Chapter 11

So the last chapter contained lines from snow white "There's nobody like him anywhere at all" "well did he say he loved you?" and "Did he steal the kiss" no one found it :(

One line in this one …

Joey was beside himself the next few days, he'd repeatedly quizzed his uncle on Lauren, but he never got very far at all; 9 times out of 10 he'd be more confused (and concerned) than he was before the conversation.

"Well, there's a sight I never thought I'd see" Joey laughed walking towards Lauren, jumping a little that he was actually getting to see her. Unfortunately she had other ideas, gripping tighter to the pushchair and speeding off down the street. "Lauren? Wait up babe"

It had been two weeks since Lauren had discovered that she was Joey's secret girl and she'd still not taken any action. To be honest she'd taken the total opposite approach and had done everything in her power to avoid him at all costs. It had been much more of a challenge than she first expected; Joey being more involved in Laurens life than first thought.

He jogged a little to catch up with her movements "God Lauren, you in a rush or something? I've been calling you and you just rushed off"

"I didn't here you" she shot, her voice blunt. "Look Joey did you want something, only I've got to get him back inside, it's pretty cold." She'd stopped now, right in the middle of the street, almost tripping Joey up in the process when he hadn't realised her abrupt stop.

He frowned at her, seeing the tension on her face "you're lying to me" he accused.

"I am not. It's really cold. James shouldn't be out in the cold, he's not been well" she frowned at him, beginning to rock the pram back and forth as James started to murmur.

"You are. I know you are. Your nose is twitching, it always does when you lie." Lauren looked down at her nose, going a little cross-eyed in the process. Joey smirked "see… twitching. Now tell me why you've been avoiding me the late two weeks" he stuffed his hands into his pockets, unintentionally giving Lauren a view she much appreciated. He watched her eyes flit down his body for a second and then to his face.

"Not here" she sighed, Joey nodding in response, following her back across the square . "I'm staying at uncle Jacks" she mumbled, noticing the puzzled look on Joeys face. After she'd returned home the day of her discovery, she'd had yet another row with her parents. So consequently, she'd been spending a lot of time at Jack and Ronnie's and babysitting James.

*JL*JL*

Reaching the flat, Joey helped her get the pram in doors, it had gone pretty cold now and he was sure there was sleet in the air, which wasn't uncommon for November. Joey looked up at Lauren as she groaned she was practically dithering.

She was beginning to take James out of the pram when Joey's hand rested on hers. He felt the tension rise through her, her breath hitching. "Why don't you go and put the kettle on, warm up a little. I'll sort James."

A small smile tugged her lips, Joey looking after a baby ? Really ?

"What ? I'm not completely useless, and he's just a cute little bundle of… trouble" Joey groaned as James Screamed "Wow…"

"Thought you said you weren't useless ?" Lauren smiled taking the baby from him, it only took her a couple of seconds to settle him. She disappeared for a few minutes returning with sleepy James and a bottle. Joey was still standing in the same place when she returned, his mouth open a little. "you look like a goldfish Joe, close your mouth"

He shook his head a little and closed his mouth, following Lauren as she went into the sitting room. "so, you going to talk to me now then?"

"We are taking"

"Very funny. You know what I mean." he narrowed his eyes, gaging her response, which was a very loud sigh. She got up after realising James was asleep and put him in his cot, closing the door softly behind her.

"I don't want to get in your way, I'm sure you have other things to be doing" her eyes flicked to him "you might wanna find this girl... I'm in the way" she whispered nervously. Her fingers becoming very interesting as she twiddled them together.

"What? Lauren thats silly."

She shrugged "we spend nearly every day together, maybe some time apart will be good and you can find this girl" her sentence trailed off as she realised she was practically encouraging Joey to inadvertently find her. Joey stood, and took a seat next to Lauren.

He reached over and took her hand "I happen to like spending my days with you Lauren, just because I want to find this girl, it doesn't mean I don't want to spend time with you babe…"

"It doesn't?" Joey chuckled at the surprise in her voice.

"your my best friend Lauren and anyway, I do actually need your brains if I'm ever going to find this girl"

Joey watched her smirk and then nod "you are pretty thick" she teased.

"Exactly, two weeks I've been trying and I'm still none the wiser as to who she is !"

Lauren blushed a little and sighed "It's ...I'm" he raised his brow at her "I'm going to be helping you then ye?"

"Well you did say you would" Joey smiled, none the wiser that if he was to find his mystery girl, he'd be needing Lauren more then he knew.

so was Lauren about to tell him ? Should she tell him ? Next chapter up Monday...i'm at work tomorrow ! How horrible is that working on a Sunday in this heat too ;) any one find the quote? Xxx