Love, Lies & Blackmail.

Chapter 11-

The day before funeral snuck up on the Brannings quicker then they would of hoped. Everything was set and as Lauren lay awake after waking up, she wondered how the past few weeks had come to this moment. She decided to try and have an another hours sleep but it was probably the worst idea she ever had...

Lauren woke up in Derek's house and he was standing over her. Lauren rushed to her feet to see her Uncle smirking at her.

"Uncle Derek, what's going on? I thought you were dead" Lauren said, rubbing her head.

"You'll like that wouldn't you? Me out of the way. But I'm always gonna be here, Lauren. Reminding you how disgusting you are" Derek sneered. Lauren was scared, really scared. Derek grabbed her hair and punched hair.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!" A voice shouted. Lauren turned and saw Joey who looked murderous as he charged at Derek, punching him, kicking him, pushing him down. Lauren watched in shock and as Joey killed his father. Once Derek was dead, Joey stepped away, shocked, with blood on his hands and grabbed Lauren's so she also had blood on her hands. Lauren gasped, staring at her hands.

"We are in this together now" Joey said, staring at her.

Lauren screamed and pushed him away, crying as she stared at the blood on her hands...

The bedroom door barged open. Lauren was still screaming, trashing around in her bed, as she tried to rid herself of her nightmare. Lauren felt arms, trying to calm her, pulling her to reality when she realised who it was. Lauren could tell from the smell she got so immune to, the smell she fell in love with. It was Joey. Lauren let out a high pitch cry, pushing him away.

"Don't touch me" Lauren screamed, freeing herself from Joey's grip and rushed past him to the bathroom where she threw up and not from a hangover but from the fear Lauren felt right now. She stared at herself in the mirror, her skin pale and her eyes puffy from crying. Her dark hair coming out of its ponytail. Lauren took her hair and restyled it then splash water over her face and arms, trying to make sense of the nightmare and this newfound fear of Joey. It didn't make sense. For the past week, since Lauren found out the truth, she would admit it had been awkward but they had fallen into a routine. They had one to one passing in the hallway in a morning where they told each other they loved one another, Joey kissed her forehead then let her passed to go the bathroom then before they went to bed, Joey came to say goodnight to her where Lauren would kiss him on the cheek then they would retreat to their rooms. It seem stupid but it was the routine they had fallen into but now Lauren was faced with a new problem. She thought the biggest problem was to able to trust Joey again but now she was scared of him but didn't know why? This was a big problem, a really big one. Lauren took a big breath and walked out of the bathroom, to see Joey sat down opposite the door. Lauren sighed.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?" Joey asked, standing up.

"It doesn't matter. It was only a dream" Lauren refused to look at him.

"Lauren, seeing you like that made me worried and scared. You know you can tell me anything" Joey replied. So he was scared that she was scared? That's ironic, Lauren thought.

"Just leave me alone, please" Lauren quickly said, rushing to her room and slamming her door, trying to take it all in.

Lauren didn't leave her room for the rest of the day. She didn't eat because she wasn't hungry and she didn't even consume any alcohol.

The next morning, as Lauren woke up, she groaned and placed her pillow over her face as she realised what the day was. Lauren took a quick shower and got ready in her blacks, scared of what the day may bring.

Lauren sat quietly in the living room as her family rushed about around her when she accused herself to go to the toilet where Joey was waiting for her in the hallway.

"Your ignoring me, why?" Joey asked, pulling her aside.

"Today's not the day, Joey" Lauren hissed, trying to ignore the goosebumps that appeared all over the body, every nerve screaming at her to run. Lauren hated feeling like this. She tried to tell herself not to be so stupid. It was Joey , she loves him and he won't hurt her but the thought didn't settle in her system.

"Your shaking, Lauren. Why?" Joey questioned, looking concerned.

"Leave it" Lauren said, close to tears.

"Wait, are you scared of me?" Joey whispered. Lauren didn't say a word but she didn't have to. He got it and realised her arm. Joey looked hurt, lost and Lauren hated herself for feeling like this.

"Lauren, are you ready, darling?" Tanya asked, from the front door.

Lauren nodded "I'm sorry" she whispered to Joey and walked towards her mum.

Short update.

I tried to update earlier but FF didn't like me. So here it is. Will try and update later!:)

Hope you liked :)

xoxo