Joey's POV

It was Friday 21st December- A week before Christmas- and I was still staring at the four walls that concluded the hospital room. Lauren's hospital room. It had been twenty-four hours since the crash and she still hadn't come round. I was starting to get more panicky by the minute and each time the doctor came to see if any progress had been made, my heart was in my mouth. She was in a coma. And it was all my fault. Questions were flying round in my head: Why did I have to suggest we run away? Why did I insist? And the worst one- why did I let Lauren drive? I had been with her just hours before we left and I knew that she had had a drink. Why did I risk it all?

A few hours later, in the intensive care unit, I must of drifted off to be woken by the noise of doctors frantically moving around monitors and attaching things to Lauren's body.
"What are you doing?" I asked jumping out of my chair.

"Lauren has gone into cardiac arrest" one of the nurses stated.

"W-what does that...mean?"

I didn't get an answer. I rushed out of the room and collapsed on the nearest chair...everything was a blur.

Alice's POV

As I made my way through the intensive care unit I checked my phone for any messages from Joey because he had stayed there overnight. There was none. I felt really upset for Joey because I knew how close him and Lauren were. It was hard for everyone to see Lauren in this state and the atmosphere at home was somber. But it had hit Joey the hardest and I was going to see how he was.

I could see Joey, collapsed in tears on a waiting room chair. My heart broke for him. I hated seeing him like this. I quickly ran over to him, sat down beside him and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. Joey turned towards me and sobbed into my shoulder continuously. I knew him and Lauren were close, but not this close. Joey never cried. Ever.

"Joey it's alright" I said, gripping him tighter.

"She's gone into cardiac arrest, Al" he cried

My heart dropped. Oh.

The reality of it all finally hit me like a ton of bricks.
Lauren could die. My cousin could die.
No matter how I felt, I had to stay strong for my brother.

"Sshh, it's okay Joey. This is Lauren we are talking about. She's strong."

"I'm here for you Joey, no matter what happens." I added sympathetically.

I couldn't help but thinking that there was more to this than Joey was letting on...

Joey's POV

When I finally ran out of tears and caught my breath, I wiped my eyes and hugged Alice tightly. I knew that she wouldn't understand what I was going through, but just her being here was enough.

One hour later, the Doctor came out of Lauren's room and made his way over to me.

Eager to get an update on what was going on, I got up and walked over to him.

"What? What is it?"I asked.

The doctor took a long pause.

"Come on, I can handle it. I've not got time for all of these 'sympathetic' pauses you all do. Just tell me" I told him.

Raising his eyebrow, he carried on.

"Lauren could potentially have brain damage." Doctor stated.

I was nearly sick. I couldn't handle this.

I urged him to carry on.

"Lauren is in a critical condition" he warned.

A tear involuntarily left my eye. So now;I had lied to the police; Derek knew about me and Lauren; Max hated me and Lauren might not make it. All because of me. My life was falling apart.