Chapter 10

Joey had practically slept in his new car; you couldn't get him out of the thing. Lauren pulled back the curtain to see him washing it. It was the middle of winter and he was out there with a bucket and sponge, her heart fluttered at how cute he was. Pulling back the curtain Lauren sat down to watch some tele, missing what was about to transpire outside.

Lucy had been watching Joey for about 20 minutes. She had a plan in mind, a plan to get Joey back to her. For some deluded reason she thought he wanted her, she couldn't be further from the truth if she tried.

Strutting over to Joey, she proceeded to lean up against his car.

"Nice car" she studied him as he carried on cleaning

"Yep" he replied, not want to get into any kind of conversation with her, wishing she would just crawl back under the rock she came from.

"Mind if I have a look inside" opening the driver's door, sitting into the seat before Joey could even reply.

"Go on then quickly" just wanting to get rid of her, staring up at the house hoping Lauren wouldn't come out anytime soon and end up flipping out. Little did he realise Lucy had pulled out a pair of her knickers placing them under the passenger chair and putting a picture of herself in the glove box. She wanted Joey back and this is how she would do it.

"It is so nice, lucky you" she smirked jumping out the car, "See you around" letting her hand slide down his arm walking off towards the café.

Joey finished off washing his car, walking inside deciding to tell Lauren about his awkward meeting with Lucy.

"You never guess what just happened" rubbing his cold hands together lifting Laurens legs up from the sofa sliding underneath them.

"What?" she replied turning her attention away from the tele.

"Really strange encounter with Lucy" raising his eyebrow

"Eww unlucky" was all she had to say, she hated talking about Lucy with Joey, images of them together popping into her head, although it was so long ago she couldn't help it.

"Very strange" he murmured stroking his hand up and down her leg, "Very strange indeed".

"JOEY" Lauren shouted up the stairs, "JOEY" now getting frustrated at the fact he wasn't replying, even though he was in the bath.

"Babe, I think I left my purse in your car, just going to get it" she shouted again hoping he would hear.

Lauren hurried down the steps to the car, pressing the unlock button and jumping swiftly into the passenger seat.

"Where the bloody hell is it?" she muttered to herself, raking around his car, knowing he would get seriously annoyed if he saw the mess she was causing.

Lauren placed her hand under the seat to see if she could feel her purse, when she felt a lacey material in her hand, pulling it out from the seat, holding the underwear in her hands. She studied the knickers, they didn't look like her style, bit to slutty for her taste. Glancing up at the house to check Joey hadn't emerged she continued to look around his car confused by what she had found. Opening the glove compartment, a picture caught her eye, she smiled inwardly thinking Joey had put a picture of her in his car. Pulling the photo out, she suddenly felt sick. It was a picture of Lucy, a rather revealing picture at that. Then it clicked, the underwear was Lucy's. Trying hard to hold back the fierce tears that were approaching, knowing full well what it meant. Lauren took a deep hard breath before getting out the car slamming the door and making her way back to the house.

By now Joey was down from his bath watching the football, as Lauren stormed through to the living room, tears streaming down her face.

"Babe, what's happened?" Joey jumped to his feet going to pull Lauren into a hug when she bolted away from his advances.

"Babe?" shocked at why she wouldn't go near him.

Lauren held up the offending items, proceeding to throw them at Joey, "Found these in your car, the car I bought you" she then slid off her ring, slamming it down on the table.

"Were done" she simply stated before running out the house, sobbing erratically.

Joey was left standing in complete shock. Picking up the underwear and photo, he had realised what just happened. Lucy had set him up, and god she had set him up good. Picking up the engagement ring he ran after Lauren. How could she think that he would cheat on her, she meant the world to him he made sure she knew it every day.

After searching for Lauren for seemed like hours, he still had no luck. Where the hell had she gone? Phoning Tanya giving her a full explanation of what had occurred, Tanya told him the only other place she would be, Bradleys grave.

Lauren was slumped next to her brother's grave, holding tightly to a bottle of vodka. Joey approached with caution knowing she would try and run when she saw him. He glanced at the bottle she was holding, sighing, this was a step back.

"Lauren" he sighed crouching down to her level, to meet her eye line.

"I haven't drank any, before you start judging" she snapped back at him

"I need to explain, you have got it all wrong.," he started as Lauren butted in "ALL WRONG ALL FUCKING WRONG" standing up to move past him, Joey grabbing hold of her hands.

"Mind your language with me" he stated "Yes all wrong, Lucy set me up, you know I said she spoke to me well she was looking at the car, she must of put the stuff in there without me knowing" his hands firmly gripping Laurens shoulders as she started crying again.

"I am so stupid" she sobbed leaning into his chest, "So stupid".

"I'm just mad Lauren, I mean seriously I proposed to you, how would you even think I could cheat on you?" shifting away from her.

"Oh come on, I found knickers and her picture in your car, I mean what was I supposed to think" holding her hand out for him to take it.

"Trust me" he replied taking her hand.

"I do trust you Joe, sometimes I just.." she paused not wanting to finish her sentence.

"You just what?" even more confused, tipping her chin up so she had to look at him.

"I just think, I don't deserve you, so I'm always waiting for something to tear us apart" she whispered letting the tears fall down her face, "I am always waiting for someone I love to be taken from me" glancing down at Bradley's grave then back up to Joey's eyes.

"Oh Lauren" brushing her hair behind her ear, "When I proposed to you, I promised a life time together, I am never going anywhere, ever" placing a soft kiss on his tear stained lips.

"Like you said, we will die together, because no life without you in it isn't worth living" he whispered to her, tears now falling from his eyes as he pulled her forehead to rest against his.

"I love you Joey" cuddling into his chest

"I love you more baby" holding her close to him, just the two of them in the moment.

Lauren was the first to break the moment, leaning away from his chest.

"Umm, Joe, can I have my ring back?" her face flushing red slightly with embarrassment.

"Of course you muppet" pulling the ring from his coat pocket placing it back in its rightful place.

"What are we going to do about Lucy?" he asked sheepishly, not wanting to bring her up, but she needed to be sorted out.

"Leave her to me, by the time I'm done, she's going to wish she hadn't messed with me" a smirk covering her face, Joey laughing at how determined she looked.

"No one messes with Lauren Branning" she stated

"Ever".