Chapter 10

Abi sat in the gardens still. She felt faint and clammy. She had suspected something the day she came home from school ill. She heard a door close and turned from her spot on the beach and saw Lauren and Joey. She saw Lauren kiss him goodbye and head down the steps, rushing across the Square to the train station where Lucy was now waiting. She ducked as Joey looked in her direction, but he didn't see her, he was too busy watching Lauren's retreating form before turning and heading back into the house...

Early next morning, Abi woke up and looked over at Lauren's bed. Lauren lay on her stomach, fast asleep. It was obvious she hadn't long since got home. Abi checked her alarm clock and groaned. Five o clock. She groaned and got up. She headed downstairs, hearing Joey snoring in the living room on the sofa. She headed for the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee, sitting down at the table and drifting off into space...

A few hours later, Lauren entered the kitchen. She was surprised to see Abi sat at the table.

'Abi? You okay?' she asked. Abi jumped and blinked.

'Yeah, im fine' she said, looking at her very cold cup of coffee and grimacing. She got up and poured it down the sink, watching as Lauren took two tablets and a sip of water.

'I'm going to go get dressed and go out' said Abi, knowing that if she starting talking to her older sister, she was bound to say something about what she saw. Lauren frowned and looked at the clock.

'Abi, It's nine o clock' Lauren said. Abi didn't say anything, she walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Lauren frowned, but shrugged it off and wandered into the living room, smiling brightly when she saw Joey sprawled on the sofa, one leg stuck out of the quilt he had thrown over his hips.

'It's not nice to stare you know' he said, cracking open an eye. Lauren jumped

'I thought you were asleep?' she said, walking over to him and slapping his leg. He chuckled and moved so she could sit down.

'I was... but then I heard you come downstairs and I woke up' he said, sitting up and yawning. Lauren smiled as she saw his perfect abs.

'Yep. Definitely worth getting up for' she said. Joey looked at her and smirked. He was about to kiss when footsteps were announced on the steps. Joey and Lauren quickly entered a conversation and Tanya walked in.

'Oh morning, you two. I didn't expect you up so soon, Lauren' said Tanya, looking at her daughter

'Yeah well...' said Lauren, clearing her throat a little. Tanya smiled and headed in the direction of the kitchen.

'Want any breakfast?' she called...

Later that day, Abi went to see Cora. She walked to the charity shop and walked in. It was empty, except for Cora. She looked as Abi entered the shop and smiled.

'Hello darling. What brings you here?' Cora asked, as Abi stopped in front of her at the desk. Abi swallowed and looked a little bit scared. Cora frowned.

'Abi? What's wrong?' she said, putting a hand on Abi's shoulder. Abi looked at her Nan and opened her mouth.

'Is it Jay?' asked Cora, stopping whatever was about to come out of Abi mouth

'What? No... It's about Lauren... and Joey' said Abi. Cora straightened up and looked at Abi.

'What about them?' Cora asked, even though she knew what Abi was going to say.

'Lauren and Joey... They were kissing' said Abi, her face expression full of fear...

Lauren and Joey were sat watching a film on TV, when the front door opened. Cora walked into the living room and saw the two people who she wanted watching a film and eating popcorn. She marched up to the TV and switched it off.

'NAN! That was the good bit!' shouted Lauren. Cora folded her arms and Lauren sat back down. Cora ignored her.

'Are Max and Tan at home?'

'No. It's a Saturday. They go into town on a Saturday' answered Lauren, an edge to her voice. Cora smirked.

'I have a little news what you two may be interested in' she said. Lauren and Joey shared a confused look with each other.

'Huh?' said Lauren, at the same time as Joey said

'What you on about?'. Cora smiled and locked eyes with Lauren.

'Abi saw you two last night. Kissing'...

'What do we do? My younger sister saw us...' said Lauren, a few minutes later. After Cora had said that, Lauren had bolted for the door in panic, Joey followed her, eventually tracking her down at the park.

'Lauren, we can't tell them... you know we can't...' said Joey, sitting on the swing next to her.

'I know but... I don't know how long Abi will keep her mouth shut. It's like a time bomb, waiting to go off...' said Lauren, looking down to the ground. Joey sighed. Maybe they should just tell them, get it over and done with.

'Lauren... if you want to tell them... then, ignore what I just said and we'll tell them... if that's what you want' said Joey, kneeling down in front of her and locking their eyes together.

'No, I can't tell them... But I can't stay here and not pretend that I don't feel something for you' said Lauren, her eyes filling with tears. Joey was silent for a few minutes, before realised what she was saying.

'You... you want to run away? Together?' he asked, touching her knee. Lauren looked at his hand, then back into his eyes, nodding.

'If that what it takes to be with you like I want to be... then yes...' she said...

One week later, Lauren and Joey put their plan into action. They waited a week so their parents didn't get suspicious, and plus it gave Lauren chance to say a silent goodbye to her family. Currently, Lauren was in her room, packing her bag and checking her passport, when a knock came to the door.

'Wait a minute!' she said, before shoving the bag under herbed and sitting down on it.

'Come in!' she said. Tanya entered the room, twirling.

'What you think? Your doing taking me out for dinner' she said. Lauren smiled and tears glistened her eyes, but she blinked them back.

'You look beautiful, mum' she said, getting up and giving her mum a hug. Tanya chuckled and hugged her back.

'Thanks, darling. Now, Abi is staying at Lola's, Oscar is at my mums and Joey... well I don't know where he is, but don't wait up, okay?' said Tanya. Lauren nodded and watched as her mum left the room...

An hour later, her phone went off, signalling she had a message.

Meet me outside

J x

Lauren smiled and picked up her bag, giving her room one last look around, before closing the door and heading downstairs. She placed her bag on the floor and took a note out of her jacket pocket and placed it on the table in the hallway, then headed outside with her bag. She saw Joey standing across the Square and rushed to meet him. She dropped her bag and hugged him.

'You okay?' he asked her. He knew how much she was leaving behind. Lauren pulled back from the hug and nodded.

'I will. Now, lets get going' she said, opening the boot and chucking her bag in. Suddenly, a voice stopped them both dead in their tracks.

'JOEY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' shouted Derek from across the Square. Lauren and Joey shared horrified looks and bolted inside the car. Lauren shoved into ignition and the tyres screeched as they drove out of Walford...

Half an hour later, Joey was looking over his shoulder, watching his Dad chase him and Lauren down a main road.

'Jesus, Lauren we've got to loose him!' Joey said

'How!'

'I don't know. Turn left when you next see one!' Joey said hotly. He was mad at himself for getting caught with Derek's car, but madder at Alice as she clearly hadn't distracted him and ruined the whole plan. Lauren swung the car round sharply on the next left turn.

'Jesus, Lauren!' said Joey, letting out a laugh. Lauren giggled and checked her rear view mirror.

'Is he still following us?' asked Lauren, turning her attention back onto the road. Joey turned in his seat and saw nothing behind them.

'No. We did it, Lauren. We did it!' he said, looking at her. Lauren let a huge smile spread across her face and glanced at Joey for a spilt second. But that spilt second changed everything. A car hurled towards them both, the headlights blinding them. Lauren let out a shriek and swerved, losing control of the car.

'LAUREN! BRAKE! HIT THE BRAKE!' screamed Joey

'I AM!ITS NOT STOPPING!' Lauren screamed back, before shards of glass and Joey's scream became the last thing she heard before he world went black...

Dun Dun Dunnn :D