Lauren had taken a shower to freshen up, she had changed into her leggings and a vest top with her jumper covering her. She brushed a brush through her hair, lightly and didn't bother to apply her make up as it would most probably just come off and she'd not decided to do much today.
She trotted down the stairs, sticking her head around the living room door to see Peter was still fast asleep, she smiled at him before walking into the kitchen and opening the fridge. Tanya holding a mug in her hand looked up at Lauren.
"What you up to darling?" She asked.
"Was just making Peter some breakfast for when he wakes up, he hasn't eaten much lately. Do you want some Mum?" Lauren asked.
"No thank you darling, I'm off to the salon soon. But this is lovely" Tanya smiled.
"What's lovely?" Lauren asked.
"What you're doing for Peter, he really needs a friend at the moment and your doing so much for him Lauren and its lovely to see that something good has come out of all of this, you and Peter are getting really close" Tanya explained.
"Well he's my friend isn't he Mum? What friends are for" Lauren smiled.
"Good darling" Tanya placed a kiss on Lauren's forehead before exiting to go the salon.
Lauren put some eggs and bacon into the frying pan, he stared from the doorway at her, he'd just finished listening to her and her Mum's conversation from the living room. Although, he wasn't sure he was supposed to be listening. He made her jump a little as he snaked his arms around her waist.
"And what are you doing?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Peter, your awake, I just thought I'd make us some breakfast" She smiled.
"Thanks Lo, for everything. But I'll get out your hair today yeah?"
"What do you mean?" Lauren spun around.
"I should probably be going back home"
"But you can stay as long as you like" Lauren said.
"I know but I'd be getting in the way and I need to be there for Dad" Peter smiled, weakly.
"Okay" Lauren pulled a fake smile, not liking the idea of Peter leaving as she needed him.
"Anyway, let's eat breakfast yeah?" Peter smiled.
Lauren didn't make eye contact with Peter as she ate her breakfast, she was trying to hold back the tears. Peter had been her support through this, like she had been his and she wasn't sure what to do without him. She couldn't tell him, he needed to be with his family, like he said.
"Lo, what's wrong?" Peter noticed a change in Lauren's attitude.
"Nothing. Uh, just the usual stuff, business and things that's all" Lauren lied.
"Well, you don't need to think about that at the moment, no-one expects you to carry on with that just yet. Anyway I better shoot off" Peter smiled, and exited.
No goodbye? No hug? No thanks for breakfast? Lauren couldn't work out whether she was acting as a bitch or whether Peter Beale had just been the slightest bit rude. Fair enough with what he had been through, but what about what Lauren had been through? The tears fell down Lauren's face, everything seemed to crash down all the time. And she'd fallen, fallen in love.
...
"Yeah it was great" Abi laughed with Tanya as they both entered the house.
"Good darling" Tanya smiled at her daughter.
"Its so good having you back at the square Mum" Abi admitted.
"Well I need my girls don't I? Besides, its good for Oscar to be with your Dad for a bit with all this going on, but he can come back when its better can't he?" Tanya tried to assure herself.
"Yeah, don't worry Mum we just need to look after Lauren don't we?" Abi smiled.
"That's my girl, now dinner"
Tanya went to open the kitchen door but something was blocking it, she gave it a bit of force and it opened enough for her to slip in through the door, she gasped at the sight. Lauren, pale as a ghost with no movement.
"Lauren, baby can you hear me?" Tanya panicked, getting on her knees.
Tanya lifted Lauren's arm and watched as a box of pills fell to the floor, Tanya picked up the empty packet and started to panic.
"Abi! Abi call an ambulance" She cried out.
Abi darted to the phone to get help yet she wasn't sure what was going on, she held the hand in her phone, shakily. Tanya laid her daughter in her arms and kept her kissing her head, tears fell from her eyes. She was worried. Just what had Lauren done?