Hey! Sorry it's taken me a while to get this one up...

and it's not very long either, but hopefully i'll of written the next installment by the end of today, so that should be up soon:-)

I'm also half-way through a short story, which should be up by the end of next week.

Hope you enjoy!

"What?" I stuttered as my cheeks flushed. Shit. She knew. Of course she did, this is Alice we're talking about! May as well be a detective, she notices everything, how did we think we could keep this from her? I looked up and noticed Abi stood looking at me, her eyes wide and guilt was written over her face. I sighed, knowing it was better that I came out and owned up to it before I had a lecture from Alice. "Look Alice, it just happened, we didn't mean for it to but I, erm, love him" I shrugged and smiled slightly at her, hoping she could understand.

"What?" She asked, obviously not expecting my outburst. My eyes grew wider, she didn't know? "Who? Joe-… Joey?" Her brow furrowed as the information sunk in. "You and Joey?"

I didn't respond, I wasn't actually sure how to. I just looked at her, hoping to read the expression her face held, a mixture between confusion and disgust.

"Lauren?" I nodded slowly towards her, confirming her assumptions.

"Lauren you may as well tell her," Abi said from behind Alice, catching us both off guard. Alice turned to look at her, relaxing me slightly.

"You knew?" She raised her eyebrow as her voice got higher, "Why did no one tell me?"

"We didn't know how Al, Abi guessed and we were going to tell you honestly." I whispered, playing with my hands nervously.

"So you and Joey are together?" She repeated, as if she was trying to get her head around it.

"Yeah," I whispered, bowing my head not being able to look at her.

"Lauren that's sick," She stated. I brought my eyes back to meet at hers, her words as good as stabbing me.

"Alice, they're happy," Abi defended, coming to stand closer. She looked at me and smiled slightly.

"They're cousins," She spat the word cousins and it got me right in the heart. How did we think people were going to understand this.

"You can't help who you fall in love wit-" Abi began defending me again.

"Look Alice, it happened. I've completely fallen for him," I shrugged as I started the next, "We didn't mean for this to happen, over the last 2 weeks we've… got closer and he was there for me when I needed him and" I paused and sighed, "I love him Al,"

"Does he love you?" She asked me, clearly trying to figure it all out. I stayed silent, not knowing whether I was certain myself yet.

"Yes he does," Abi told her, looking at me questioningly. I smiled slightly at her and turned back to Alice.

"I need to find him," she said as she shook her head and left the room. I exhaled deeply when I knew she'd gone and sat down on my bed. Abi still stood watching me, her eyes seeming confused and worried.

"Why didn't you tell her he loved you?" She asked as she walked over to me and sat down next to me. I shrugged in response, not knowing how to approach this subject. "Lauren, you know he loves you don't you?"

"Yeah," I whispered, "Course I do."

"Believe in yourself a bit more!" She placed her hand on my knee and squeezed it gently, "Believe in his feelings Lauren, honestly I've never seen the boy so hooked. You know this isn't normal Joey behaviour, surely that counts for something yeah?"

"Yeah,"

"Talk to him, don't doubt him," she told me, smiling slightly.

"We have, a few times, but I can't shake it Abs. If I bring it up again, he's surely going to get bored of me and run. I can't keep pressuring him to prove himself to me. He shouldn't have to do that!" I began to get worked up and could feel the tears brewing in my eyes. "I should be able to trust his feelings and know that he means what he says, but I can't and I don't know why. I'm terrified I'm going to get hurt," I sighed again as a lone tear descended down my cheek.

"Oh Lauren, honestly! When are you going to get some self-belief eh?" Abi put her arm around me and pulled me into a hug. "I've spoken to him and I know he means what he says, he's completely in love with you Lauren."

"I know," I replied, "I'm being so stupid, I know he is,"

"Then don't question him, okay?" she told me, sounding a lot more serious. "Lauren if you want this to work, you need to trust him completely. There is going to be a whole lot of obstacles in your way when you start telling people and you need to be able to trust each other,"

"I do trust him, completely," I admitted, defending myself, "It's just… I'm scared that when we go home, things will change and he'll realise he doesn't want this, all the hassle of people needing to understand will prove too much for us and he'll leave me. It will kill me Abs,"

"I think, you'll get through it, the both of you. He'll be by your side all the way because he loves you Lauren, that's all that matters" She smiled and squeezed my knee once more. I sighed and smiled back at her.

"I guess," I bowed my head before bringing my eyes back to meet hers, "Thanks Ab"

"Now go and find him, I'm sure Alice will have seen him by now," She stood up, pulling me with her and pulled me in for a hug. "I'll finish your packing,"

"You sure?" I asked. She nodded in response, "Thanks Ab, for everything,"

"Go. Now." She smirked at her seriousness causing me to chuckle slightly, waving as I exited the room.

R&R xxx