Time to hate me again...
Chapter 12- Guilty
The Noise at the Branning's was at an ultimate high, Christmas was always chaotic and it wasn't even there yet, so god knows what the day itself would be like. Number 5 were having the weekly dinner with the Tate's when Lauren arrived home from the doctors, it had completely slipped her mind that it was Tuesday, she had more pressing things to worry about. Groaning heavily when she saw their car outside her house, she had to literally drag her feet to the steps in petition of not running away. Not wanting to be seen or heard she quietly slipped her key into the lock.
She stood in the hallway against the wall catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she didn't look any different, other than the slight reddened eyes from crying. Maybe she could get away with this with all the questions, for that day at least. The sounds of Max and Derek could be heard from the lounge, it sounded like they were watching some football game. Abi and Alice sounded like they were playing up stairs and Julie and her Mum were in the kitchen. That left Joey and Oscar assuming he'd actually gone of course. By the time she'd made the decision to move the front door swung open and Oscar ran in closely followed by Joey.
"Loz… Joey's just showed me to kick!" at three Oscar was a very energetic kid, much to loud and much too time consuming for Lauren, but she couldn't deny she loved him and was willing to do pretty much anything to protect him from their parents arguments.
"Your back!" Tanya appeared in the kitchen doorway carrying a dish of vegetables. She quickly scurried to the lounge placing the on the table and reappearing to a rather strained atmosphere.
Joey was holding a guarded stance by the door, still clutching to the football he and Oscar he been using. He so desperately wanted to break the silence. But where the hell would he start? Lauren wasn't much better either, her emotions were still running high and were threatening to explode again.
"Everything ok?" Tanya smiled; although she was sure things weren't ok, she wanted the two of them to admit it.
The two teen's exchanged a look, Joey raised an eyebrow at her almost in challenge. Instead of responding, Lauren glanced at him with weak eyes and shook her head. "Everything's fine Mum"
Although far from the truth Tanya excepted it as an answer "Good, things at the doctors go ok?" her daughter nodded and smiled. "alright then, glad to hear it, you two go in dinners done". Lauren moved forwards into the living room shrugging her coat onto the sofa in the process.
"Doctors?" Lauren shivered at Joey's whispered words, as he sat down at the table next to her.
"Later" she replied daring a glance at him as her Mum and Julie Bounced in with the rest of the food.
"Now" he said more firmly
"Later!" Joey nodded at her answer not wanting to push her, satisfied that at least she wasn't ignoring him now.
Everyone ate their dinners with smiles and small talk, but not Lauren; she barely touched her food, the smell making her stomach churn. She brought another fork full to her mouth and noticed every set of eyes on her as she significantly paled. She closed her eyes as the contents of what she'd just eaten made itself present in her stomach.
Joeys hand instantly went to her back, but she flew up from the chair. "Lauren?" they all stared at each other, confusion and concern filling their features as she almost floated from the room. They continued eating a little while until Lauren was calling from the kitchen.
Between her retching and crying, she'd managed to call out for her Mum, reluctantly though, I might add, but she was sure this thing in her was doing its best to get noticed.
"Alright darling, get it up…" Tanya was behind her holding her hair back and gently running her hand up and down her arm. "all done?" Lauren nodded and slumped against the work top, tears tumbling down her face. "Here…wipe your mouth and drink this"
Lauren did as she was told taking the tissue and then a long gulp of the cold water. Big mistake, it was too cold as it her stomach and she was sick again. "Joey…" she breathed
Tanya looked at her blankly for a second "Say that again darling" she soothed gently
"Joey…get Joey"
"I don't think that's a good idea Lauren do you? We all know what's happened between the two of you"
"Please… Need to talk to him…" her breathing was beyond normal. Just another thing she had no control over. Tanya sat her in a chair, staring at her for a few seconds and despite what her first instincts were telling her, she went and fetched Joey.
The door shut softly a moment later and Joey stood silently in the doorway. Laurens eyes snapped up to his and the tears fell again. He could see she was struggling with whatever was on her mind; you could virtually hear the cogs turning in her head. "You ok?"
Lauren scoffed, what was with people asking that question? She breathed in deeply and shook her head. "I read your texts…" she whispered, still staring at the table. Joey moved to sit in the chair next to her.
"And…" he questioned, his head falling to his hands.
"I sent you one back" Joey got his phone out; obviously he hadn't yet read the message until now. You could see him read over the message a couple of times and swallow deeply as he realised the words behind the text.
"What kind of problem do we have?" his voice wobbling
"The kind that you'll get to see in about 7 months' time"
"Shit Lauren" he stood abruptly and sent his chair crashing "please tell me you aren't"
"What pregnant... oh sorry was that not mean to happen? Call it your prize for winning your bet" she hissed
"Fuck… If you'd have read the messages and not been so fucking uptight, this might not have happened!" she glared at him in horror as he paced the room.
"Ye because I planned for this didn't I this was my dream, to be knocked up at 16 by a cocky prick who fucked me for a bet!" she crumbled again sagging into the chair.
He took a deep breath and sighed, kneeling by her on the floor "Look at me, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to shout… you know I didn't sleep with for a bet Lauren, in spite of what you might think, I actually liked you… I still do. I really like you Lauren, if you wanted to keep the baby, I'd help you. I won't leave"
"Keep it?" she whispered, Joey nodded "I don't want to keep it Joey… I was all for aborting the thing until I saw it had a heartbeat…and that would be like murder- which I couldn't do. As soon as it's out of me it's gone, adopted by someone who actually wants it"
Sorry ... poor Joey and Lauren... back tomorrow xx
