Chapter Fifty-Two.
'It's nothing Joey, leave it' Lauren replied with a frown,
'You buy alcohol in the pub which you clearly had every intention of drinking, after you promised me and Phil that if you felt like you needed to drink you would come and find one of us' he frowned at her 'So what happened?'
'Joey please' she scowled, knowing people were looking at her now 'Not here' she said to him.
'Why not here?' he snapped at her angrily. She stood up and reached for his arm but he shrugged her off 'I trusted you Lauren and this is how you repay me? By sneaking around behind my back? Were you going to get drunk?'
'No' she shook her head 'Maybe…I don't know, I hadn't thought that far ahead. I'm sorry' she told him. Lucy, Whitney and Tyler chose that moment to walk into the pub. 'Please can we just go home and talk'
'I'm having lunch with my sister' he told her 'You can either talk to me here, right now, or you can go home and pack up your stuff'
'Okay fine, I went to see Michael' she said to him.
'Michael! I might have known this would have something to do with him, I don't know how many times I've told you I don't like you working for him but you never listen to me, do you hey?'
'Joey…' Lauren blinked at him, getting upset by his sudden and unexpected anger 'I'm sorry…' she whispered.
'You're always fucking sorry Lauren but you never do anything about it. I've told you I don't like the way he talks to you or treats you, or the way he looks at you. He's already made his feelings pretty clear and you just revel in the attention, don't you, hey? I bet you lead him on, flirting with him'
'That's not true! You know I don't' she snapped at him angrily 'I can't believe you're still jealous. You know what? That's not my problem, it's yours' she frowned at him angrily 'and for your information, I tried to call you but your phone was switched off and so was Phil's. So tell me, Joey, when you said you'd always be there for me was that just a lie or did you just mean when it was convenient for you!?' she shouted at him angrily 'you know this is just so typical of you Joey, throwing in the towel when things get tough…. I don't know why I expected anything different this time. God, you're so much like Derek sometimes'
'Don't you dare turn this around on me…and don't you dare compare me to him' anger flashed in his eyes.
'Joey, calm down' Alice said, seeing him shaking with anger.
'Stay out of it, Alice' Lauren and Joey snapped at her, before turning to glare at each other angrily.
They stared at each other, taking deep breaths and Joey felt his anger suddenly dissipate as he looked at the girl he loved, seeing her looking so distraught. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He glanced down at her hand, seeing she'd clenched her hand into a fist so hard that blood was dripping from the bandage.
'Why don't you let me take a look at that' he asked her softly, reaching for her hand. She took a step away from him and he looked at her in surprise.
'No! You don't get to do that! Not after you've accused me of leading Michael on, not after you've embarrassed and humiliated me in front of everyone' she shook her head as angry tears rolled down her cheeks.
'Babe' he took a step forward. He didn't see it coming, no one did; not until they heard the noise of skin connecting with skin as Lauren slapped him hard across the face with her injured hand. He looked at her in surprise as he cupped his stinging cheek with his hand.
'Ouch!' she frowned, cupping her left hand in her right 'You stay away from me, Joseph Branning!' she spat at him 'Do you hear me? We're done' she said and turned, heading for the door. She saw Michael in the way and he'd clearly witnessed the whole thing 'Move!' she hissed at him. He stepped aside and let her out of the pub, a smirk on his face as he watched her leave.
Joey frowned and sat down next to Alice 'Will you go and see if she's okay?' he asked her softly.
Alice nodded getting up and going after Lauren.
AN: Well Joey didn't handle that very well did he? Are Lauren and Joey over? Will Alice help Lauren or will she make things worse? What happens now? I may be persuaded to give you another chapter tonight if you give me at least 12 reviews by 9pm…..but be warned….be careful what you wish for! R&R as always
