The calm, after the storm
Lauren lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, so much had happened within the past 48 hours. So many emotions had been touched, it was hard to comprehend. She had thought about ringing Joey so many times, but needed space and time with his mum. Facing Derek after so many years would have been hard for Jane. Sighing she dragged herself from bed, wrapping her small frame in one of her large jumpers that tended to drown her body.
"Lauren, dinner" Tanya called up the stairs, dreading the idea of a family dinner, Joey and herself being the topic of conversation after today, she decided to front it, it was better for it to be out in the open, this family had too many secrets as it was. Shifting into the dining room, she watched as all their eyes looked at her before regaining their expression.
"So today was eventful" Tanya started, picking some food up on her fork, waiting for Laurens response. Rolling her eyes, Lauren took a mouthful, "Yup" she replied simply.
"Have you spoke to Joey?" Max was the next to ask, he generally liked Joey, he seemed like a decent man, he loved Lauren there was no doubt about it and he knew how much his brother enjoyed winding people up. "Nope, he will be with his mum, it's been a tough day" she replied, not looking up from her food. She understood that Jane needed Joey, sometimes Lauren wanted to be selfish with him and have him all to herself, and she would spend every minute with him if she could.
"That's nice that he's looking after her" Tanya smiled, Joey had a good heart, it was an instant feeling when he came over the night before worried about Lauren, not afraid to explain who he was and how much he loved her. "Yeah she needs him right now, Derek was vile" Lauren spat, thinking of how he acted around them today, his words still stung a little, she had been called worse but from family it was hard to hear, just like when Alice shouted at her.
"Did he say anything to you?" Max enquired, placing his knife and fork down, looking intently at his daughter. "Yeah, apparently I'm a slut" she stated, Max's facing dropping with disgust at his brothers words to his eldest daughter. Tanya gasped before the anger rose within her. "That's it, I'm going over there" both her parents stood up, Lauren rushed to the living room door shutting it. "Please don't you will just make it worse than it already is" she pleaded, ushering Max and Tanya to sit back down.
"Don't pay any attention to what he says darling, he's a bitter man, jealous of what you have with Joey" Tanya replied, squeezing Lauren's hand reassuringly. The dinner carried on relatively peacefully, Abi exchanging her day's events as they talked for once as a proper family. The doorbell rang, Abi got up from her seat hoping it would be jay, opening the door she guessed exactly who the stranger was before her. "You must be Joey?" raising her eyebrow at the man before her. "And you must be Abi, nice to meet you" holding his hand out to shake hers. "You better come through" she held open the door, Joey closing it behind him following Abi through to the living room.
"Lo it's your boyfriend" Abi pointed to Lauren who was slouched on the couch, her feet slung across the end of the sofa, Joey couldn't help but chuckle as she remained engrossed in her programme. "Oi you" he nudged her, Lauren breaking the contact with the tele. "Hey" she smiled, lifting up her legs, Joey sliding underneath pulling her legs back down on top of hers. "Hi Max, Tanya" he called through, her parents washing up the dinner plates. "Want a tea Joey?" Tanya replied, popping her head through the door. "That would be great thanks" he said, watching as she disappeared leaving the young couple to talk.
"Once again I've been worried about you" he murmured softly, his fingers trailing up and down her legs. "Why I'm fine" she smiled, her focus going back to the tele, she didn't want him to see that today got to her, it was Joey that got hurt, not her she felt selfish feeling this way.
"Hey whats wrong?" he pulled her upright, Lauren now sitting now his lap, her forehead resting against his, her breathing shallow as she tried to push back the tears that had been put on hold all day.
"Alice said it was my fault" she whispered, feeling Joey brush a piece of hair away from her face, his lips pressing against her cheek. "Is it my fault?" her voice faltering on the last word.
"Not in the slightest baby, you've done nothing wrong, if anything its mine and mums fault for not telling her sooner, she's just blaming you because it happened to have come out because I love you and want to be with you" he replied, pressing soft kisses onto her face feeling Lauren relax a little.
"I love you too, I just can't help feeling that we've hurt her because were too selfish that we want to be together" being honest was the right thing to do right now, he needed to know how she was feeling..
"It's not selfish that we fell in love Lauren, she's being selfish that she can't see I'm happy, that you make me happy" his lips meeting hers placing a light kiss to her plump lips. Feeling her smile against his.
"You make me happy too" she smiled, seeing Tanya leaning against the doorframe with Joey's tea smiling ear to ear, this is the first time in years Lauren had said she was happy and it was all down to Joey.
"Here you go Joey" she smiled, handing Joey his tea, Lauren blushing and leaning against his chest. "We're going to bed, your welcome to stay Joey, Abi has just gone to Jay's tonight" Tanya replied, closing the door quietly behind her.
Lauren and Joey sat in peace for the first time today, just enjoying each other's company, no drama, no fights just the two of them, how they wanted it to be since they got back. "Are you going to speak to Alice?" Lauren murmured, feeling a little sleepier now as the day drew to an end.
"No, I'm going to let her come to me when she is ready, then we can talk" he replied, Alice had pushed him to far this time, he would usually roll over and forgive her, but Lauren was the most important person in his life now and she had hurt her, it would take a lot for him to forgive her.
"Probably best, what about Derek?" she asked, turning to face him. "Nothing, he's nothing to me, I will just ignore him if I ever see him again" his replies mature. "That's good, if you did speak to him he might just call you a slut too" she giggled, laughing for the first time that day, she could laugh at his comment now because like Joey said he's nothing, he doesn't know Lauren at all.
"Its nice to see you laugh babe" his lips brushing against her ear, "It's nice to laugh" she smiled, she could see her life being full of laughter and happiness as long as Joey was there. "Bed?" she quizzed, stepping up from his lap holding her hand out to him as she led the way upstairs.
Undressing from her clothes she slipped on a large top, climbing into bed, Joey following behind her in his boxers. Pulling her close into his chest he felt the warmth from her body radiate against him. He would never get bored of this feeling of his life completion now she was a part of it. He wanted each day to wake up to this beauty, share the precious moments with her and only her.
This was his future now.
Last chapter for tonight, bit of a fluffy one it was needed after the tension in the last! This story will be wrapping up soon unfortunately but fear not I shall be back with another story, its becoming an obsession writing about Joey and Lauren! xx