A/N: Hello!
I good news and an apology!
Apology, well i'm sorry i haven't updated for what seems like agesssssss! I have had no time to write with college stressing me out to the max!
But the good news is, this isn't the last chapter! I kinda had an idea i wanted to follow up with this, so expect at least another 2 chapters...
I'm not sure when i'll be able to post again as i have so much college work to do followed by 9 exams! :( But here you go, enjoy! R&R please! xxx
When I returned to my room, Alice was showering and Abi was sat on the bed on the phone, most likely to Jay. I smiled slightly at Abs and lay back on my bed letting my mind drift back to Joey. I couldn't believe how far we'd come in such a short time. I'd only known him around 6 months, but where we were at now it felt like he'd been around all my life; just not as my cousin. I'd never fallen this hard for anyone and I'd never felt so confident around someone. He brought out an amazing side to me, made me a better person; as soppy as that sounds. I smiled to myself with this thought in mind.
'Lauren?... Earth to Lauren?' I heard faintly and I turned my head towards Abi with a raised eyebrow. 'Oh welcome back.' She shook her head trying to look stern but I noticed a small smile.
'Sorry Abs, in a world of my own there,' I admitted with a smile.
'Care to share?' she asked me hopefully.
'Erm,' I wasn't sure I was ready to tell her everything.
'Lauren you may as well tell me, if you don't I'll only guess,' Abi told me as she raised her eyebrow.
'Abs it's complicated…' I began before sighing and moving to look at her directly. 'We didn't mean for it to happen, it just kind of did and I'm as surprised as you will be and-' I went on before she interrupted me.
'So you and Joey?' she asked quietly, not one hundred percent sure. I nodded slowly and avoided eye contact with her.
'I guess so yeah, we just kind of fell into it,' I told her hoping she'd understand.
'Wow,' was the only thing she said.
'Abi you can't say anything please, and I know you probably don't agree with it and don't understand and to be honest I don't at the moment. The only thing I'm certain is I love him and he makes me happy and I don't-'
'You, love him?' She asked, once again interrupting me. I looked up at her as her mouth dropped in disbelief. I couldn't help but smile slightly and blush.
'Yeah, I do' I admitted with a small shrug.
'Oh' she muttered, detaching her eyes from mine. 'Does it not feel…wrong?'
'No.' I snapped, 'nothing has felt this right in a long time Abi, honestly'
She nodded her head and paused for a moment.
'I can't understand it though Lauren,' She admitted to me. My heart sank, if Abi; the most understanding person I know can't accept us, then how can we expect anyone else to? How could we go back home tomorrow and be a couple? I have never wanted anything to work so badly and now I know; it can't in public. We can't hide forever.
I bowed my head and nodded slightly. 'Abi, if I'm honest I don't understand it either. But honestly, Joey makes me better. I don't even think about alcohol when I'm with him, it hasn't even crossed my mind. The other night when I went out with that Rick, he found me and brought me home and refused to let me leave without knowing I was okay. He's so caring Abs and he's everything I need right now. I've never been so sure of something.' I sighed feeling relieved I had finally told someone how I was feeling. She didn't respond, just stared at me blankly.
'I wasn't aware it was this serious Lo, like I thought it may have been one or two awkward kisses between drunk cousins. But you're serious aren't you? You genuinely mean this.' She explained with a pained expression drawn onto her face, confused and worried.
I nodded and shrugged slightly.
'Neither of us meant for it' I told her hoping to ease the worry. She withdrew her eyes from mine and stood up, looking around the room before grabbing her sunglasses and heading for the door. I watched carefully not knowing what to do or say. I didn't want an argument, Alice was in the bathroom and I couldn't deal with her knowing too.
'I need some air Lo,' she shook her head before leaving the room, the door resting shut behind her. I fell back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. What were we going to do? I thought Abi would understand, she knew some things so I thought it wouldn't shock her. I turned over and buried my head into my pillow and screamed, the muffled sound reaching Alice just as she made her way out of the bathroom.
'You okay Lauren?' She asked concerned as she looked around the room. 'And where did Abi go?'
'Yeah, just a headache Al and erm she went for a walk I think… didn't say where' I lied, feeling bad but knowing I couldn't tell her the truth. 'Oh yeah Al, I scared my sister away when I told her I was in love with our cousin… your brother' Yeah not happening.
I sat up on my bed, a million and one thoughts running through me. Just as I closed my eyes my phone buzzed.
J: I miss you already x
I wanted to smile and cry and sing and dance out of happiness, anything he says or does makes me the happiest girl alive. He was incredible. But how could I be happy? No one will accept us; no one will take us seriously so this cannot work. My heart sank at the idea and tears formed in my eyes so I quickly turned away to face anything but Alice as I typed out my reply.
L: Abi knows Joe.
Why was I being harsh on him, he'd done nothing wrong! Eurgh.
J: Oh, what happened?x
L: She doesn't understand and then she walked out and I have no idea where she went. This is such a mess.
J: Babe, she's one person! It shouldn't matter what people think, you know I love you x.
L: And you know I care what people think Joe, we'll talk later. I love you x
J: I love you too xx
A/N: Leaving you on a bit of a cliff-hanger here ;-)
Hope i didn't disappoint!