Trouble

Joey had stayed at Alice's that night, not wanting to be caught by her parents until he had explained everything to Alice. She deserved to know first before anyone else found it. Lauren reluctantly let him leave not without pouting and causing him to doubt leaving her.

"I promise I'll see you tomorrow" he smiled at her, Lauren pulling her best pout, Joey brushing his thumb over her plump lips. "I love you" leaning in to kiss her, Lauren winding her arms around his neck, pulling him suddenly into her body, a hiss releasing from his mouth.

"I love you too" she whispered, her lips teasing against his, before pulling away abruptly and shutting the door. If it had been any longer she wouldn't of let him go, but he needed to do right by Alice, and her finding out that he stayed at Laurens wouldn't be the best way.

Joey struggled to sleep that night, tossing and turning as he slept on the floor of Alice's room, Derek unaware he was there, after failing to return from the pub, Alice assuming he was staying with a lady friend, although this thought churned both their stomachs. How would he break it too her? Who would she take the news? Would it matter that they were only half brother and sister. Reaching for his phone he text Lauren, knowing she would be awake, she said she would be unable to sleep that night too, just as worried about Alice as Joey.

'You awake? J xx'

'Of course babe, can't sleep L xx' Joey chuckled quietly, he knew she would reply practically instantly.

'I miss you, its torture your only across the road J xx'

'Gah don't its killing me, we haven't been close in weeks, I kind of need you L xx' Lauren blushed sending this message, knowing Joey would be grinning from ear to ear reading it. He was just as desperate to be with her as she was.

'Tomorrow me & you my apartment no excuses J xx' Lauren squealed a little Abi stirring in her sleep, before snoring again.

'I nearly screamed and woke Abi up lol, I'm so game, night love you L xx'

'Love you too J xx'

Resting his phone back, he couldn't help but think how he made the right choice, Lauren was his present and future, she made him smile just by texting him, he couldn't bear to not be around her, his thoughts were constantly clouded by her, they weren't meant to be it was fate that they met on holiday. Looking at his sister he knew tomorrow would be one of the hardest days of his life, but he just couldn't say goodbye to Lauren, he was in too deep.

The night soon turned to day, Joey exhausted from the lack of sleep he had from the previous night. Alice was her usual chirpy self, excited to spend the day with Joey. "Ready to go Al?" he smiled, Alice linking her arm through his as they walked towards the local park, Joey preparing himself to tell Alice the truth. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" she asked, as they sat opposite each other on the park bench. "Lauren" he stated, starting off this way would be easier than dropping the huge bombshell first.

"Did you find her?" she smiled small, hoping she wouldn't hurt him too much.

"Yeah I did, I need to tell you something" he rubbed his forehead, knowing her reaction before she knew everything. "What is it Joey?" reaching across she grabbed his hand smiling at him.

"Were together" he put it simply, watching as she retracted her hand. "But you know your cousins?" furrowing her brow together. "Yeah that's the thing Al, I love her, she loves me were being together" he sighed knowing he was reaching the difficult part. "People will judge you Joey, your cousins" trying to reach her brother, trying to make him think about it.

"But were not" he sighed, seeing the confusion written across her face, "Yes Joey you are, we are her cousins" she stated, what one earth was he chatting about. "You're her cousin, I'm not" his eyes locking with hers, she was now confused more than ever.

"What do you mean Joey?" her voice faltering a little, what was he telling her.

"Derek isn't my dad" he put it simply, watching as her face fell, the tears welling in her eyes. "What?" her voice almost whispering it, Joey tried to reach for her hand but she snapped it away. "I'm not Derek's son, my dad left a couple of months after I was born, then mum met Derek, he wanted me to be his so my surname was changed to his, then you came along, I just didn't want to hurt you, but I love Lauren I want to be with her and for that to happen I had to tell you" trying to reason with Alice who now had tears falling down her face.

"So you hurt me to be with her, I'm your sister" she cried, getting up from the bench, rushing away, Joey followed her, "Alice wait" he shouted, Alice practically running from him. She turned the corner back onto the square when she spotted Lauren walking through the gardens.

"Lauren" she shouted, running through to her, Lauren stopped watching as Joey turned the corner running after Alice. Oh god she knows, Lauren took a deep breath trying to steady herself.

"Alice" she smiled, trying to front it, as Alice got closer she saw the her cheeks tear stained. Alice walked straight up to Lauren, Joey close behind her, without a second thought she slapped Lauren, leaving her cheek stinging, her mouth hung open in complete shock, Joey had paused as if time had stopped did Alice really just do that. "This is your fault, you ruin your only family now you have to ruin mine" she screamed at Lauren, tears bordering her eyes, the shock of the slap hitting her as hard as the words that came from Alice's mouth.

Pushing past Alice and Joey, Lauren headed towards the market, cupping her face, Joey had tried to stop her but she didn't speak, he could see the tears in her eyes, the hurt behind them. "You are so out of line Alice" he hissed his teeth gritted together, he knew she would take it hard, but to physically and emotionally abuse Lauren was taking it too far, it wasn't her fault, he chose to tell her the truth, he wanted to be with Lauren.

"She has ruined everything" Alice cried, Joey rubbing his forehead. "No Alice she didn't, it was my decision to tell you, I love you Al, you are my sister, but I love Lauren too" turning away from her he had to find Lauren, knowing she had gone to find some relief from alcohol, Alice's words would have cut deeply, they were close. "Joey where are you going?" Alice sobbed watching her brother walk away from her.

"To find Lauren, you've hurt her Al" he threw the comment over his shoulder, his anger for his usually understandable sister reaching boiling point.