Lauren ran out the club, heart pounding, she felt like she was going to throw up as she hailed a taxi and climbed inside. Joe had kissed her. Her head was a mess, as she tried to make sense of what she was feeling. Obviously she felt angry at him; he knew she was with someone! Even if she was going to break up with him tomorrow... but that wasn't the point! And then there was the fear, the fear that this action would ruin years of friendship they had built between them...and last and most confusing of all, there was the happiness and wonder! Joe Walker liked her. And she wasn't sure how to feel about that.

Meanwhile Joe sat at a booth in a dark corner at the back of the bar, away from the rest of the starkids. He had to get away from Julia and Jamie's whispering and texting Lauren. He had to get away from Denise's reassurances and apologies. And he had to get away from the worried looks everyone was giving him, as if he needed to be looked after. He was fine.

That was a lie; he had never been further away from fine in his life.

It was the next morning and Joe woke to find a text from Lauren on his phone. His heart leapt and he clicked to open it, his hands clumsy in his eagerness.

We need to talk Joe. Be at mine in an hour, okay?

Joe panicked when he saw the text had arrived 45 minutes ago, and jumped up from his bed, pulling on last night's cloths and running to his car. It was only when he was inside and moving the fear hit him. What if this was it? Lauren didn't want to see him again? The thought made his eyes well with tears, and he had to tell himself to get it together. He was being ridiculous! Lauren needed to speak to him about that kiss and what it meant. She had every right to do so, and he needed to be man enough to accept the consequences of his actions. He was shaking as he pulled up outside her apartment building. This was it.

Lauren sat on the floor in front on the TV. Jamie always said she looked like a puppy from a hundred and one Dalmatians when she did that...she wished Jamie was with her now. She had planned out what she was going to say to Joe. She was going to let him down easy, tell him she had a boyfriend, tell him she only thought of him as a friend. But why did the idea of doing that hurt her so much? There was a knock on the door that made her jump and she got up, concentrating on her breathing. She had to be strong. She opened the door to find a flustered looking Joe who carried some pink roses. He handed them to her and mumbled, "To say sorry".

Lauren smiled and took them, thanking him. She then beckoned for him to come in. There was an awkward silence as they both sat down and Lauren figured how to start. After a few seconds of agony they both started at the same time.

"Joe," started Lauren, but he cut her off.

"Please Lo, let me go first."

She nodded shortly and he began.

"Lauren Lopez. From the moment I first saw you I knew I loved you. I love everything about you! The way you talk, the way you dance, the way you cook and the way that I feel when I'm around you...I love how tiny you are, and how funny and how annoying! And how you can make me laugh without even trying... And seeing you work with me on starship, seeing you work hard at something you love? That was it, Lauren I'm totally and completely in love with you. And I'm sorry I kissed you, that was wrong and inconsiderate of me and I apologise, but I needed to say something! I couldn't keep quite any longer. Please, please think very hard about this before you say no straight away, but would you give me a chance?"

He'd been looking her right in the eye through his speech, but slowly looked down as she stayed silent. There was another awkward pause, as the two actors sat looking at the floor, both trying to work up the nerve to say something. Finally Lauren spoke.

"Joe. I do have feelings for you, how strong I don't know yet. But..."

"But?" urged Joe, leaning forward.

"I think I'd feel better if I at least tried to find out. So here's the deal Walker. You can take me on ONE date. If by the end of it, i can confirm that I don't think of you like that, we never speak of this again," she said.

"And if you do? What if you do those feelings for me?"

"I don't know yet," she said, "for now there's still the problem of breaking up with Jack."

There was another pause as Joe thought about what she had said.

"Like a free trial?" he grinned.

"Yes. Free trial, try before you buy."

"Fine".

"Fine".

She stuck her tongue out at him and he returned the gesture, relived to have his Lauren back.

"Now get out, before I unscrew you head, and drop de wishing pennies down your throat," she laughed in her Taz voice, ushering a grinning Joe Walker out her apartment.

She shut the door and slid down against it, her head in her hands, what had she done?