Thanks to Fran for helping me out with this chapter :D Enjoy :D
Two weeks later, Julia had some news for Lauren. Lauren was currently drawing a picture of her and Joey, after she gave Abi her iPod and asked her to print a picture of them off, so she could sketch it. She was concentrating on putting the finishing touches into it. She put down her pencil and nodded in approval. She jumped when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned round and saw Julia standing behind her, a sheet in her hands. Lauren knew exactly what it was instantly.
'No!' she said, turning back to her drawing. Julia sighed and sat next to her.
'Lauren, it's a night release form... Not a day release one'. Lauren stopped tidying up her things and slowly looked at Julia.
'Night release?'
'You get to spend a night at home, Lauren. With your family... don't you want that?' Julia watched as Lauren processed the information and then slowly reach for the form...
The next evening, Joey was working in R&R, serving people when Sharon tapped him on the shoulder.
'I'll finish this... you need to get back to Max's. He's say its bout Lauren!' she shouted over the music. Joey's eyes widened and quickly pushed the drink into Sharon's hands, rushing out from behind the bar and up the steps to the entrance. He rushed across the Square to the Brannings house, slamming the door open, to see Max, Tanya and Abi sitting in the kitchen.
'What's happened? Sharon said it was Lauren! What's happened? Is she okay?' Joey rambled, a million thoughts running through his head. Max chuckled at his nephews questions.
'Joey, calm down! Everything's fine. Just go in the living room' he said, smiling at him. Joey frowned and swung the living room door open, seeing Lauren curled up on the sofa, watching him.
'Hey, babe' she said, smiling slightly. Joey let out a laugh, slamming the door shut and scooping Lauren up into his arms. She let out a surprised shriek and giggled, as her arms wrapped themselves round his neck, with her legs round his waist.
'How long you here for?' Joey asked
'I've got my first night out tonight' said Lauren, as they sat back on the sofa, her in his lap.
'What? Who you going out with?' Joey asked frowning
'What? No...' Lauren cut herself off as laughter escaped her lips. Joey realised what she meant
'Oh! You mean a night at home! That's great, babe!' He said, chuckling. Lauren saw a faint blush appear on his cheeks
'Awww is my baby embarrassed?' she teased lightly
'No' said Joey. Lauren smiled cheekily and Joey tickled her, laughter escaping her lips as she felt back against the sofa
'You know the code to stop me, babe. Say it' said Joey, smirking at Lauren.
'J... Dad! Help me!' shouted Lauren, through her laughter. Max poked his head round the door and smiled.
'Sorry, darling. You brought it on yourself. We're dropping Oscar off at Jacks and then going for a drink in the Vic... That okay?' asked Max. Joey and Lauren froze at the mention of Jacks name, Joey to see how Lauren would react, and Lauren in slight fear.
Yeah, that's fine' said Joey, turning round to smile at Max. Max smiled back and him, Tanya, Abi and Oscar left the house, leaving Joey and Lauren alone.
'You okay?' Joey asked, letting Lauren sit up. She was shaking a little bit, but she nodded.
'Yeah I'm alright. Just shook me that's all... knowing he's across the Square from me' she said, looking at Joey intensely. He looked back at her, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. His hand staying in her hair, his thumb stroking her cheek.
'Lauren...' he whispered, before her lips crushed his. His other hand tangled into her hair. He pushed her gently back down onto the sofa, the kiss turning rough and passionate. Lauren broke the kiss for air, but Joey continued to kiss down her neck, keeping up his rough assault. Lauren let out a moan and pulled his lips back to hers. She felt her hands pull his jacket off his body and threw it somewhere in the room, his shirt soon disappearing as well. Joey broke the kiss and stood up, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. He crushed their lips back together and picked her up, wrapping her legs round his waist and headed for the stairs...
Tanya, Max and Abi were in the Vic, sipping their drinks. Abi was having a debate in her head whether or not to ask her mum and dad a question about Lauren. Eventually, she didn't to ask them.
'Mum, Dad... Do you think Lauren will ever be the same again?' Max and Tanya blinked at their youngest daughter
'I don't know, darling, if I'm honest' said Max, smiling slightly at Abi
'I feel like I don't know her anymore... She doesn't act like the Lauren I truly know' said Abi, feeling slightly better at confiding in her parents
'Isn't that a good thing? I mean, she's not drinking anymore, nor making a play-'
'Whoa! Don't go down that route, Tan! Don't!' said Max, taking a long drink of his beer. Tanya put her hands up in surrender and drank some of her wine. Abi sighed and pulled out her phone, texting Jay and Lola, wanting to escape the tension she had caused between her parents...
Joey and Lauren lay together in her bed, Laurens head resting on his arm, his fingers stroking her hair, while her fingers were tracing patterns on his chest. His fingers of his other arm lightly stroking her arm, trailing down to her wrist and bringing it to his lips, kissing the scars gently. Goosebumps appeared on Lauren skins, which he smirked at.
'Glad I have that effect on you' he whispered, kissing her lips softly. Lauren smiled as he pulled away and turned to glance on her table and groaned.
'My mum, Dad and Abi could be back any minute' she said. She reached onto the floor and grabbed Joey's t shirt, throwing it over her body. Joey sat up and wrapped his arms round her.
'Babe, when are you going to tell your parents what happened that night?'
'What makes you think I'm telling them?' asked Lauren, turning her head to face him
'Well, I though now your getting better, you'd find the courage to tell them' said Joey, frowning slightly
'Well, you thought wrong!' said Lauren, climbing out her bed and pulling her jeans on. Joey climbed out, his boxers on and frowned at Lauren again.
'What?! Lauren you have to tell them. You can't let him get away with what he did!' argued Joey
'Drop it, Joey! I'm telling them and that's that!'
'So, what? You're just going to let your fear of Jack take hold of you for good? Jesus Lauren, I want you better. I want you here in my arms, not in the hospital! The only way you're going to get home, Lauren, is to tell the truth to your family... Or I will' said Joey, leaving the room...
The next morning, things were tense between Lauren and Joey. They avoided each other, even at breakfast and lunch. Lauren spent the day texting Kaye, Martin and Maddie and also doing some drawings. By the time tea time rolled round, Joey and Lauren hadn't spoken a word to each other all day. Lauren sat down opposite Joey and stabbed her roast potatoes violently with her fork, making Max wince and move his plate away from her slightly.
'You going to tell them, Lauren?' said Joey, halfway through the family tea. Max, Tanya and Abi looked at Lauren, while Lauren shot Joey a killer stare.
'Shut it, Joey' she said, pursing her lips
'Tell them, Lauren' Joey repeated
'Tell us what?' asked Max, frowning and looking between Lauren and Joey
'Nothing! Ignore him!' said Lauren, starting to feel pressured
'What really happened on the night of Derek's death!' said Joey
'Joey, don't!' said Lauren
'What happened, Lauren?' asked Max
'LAUREN, TELL THEM!' screamed Joey. Lauren violently stood up, her chair smashing against the kitchen floor.
'FINE! YOU WANT TO KNOW? I'LL TELL YOU! ME AND JOEY WERE RUNNING AWAY TO BE TOGETHER, ONLY I LEFT MY PURSE HERE, SO I HAD TO COME BACK TO GET IT, WHEN I GOT A TEXT FROM UNCLE DEREK SAYING HE HAD SOMETHING IMPORTANT OF MINE... SO I WENT OVER AND HE STARTED TO TAUNT ME ABOUT JOEY, SAYING I SHOULD WATCH HIM BECAUSE HE WOULD LEAVE ME WHEN HE HAD ENOUGH OF ME... I KNEW IT WASNT TRUE, SO I TURNED MY BACK ON HIM, WHEN HE THREW ME AGAINST THE TABLE AND TRIED TO STRANGLE ME... SAYING YOUR LIVES WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME... UNCLE JACK CAME IN AND SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING... HE PICKED UPTHE FIRST THING HE SAW AND SMASHED DEREKS HEAD IN! I WAS PETRIFIED, AND THEN UNCLE JACK GRABBED ME AND THREATENED ME TO QUIET, BEFORE RUNNING AND LEAVING ME WITH UNCLE DEREKS BODY...' Lauren trailed off, tears streaming down her cheeks, before she fled the room, leaving the others sat in shock.
'Uncle Jack killed Uncle Derek?' Abi asked, a few minutes later. Joey jumped up, full of guilt and rushed upstairs to find Lauren, to check on her and make sure she hadn't hurt herself.
'Mum? Dad?' asked Abi, as her parent were yet to speak.
'He threatened my daughter? Both of my brothers... threatened my daughter!' shouted Max, his hands curling into fist, before he wrenched the back door opened and stormed from the house, ready to confront Jack...
R&R X