Chapter 3

The following day, after their evening of passion, Lauren had Joey sitting in the gardens. Whipping out her pencil and sketch book began lightly applying pencil to paper.

"Joe, you gotta stay still" she sighed, brushing away a stray piece of hair from her face, concentrating again.

"I'm not a doll babe, I can't help but twitch" Joey replied trying ever so hard not to move his lips, Lauren chuckled as she watched Joey trying to stay still.

"Well if you don't stay still I will draw you with a huge nose, wrinkles and really rather ugly, then I will take it to work with me and say 'this is my boyfriend whatcha think?' she replied smirking as she did so.

Joey couldn't help but burst out laughing, grabbing Lauren and tickling her fiercely.

"No one would believe you anyways, I am what you call 'Totes gorg' or something what those only way is Essex prats say" he said before trying to sit still again.

Lauren rolled her eyes at him, before leaning in and pecking him on the cheek.

"Right this is the last time I am asking, stay still and maybe if your good, I'll treat ya" she winked at him playfully.

Their moment was broken but the face of thunder approaching them, Lucy Beale.

"Just ignore her babe" Joey whispered to her before Lucy reached them.

"Are you freaking serious, why on earth are you drawing Lauren, or should I say attempting to draw" a sting in Lucy's tone as she continued her verbal assault on Lauren.

"And drawing this, your incestuous cousin, you people make me sick, no wonder your such a hopeless case" she paused expecting a backlash from Lauren.

Lauren stood up to face Lucy, she felt Joey stand up behind her, his arm slipping around her waist as a support but also as a restraint.

"Lucy, go back to your greasy spoon and move the hell on, because I have, I've got a new job in Trafalgar square in a gallery I have Joey, I don't need you, got it" Lauren sounded so calm as she told Lucy exactly what she thought, but inside she was shaking, worried Lucy was going to swing for her, but she didn't she just looked shocked and walked away with her tail between her legs.

Joey who was still smirking behind Lauren, turned her around to face him. He brushed her hair behind her ear like he always did and said "That was hot, you were fierce" causing to Lauren to blush a deep pink.

"I am proud of how you handled her babe, didn't swing for her once, although I wouldn't of minded if you did" he chuckled.

"Trust me I wanted to but thought, nah I will save it for another day" she replied now laughing herself, "right come on, back in your position, and not a dirty way before you even think about it" pushing him back down on the bench.

Joey laughed, watching Lauren gathering all her art equipment together to start again with his portrait. He watched how she fussed about, dropping her pencil on occasion, chatting away to herself. Just the little things she did make him love her even more. Lauren caught Joey's eye before beginning to draw him again.

Lauren refused to show Joey her portrait until the exhibit at Life which made Joey very frustrated, he hated his picture being done, let alone not being able to see it.

Later that evening, Lauren and Joey made their way to The Vic, meeting the rest of the family there. Lauren noticed a few glances as they entered from some of the locals. It took all her willpower not to shout 'What you looking at' but doing so would draw more attention to them than needed. Joey squeezed her hand lightly before ushering her towards the bar.

"Alright Uncle Jack" Joey greeted him as he stood at the bar next to us

"Yeah I'm alright Joe, how are you two?" he replied, Lauren saw a worried expression cross his face.

"Yeah were fine Uncle Jack, don't worry, who cares what these busy bodies think aye" Lauren practically shouted in a raised voice. Joey knew people were getting to her, she hated being the centre of attention at the best of times, let alone when it was negative attention.

Just then a drunken Lucy barged into The Vic, spotted Lauren and headed for her.

"You have some nerve showing your face" she slurred

"Go home Lucy, you're a mess" Lauren replied turning away from her

"Oh come on Lauren, wheres ya fight gone, you used to be the drunken mess remember, the desperate slut" Lucy shouted back at her

This hit Laurens sore spot, that was her past and she certainly didn't want to remember it. Just before anyone could stop her Lauren swung round punching Lucy to the floor, she shook her hand which was now throbbing and made a swift exit, Joey in hot pursuit behind her.

Lucy clutched her chin which felt like it had been dented. She knew she had hit a nerve with Lauren and for sure she would use it again.

"LAUREN, BABE WAIT UP" Joey shouted as Lauren rushed towards the house

"LAUREN" Joey finally caught up with her, tugging on her arm so she had to stop and face him.

Joey saw tears slowly roll down Laurens porcelain cheeks, and pulled her into his arms, burying her head in his chest sobbing quietly.

"That's not me anymore Joey, that's not me" she said between broken tears.

"I know babe, I know that" he replied stroking her hair to soothe her.

"But that's all anyone will think of me isn't it, a desperate drunk slut" before she broke down in tears again.

"Trust me, if anyone thought that babe, you wouldn't be loved so much by everyone, your family adore you, your friends, Fats, Whitney, Alice and Tyler they love you, and you know the most important person loves you beyond words, Me" he said tipping her head up from his chest which was soaked with tears.

"You mean that" she croaked, making Joey laugh

"I have never meant something more in my life babe" he bent down wrapping his arms around her waist lifting her off the ground lightly with such ease, placing small kisses all over her face. Laurens tears became a distant past as she laughed trying to wriggly out of Joeys firm hold.

"Right, that's better, let's go back and enjoy drinks with the people that do love you" He took her hand in his and made their way back over.

Max stood up taking his glass in his hand, raising it "To Lauren, my beautiful baby, I am so proud of you and congratulations on your new job, we knew you could do it, To Lauren"

"TO LAUREN" all the Brannings raising their glasses, the sound of clinking and cheers filling the pub.

"Lauren you should get yourself down the bashers, you and that right hook" shouted Jack making everyone break into a joyful laughter.