Chapter Twenty Five.
Joey helped Lauren climb out of the bath, wrapping the towel carefully around her. He patted her tender skin dry gently, being careful not to jar her sore skin. He led her back into her room and she slipped on some knickers while he grabbed the lotion for her skin. He spent quite a while dabbing it caringly onto her back and legs, silence ebbing between them. Neither of them had anything to say and so an atmosphere built within the room.
Joey sat on the floor, watching her as she dressed in comfortable clothes. She grabbed her hairbrush and started to pull it through her hair, wincing when it encountered a knot. She glanced at Joey, seeing the way he was watching her. "I think I'd like to be on my own to think about things for a little while..." she said, "Is that okay?" she asked.
"Of course it is..." he said, his heart breaking once more as she pushed him away.
"Thanks Joe." She said, smiling at him sadly.
He got to his feet, all the while wishing she would change her mind, but she didn't. He walked slowly to the door, pausing briefly, "I'll be downstairs then... if you need me..." he told her. He left the room quickly, not waiting to see if she'd say anything, already knowing she wouldn't. He was tempted to walk out of the house but he'd told her he'd be downstairs and, despite the pain she was causing him, he didn't want her to start doubting what he said to her further by leaving the house. He walked through the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of beer from the fridge and opening it. He sat at the table, taking swigs from it. He'd put his mobile phone on the table in front of him, turning it over and over in his hand as he thought things through. When he was about a third of the way through the bottle he lifted his mobile and dialled a number.
It was answered after a couple of rings, "Joey?"
A/N: Poor Joey… he's feeling pretty bad right now… but who exactly is it on the phone? Short chapter… but you know me… like to have a good cliffhanger every now and again. Send me a review and let me know what you think. Back tomorrow…