A/N: BOO! ahha, one quick update before i leave! how kind am i? And it's full of drama!

The four of us headed into a club on the high street, Joey went over to buy drinks and I followed leaving Abi and Alice to dance.

'You know, if it was just me and you here, we wouldn't have to hide' he shouted down at me over the music.

I smiled and grasped his hand, not caring who saw. 'They won't notice' I said confidently.

Still holding my hand, he put the same arm around me so my arm was across my chest. It felt so normal, and relaxed. We weren't hiding and it was perfect.

'Here' he handed me my drink and paid the barman.

'Thank you' I replied sipping my cocktail.

We finished our first drinks and watched as Abi and Alice danced without a care in the world.

'Do you wanna' dance baby?' Joey asked looking straight at me.

I shook my head, 'Can we go outside? It's too warm in here'

'Sure' Joey replied as he grasped my hand ordinarily. 'We need to tell Al and Abi first'

He pulled me over to them and whispered in Alice's ear and I saw her nod, they both waved and Joey lead the way out of the club. Around the back of the club was a garden with a few benches where we both took a seat and Joey pulled me into him so I was leaning on his chest.

'You okay beautiful?' he asked stroking my hair, our hands still entwined.

'Yeah, I'm fine thank you' I answered quietly.

'No, seriously, what is up? You've been quiet since dinner..' he looked at me concerned.

I sat up and looked straight into his eyes, desperately trying to read what he was thinking or feeling. With no luck I sighed and leaned in and kissed him gently, I rested my head on his forehead as I felt him stroke my knuckles with the pad of his thumb.

'Talk to me baby' he said, his eyes full of worry as his free hand reached up and stroked my cheek.

'I just wish I knew what you were thinking and feeling.' I answered with a sigh.

'Then just ask me, honestly there's no pressure.' He replied, our foreheads still touching.

Every part of me wanted to know exactly what he was feeling, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. Instead I just went back to leaning on his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. We sat there for around half hour in silence. Joey stroked my knuckles with his thumb and he'd occasionally kiss the top of my head. What was this meaning to him?! It was killing me not knowing.

'We should go check on the other two' I finally said, breaking the silence. I felt Joey nod and I sat up, he pulled me up and we walked hand in hand back inside. I noticed Abi and Alice, still happily dancing and I smiled. They looked genuinely happy and so carefree. I glanced around and my eyes fixated on someone. My heart started racing and a lump formed in my throat. I'd avoided him so far, but why was he here? Coming to try another girl?

'What's the matter?' Joey shouted down to me as he saw my gaze.

I nodded towards the door, where there was a table of just him. I felt Joey's hand tighten as he realised who it was. I could tell Joey was getting angry, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop him from hurting him, but I didn't even want to. The last few days, I'd forgotten about it, I'd told myself it was nothing and it could have been a lot worse, I knew that but it still happened and if it wasn't for Joey, god knows where I'd be now. I hated him, Rick.

'Joey please, can we just go?' I asked nervously, not taking my eyes off of Rick.

'I'm not leaving yours and my sister here while that bastard is here' he snapped. I was shocked he snapped at me, it was the first time he had. I felt his hand relax as his eyes softened when they fixed on me. 'Sorry, I-I just..'

'I know' I squeezed his hand gently and pulled him to Abi and Alice. Rick hadn't noticed me or Joey and I didn't want him too, I wasn't sure what he'd do.

'Abs, please can we go?' I begged my sister

'You go! We'll be fine!' She shouted over the music. I sighed.

'No please, just trust me. We need to go' I begged her more.

'What's going on?' She questioned, I knew she would get this out of me, there was no way she was going to leave unless I explained. She moved her eyes to notice mine and Joey's hands entwined.

'I'll explain when we're back, please just trust me Abi! Alice, please!' I started to panic, dropping Joey's hand. Just being in the same room as him scared me, terrified me. I never wanted to see him again and yet there he was, calm as the sea outside.

I turned around to Joey who nodded and lead out of the crowd, Abi and Alice following. We collected our things and headed for the door when I looked round to see him staring straight at me. I couldn't tell he if was smirking, but every fibre in my body stood on end, tears prickled in my eyes and I tugged Joey's arm grasping his hand once again.

'Joey' I said nervously. Joey turned and looked straight at Rick as he began to walk towards us. I was frozen, terrified and squeezing Joey's hand so hard I was sure it was going to be numb.

'Why hello' Rick said calmly.

'Leave, now.' Joey warned as I cowered behind him.

'You look lovely Lauren' Rick stated looking straight at me, 'want to dance?'

'I said leave. You did enough thank you' Joey stepped closer towards him. My tears began to fall and I was shaking, I'd never been so afraid. It was a new afraid, I was scared for Joey. I'd never been so scared for someone else, I'd never cared for someone as much as I did for him – apart from Oscar, but this was different.

'Who is he Lauren?' Alice asked me quickly glancing down to see my hand in Joeys again. I let go again quickly, not knowing if I could handle being out of touch with him, not now.

'I'm Rick, nice to meet you' he looked at Alice and held out his hand and she reached out to shake.

'Do not go anywhere near my sister.' Joey threatened. 'I suggest you go'

'Why would I want to do that?' Rick joked.

'Lauren, take the others outside, please' Joey asked sympathetically.

'I'm not leaving you' I said calmly, never taking my eyes off Rick.

'Please, I'll be fine, trust me' Joey reassured.

I turned to leave as I heard Rick laugh. As we got outside I immediately felt sick, tears began to prickle in my eyes once again and I turned to head back inside.

'Lauren wait!' Abi called. 'What is going on? With him? With you and Joey?' she lowered her voice when she asked the final question.

'Just stay here' I yelled back dismissing her questions.

I stood just inside watching as Rick wound Joey up. Joey clenched his fists and began to raise his voice.

'You make me sick. What gives you the right to go anywhere near Lauren?' he shouted in Ricks face.

'She was begging for it mate!' Rick argued back. My stomach was churning.

'And then my sister? You have already hurt a girl I love, don't you dare go anywhere near a second. You're pathetic' Joey shouted.

My mouth dropped open as I registered what Joey had just said. He just said he loved me, did he? He probably didn't mean it, spur of the moment, I kicked myself. My heart began to race and tears began to flow. I loved him, a lot.

I ran towards him and entwined my hand in his before he saw me. He looked down at me, unaware of how long I'd been standing there listening. 'Lauren,' he said sighing.

'Leave us alone Rick' I finally found my voice. 'You had no right to force me into anything, I didn't want you, I never wanted you and I most certainly was not begging for it.'

Joey looked down realising I'd heard some of the conversation. I kept my eyes fixated on Rick as he turned speechless. His shocked face turned into a smirk before he spoke.

'Bit feisty aren't you?' he joked.

Before I knew it Joey had punched him to the ground.

'Joey!' I shouted, terrified for his safety.

'He had it coming.' He said calmly, 'now do not come near any of us again. Got it?'

Rick nodded and Joey turned to lead me out of the building, we walked in silence and I squeezed his hand. I felt him squeeze back and I knew he was okay.

'Come on, lets get you home' he said sympathetically.

A/N: hope you enjoyed! Thank you so much for your reviews, i love reading them! See you next week, R&R xxx