Chapter 3

A week later...

Lauren's p.o.v

"Baby girl, baby girl, baby girl, what are you doing cooped up in here rather then having fun with us outside" Fats said as he walked into the library while i did my Spanish homework before next lesson, my house has just been so busy lately and so have we really, my dad has had us out pretty much every night with Derek and that so this is really the only chance i have had to do it.

"Fats i have to do this, its due next lesson"

"Really... but you normally do your homework the day you get it so you you can hang out with us for the rest of the week... Does this have something to do with your uncle and his family being here cause you have kind of been all over the place the past week"

"Well erm, kind of i guess" I sighed putting my pen down.

"Come on, come tell uncle Fats all about it"He said and i laughed. "I promise not to tell"

"Its Joey, okay"

"Joey who"He asked confused.

"You know from the party, the guy, the one i have done nothing but think about this past year"

"What, does he know Derek then or something , or have you seen him"

"Erm, yer he's one of his stepsons"

"Really i bet its good to have him around right, you know so you can get to know him and then i bet you guys will end up dating which will be cool"

"Its not going to happen Fats, he has a girlfriend and i bet they are really happy and they are probably going to have millions of babies, so i don't think i really want to spend any time with him"

" Oh baby girl...Well what did you say when you found out he has a girl, Lo"

"That i have a boyfriend"

"Really, you did, was you trying to see if he would get jealous or something" He asked amusement clear on his face.

"I don't know, it sort of just came out, i guess it was to hide how sad i felt when his brother told me"

"His brother told you"

"Well yer, we were sat on Joey's bed talking about stuff and his brother said it when he came into the room and thought there was something going on between us and he interrupted it"

"Oh... Was there something going on then"

"No..."I sighed.

"Have you thought about telling him you like him"

"And why would i do that, he has a girlfriend remember and he will probably laugh at me "

"If he did he would have to answer to the fatster, but if you do tell him, you never know he might think about it and decide he likes you more then this girl"

"I don't see that happening"

"Don't see what happening"Lucy asked from behind us making us both jump.

"Nothing"We said in unison.

An hour later...

"Seriously i get him out of my house, and then i begin to think maybe i can start to try and forget about him... only for him to start going to our school" I sighed as we headed over to the the lockers to see not Joey stood there and not only does he go to this school and is in most of my classes but he also has the locker next to mine but the first 2 i found out last lesson.

"Who are you talking about"Whitney said.

"Joey"

"What Joey from the party,he's here, since when and where is he"

"Well he's here since uncle Derek married his mum and they moved to the square and he is the now at the locker next to mine"

"Really he's hot, like really hot"Lucy said smirking.

"Seriously your supposed to be my friend"I sighed. "Besides he has a girlfriend"

"He what!" Lucy exclaimed. "He think he can come here and make you feel bad by telling you that does he" She said about to walk over to him but i grabbed her hand and dragged her into the girls bathrooms before she could.

"What are you doing Luce, he hasn't done anything wrong, all he has done is move on from something that probably didn't mean anything to him and if he is anything like his brother who is the one who told me by the way, then it wouldn't surprise me that he has moved on"

"Maybe he hasn't really done anything wrong but he should at least know that other people have feelings, maybe he needs someone needs to tell him that"

"No Luce i don't want him to know how i feel cause if he does i will just end up more hurt when he rejects me which he will"

"Okay, but I'm sorry this had to happen to you Lo... And after how much time you spent thinking about him and that perfect night you had" She said pulling me into a tight hug and i couldn't help but have a little cry as she did.

10 minutes later...

"Are you sure your ready to go back out there, we can spend a bit longer in here if your not"Lucy questioned as i redid my make up.

"I'm fine honestly, now lets go and get some lunch before we have to go to next lesson which for me is woodwork"

"Which you are ace at cause hello Artist"She said pointing at my face in the mirror.

"Thanks Lucy" I smiled before we made our way to the food hall to meet up with Fats, Katie and i saw Joey on his own as we walked past and he looked pretty miserable which made me feel quite bad for him. It must be hard being on your own your first day at a new school.

"Guys you sit together,I'm going to go and see if Joey's okay" I said smiling.

"Are you sure you should do that baby girl"

"Yes, don't you remember your first day at our primary school, you were sat all by yourself and were very upset cause of the older boys being mean so i came to sit with , And just look at us now"

"Well yer but that was different, you and him"

"Are hopefully going to be friends too"I finished for him before heading over to Joey and ignoring the sigh i heard from fats as i did.

"Hey Joey" I said smiling at him as he looked up at me with a shocked look on his face when i put my tray down.

"Hey Lauren,You okay"He asked also smiling now.

"Yer... Thank you, do you mind if i join you"

"No, but don't you want to sit with your friends"

"Well we are friends aren't we, or i would like us to be at least"

"I would too"

"Well then i would be sat with a friend"I said as i sat down. "So do you like it here, i know its only your first day and it can be tough but i bet you have made a few friends already"

"Not really,people here aren't really the sort of people I'm friends with ... Especially not with beautiful girls like you but i... i guess this time i have been lucky cause you want to be my friend"

Really he meant it when he said i was beautiful at Frank's party, i just thought it was something all guys say when they are drunk and a girl is in there bedroom.

"Of course i want to be your friend , why wouldn't i" I said but he just shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at his food and sighed.

"So erm, do you know where wood shop is cause i have it next and i keep getting lost" He said a few minutes later as he finally looked back up at me.

"Yer, actually i have it next too so i can walk with you if you like"

"I would love that, thank you Lauren"

"Its okay"

"You know Derek doesn't really like me don't you, I'm not sure he really like any of us apart from mum and Clair of course" he blurted out after another minute.

"Trust me, you will know soon enough if you haven't seen it already, Derek doesn't like anyone and no one really likes him either, you know he used to be so different when we were little,he would always have us over to stay and everything in fact he was a really grate uncle but then auntie Moria got sick and he completely changed"

"Oh... Well grief can do funny things i guess, when my dad died we were all pretty broken... I'm sorry about you auntie, Lauren"

"And I'm sorry about your dad, Joey"

"Well it was a very long time ago now but thank you"

"Same here, my auntie was sick for about 5 years before she died and uncle Derek really took it hard... it doesn't excuse his behavior now though"

"True..."

20 minutes later...

We are now in wood shop and me and Joey have been partnered together for the next few lessons so i can show him how everything works which is okay i guess... Or it would be if i didn't keep finding myself staring at him ,our first project is to make a toy for a baby and I'm just showing Joey the rocking horse I'm making cause our projects started a few weeks ago I'm just hoping if i work with him, Joey will have his done by the end or next month like everyone elses is supposed to be.

"Wow Lauren this is amazing" He said staring at it and for some reason i ended up blushing.

"Thank you, its going to take a while to make but we get to take it home at the end of the year and I'm hoping to keep it for a child i have one day or something"

"That's a really good idea, I was always scared of babies until Clair was born and i never wanted any children but now i have seen how cute she is i think may one day, if i find the right girl maybe we could have a baby" He said also blushing now and then he looked down.

"I was the same, when Oscar was a baby and he used to cry all the time but i love babies now ans i want loads... In a long time of course"

"Cool" He said smiling nervously before clearing him throat and i closed my eyes and took a deep breath before we both turned back to out work.

Anyway i ended up helping Joey decide to make a dolls house and i promised i would help with some of it today and not do any of mine to see if i we can get the people down at least... he said he is hopeless at this sort of thing which is wrong he is pretty good actually and maybe i also want an excuse to spend more time around him, he really is sweet besides i love making things so this is going to be really fun.

"What are you doing"I asked a while later as i saw Joey using the glue gun.

"Sticking some hair on the child you just made... See"He said coming over to me and laying it down on the table.

"Aww that looks really sweet" I said smiling.

"Do you really think its good cause as i said I'm really not good at this art thing"

"Joey its really good and i think you have just proved yourself wrong cause you designed it remember and that sketch is really good and you have helped make all the people who are looking really good" I said as i started putting all the rectangle pieces of word on the roof that we have already made, as the tiles.

"I'm not as good as you though"

"No one is as good as our Lauren, she is at the top of every arty type class in the school, but you are still good"Mr Holiday said. "Amazing work as always Lauren i can see you 2 work well together, i may end up partnering you 2 together in the future for quite a lot more things"

"Thank you Sir"Me and Joey said in unison and Mr Holiday just smiled before walking off and then Joey turned back to me.

"So you want to be an artist or you should be at least if you don't... I mean he is right you are so amazing at it "Joey asked a while later.

"Well I'm not really sure what i want to do yet. Art is just sort of a hobby really and one of things i feel I'm really good at"

"You are amazing believe me i know i have just said that but its true, i bet your good at a lot of things though"

"I bet you are too, i mean you seemed pretty smart when you helped me with my English essay yesterday at my house"

"Well i kind of already did Hamlet at my old school"

" You know your dead sweet telling me I'm amazing at art and you are really good at hamlet even though you did do it at you other school you still remember it right "I stated looping my arms through his as we walked towards the school gates to see Johnny and Jordan there waiting for us.

"Erm, yer i guess... Most of it anyway"

"What are you guys doing here"I asked.

"Oh and hello to you too, we are here to pick you guys up cause your mum needs you to look after the children tonight"

"What children and why me"

"Well all of them i guess cause your mum, dad,my dad and Teri are going out for a meal while Me, Frank and Johnny are going to a party and Bradley is going to see his girlfriend"

"What i can't look after everyone all by myself"

"That's why Joey is needed, his mum says he has to help too"

"But i don't know how to look after children only Clair a little, i guess but still... I can't " Joey protested.

"Lauren is really good at it so I'm sure she will help you"

"Okay..." He sighed still not looking too sure of himself. " i would love to help you Lauren"

"Thanks but can't at least one of you stay in with us you are supposed to be adults after all"

"No can do, Cuz, we have to get to know this place and all of the ladies of course"Johnny said and i rolled my eye and i could have sworn Joey did too but by the time he looked at me again he was just smiling and i couldn't help smiling back as he did.

An hour later...

"Oh come on Bradley please, Can't Stacey just come over here for once"I said standing in his bedroom with my arms crossed.

"What with you lot here, i don't think so you will all scare her away besides we want to be on our own sometimes and we can't do that in a house full of children"

"You are so gross and I'm never ever going to help you again when you need me too"I snapped before stomping downstairs to see Joey helping Jade with her homework, Trust Joey to make helping someone do homework look really sweet and incredibly cute at the same time.

"Why are you staring at us Lo... Its weird" Jade said raising her eyebrows before frowning at me.

"I wasn't"I said finally coming to my senses.

"You so were" She said and by this time Joey had turned round and was smiling at me.

"Urge no i wasn't i just looked in here that's all and i wondered what you were doing"

"Homework der"Jade said rolling her eyes and i saw quite surprised that Joey chuckled, but when he did though a shiver went down my back for some reason,that has never happened to me before.

"Right, yer , of course" I said awkwardly before walking into the kitchen to start dinner.

20 minutes later...

"What are you making" Joey said making me jump as he came into the kitchen. "Sorry i didn't mean to scare you"He whispered.

"Its okay, I'm making Bolognese for dinner"

"Wow you can cook, well obviously you can but i mean from scratch, that's pretty cool"

"Yer, well mum taught me and Bradley... Its nothing really just one meal"I smiled over at him.

"So erm do you" He said clearing his throat. "Do you cook for your boyfriend"

"No! I mean we normally just watch movies and stuff we are only 15 after all" I lied.

Why did i have to say i have a boyfriend! I sighed before turning round to face the food again.

"Are you okay"He asked.

"Yer... But erm, i don't"

"Lauren, Jade is wearing my dress and she wont take it off"Abi shouted which totally stopped me from telling him the truth, as they both came running in.

"Urge, why do you 2 only fight when i am the one looking after you" I sighed.

"Cause she only takes my stuff then, she wouldn't do it if mum and dad were here"

"Go and get changed into something of yours or i will just phone them then and they will have to sort it out, god you 2 are so annoying"

"Fine, i hate you, you always take her side" Jade shouted before running upstairs.

"I hate me too" i sighed and Abi looked at me weirdly before going into the living room.

"Do those 2 really always argue"

"Oh, only every minute of the day that they are awake, just be thankful you don't have to share a room with them or stay here anymore"

"They weren't so bad when we were staying here though"

"Yer that's cause mum and dad said they had to be on their best behaviour and they are like Derek's girls, they love him to bits and its sort of creepy the way they act just cause he will buy them stuff if they do as he says unlike me who doesn't want anything from him"

"Huh, well i don't blame you he's vile,anyway do you need any help"

"Nah, your alright, you can get Abs to lay the table though cause its her turn tonight"

"Okay..." He said smiling before going off into the living room himself.

Later that night...

"Oh my god, I'm so so sorry"Joey said as he walked into me when i got to the bottom on the stairs and his water slopped over my top.

"Its okay, i didn't see you either, I didn't hurt you or anything did i , this thing can be quite hard to carry"I said worriedly as i pointed to my laptop case that is over my shoulder.

"No!"He said smiling before looking down at my top that has now gone see through and i bet he can see my bra through it , i closed my eyes at the thought before crossing my arms over my chest.

"Good i better go back to bed then" I said going to walk off.

"Wait , didn't you come down here for something"

"Oh yeah"I said feeling quite embarrassed and i just know that my face has gone red ,again why am i so stupid i came all the way downstairs and then after bumping into Joey i went to go right back up again... He must really think I'm dumb right now, after a few more seconds i snapped out of staring into space which for some reason i am now doing and hung my laptop case over the banister

"Night then"I said turning to face him briefly as i stood outside my bedroom door.

"Yer night and thanks again for letting me stay here tonight"He smiled before pulling me into a hug which surprised me and i couldn't help but smell his aftershave as he did and of course he smells amazing, why wouldn't he!

"That's okay my parents said they are not going to be back till late after all" I said smiling as we pulled away and then he tucked some hair behind my ear and then he smiled shyly before moving away and hurrying into his room and i frowned before going into mine... Why did he do that, what does it mean!

"You so fancy him"Jade said.

"What, no i don't"I snapped after noticing my bedroom door was open and both her and Abi were sat there staring at us.

"Oh yes you do, you want to kiss him, you want to hug him"

"Oh shut up Jade"I snapped again before getting into bed...

Hey guys :) sorry for the late update i have been really busy today... anyway i hope you like this chapter , you have a bit of a longer one today so i hope that makes up for the late update

So what do you think of Joey and Lauren at the moment? they are still pretty awkward around each other huh? and Joey is being really sweet right?

so do you guys want another chapter tomorrow? there is only 3 more to go of this story and I'm sorry for those of you who are also reading my other story love flames i know i haven't updated in the last few days but i lost a few chapters my laptop went wrong and deleted them so I'm having to re do them... and if you guys have time after reading this i hope you will check out Love flames i updated 4 chapters last week for those of you who don't know and i hope you r&r :)

thanks to...

Guest: I'm glad you are enjoying this story and i hope you like this chapter too x

Lolly :Aww you are always so sweet, thank you for another really nice review and for always being nice about my stories xxx

thank you for reading everyone and please review if you have a second