Chapter 10

Laurens POV

I closed my eyes, shutting myself in to darkness. He could not do this to me, he couldn't. He had no right to tell me that now after everything. Two whole bloody weeks he's said nothing to me, then again I haven't really given him the chance. I don't understand why though, why now? He could have told me two weeks ago when I told him, it would have saved so many tears I cried over him. The worst of it was, as much I as I was angry with his timing, it was exactly what I wanted, and needed to hear. I knew deep down that there was nothing that could change how I felt about him, yet this time I was the reluctant one to respond.

There was one word going around in my head. Jess.

"Lauren?" I shook my head as I felt him near me and I took a tentative step backwards creating the needed distance between us.

Finally I spoke, although the words that came out weren't exactly what'd I'd planned them to be. "I love you too" a huge smile spread across his face and he embraced me into a hug. I hated myself for feeling so safe, so at home in his arms, but this isn't what I wanted (to a certain extent at least). My councillor had told me it was ok to make mistakes, but this is one I just couldn't afford to take the risk with.

Instead of responding to the hug, like I usually would, I remained wooden in his arms, so much tension running through me. After a few very awkward seconds, Joey pulled away and scowled at me. His eyes did a sweep of my body and then frowned "Why do I have a feeling there's a but coming at the end of that sentence?"

Shooting him a sympathetic look I moved out of the office and over to the locker room to get my things. I quickly retrieved my phone and I-pod and shut the locker with the intention of going for a run. The previously useful workout session now seemed pretty insignificant.

"Because there is a but…"

"Which is?" he leaned against the door frame, looking so infuriatingly sexy. I shook my head and remembered what I was talking about before I was cruelly distracted by those muscles.

"You're with someone else. I am not going to be the reason you and her break up, although I have no idea why your with her any way."

"She knows my hearts with someone else Lauren…" he said softly

"Then why are you with her? it's just cruel to lead her on Joey. You wouldn't like it" I pushed passed him and went towards the door, Jamming the handle down several times. Locked. I held my hand out to Joey who was looking very smug. "Keys"

"Don't know what you're talking about…" he folded his arms across his chest, highlighting his physique even more. It should be illegal for him to do that.

"Keys now…I'm not messing Joey"

"Oh I know you're not. But I'm not either. We are not leaving here until everything is out in the open. Until we are able to spend a reasonable amount of time with each other, without wanting to kill or kiss one and other, until you tell me everything about the last 2 years and until I know… that when we leave, there might still be a chance for us."

I turned my back on him and went to the office "I really dislike you"

"I love you too"

Small chapter I know... but I'll be back later, where the drama unfolds :) xxx