Lucy quickly clocked Ryan's presence at one of the tables, and also saw Joey. She quickly weaved around the people in the Vic and pulled Lauren outside.
"What the hell Luce?" Lauren exclaimed, rubbing at her arm where Lucy'd dragged her.
"Ryan's in there." Lucy said causing Lauren to pause. "And I'm guessing you know Joey's in there too." Lauren weakly nodded. "Shit." She sat down on the curb outside the pub. "What do I do now?" Lucy sat down next to her and shrugged. "You've seen Ryan already?" Lauren nodded. "What was he like with you?" Lauren pulled a face before answering. "Fine I guess, pretty flirty but I don't know" She paused. "Ryan always like girls that would be a challenge and I feel like that's what he'll see me and Joey as." She pulled a face, Lucy nodding in agreement with her "And we've never had the talk, me and Joey I mean. About ex's and stuff. Don't think he'd take meeting him well though" Lucy laughed "That'll be an understatement".
Joey frowned, seeing his ex girlfriend pull his current girlfriend out of the Vic. He was debating going after them, both girls could get pretty spatty, but he also knew not being friends with Lucy was really bothered Lauren. Maybe he should leave it..
"Wait, was that Lauren with Lucy Beale? Ain't she changed?" he heard from behind him. Ryan. He heard Whit say it was, before introducing him to Tyler. Joey decided he'd leave Lauren for five minutes and then if she weren't back, he'd go after her. Fats sat down, Alice saying she'd get him a drink. Joey was half-listening to the conversation around him, half-watching the door when he heard Ryan speak to his sister.
"Why don't you join us Alice babe?" Ryan said, turning to Whitney and Tyler. "You know Alice right?"
Keeping his back to them, Joey listened in.
Both of Whitney and Tyler nodded, exchanging a look before Tyler spoke "Yeah we know her. Didn't know you did." He nodded at Alice. "Aight Alice?" She nodded at him, before quickly saying "I should probably get back" pointing over to their group. "You should join us" Tyler said, ignoring Whit's surprised look. "Oh no, we couldn't interrupted. We're waiting on Lauren anyway." She said softly.
"Lauren, Lauren Branning?" Ryan butted in, Alice quickly nodding "Yeah you know her?" Ryan smirking before saying "Yeah, you could say I knew her pretty well". Joey didn't like his tone. "She one of your friends?" Joey asked Alice. "Oh no," Alice paused "well yes but she's my cousin"
"Beauty must run in the Branning genes then darling" Ryan said, making Alice blush. "Feel free to join us once your cousin turns up". Alice hurried back to their table, Joey rolling his eyes at his sister's excitement over a sleezy guy. She obviously hadn't picked up on his tone when he spoke about Lauren.
"Snog him" Lucy said randomly. "What?" Lauren said surprised. Lucy shrugged "I don't know, it's just a suggestion." Lauren groaned, "Might be a good one though" she said. Lucy nodded "Ryan will know you're taken, and Joey won't think anything of it." Lauren nodded. "Calling him Joey now" she said, Lucy just shrugged. "Need to get over it don't I?" Lauren just raised a shoulder "You ain't splitting up any time soon." Both girls laughed and stood up.
There was a moment of silence before Lauren spoke again "Seriously Luce, thanks for today", Lucy half-smiled, their friendship still wasn't fully fine but they were getting there. Lauren took a deep breathe before walking in to the Vic.