Life's too short

Deciding to stay at Joey's probably wasn't the best idea, I was still pretty angry with what happened between Lucy and I, that I ended up taking out whatever I was feeling on Joey. I didn't want to, it just happened, god that girl really infuriates me. Punching her was another thing I shouldn't have done, but it just felt so good, I was just left unsure how she would play it, would I find myself behind bars again? Or would she want something else in return.

As I lay in bed with Joey, my back towards him, I could sense he was still awake. Firstly he was fidgeting, clearly unsure what to say to me, whether to put him arms around me like he usually does when we sleep or whether just to leave me be whilst I cooled off. I wasn't sure what I wanted him to do if I was being honest, what Lucy had said really got to me. Of course Joey couldn't remember if anything happened between him and Lucy, she was most likely lying but the fact that something might have happened it was bugged me.

"Babe" he whispered, the room pitch black.

"What Joey?" I replied a little harshly.

"Please Lauren, I hate us being like this" he said, his voice a little strained.

"Shouldn't of slept with slut Beale then should you" I hissed.

"You know what it's unfair you taking this out on me, I'm sleeping downstairs" he huffed, taking me by surprise as the bed dipped down, I rolled over seeing the door shut behind him. As the tears formed in my eyes I suddenly felt guilty, he was right I was being unfair, letting Lucy drive a wedge between us when we had been doing so well. Rolling onto his side of the bed, the loneliness set in, this was what it was like when I was without Joey, I felt lonely, angry and upset and it always came down to Lucy being that cause. Deep in my heart I knew that he wouldn't of slept with Lucy, but for some reason I always let her wind me up and get under my skin. Sitting up on the bed, I picked up Joey's tracksuit bottoms from the bedroom floor pulling them up my legs.

Creeping out of his room, being careful not to disturb Alice, I made my way downstairs, I had some making up to do. Opening the living room door I found Joey lying on the sofa, his legs half hanging off, he was too tall to sleep on the couch. Bending down near his face, my hands gently stroke through his hair, a small smile creeping onto his lips.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, his eyes flickering open meeting mine.

"I'm sorry too baby" he smile his hand reaching out for me, pulling me on top of him, my body lying across his.

"Why is she hell bent on destroying us?" I asked, my hand placed over his t-shirt covered chest.

"She's just jealous, I told her it was always you right from the start, I guess I hurt her" he replied, sighing into my hair.

"What do you mean it was always me from the start?" propping myself up on his chest to look at him.

"Moment we met, you had me, I was yours from then on, the rest was just biding time until we got together" if the darkness wasn't deceiving me he was blushing slightly.

"Wow" I whispered a little shocked at his admission. "Didn't realise you felt that way".

"I love you Lauren" almost stating it, making me believe it.

"I love you too" I replied, resting my head back down on his chest, finally feeling as if I could sleep.

"Psst" I could hear in my ear the following morning. Rubbing my eyes I noticed me and Joey were still downstairs, him asleep underneath me, his arms cocooned around me providing the warmth usually needed by a duvet.

"Lauren" Alice whispered, by the door.

"Alright Al?" I whispered back trying not to wake Joey.

"Yeah, just wanted to check you were both okay?" she looked a little worried "I saw you leave the club, then I heard Joey come down here, everything alright?".

"Yeah we just had a little disagreement, Lucy stirring things, were fine I promise" I smiled back reassuring her, as she grinned a little closing the living room door behind her.

Joey began stirring his arms tightening around me once more as his eyes flickered open, his hair slightly messy. "Hi babe" he croaked, sleep still heavy in his voice.

"Hey you, I had a really comfy sleep" I squirmed on him, watching as he rolled his eyes at me, shifting a little.

"So did I regards of a dead weight on me" he chuckled, as my mouth dropped open a little bit at his cheekiness.

"Dead weight aye?" I smirked, my hands tickling his sides as he squirmed. My phone rang loudly breaking my movement as the text message appeared on the screen. Lucy, ugh.

"What does she want babe?" Joey asked a little worried, as he read her message.

"To meet her in the café, no doubt she's going to blackmail me somehow" I sighed, closing my phone, pulling myself from him.

"Call me straight after babe" he stated, following me upstairs to get changed.

"I will Joey, chill babe" I sighed, pulling out my leggings and jumper from a drawer in his room. Yes, I did have some clothes at his house now, in my very own draw, check me out.

Heading over to the café shortly after, I found it empty, clearly she had shut it for half an hour so we could talk.

"Lucy?" I called opening the door, as she was stood behind the counter. Her face slightly bruised from where I had punched her.

"I want to talk, not fight" she commented, moving to a table and sitting down.

"Same, look I shouldn't have punched you I'm sorry but you got to realise your constant jabs at my relationship with Joey is really wearing thin" I sighed, rubbing my eyes tiredly.

"Lauren you're going out with my ex-boyfriend, I'm allowed to be angry" she replied firmly, true she had a point.

"We've been together for so long now, why can't you get over it?" I asked.

"Because I'm so angry, he was using me the whole time, he only ever wanted you" she hissed, wiping her now teary eyes.

"And I'm sorry for that, I didn't know that, but you need to move past this, me and Joey were for keeps, saying he slept with you and causing arguments isn't going to change anything between us, he loves me I love him" I stated.

"We didn't sleep together, he was wasted and he kept saying your name in his sleep" she whispered, ducking her head a little.

"I know you didn't, I could tell by your face, but why lie?" I asked, feeing this weight lift from my shoulders as I knew the truth.

"I wanted to hurt him, like he hurt me, loosing you was the only way" she replied, she looked a little ashamed.

"Look I need to go, but I want us to be civil, but you really need to back off Joey" standing up I moved towards the door, looking back at her once more. Maybe we could move ahead, find our way back to a friendship? Life's to short sometimes…