Hellllo again, sorry for the long wait again! i've decided this story will be a weekly update now, usually wednesday, if not thursday... sorry if that disappoints anyone, but i'm awful at managing my time! More sad-ish news is that i have two options i'm considering...

1. i end this story shortly (not until another few chapters) but then i work on a sequel, meaning i'll need a lot longer to write it..

2. i carry on, joining the sequel ideas i have to this one, with weekly updates (ish)

Which one?!

Anyway, short update.. so enjoy!

Lauren's POV

Joey and I had just finished our lunch, him heading over to pay after we'd had a heated discussion on the amount of money he'd spent on me this holiday, him coming out with the bullshit that I was 'worth it' but made my heart melt ten times more; he really could be sweet when he wanted. We headed back to the hotel aware that we hadn't got long until we needed to check out and head off to the airport.

"Eurgh I don't want to leave Joey!" I moaned playfully as we walked hand in hand on the beach. He moved our entwined hands around the front of my body and rested our hands on my shoulder, allowing him to pull me closer. I looked up at him and he leant down and gently brushed his lips against mine.

"Me either babe, but I've told you… we're coming back," he smiled down at me reassuringly.

"I'll hold you to that," I winked back at him, giggling. All the drama and the shit we've been through this holiday had been totally worth it, so far. I shook my head at the doubt poking its way back to front of my thoughts. We continued walking in comfortable silence back to the hotel, seeing my mum and dad as we reached the reception we automatically dropped hands and stepped away from each other, much to our dislike.

"Hey sweetheart," Mum called across, "You all packed and ready?"

"Near enough," I informed her, "Joey and I just went for a bit of lunch." I looked at him and smiled a little before turning back and resting my eyes on Mum, who I must say kept looking between me and Joey rather suspiciously.

"That's nice darling," she smiled at me before eyeing Joey slightly.

"I'm going to go and sort the rest of my stuff out, you coming Lo?" Joey broke the silence that fell between us all.

"Yeah I'll be up in a second," I smiled at him as he walked away towards the lifts, not before running his hand down my back lovingly, making me tingle.

"You okay Lauren? You seem flustered…" Mum inquired, her eyes fixed to the blush in my cheeks, which made me blush more.

"No, I'm just hot, I'm fine," I reassured her, "I'm going to go sort my stuff out too, see you later Mum,"

I smiled at my parents and made my way to the lifts, glancing around and absorbing every aspect of the hotel before we have to leave. Just as I turned the corner to the lifts I felt a strong hold on my arm and a sharp tug out of sight from everyone else. I relaxed immediately realising it could only be Joey, until I turned around.

"R…Rick," I whispered, completely uncomfortable within our proximity. I tensed as I realised his hand still had a firm grasp around my wrist, the pressure he was applying starting to hurt.

"Hello again Lauren," he sneered down at me, his breath tickling my face making me squirm.

"What do you want?" I stuttered, frozen to the spot, refusing to look him in the eye.

"I don't think how your 'boyfriend' treated me was, shall we say, fair?" I could hear a smirk in his voice, as his grip tightened.

"I… I need to go," I whispered, my eyes fixed to floor, refusing but also not being able to look at him.

"No, you need to listen to me," he stated firmly, moving his hand and lifting my chin up forcing me to look at him. "You haven't heard the last from me, Branning. You will regret what happened, I lost my job because of you and your boyfriend. I want you to break up with him. End it, no questions asked, I want him to suffer."

"W-What?" I stuttered, blinking rapidly. How did he know my last name?

"You heard me." He sneered back.

"And what if I don't?" I whispered, testing the waters, "I'm going home today…"

"Back to Walford are we? Albert Square?" He smirked as he rolled off my personal information. "I'm cleverer than you think Lauren."

"H…How do… how do you know that?" I whispered, my voice faltering as my legs became weaker.

"Just do as I say, and you and your cousin will be safe."

What should Lauren do?! Ideas?

R&R thank you! xxxx