AUD-

20- Lauren's POV.

As I began to wake the next morning, it took me a money to realise where I was. The now familiar musky smell of Joey filled my nostrils and I realised I had fallen asleep on his bed, on his chest.

I opened my eyes and sighed, trying to be quiet and tiptoed out of the room. This was awkward.

I walked into the kitchen and saw Alice switching the kettle on.

"There you are! Me and Abi were wondering where you were!" She exclaimed, smiling.

"I fell asleep in Joey's room. Sorry" I quickly replied. Why did I feel so guilty about it?

"Hope he took good care of you" She joked. I rolled my eyes but nodded. Alice made her morning drink and left...

"There you are. I wondered when you went" I heard a voice say behind me. I turned around and saw Joey. I tried to hide my blush. Okay, this needed to stop. I knew what was happening. I thought this was a 13 years old stupid crush but now at 15? It was something else.

21- Joey's POV

My comment to her had made her blush a little and I had to admit as it flushed through her complexion, I had never found anything more beautiful. I was afraid I could be falling for her. I decided to change the subject.

"What does Miss Branning want for breakfast?"

"I don't know, Joseph. Depends on what you are gonna make for me" She smirked and crossed her arms.

"I'll make you whatever you want if you agree to help me bake a cake for Mum's birthday" I replies, raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and nodded...

"I don't know why you didn't ask Alice to do this" Lauren said, after we ate bacon sandwiches and got changed. She was passing me the eggs from the cupboard.

"That's because Alice is a total disaster in the kitchen, babe" I told her, taking the flour off her.

"And what makes you think I'm any better?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

I smirked "I trust you. Now past me the flour, please. It's in the top cupboard. I think it's at the back"

She nodded, reaching which caused her top to raise exposing some of skin. It looked so soft. Fuck, what was this I was feeling right now? Did I fancy her? I think I did but how? I wasn't in control on this. She turned to me, smiling, handing me the flour. I took it and saw her sit on the breakfast bar, picking up a magazine. I had to be sure. I cracked an egg before throwing it over my shoulder, pretending to aim for the bin. Lauren put the magazine down, narrowing her eyes.

"What are you doing?" She proclaimed.

"I was aiming for the bin but could you please put in please?" I asked, smiling. She tutted and jumped off the chair and putting her hair behind her ears, she bent down and as if she read my mind, she bent down with her back to me with her bum facing me for a spilt second. I swallowed. Like I feared, I was attracted to her, so much. My grip on the whisk I was holding tightened. Fuck, she was hot. As she stood up, oblivious to my staring, she walked to the bin and then washed her hands...

"I think we are ready to put this in the oven" I said, once the mixture was done.

Lauren held her hand up "One second. It needs checking" and she dipped her finger in the mixture and put the mixture covered finger in her mouth.

"All done" She said. I narrowed my eyes then caught her off guard, put my own finger in the mixture and placed it on her nose. She gasped.

"Now we are" I said, smirking. She scoffed then took a left over egg and whacked it over my head. I gasped, staring at her, placing the mixing bowl down.

"Oh it's on!" I said, taking an another and placed it over her head. She then grabbed the bag of flour and started flicking it at me. I made a grab for it but she held onto to it tight until I had a bigger grab, causing the bag to rip and there was a cloud of flour as it fell to the floor. Lauren attempted to get some water from the sink but I grabbed her, stopping her. She squealed as I refused to let her go and started to gently tickle her, smirking. She tried to hit me, to stop me, squealing my name as we recovered, I looked at her at the same time she looked at me, the atmosphere changing. I saw she had bits of flour of the ends of her hair. I brushed them out before slowly tucking her hair behind her ear, our eyes locking again and I knew in that moment, I wanted to kiss her.

22- Lauren's POV

I held my breath. I never wanted to kiss anyone so much in my life. My hands gripped to the kitchen side as I tried to work out his next move. I could feel him getting closer when there was noise behind us and we quickly sprang apart, Auntie Lynn staring at us and the mess.

"What the hell happened here?!" She exclaimed...

A few days later, it was school again and I had barely spoken to Joey since his mum kicked us out of her kitchen. It was P.E and we were told we had class with the year 13s.

"I don't see why we have to have the year 13's joining us" Alice sighed as we got changed into our PE kits

"Oh, come on. Any excuse to see Anthony" I chuckled "besides, they're the only year group left. We might as well get it over and done with"

"Lauren's right, Al. We might as well" Lucy stated, pulling her hoodie onto her body

A few minutes later myself, Lucy, and Alice made our way out into the sports hall, the year 13's already out and waiting. I tried not to blush as I saw Joey's gaze fixed on me and went back to listening to the teacher who was conducting the lesson…

"Okay, you need to pair up. Boy, girl, boy, girl please" the teacher informed us all

I turned around and was about to go over to another year 13 boy when Joey took a hold of my waist, pulling me into him…

"What the hell?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow

"Partnering up like we've been told to" he explained

I sighed and turned back to face the teacher. She and another teacher were demonstrating the moves we'd be learning…

"So, ready to get your arse whipped by a girl?" I asked, turning back to Joey as we were told to begin

"Is that a challenge, Branning?" he inquired

"No, it's a promise" I assured him, taking him by surprise as I demonstrated one of the moves

"Nice work, Lauren" the teacher proclaimed

I turned and smiled, Joey managing to catch me off guard as he demonstrated one of the moves too, my back now flush against his chest…

"Try and calm your racing heart, Branning" he whispered into my ear, letting me go

"It must be all the adrenaline" I replied, smiling

After another half an hour the PE lesson had finished…

"Nice working with you, Branning. We should do it again sometime" Joey stated, kissing my cheek

As I was about to reply Tyler came bounding over, dragging Joey into the changing rooms, Lucy and the others making their way over to me…

"You really kicked his butt, Lauren" they chuckled as we entered the changing room

"I've never seen my brother get beaten by a girl before. It was funny" Alice proclaimed

"Can't let the side down, can I?" I questioned as I reached into my bag, checking my phone

"Who's making you smile, Lauren?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow as I glanced up at her

"Oh, no one special" I informed her "come on, let's change and get dinner. I'm starved"

The girls all nodded in agreement and I shoved my phone back into my bag, the five of us changing and making our way out of the sports hall…

23- Joey's POV.

Everything was clear to me now. I wanted Lauren, not in a sense of any deal but I really wanted her like I had never wanted anyone. Seeing her in PE shorts, had nearly sent me over the edge.