Someone Like You - Chapter 2

Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?

Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light

I sighed heavily, still unable to go over to him. I could feel his eyes burning the back of my head. I watched as my friends glanced between me and him a look of worry written across their faces, it was tense to say the least. Taking a large breath I turned to face him, our eyes connecting once more like they always did, slowly I walked over to him, my heels sounding louder than before as I reached where he was standing. I noticed his expression as he eyed me up and down continuously my mature frame clearly to his liking. I couldn't help but run my eyes over him in return, he hadn't changed much, his muscles seemed a little more defined, his hair a little longer but he was still the same Joey as before.

"Hi" I finally spoke, but it was almost a whisper, worried that people could hear us, they were definitely trying to anyways, the pub had only a slight hum of noise.

He cleared his throat politely before replying "Hey" a small smile curling on his lips. Before I could speak again a blond walked into the pub, taking my full attention, she walked confidently up to Joey who had now paled considerably as I put two and two together. "Babe" she smiled sweetly, her hands resting on his biceps, claiming his to be hers. I suddenly felt a little sick, my stomach turning a little at the sight, Joey was watching me closely I could feel his eyes on me, he could read me so easily unfortunately, the hurt and pain in my eyes were clear as day. "Who's this?" she chirped up, bloody hell she was brash, Joey rubbed his head awkwardly, his eyes still on me.

"This is Lauren, my cousin" he commented, I could tell he hated using the word cousin, but it was the only way to explain who I was, because that was all I was now.

"Oh nice to meet you, I'm Cassie" her smile so sickly and sweet as she held out her hand for me to shake. I grasped her hand in mine shaking it politely "Nice to meet you too".

"Joey didn't tell me you were coming" she commented, not that I paid much attention I really just wanted to disappear from the situation I was feeling more and more sick by the second.

"I don't tell my family when I'm coming, like to surprise them" making sure I punctuated the word family, letting it sting him a little like he had done when the word cousin was brought into it. I watched as he swallowed loudly the comment hitting a sore spot, he knew I was hurt.

"I better go people to see places to be" I smiled, before making a swift exit, throwing a weak smile over to Whitney who was clearly worried about me too.

"I'll be back In a second" Joey said to Cassie following Lauren out of the pub.

"Lauren" I heard his voice, groaning a little I stopped on the spot reluctantly turning to face him. His face was washed with guilt.

"What is it Joey?" I tried my hardest to act as if I didn't care but I knew he could read me like a book, that was always my down fall.

"I..I erm" he couldn't find any words, rubbing his neck once more. By sudden appearance had caught him off guard.

"Spit it out I don't have time" I spat viciously at him, feeling a little mean but I couldn't stand to be around him for much longer, all I wanted to do was throw my arms around his neck, press my lips to his, but I couldn't he wasn't with me anymore.

"You look great" he smiled, that smile that was always left to me, although he probably looked at his new girlfriend in the same way, it was no longer mine.

"Thank you, it's what fresh starts do to the system" I chuckled, desperately trying to show that I didn't care, that his comment didn't just melt my heart all over again. I watched as in slow motion he reached his hand out towards my face, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear that had got caught in the wind. I held my breath feeling his skin for the first time in years touch my face, instantly blushing at the sensation. His fingers lingered on my skin longer than needed as his eyes were burning into mine.

"Don't make this harder than it already is" I whispered feeling his fingers still on my skin before he let his hand drop to his side. He was looking at me the way he used to, the way that pulled on my heart strings.

"I'm sorry" he whispered, taking a small step closer to me, the conviction in his words piercing my cool exterior.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, you moved on and I moved away, its life" I sighed trying to stay strong but I could feel my lip quivering a little I needed to get away from him before I began crying, I was made of stronger stuff than this, yet with Joey those barriers were down within an instant.

"Lauren" he went to continue but I cut him off not wanting to hear anymore.

"I have to go" turning on my heel reluctantly as I headed to number 5 in desperate need of my sister and mum. I couldn't resist looking over my shoulder at him as he watched me walk away his eyes had settled on my bum which swayed fiercely in my tight blue dress, giving off more confidence than I really had. The breeze catching my long dark hair, I kind of felt like a goddess in that moment, I knew that he had moved on but I could feel the sexual tension between us as if a spark had been lit, I could tell by the way he was looking at me, it wasn't over.

Reaching number 5 I opened the door with my old key, suddenly feeling a little better now I was away from him. I was greeted seconds later by my mum and sister who each took in turn to squeeze me to death. Settling down in the front room with my sister we delved into conversation generally catching up, but I needed desperately to get what had happened with Joey off of my chest.

"I've seen him" I murmured, remembering the feeling of his fingers on my cheeks no less than an hour ago, the way he looked at me melting my insides.

"How was it?" she asked, clearly feeling a little guilty that she hadn't told me about his new girlfriend knowing that there would be no chance I came back if I had of known.

"Awkward, thrilling, every emotion possible" I sighed rubbing my forehead as it began to hurt a little as I struggled to comprehend the emotions I was feeling.

"He still loves you" she whispered, not that I needed to know I could tell from the moment he looked at me. But things were different now, he was with someone else and I had to accept it and live with it, just like he had to accept that my life was in America and I was only here a week.

On cue the door knocked, I knew exactly who it would be, he could never just leave something alone. I glanced up as Abi had gone to answer, seeing him lean against the door frame, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Abi smiled weakly before disappearing into the kitchen where our mum was giving us some time and space.

"What is it Joey?" I felt as if I was repeating myself, why couldn't he just leave it alone.

"We need to talk" he sighed, closing the door behind him, sitting down on the couch next to me, I shifted uncomfortably hating the feeling of weakness in his presence as he sat so closely to me, his leg accidently brushing up against mine.

"What is there to say?" I quizzed, looking at him for a second before breaking the eye contact.

"I'm just confused" he admitted honestly, mimicking the exact same feelings as me, I was confused.

"Look you carry on your life as normal because next week I'm going back to America where mine is" I stated, he needed to focus on the bigger picture.

"I can't just act normal Lauren" he replied shifting a little closer to me.

"Well you have to, you have a girlfriend, me and you were history" I replied, I could feel his breath close to my face, closing my eyes I took a minute to steady my breathing.

"I don't love her" he suddenly blurted out, I could see the guilt he felt saying it aloud but also the relief from finally expressing how he felt about Cassie.

"You will learn to" I smiled trying ever so hard not to throw myself at him.

"I don't want to, I want you" he whispered his breath tickling my ear as I finally realised how close to me he actually was. I shook my head furiously, I had waited 5 years to hear those words but now they were spoken I couldn't do it, he was with someone else I didn't want to break apart something only to leave a week later just as heart broken as the first time I left.

"No" I stated, standing up from him.

"Lauren, you can't deny your feelings for me, they are just as strong as they were 5 year ago" he sighed, standing up and walking over to me.

"That doesn't matter, your with someone else and I'm going back home next week, I'm not doing this" I wished I had more conviction behind my words I was trying to convince myself I didn't want this, that I didn't want to feel his lips on mine, his body against my skin.

"She isn't you, no one will ever complete me like you" his honesty breaking my heart further.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I quizzed why was he making it so hard. "You know this will only hurt more when I have to leave again" I stated, desperately holding back the tears that were fiercely building in my eyes.

"I'd come with you" he suddenly blurted, taking me completely off guard.