Lauren leant up against the door, trying to control her anger. She knew that she would be angry when she eventually saw Joey, and she knew that sooner or later that they would have had to have meet face to face, she just wanted it to be at a time of her choosing.
And now he knew that she was pregnant. She hadn't planned on telling him. She didn't want him to know. She knew that was selfish, because he had wanted a baby so badly, but when things ended the way that they did, she was left wondering if that was all that he wanted from her all along.
She was fuming at Tyler too. She was so mad at Tyler. She went to her bag and started to gather up her things, she looked for her car keys, but couldn't find them, she also found her purse was missing. Pulling on her coat she stormed out of the flat and into the Vic. She looked around and she saw Tyler talking to a clearly shaken Joey in a quiet corner of the pub. She marched over to them
'Where are my car keys Tyler?' she said in a low voice.
'In a safe place'
'I'd like them back and my purse'
'Why?' he asked her
'I'm not playing games Tyler. I want them back now'
'They're hidden in the flat'
'No they're not' Lauren called his bluff 'I've torn that place apart looking for them'
Tyler paled slightly 'Look you and Joey need to talk'
'We talked' Lauren said and she held out her hand 'Key and purse'
'From what I hear you shouted and yelled and nothing was sorted out' Tyler told her
'Oh you're taking Joey's side now?' she asked him
'There are no sides Lauren. Joey is my friend too' Tyler told her with a frown
'I'd choose my friends a little bit more carefully if I was you. You remember when Joey and Lucy split up the first time?' Lauren asked him
'Lauren!' Joey's voice was low in warning
'What about it?' Tyler asked curiously at Joey's reaction.
'The party at your flat? Joey kissed Whitney in the kitchen when you went out for more beer' Lauren told him 'They've both been keeping that little secret for a while now' she told him 'Keys. And. Purse' she said again.
'Mate I'm sorry it was a one off and stupid thing to do' Joey said glaring angrily at Lauren.
'You're not the only one who knows secrets Lauren' Tyler replied 'For example what's underneath that coat' he said quietly. Lauren could see that Tyler was clearly hurt by the revelation of his girlfriend's kiss with Joey, Tyler sighed 'Lauren you and Joey and need sit down and talk, really talk' he told her softly 'you know you have to'
'There's nothing left to say' Lauren replied
'Joey has plenty to say' Tyler told her 'you gave Lucy a chance to speak, it's only fair that you give Joey his?'
'Fair?' Lauren frowned at him 'Why should I be fair?'
'You're having his baby' he frowned at her.
'And?' she looked at him as if she needed a further reason to be fair
'Don't you think he deserves a say?'
'No not really' Lauren shook her head 'Joey already knows how I feel about that. Don't you?' she turned her glare to Joey.
'Why don't we go back to the flat and talk Lauren?' he asked her
'Because I don't want to. I have nothing to say to you…. Well, you know that's not strictly true. There is one thing' she said,
Neither of them saw it coming, especially not Joey, the resounding slap of her hand on his cheek echoed through the pub. The pub fell quiet again.
'Did that make you feel better?' Joey asked her as his check stung and reddened
'Actually yes. I've been waiting a long time to do that' she told him with a smile. She turned and walked out of the pub leaving everyone staring after her.
Tyler left her to calm down for an hour before he went home. He found her sitting on the sofa with her arms folded over her chest.
'I'm sorry okay. I thought it was a good idea at the time' he told her 'Joey has been a mess since you've been gone and you have to admit you haven't exactly been on top of the world either' he sat down beside her. 'I thought that maybe the two of you could sit down and talk like adults, clearly I was wrong' he gave her a look. He sighed 'You're going to give me the silent treatment now are you?' he asked her 'Very mature'
'What do you want me to say Tyler?' Lauren asked him softly 'You shouldn't have done that'
'No you're right I should have done it sooner' he said 'Maybe then you wouldn't have left, you'd both be married and happy that you are about to have a baby'
'I don't think that's true' Lauren told him
'Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant Lauren?' he asked her
'I don't know. I wanted to tell Joey… I tried to tell Joey but he wouldn't talk to me. Lucy was always there mouthing off and I ….' Lauren trailed off her eyes filled with tears 'When he finally agreed to talk to me I thought we stood a chance of maybe working things out. But when Lucy came to the park instead acting like his messenger, telling me that he wasn't coming. That he wasn't interested….that she was sleeping with him….'
'She lied Lauren' Tyler told her 'You know she lied'
Lauren sighed 'I was so mad at you' she said changing the subject 'And then you walk through the door and it all evaporated'
'Well I'm glad I think you may have left a permanent hand print on Joey's face'
'Good' she replied
'You don't mean that' he said softly.
'Yes I do' she nodded. 'I'm sorry I told you and the kiss' she said
'No you're not' Tyler said 'You're mad at Whitney too'
'I'm mad at everyone' she told him 'Mainly ..mainly I'm mad at myself for being so stupid'
'What do you mean?' he asked her
'For getting involved with Joey in the first place' she replied 'Derek said it would end in disaster and it did'
'Derek was an asshole!' Tyler said 'And Joey loved you Lauren, anyone could see that. He still loves you'
'I can't forgive him Tyler' Lauren told him shaking her head 'He was supposed to trust me… he believed Lucy's lies… he believed her over me' she told him as the tears started to fall 'Why does everything think the worst of me?' she turned to look at him 'Am I such a bad person that everyone has to think the worst of me'
'They don't darling' he told her 'Hey come here' he pulled her into a hug. 'Ssh, don't cry' he said softly. 'I don't think the worst of you. I think you are a gorgeous amazing girl. You know that' he told her as he rubbed her back.
'Thank you .. thank you for being there when I needed you. For being here today. For listening to me cry down the phone, and shout and yell and swear;
'Speaking of swearing I think you taught me a few new words!' he told her 'You have the mouth of a sailor' he said. Lauren giggled. 'There, that's what I've been missing' he smiled
'You've made me laugh over the phone' she told him 'We speak to each other like 30 times a day!' she pulled back to look at him
'That's true' he said and he looked at her and he brushed her tears away with his knuckles 'But I have missed this. Seeing you in the flesh, talking face to face. I really miss you Lauren' he told her seriously.
'I missed you too Tyler' he replied softly.
They looked at each other and Tyler smiled at her and he brushed one more tear away and then stroked her cheek lightly with his fingers, his eyes fell to her lips and he moved forward, his lips touched hers in the lightest of caresses, he cupped her face with his hand and their lips met again.
AN: Lauren seems to have some scores to settle! Even though she's putting on a brave albeit bitchy face, she's still hurting over the break-up of her relationship with Joey.
Tyler and Lauren have always had a close friendship. He has been the only one of her friends that didn't abandon her. Are they acting on their feelings for each other? Has their friendship grown into something more? And if it has what will this do to Whitney and Joey?
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R&R as always
