A/N: Thank you for all your very kind reviews so far; I'm glad you are all enjoying the story. Here's the next chapter. Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Enjoy :)
Chapter 4: Leaving
A few weeks had passed since Lauren had returned home from the hospital. Lauren thought back over the last few weeks, her hand resting on her stomach remembering all that had happened and the life changing decisions she had made, which had upset a few people in the process.
Flashback
Whitney Dean was panicking. She pressed call on her mobile for the twentieth time, hoping her friend might pick up. Throwing her phone on her bed, she groaned after hearing the voicemail again.
Whitney's P.O.V
I couldn't help feeling guilty. There was something in my gut telling me if I couldn't get hold of her or do something, I knew she would regret it. My stupid best friend was being rash again. I looked out my bedroom window when I saw Joey walking across the square. I quickly grabbed my phone again and ran downstairs and out of the house.
"Joey!" I saw him turn, a confused look on his face as to why I would be calling after him after everything that happened between us after he kissed me.
"Whitney, everything ok?" He asked; I was taken aback. This wasn't the normal Joey; the normal Joey would've already been hitting on me like he did with every girl. Maybe Lauren was right; things were different between them and for real. I studied him closer for a minute when it struck me what was wrong; Joey was heartbroken!
"Joey, I know about you and Lauren and the baby. I promise I'm ok with it and won't judge you as I'm in no position to and I just want Lauren to be happy. I need you to listen to me. I'm sorry I haven't said anything sooner but I didn't think she would actually go through with it; I thought she would change her mind." Joey was confused. "A couple of days ago Lauren told me something in the park; the day she came home from hospital."
"Whitney, is Lauren in trouble?" I could see the distressed look on his face.
"She could be if she goes through with it. Joey, Lauren is having an abortion. She said she wasn't sure the other day but I got a text not long ago, asking me to cover for her if anyone asked where she had gone as she had made her mind up and had an appointment booked at some abortion clinic. I've tried ringing her but she won't pick up. Joey, if she goes through with this, she'll regret it forever. She isn't really in the best frame of mind to be making these decisions." He looked hurt as I hurried my words out.
"Do you know where she was going?" I told him Lauren hadn't mentioned anything in the text but I knew of one place locally which I guessed was where she would have gone. "Thank you." Joey dashed off as I knew I had to trust in Joey to help her because he was the only one who could. However, that didn't stop me ringing her again.
End Whitney's P.O.V.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Joey's P.O.V.
I jumped out the taxi, throwing some cash at him as I hoped I wasn't too late and this was the correct place. I felt numb and so confused but Whitney was right; we couldn't let this happen. I ran as quickly as I could up the private driveway to the clinic, noticing Lauren up ahead, her feet just steps away from the front door. I felt relieved to see her but then a sickening feeling washed over me; what if she wasn't entering but was instead leaving having already gone through with it; what if I was too late? I tried to shake my heads of thoughts as I ran up to her, grabbing her arm before she could take another step in whatever direction.
"What the-"
"What do you think you are doing?" She pulled her arm out of my grip.
"What does it look like I'm doing, Joey?"She snapped.
"Lauren, please don't do this." I begged, not caring about anything other than the brunette in front of me and my child. I grabbed her arms trying to get her to look at me. She pulled away again and went to walk towards the entrance again; I noted that she hadn't said it was too late.
"Joey, let me go. I'm doing this." Her words were stern but I didn't care.
"Don't I get a say in this too? It is my baby too, Lauren. If you do this, you'll regret it." She had a blank look on her face as she kept her focus on everything but me.
Without warning, she walked off, making it clear I couldn't change her mind with her statement, "It's my body, my decision. Nothing will change my mind. That's final." She disappeared through the door as I stood still, almost as if I were stuck to the spot. I ran my hands through my hair and over my face in exasperation.
End P.O.V.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lauren checked herself in, filling in all the necessary forms. Sitting down, she looked around the cream coloured waiting room; it felt warm despite what actually took place in this building. The building was old and felt very traditional to.
Moments later, Lauren felt someone sit down beside her on the brown sofa and take her hand in their own. Looking to her left, she saw Joey staring at her intently. She gave him a quizzical look as he spoke.
"If this is what you want, I won't stop you but I'm not leaving you here alone." Joey squeezed her hand before bringing it up to his mouth and gently kissing the back of her hand.
Lauren, in return, gave him a half smile, simply saying, "Thank you."
What Lauren didn't realise was just how much it was killing Joey to say what he said because truth be told, he wanted this baby more than he ever thought he would; a mini Joey and Lauren to love and raise, being a proper father to his child unlike his father was to him. The two sat in silence as they waited for Lauren's name to be called.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The nurse eventually called Lauren through, Joey following suit. After being seated in the doctor's office, Lauren found herself fidgeting in nervousness and un-comfortableness at the same time. Joey noticed this and rubbed her arm in comfort but she just brushed him off.
The doctor walked in not long after. After an initial consultation conversation and observation of the situation, the Doctor explained what would happen. As Lauren was so early on in her pregnancy it would be a fairly straight forward process for her.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" The Doctor asked before he explained what would happen.
"Yes, I'm certain."
He nodded. "Ok then. As you are only a few weeks in, all you will have to do is take this pill; mifepristone. What happens is it works by blocking the hormone progesterone which without causes the lining of the uterus to break down and the pregnancy cannot continue. You will take this pill today and have to return in tomorrow to receive something called misoprostol, which makes the womb contract, causing cramping and bleeding similar to a miscarriage." Both Joey and Lauren felt overwhelmed by everything they were being told. "It is unlikely that the abortion will happen after taking the first pill. However, this can happen and if you think you may have miscarried after taking the first pill, we will do another ultrasound scan at your next visit. You may have nausea or vomiting. If you vomit within one and a half hours of taking the pill, please inform the clinic as soon as possible, as the tablet may not have been absorbed. When you return we will give you some antibiotics to take, pain medicine with instructions for use and advice on how to care for yourself. The misoprostol tablets will cause you to have cramps and bleed heavily, usually starts about 2 hours after using the misoprostol, but it may happen sooner. Bleeding and cramping usually lasts for a few hours. You may see large blood clots or tissue at the time of the abortion and you will probably need pain medicine. Most women pass the pregnancy within 4 or 5 hours after taking the misoprostol. For others it can be quicker or take longer but almost all women miscarry within a few days."
Joey felt sick; how could some pill cause such a tragic impact. Lauren, meanwhile, was absorbing in the information, her attention never leaving the Doctor despite feeling Joey's eyes boring into her.
"Do I have to take the tablet now or can I do it at home?" Lauren asked.
"We would recommend you have it here but if you would feel more comfortable at home, that would be ok." Lauren nodded. She really didn't want to have to do it there in some random building.
After a few more minutes of discussing Lauren's care and arranging an appointment for her tomorrow, Lauren took the bag from the Doctor containing the single pill and walked out the room. Joey nodded at the Doctor, shaking his hand and followed after Lauren.
Neither Joey nor Lauren acknowledged one another on the way home in the taxi, both too caught up in their own thoughts and emotions.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After arriving back in the square, Whitney giving the couple a sorrowful look as she headed into the Jackson household seeing their faces, the two walked up the steps to the front door of number 5. Lauren hesitated opening the door, not wanting Joey to come in.
"You should go." Joey looked at her.
"Are you going to do it now?" Lauren nodded. "Ok then, I'm not going anywhere."
"No, Joey. You should go. I need to do this on my own. I also think it best we never speak to each other again. Just avoid each other from now on. I'll be fine going back on my own tomorrow." Joey looked at Lauren, hurt. "I want you to go, Joey." Lauren refused to look at him as she opened her front door and stepped inside.
Joey felt like his heart had just been broken even more than it already was but instead put on a defiant face, refusing to let her know and finally giving up his fight. He was broken and knew he'd lost his fight to stop her. "Fine, if that what you want, I'll get out your hair. Have a nice life, Lauren." Cutting it short before he said anything stupid, he walked off, not looking back.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lauren's P.O.V.
I knew I had hurt Joey but it was for the best. This whole situation was just an utter mess and we were never going to be able to be happy together. I walked into the living room and took out the tablet from the bag; my family had gone away for the week so they wouldn't be back until any time soon so I knew I would have time and space if I experienced any of what the Doctor had warned me of. I grabbed the first alcoholic drink I could lay my hands on; a bottle of vodka. That would do fine. Something to help numb all this. Placing the tablet on the table and throwing away the packaging, I poured the vodka into a glass, placing the bottle down next to the glass knowing I'd probably need another one soon. I knew in just a few moments this whole situation would start to change for the better. It would all soon be over and done with; my relationship with Joey; the accident; this baby.
I blinked twice at the thought of the baby. It was the first time I'd really considered the fact I had a human life growing inside me, an actual baby rather than just an 'it'. Inside her was her baby; Joey's baby; their baby. A baby conceived as a result of their love for each other.
"Oh and a faulty condom." I mumbled to no one other than myself. Lifting my hand, I rested it on my stomach before I was hit with an overwhelming sick feeling and shock.
After a few minutes, I shook my head trying to forget everything, ridding my head of thoughts, dropping my hand from my stomach. This was stupid. Ridding all emotion from the situation in front of me, I grabbed the tablet followed by the glass of vodka.
"I'm sorry." I said as I lifted the two items to my mouth.
End P.O.V.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lying in her room later that week, tears flowed down Lauren's face as she thought of everything over the last few months and the pain she felt. She sat up having decided she couldn't take it anymore; she needed to get out of Walford. Jumping off the bed, she grabbed a few essentials and stuffed them into a duffel bag and grabbing what cash she could find lying around and stuffed it into her purse behind her cards. Finally, after writing a quick note to her Mum, Dad, Abi and Oscar, she grabbed one final item from her drawer; her passport. She was done.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
It had been five days since Lauren left Walford when her family returned home. Tanya, Max, Abi and Oscar walked into the house, Abi taking Oscar upstairs while Tanya headed for the kitchen.
"Lauren?" Max shouted at the bottom of the stairs. "Lauren?"
"She's not up here, Dad." Abi shouted down. Max turned to look at his wife who just shrugged, not knowing where their eldest daughter was either. Max entered the living room and shook his jacket off his shoulders, placing it on a chair at the table. It was then that he noticed a letter folded in half on the table next to an empty glass which smelt of Vodka, the bottle half empty next to it. Picking up the note, addressed to all of them, he flipped it open.
Hi Mum, Dad, Abi & Oscar,
Sorry for not doing this in person but I couldn't take it anymore.
If I stayed I know I would only hurt you all by using my drinking as escapism so I'm doing the next best thing, escaping literally by leaving Walford. I'm sorry but I really can't handle being there right now but I promise you I will come back; I don't know when but I will. When I'm settled somewhere I'll be in touch. I love you all so much and tell Joey I'm sorry.
Lauren x
Max folded the letter back to its original half and looked up as Tanya entered the room.
"Max, what's wrong?" Tanya's voice filled with worry seeing Max's paled complexion.
"It's Lauren, she's gone." Max handed Tanya the letter before he grabbed his jacket and walked straight back out the house.
End flashback