Chapter 7
Joey's POV
I watched in pure horror as Lauren's eyes shut tightly. Was there anything worse I could have said? She was more than just a cousin, always had been and always would be, what was I mean to say though… ye Lauren this is Jess, the girl who I don't love, only remotely like and have been with to distract me from you and Jess, this is Lauren; My ex-girlfriend and cousin who I'm still madly in love with (I think) and has been on my mind even though I'm with you. Yep; that would have been a great conversation to have.
I couldn't believe that Jess had come here in the first place, I'd text her shortly after I'd seen Lauren, telling her I'd meet her later. I could tell she was pissed off as soon as walked through the doors. She hated me with any other girl, family or not, even though in this instance Family was also the or not. Jess was really clingy, too clingy; but she was actually a nice girl, she was blonde but definitely didn't fit the stereo-type. She had a degree in… I can't actually remember, but ye she had brains; a lack of common sense though and she didn't really live in the real world. She had no issues, had a loving Mum and Dad (who spoilt her rotten) and had a life made for her.
Her life was a world apart from mine and Laurens, simple and carefree.
"Oh…JoJo never said he had a cousin" I scowled at her. I had mentioned Lauren, on several occasions in fact, and she was still calling me that bloody stupid nickname. I could see amongst the hurt on her face, that Lauren was biting back a smirk. Jess looked at me and then across to Lauren and I could see her scrutinising every feature on Lauren's face. She was jealous; and she had every right to be. Lauren was beautiful and always had been in my eyes. She looked even more amazing now she was back (if that was at all possible).
Bumping into her had really surprised me this morning. It took me a good few minutes before I realised it was Lauren. She'd changed so much, firstly she was running and it wasn't even 8 o'clock- the old Lauren definitely wouldn't have done that. She used to laugh at me you know? Tell me I was mad for being out that early and Jogging, but now I guessed she felt the same way about that activity. She looked different to; so confident and just… god, perfect. I noticed though, as soon as she realised it was me the happy confident Lauren vanished and she returned to being the scared insecure Lauren that everyone knew before she left.
Snapping back to the room I noticed Lauren getting ready to leave, she was staring rather teary at Jess and me. "Nice to meet you Jess… I hope you two are very happy together" she whispered as she almost sprinted to the exit. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she left the Vic, the doors slammed shut, with a crash. Every sound and movement seemed to be exaggerated even Jess's annoying forced chuckled.
"Move!" I pushed Jess from my lap
"She's just your cousin Joey, she'll be fine." I shook my head at her closing my eyes and biting my tongue; trying my hardest not to yell how much more than a cousin Lauren actually was.
"Move out my way Jess you know nothing." I ran from the pub; my eyes eagerly scanning the square for Lauren. I saw her darting across the road to the park, as I started to speed up I saw her stop and perch on the bench. Her shoulders sagged and rose again- she was crying.
I slowly approached her, my heart beating triple time. Her hands covered her face as she leaned onto her knees. Cautiously sitting next to her I moved my hand to her back. Felling like I'd been burnt when she pushed me away. "Lo…please"
"Your cousin… your Fucking cousin!" she bit with so much poison in her voice, it was painful. "Is that all I am to you now… your cousin?"
I shook my head; she definitely wasn't just my cousin. "No, you know full well you're never going to be just my cousin Lauren" she looked up at me and scoffed shaking her head.
"See this is why…this is why I could never trust you back then…you say one thing and mean another"
"What did you want me to say to her Lauren?" she remained silence for a while nervously jigged her leg.
"You know what? You can tell Miss babycakes whatever you want Joey because I guess your with her and I am, after all, just your cousin aren't I? we were together and now, now were not." She stood up from the bench and went to walk away. She took a step and turned back to me pointing her finger accusingly. "I came back for you" My eyes went wide, she'd come back for me? "for the last 12 months, you have been on my mind every fucking day. I came back to see if there was anything left to salvage from the wreck of our relationship, because despite everything I'm still in love with you. My heart is betraying me and I can't help but love you."
I couldn't talk I just froze. She loved me. All this time, she's still been in love with me. I'd been silent for too long obviously because as I opened my eyes, Lauren had gone again and I was stuck with the stark reality- I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything.
Credit to The amazing F. Scott Fitzgerald for the last line- one of my fave lines from a book ever.
Sorry for the long wait... been hectic, im back at uni now and jugging a job so this may be a little hit and miss with the posting. Hope you can stick with it xxx
