Thankyou so much for the review on the last chapter :) Means a lot :)
Hope you enjoy this one :)
A/N: There will be some Greek lanaguage used :) I will translate at the end :) So no need to panic if you can't understand what they're saying :)
A/N: There will be flashbacks on how Lauren adjusted to life away from home in the next chapter.
Enjoy X
Two weeks later, Richard went downstairs to get a drink, spotting Lauren sat on the patio step. He smiled and opened the door, before sitting down next to her. She had a dreamy smile on her face, like she had done for the past few days.
'Lauren... You okay?' he asked, placing a hand on his stepsisters shoulder. Lauren opened her eyes and stared at him, blinking and her expression turned to normal. She smiled at him.
'Course I am. Why'd you ask?' she said, chuckling, before taking a sip of her drink. Richard spotted her medication at the side of her and picked up a bottle.
'More pills? Lauren, how much medication must you take?' he asked, sounding slightly worried. She already had three bottles of different pills, surely her Doctor would've thought that enough was enough.
'Just that one now. He's stopped the rest...' she sai, tipping her head back and letting the sinking sun glow over her face. Rcihard looked at the pills, then at Lauren and then back again.
'What are these supposed to do?' he asked her. Lauren sighed.
'What's with the 20 questions? Look, their pills to make me better, thats all' stated Lauren, taking the pills out of Richards hand. He sighed and turned to watch the sunset. They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Lauren spoke.
'What's the date today?' she asked randomly. Richard blinked, before answering.
'Erm.. 14th October... Why?' he asked. Lauren frowned slightly.
'Just thought something was supposed to happen today... Like a birthday of something... Oh well, days practically over with now anyways...' said Lauren. Richard frowned. Lauren never forgot anything, especailly not birthdays. She was always the one remind him when his own Dads was.
'Um.. Right okay. I'm going to head back in.. You coming?' he asked. Lauren shook her head
'No, I'm going to stay out here for a bit longer..' she said, smiling. Richard nodded and got to his feet. He opened the door, stepping inside and shut it, staring at Lauren for a minute longer, before turning and heading back into the house...
Back in Walford, Alice, Carli, Joey and Leslie were all in the Queen Vic, having a birthday lunch for Joey.
'Can't believe you're 26 already! My baby boys growing up!' said Leslie. Joey blushed a deep red, making Carli and Alice laugh.
'Mum! Seriously?' Joey groaned. Leslie chuckled.
'Sorry! Couldn't resist' she apologized. Joey smiled. He opene dhis mouth to sat something when his phone pinged. He grabbed it eagerly, before being disappointed. He sighed and replied to the birthday text from his mate, Rob before setting down on the table. Alice, Carli and Leslie all knew who Joey wanted to text him or even call him, but they seriously doubted that Lauren would contact him, as it had slowly faded within the first three months of her leaving.
'You okay?' asked Alice. Joey looked at her smiled
'Course I am!' he said, planting a fake smile on his face, but he knew they saw through it...
The next morning, Lauren woke up to find Demi sat on the bottom of her bed. She let out a shriek of surprise, as she didn't expect it.
'Καλημέρα, Lo. Είσαι καλά?' asked Demi, smiling. Lauren smiled and sat up in her bed, tying her hair up in a messy bun.
'Ναι, ευχαριστώ. Θα υπάρχει ένας λόγος για τον οποίο είστε κάθισε στο κρεβάτι μου στις εννέα το πρωί?' Lauren asked. Demi smiled.
'Ήθελα απλά να τώρα, αν ήθελε να πάμε για ψώνια σήμερα. Πιάσε κάποιο γεύμα?' Lauren thought for a minute, trying to remmeber if she had anything on.
'Αυτό ακούγεται μεγάλη. Γνωρίστε σας στο εμπορικό κέντρο σε 1?' Lauren suggested. Demi smiled and clapped her hands
'Τέλεια. Θα σας δούμε στη συνέχεια!' said Demi, before climbing off the bed and danced out of the room. Laurne frowned and then shook her head, smiling, before climbing out of bed herself and getting ready for the day ahead...
Richard waved Lauren of she headed for the mall with Demi. He made sure she was gone, before turning and heading back into the house. He found Tanya sat at her vanity dresser, straightening her hair. She smiled as he entered.
'You okay?' she asked him, as he sat down on her bed. Richard shook his head and Tanya set her straighteners down, switching them, before turning to face Richard.
'Why what's wrong?' she asked. Richard looked at her, before rubbing his hands together.
'You know I love Lauren, but lately she doesn't seem herself..' he began, trailing off as he wondered where he was actually going to take this conversation.
'Elaborate' said Tanya, frowning.
'She's been getting forgetful. Like yesterday, for example, she asked me date it was... So I told her and she was like 'Oh something was happening today, but I don't know what'.. And Tanya, for as long as I've known Lauren, she hasn't forgotten anything...' said Richard, staring at Tanya, who frowned. She thought for a minute, before she gasped.
'Oh my god! 14th October! It was Joey's birthday yesterday!' exclaimed Tanya. Richard frowned.
'Her ex? That Joey?' he asked
'He's not her... Well.. Nevermind, its complicated!' said Tanya, realising for the first then, that Lauren hadn't actually told Richard or Lewis the truth about who Joey was. Richard fronwed but allowed it pass.
'Right! erm, should we be worried that she's forgetting things?' he asked. Tanya looked at him, thinking carefully before she spoke.
'I've noticed her forgetting things too, but just leave it till next week, then we'll intervene if it gets any worse...' Tanya said. Richard nodded, feeling better about sharing thinkgs with Tanya and feeling slightly better that he had it off his chest. He rose to his feet, and headed for the door when Tanya stopped him.
'Thankyou Richard... For protecting Lauren. She may not shwo it much, but she's grateful for it' said Tanya. Richard smiled, before he left the room, leaving Tanya to her own devices...
R&R xX
Lauren and Demi's conversation (Translated)
Καλημέρα, Lo. Είσαι καλά? - Morning, Lo. You okay?
Ναι, ευχαριστώ. Θα υπάρχει ένας λόγος για τον οποίο είστε κάθισε στο κρεβάτι μου στις εννέα το πρωί? - Yes thankyou. Is there a reason why you're sat on my bed at nine in the morning?
Ήθελα απλά να τώρα, αν ήθελε να πάμε για ψώνια σήμερα. Πιάσε κάποιο γεύμα? - Just wondered if you wanted to go shopping? Maybe grab lunch?
Αυτό ακούγεται μεγάλη. Γνωρίστε σας στο εμπορικό κέντρο σε 1? - That sounds great! Meet at the mall at one?
Τέλεια. Θα σας δούμε στη συνέχεια! - Perfect! See you then