitting?" Lauren asked her friend, walking through the square, meeting her, smiling.

"Erm, about 2, yeah. I really gotta go, Lauren. I'm sorry. I'll catch you later" Whitney replied, running off leaving Lauren wondering what the hell was wrong but she turned and saw Alice, feeling relaxed a little.

"Hey, Alice. You okay?" She asked, smiling.

"Yeah I'm good" Alice replied, trying her best to smile.

"Do you wanna hang out today? Abi is out with Jay, Dexter and Lola and I was feeling a little lonely, to be honest" Lauren asked, still smiling. Alice felt sick to her stomach.

"Sure, sounds. The park yeah?" She suggested. Lauren nodded and they began to walk.

•••

"Alice, you would tell me if something is wrong wouldn't you?" Lauren asked, after they had brought a can of pop from the stall at the park.

"Of course you know that" Alice replied, opening her can of pop.

"Something is wrong, isn't it? You're acting strange with me. Just tell me please" Lauren said, brushing her hair out of her face as the wind blew.

"It's not my place to say" Alice said, in a small voice, looking away.

"Alice, please" Lauren replied, taking her cousins hand, forcing her to look at her.

"Okay, but you didn't hear from me" Alice proclaimed, raising an eyebrow.

"No, go on" Lauren said, smiling.

"I saw Whitney leaving Joey's room this morning and when I asked him about it, he admitted they have slept together" Alice replied, sighing. Lauren stared at her in shock, struggling to form words.

"Are you sure? Whitney is getting married soon" She questioned, not sure how to feel about this.

"Yeah I am, Lauren. I'm sorry" Alice said, sighing.

"You have done nothing wrong. I need to be alone right now. I'll see you later" Lauren replied, standing up and left the park.

•••

"Alice. Thank god. You're here. I've been looking for you" Joey said, as she walked through the door.

"I've got nothing to say to you, Joey. Just move please" She replied, trying to move past him.

"Al, please, don't do this. If I can't explain it to my little sister, who can I to?" He questioned, sighing.

"Well do you wanna know what your little sister did today?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"What, Al? What did you do?"

"I cleared up your mess. I did the right thing" She replied, then moved to push past him but he grabbed her arms.

"What did you do?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I told Lauren" His eyes widened, before scrambling to get his coat and shoes.

"Why would you do that, seriously? I was going to tell her in my own time, Alice!" He proclaimed, sighing.

"No you wouldn't. You would of bury your head in the sand and hoped it had gone away. I'm not stupid. I'm not 7 years old anymore. I know your tricks, Joey" She told him, crossing her arms.

"The only excuse I have is that I was drunk and I can't use that with her because she'll just slap me in the face" He said, grabbing his keys.

"You were drunk? Are you out of your freaking mind?" She questioned, sighing.

"Do you really think I would sleep with Whitney sober, Alice? I love Lauren and now I've made a massive mistake and she is probably never going to take me back. You don't know anything at all" He said, before leaving.

"Joey, have you seen Lauren?" Kirsty asked him, running up to him in the square.

"Not seen yesterday why?" He replied, a little worried.

"Because she came to see me at work. I was doing a stock check. We were talking then she suddenly left then I went to do the counting, a bottle of vodka was missing" She said. He sighed loudly, looking around.

"I'll find her. It will be okay" He told her but he was having trouble reassuring himself.

•••

Lauren was stood at the sink in her kitchen, staring at the bottle she had stolen. She didn't mean to but it just happened, her old habits creeped in. She just wanted to forget reality for a moment and numb the pain until she passed out but she tried to fight it, remembering what she was told in rehab. Her head was going mental, voices everywhere but the thought of Joey and Whitney filled her mind and her hand was clasped around the vodka bottle lid, slowly unscrewing it. No matter what she did she couldn't stop loving him and she hated feeling so weak. She knew she could die from the bottle in her hand but in that moment, she didn't care, maybe she was better of dead. Then at least she didn't have to feel. She closed her eyes as tears fell, unscrewing the lid a little more.

"Don't do it, Lauren. Please. I'm begging you" A voice said behind her and she opened her eyes to see Abi. She wiped her tears and she saw Joey behind her sister. She groaned, putting the bottle on the side, it slipped but she caught it before it went on the floor.

"Abi, give us a moment please" Joey said. Abi nodded, took one last look at her sister and walked away. He walked in, towards her and she moved away. He sighed, unscrewed the top of the bottle, switched the tap and poured it down the sink.

"I've paid for this. Cleared it up with Kirsty. I'll dispose it. No one will know any better" He told her. She nodded, refusing to look at him.

"You can leave now" She said, bitting her nails, staring at the ceiling.

"Lauren, talk to me please, babe" He replied, walking towards her, grabbing her arm. She retracted, pulled away and walked away.

"No, don't do that. Okay? Don't call me that. I'm not your girlfriend. I'm not anything. So don't act like I am" She told him, walking to the other side of the kitchen.

"Can you just let me explain, please?" He begged, his eyes not leaving her.

"You slept with my best friend! What's to ex-"

"I was drunk" He said, cutting across her. She narrowed her eyes then scoffed, sighing.

"And that makes it alright, does it, Joey? You were drunk? This is me you are talking to! That excuse doesn't wash with me!" She exclaimed, staring at him.

"No, nothing about this is alright, Lauren. I'm telling you that I wouldn't of done that sober. I love you, even if you don't believe it" He told her, walking towards her, taking her hand. She pulled away, her eyes swimming with tears, trying to keep it together. She breathed through the tears. She hated how weak he made her feel.

"Well you're saying it but you're not exactly proving it are you?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I've messed up, big style I know but it was a mistake. I was upset. Angry. You told me to move on and find someone else. When are you going to get it, Lauren? I don't want to find someone else. I want you" He replied, sighing. She looked at him, clearly affected by his words, her eyes going soft. He walked towards her but she held her hand up, her guard back up, walking away.

"Okay, you were angry and upset but surely just go to the gym and take it out on a punch bag or.."

"Drink myself stupid until I pass out?" Joey questioned, raising an eyebrow. She stared at him, ready to defend herself but he was right. She sighed, looking away, leaning onto the kitchen side, exhaling deeply.

"You need to leave" Lauren finally said, wiping away her tears furiously.

"Lauren, please.."

"Just go, please. I want to be alone" She said, pointing to the door, turning around. He nodded, turned to leave but walked towards her, raising a hand and wiped her tears before tucking her hair behind her ear before kissing her on the forehead.

"I love you, Lauren" He told you, emphasising on the word 'you'.

She sighed and nodded "And I love you but you need to leave"

He looked at her. She hadn't said it a long time and it surprised him but he needed to respect her wishes and he left, taking the empty vodka bottle with him. She watched him go, the front door closing behind him before shutting the kitchen door, sliding down it in a heap of tears.