Even Though (Joey Richter fanfiction)

Chapter 17

"Alzheimer's?" Joey asked quietly, looking shocked. 

I nodded, trying hard to not cry. We were sitting together in the coffee shop, and I had just told him about Maggie.  

"But- she seemed.. Fine." he said, looking bewildered. 

"I know. The doctor said its progressing fast. I just.. I can't believe it. I mean-" I broke off, confused. I didn't quite know how to say how I felt. 

Luckily, Joey seemed to understand and he nodded. He reached out and took my hand, squeezing it reassuringly. I smiled slightly and let out a deep breath. 

"Everything's gonna be all right, Ali." he said gently as he began to trace circles around my hand with his thumb. 

I nodded absently. "Do you think she'll be alright in.. A home?" I asked quietly. 

He smiled and squeezed my hand again. "Maggie is the toughest little old lady I know. She'll be fine Ali." he said firmly. "Do you know when she's moving to the home?" 

I nodded. "Tuesday." I whispered, my eyes beginning to sting as they filled with tears. 

"What?!" Joey said, obviously shocked, "That's only two days!" 

I closed my eyes against the oncoming flood of tears, not wanting to cry in the cafe. "Like I said, it's progressing fast. The doctors don't know how severe it's going to be, so they think the sooner they get her under constant supervision the better." I said in one breath, keeping my eyes tightly shut. 

"Oh god. Ali.. I'm sorry." Joey said, sounding lost. I opened my eyes to look at him, and saw that his beautiful brown eyes were full of tears too. 

"Hey.." I said softly, smiling slightly. I reached out and touched his cheek gently. "There's no reason for you to be upset.." 

"No reason? It's Maggie! She's practically my aunt too!" Joey said, smiling with an effort. "So.. Where are you going to stay?" 

"Lauren offered me a place at her apartment.." I said slowly. 

"Oh yeah!" Joey said, suddenly breaking out in a grin. I raised my eyebrows at his sudden happiness, and his grin turned slightly sheepish. "I was really hoping that.. That you- you wouldn't.. Like.. Go back- to Ireland.." 

"Well, I haven't really spoken to Lauren yet.. She just offered at Brian's, and-" I said, but was cut off by Joey, who waved an airy hand. "Lopez loves you! Of course you can stay!" 

I smiled at his certainty. "I'm definitely not going back to my mom." my face darkened.  

"Woah." Joey said, raising his eyebrows, "You looked pretty scary for a second, Ali." 

I took a breath. "Sorry." I said, trying to sound lighter. 

He smiled and squeezed my hand again. "Come on," he said gently, standing up, "The sooner we get this sorted out with Lauren the better." 

• 

"And that can be your bed, and there's the bathroom, and there's the bedside cabinet, and that's a wardrobe, and thats my bed, and there's the window-" Lauren was saying as she bounced all around her bedroom. She had been doing this in every room in her apartment so far, making me grin and Joey roll his eyes. 

When we had told her about Maggie she had seemed really upset, but had been absolutely delighted when I asked if I could stay at her apartment, and immediately started giving me the tour. 

"And this is Jaime's room!" Lauren said as she ran into the room that was directly across from hers.  

The apartment was simply decorated, with a few pictures of Lauren and Jaime with their friends around the place and a few personal touches. Lauren's room however, looked like a unicorn puked on it. Her bedspread was rainbow coloured and sparkly, and the walls were pink. There was a purple carpet spread over a wooden floor and she had stuffed animals (that were mostly unicorns or ponies) completely covering her bed, leaving hardly any room for her. The curtains were bright pink and had sequins sewn on in pretty designs all over them. There was a spare bed in the corner with a matching sparkly rainbow bedcover. 

"I'm so excited!" Lauren said, in case we hadn't figured out by her crazed jumping, "When are you going to move in?" 

I looked down at the ground before answering. "As soon as possible.. Maggie is moving to the home on Tuesday.." 

Lauren's eyes grew wide. "But that's only two days!" she said, shocked. I nodded, struggling not to cry. "Aw, Ali.." Lauren stepped forwards and wrapped her arms around me. 

"I'm really sorry about the short notice-" I began, but Lauren cut me off by shaking her head. 

"No. Don't be sorry. Me and Jaime were bored this week anyway. And like I said before, you're welcome ANY time!" she said, grinning. I managed to smile back at her and she continued. "We can probably start moving your stuff in tomorrow. I mean, I'm guessing you don't have a lot of stuff, if you just come to Maggie's for the summer, right?" 

I nodded, biting my lip. I was still finding it hard to believe that I wouldn't be able to stay with Maggie anymore, and even harder to believe that I would be moving out so quickly. But I wasn't upset about not going back to my mom. That's something I would never have regrets about. 

"Okay!" Lauren said, clapping her hands excitedly. "Joey!!" she yelled over her shoulder. His head popped around the corner of the sitting room door, where he had been watching TV while Lauren gave me the tour of the apartment. I laughed at him, and Lauren continued, "Do you think you, Walker and Holden would be able to help Ali move stuff?" 

"Oh," I said, embarrassed by the fact that she thought I would need help moving my few possessions, "I can do it myself, honestly. I really don't have that much stuff." 

Lauren just shook her head. "Trust me, Ali. It may not seem like much now, but when you try and gather it all up and move it, it turns into a shit load of crap. I know from experience." she said wisely. 

"Okay.." I said, raising my eyebrows slowly and turning to look at Joey. 

He just smiled and said "I'm sure they'll be up to it if I ask nicely." 

Lauren laughed and clapped her hands together. "Well then! It looks like me and Jaime have got a new roommate!!"

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