Choice

Joey paced his living room; it was fair to say his head was spinning. What was the right choice? Hurt his sister and hope she gets over it or say goodbye to Lauren forever, the possible love of his life, it was a tough choice. Snapping his head up, he stood still for a second, his mind making his choice for him. Grabbing his car keys, he rushed from the apartment, hoping into his car, setting the Satnav to Albert Square, Walford, where both his sister and Lauren were.

Lauren awoke 3 hours after she had fallen to sleep. Her felt numb, her body shaking due to lack of food and drink, not that she could face eating. Sliding out from bed, she walked downstairs finding the house empty and a note on the side.

'Going to the pub, Abi is with Jay and Oscar is staying at Denny's, see you later, Mum & Dad xx'

Scrunching the note up she threw it into the bin. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard and the bottle of wine from the side, she shifted into the living room, slouching down on the couch. Leaving the T.V off she sat in silence, the only noise to be heard was the gulping from Lauren as she downed glass after glass of wine hoping to find some sort of relief. Feeling more than a little buzzed, she slid on her coat, slamming the front door shut behind her and wandered over to R&R needing some sort of normality.

Pulling up at the square, Joey switched off the engine his eyes trailing over the door numbers, spotting the black door of number 5, then number 23. Stepping out, he walked over to number 23, taking a deep breath he knocked, hearing shuffling around before footsteps towards the door as it opened. "Joey" Alice squealed pulling me into a hug. "Come in" she held up the door letting Joey walk past, pointing him into the living room. Glancing around he noted some of Derek's belongings things he remembered from when he was a child.

"Is he here?" he looked over to Alice, who shook her head "He's at the pub with Laurens dad" she sighed feeling guilty mentioning her name in front of her brother.

"We need to talk Al" he sighed, taking her head and sitting down on the couch. Her eyes were wild with curiosity, Joey had never been to the square even when she asked him, or begged him he never did, and now suddenly he was here. "Sure what is it Joe" she smiled, the smile that broke his heart, how could he do this too his little sister, rip away everything she knew and loved.

"Do you know where Lauren is?" changing his course of words, changing his mind once more.

"By now, after this afternoon she is probably in R&R the club nearby" she sighed, she had got to know her cousin well after the months she had been here, she knew of her alcohol abuse and how she used to it to forget the pain she was in. Lauren had opened up to her after a very drunken night.

"I need to talk to her, I better go find her" kissing her cheek he got up, shot her a small smile and left the house, heading for R&R, preparing himself for a conversation he's rather not be having. But he had to put his sister first he wouldn't hurt her, instead he would hurt himself.

Walking down into the dark, the music pulsed through his skin; glancing around the room he saw the busy bar, but no Lauren. Shifting around a bit he carried on looking for her, spotting her slouched in the corner of a booth, surrounded by a group of boys. Her eyes were barely open, her long black hair partially covering her face. Making his way through he reached the table. Pushing past the boys, he reached Lauren, taking her hand in his, her pulse was weak. Picking her up he carried her up the stairs, reaching the outside of the venue. Placing her down on her feet, he brushed the hair away from her face, her eyes slowly fluttering open.

"Lauren, are you okay?" her eyes locked with his, he was here.

"Joey" she whispered, opening and closing her eyes again just to check she wasn't asleep or in hallucinations.

"I'm taking you home Lauren" he sighed, picking her up once more as her head rested against his chest. Walking away from Lauren would be the hardest thing he would do. He loved her a little more each time he saw her, right now his heart was beating faster for her. Lauren curling closer into his arms, he loved her being in his arms. Reaching number 5 he felt for her keys in her pocket, pulling them free from her jeans and opening the door, shutting it behind them. Placing her down on the couch he walked into the unfamiliar kitchen finding a glass and filling it with water.

"Why are you here?" she sighed, rubbing her head as a hangover set it early. The amount of alcohol consumed taking its affect.

"We need to talk, you're my girlfriend, well I don't know anymore" he sighed, pacing her living room, Lauren was following him with her eyes. "Ugh stop pacing your making me dizzy" she choked, her head resting into her hands again.

"We can't be together" he stated, sticking a dagger into her heart, causing as much pain to himself as to her.

"I know that, your my cousin" almost feeling sick as she announced him as her cousin. Joey swallowed hard again, he wasn't her cousin, but he couldn't admit that, he was protecting Alice and putting her feelings first. Lauren watched him, his expressions causing her curiosity, why did he look that way when she said cousin.

"What is it Joey?" she stood up, moving towards him, hoping he would look her in the eye.

"Nothing Lauren, I need to go" moving past her, feeling her grab is arm, spinning him back around to face her. "You're hiding something" looking him straight in the eye, her outburst taking Joey by surprise. "I'm not" he proclaimed, trying to shake her free but, his body was doing something else, moving them closer together. "Joey I know you more than you think, I know when you're hiding something, I know the look when you're about to kiss me, when you're about to brush my hair behind my ear, when you are about to joke about with me" Joey was taken aback; she knew more about him than he realised. Stepping forward he cupped her cheeks, his heart taking over his actions.

"I can't do this" he whispered his lips so close to hers it hurt not to touch them.

"Why not? It doesn't matter than we're cousins it's not illegal" she cried, pulling herself closer, wanting to feel him close to her. "JOEY" she shouted trying to shake whatever he was hiding from him.

"Because of Alice" he sighed, he wasn't planning on telling Lauren the truth, knowing she would fight for him if he did.

"Why?" she pressed, knowing he was close to telling her.

"Because, she's only my half-sister, Derek isn't my real dad but she doesn't know" he exclaimed throwing his hands in the air, the truth realising from his body a wash of relief hitting him. Lauren stepped back,
taking in the news, only a few hours ago she was heartbroken, falling in love with a cousin she didn't know she had, now she was hit once more with the fact he wasn't her cousin, but couldn't be with her to protect his sister.

"So that's it then, we can be together but we can't because you don't want to hurt Alice?" the tears forming in her eyes once more.

"Please don't cry, don't make it harder than it is" he whispered, his thumbs wiping away her tears.

"I think you should go I can't see you, if I can't be with you" she cried, pushing away his hands.

"Baby, you know I want to be with you, but this would kill my sister" looking at the girl who was breaking down in front of him.

"I think you need to have a little faith in Alice, she is stronger than you think, and you are still her brother" she muttered, feeling a little angry. She knew Joey was protective but he was giving up his own happiness.

"Maybe your right" he sighed, Lauren looking up at him. Was he messing with her feelings, giving her hope for something that wouldn't happen.

"Don't say things that you don't mean" feeling the tears coming once more. Joey walked over to her cupping her small face, seeing the fear written in her eyes.

"I love you" he whispered, pouring his heart out then and there.

"I love you too" she smiled, letting the tears fall unsure whether they were happy or sad tears.

"I promise, I'll tell Alice, I promise we will be together" placing his lips down onto hers hard, he had wanted too since this morning, showing how much he loved her in one kiss. Tonight it was just the two of them, the rest of the world could be dealt with tomorrow.

I hope you liked this chapter :) Back tomorrow, it will be late though sorry guys!