So sorry for the delay in updating- just a lack of inspiration atm :P Thank you for all the reviews, let me know what you think :)

I woke up this morning without an ache for alcohol, which is a first. Maybe it had something to do with the text from Joey that I opened my eyes to:

'Lunch in the caff today, on me? X'

'Lucy's working today :/ Vic instead? X'

'Not a good idea x'

'I can handle it, promise. I won't drink x'

'Too right you won't! See you at 1 x'

And so I've spent the morning making myself look beautiful. It's taken longer than usual because I look a state these days. I've even pulled out a dress, from the back corners of my wardrobe. I haven't told Mum where I'm going because I don't think she'd be too chuffed about me seeing Joey; actually I don't think she'd be chuffed about me leaving the house, at all. Regardless, I slip out of the house without letting Abi know and practically run to the Vic in my eagerness to see Joey. As I walk in, I stop dead. Lucy's sitting next to him, with her hand on his arm. Why is she always sniffing around him? And why isn't he pushing her hand off him?! Admittedly though, he doesn't look best pleased. I storm over and wrench Lucy's hand off Joey's arm.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" She spits at me.

"No, what the fuck are you doing?" I shove her away and stand in between them.

"Shouldn't you be lying in a gutter somewhere?" She smirks.

"Do you want me to actually break your nose this time? Cos I can." I offer, clenching my fists.

"Babe." Joey mutters, putting a hand over mine.

"No, get off me! You came over and spouted all that shit about how you knew she was lying, so what are you doing with her?!" I snap at him, angrily.

"She just came up to me, I didn't ask her to." Joey tells me, urgently.

"How could you? You invited me here and you're with her." I shake my head, frustrated.

"I'm not!" Joey pleads.

"So what if I am with him? What's it to you?"" Lucy smirks. I grip her arm tightly, until she's squirming under my grasp.

"You're dead to me." I snarl and pick up a nearly full glass of Vodka that's just sitting on the bar; begging me to drink it. I down it in one.

"Lauren, stop it!" Joey yells, and grabs hold of me.

"Let go of me. Right now." I try to shrug him away but he's too strong.

"You can't do this." He whispers.

"Don't tell me what to do. I hope you have a nice life with Lucy." I spit and wrench free of his hold, storming out of the pub. I go the minute mart and stock up on lots of Vodka to the disapproving looks from the cashier. So it's 1 in the afternoon, so what?

That night, I go to R&R and these stinking rich guys sidle up to me, and ply me with copious amounts of drink. It's an alcoholic's paradise. And then Joey walks in and marches straight over to me. He grabs hold of me, pulling me up.

"What are you doing, Lauren? Have you lost it? Get your coat, I'm taking you home, your mum's gonna go spare." He hisses at me, but I resist his pull on my arm.

"Where's your little bitch? Has she actually left you alone for once?" I mock.

"I'm taking you home." He repeats.

"Oi, barman! I didn't know it was in your job description to offer a taxi service." I snarl and pull away from him furiously.

"Lauren, I ain't joking." He frowns. He sure does frown a lot.

"Neither am I. Can I have a drink, barman?" I giggle.

"I ain't serving you. Get your stuff, come on." He doesn't give up.

"Leave off her yeah, Dad! We're having fun, unlike you." One of the guys whose name I don't know pulls me back down next to him.

"I'm going in the back to get some mixers; I want you to be waiting for me at the door in 5 minutes." Joey storms off towards the store room.

"We better get out of here before he gets back!" I tell them and we leave the club and fall into a taxi. As I get in, Lucy is walking over to R&R and just smirks at me, pitifully, not even bothering to try and stop me. We end up in another bar, then another until I can't remember how many places we've been to. I drink myself to oblivion and it's still not enough. I drink so much that my blood is probably 70% alcohol and then I drink some more. Cos that's all I have left now. Alcohol.