chapter 3- change of scene

The next few weeks at school Lauren had done everything in her power to avoid Joey and Joey had done everything in his to try and talk to her. The combination of the two had resulted in a pretty big confrontation in front of their class and the teacher having to step in before Lauren slapped Joey. She was annoyed with him big time, not only for acting the way he did but for not listening to her when she'd told him she didn't want to be friends with him. Poppy and Whitney who Lauren was now pretty good friends with had apparently had stern words with other halves about their behaviour towards Lauren.

Luckily they valued their relationships rather highly so had managed to tame the majority of attention Lauren was getting from the football team. It seemed things were beginning to look on the up, until her business class that Morning. It turns out if you have an argument with someone in class as an apology to the teacher and a form on punishment to one's self you were partnered for the entire module with said person. So that morning Lauren and Joey were wonderfully placed together.

The whole session they worked in silence each taking a question to work on instead of completing them together as a team like the guide suggested. Lauren had brushed off his apologies so many times in the past week and had finally given in today and accepted his apology. Partly for her own sanity mind, as the constant apologetic looks and "I'm sorrys" were starting to get a tad irritating.

"So are we ok now?" Lauren nodded and went back to answer the question, It was clear they weren't OK but it was better than before. The end of that class couldn't come enough for both teenagers but it would be another thing for Lauren to add to the list of bad things that day. She had no idea what was wrong with her. she had just let everything climb up to the point where she just wanted to cry and against her better judgement that's what she found herself doing. Leaning up against the lockers crying to herself.

"Lauren?" someone asked, an unrecognised someone. She turned round to see one of Joey's team mates standing there. Matt she thought his name was. She didn't really care she just wanted to be left alone.

"What do you want?" her tone was a little bitter as after all he was one of the one's to have been winding her up.

"Why is a fit girl like you crying, when a big strong dude like me is willing to give you a big hug and make it all better" She rolled her eyes at him and shut her locker door.

"Just leave me alone please" attempting to move away from him she whispered "Please… I just want to be on my own" Suddenly his hands grabbed her trapping her against the locker. His strength was much stronger than hers and she became completely useless under his touch. With a swift look around he slammed her a little further into the locker creating a distraction as he crashed his lips with force onto hers.

"Get of me… Please" she screeched trying to push him away but was forced back to the Locker. His hands were gripping a little tighter to her as the tears started to fall. "Please…"

"Now now Lauren we all know that girls like you love a guy like me…" he snarled against her ear as her face pressed into his. The next thing she knew there was a gush of cool air and lots of shouting. But she couldn't put two and two together properly and every time she did she was not getting four.

Lauren slid down the lockers and hit the floor with a thud, her sobbing body sagging as a warm feeling of comfort surrounded her. She felt herself being lifted and pulled against someone, from what she felt she guessed she was sitting in their lap. With painful eyes she looked up and saw she was clinging tightly to Joey. Seriously?

"Joe…" she managed to choke out between the sobbing. His arm around her waist pulled her a little closer as his other ran rhythmically through her hair.

"Hey…it's alright Lauren, your safe I've got you" Within seconds her eyes were closing against him. The utter shock she was in had drifted her to sleep, Joey gently eased her into his arms and moved her through to the common room where the 6th formers went when they had a free session.

For the next hour Joey watched her sleeping in his arms, he was getting rather uncomfortable but after attempting to mover two times already, and almost getting a slap in the process, he decided , for his own safety, he wouldn't be trying again. Joey looked down at her and it was like something in him switched on. Lauren was an extremely beautiful girl to Joey and he couldn't help feel partly responsible for the vile behaviour of one of his team mates. Joey had been pretty much singing Laurens praises to the lads, but in a way they thought he was being a typical lad. For example he called her fit when he really thought she was beautiful, weird when he really thought she was intriguing and alright when he really thought he was one of the best girls he'd set eyes on.

Lauren shifted a little and groaned the reality of what had happened hitting her at full force. "Joey…can you take me home please?"

"Of course I can… you alright?" he gently moved her from his lap then proceeded to help her up. She was a little paler than usual and her make smudged. She weakly shrugged and moved to his side. "Come let's get you home. We'll use the back so you don't have to go down the corridor" She nodded

"Thanks Joey…for …well for just being here I guess"

"Don't mention it Lauren… It's the least I could do"

Morning Guys :) so crazychick74 there's your hero Joey ! I'll post again later :) xxx