A New Beginning • Emmerdale

Chapter 27: "Give Me Space"

KENNEDY'S POV

I stormed into Debbie's house, making her jump after the impact of the door hitting the wall.

"Kennedy? What's wrong?" She asked looking at my tear stained face.

"Joe. He's a fucking idiot" I curse, before stomping upstairs slamming the door to my old room.

"Go ahead, break the doors down why don't you" Debbie muttered sarcastically to herself. She jumped again hearing the front door open.

"Honestly. Am I hosting a get together or something?" She asked rhetorically rolling her eyes when she sees Joe in the doorway "she doesn't want to see you" she said glaring at him. He just looked down at his shoes, placing his hands in his pockets.

"You always mess things up don't you" Debbie laughed at him.

"Yes I am very aware" Joe muttered before quickly turning on his heels running up the stairs.

"Hey.." Joe said dragging out the "y", he awkwardly stood in the doorway.

"Go away" I spat, not turning around on my bed to face him.

"Look. I wanted to apolo-" he started.

"Joe!" I shouted finally facing him, my mouth slightly dropped as I look at him, he'd obviously been crying as much as me "give me space" I mutter quietly, but loud enough so that he could hear before I ran past him and out the front door, ignoring the calls from both Debbie and Joe. 

THIRD PERSON POV

Kennedy walked into the cafe, noticing the pile of t-shirts and flyers on the counter.

"What this all about" She asked Brenda.

"Have you not heard? Amelia's missing" she replied in a sad tone, her mouth kind of dropped.

"What?" Kennedy said quietly, She didn't realise she had been so wrapped up with Joe and the Ross situation, She had been oblivious to the things going on around me. Kennedy had walked past Dan and Daz plenty of times, and hadn't said anything, maybe taking a break from Joe would actually be good for her, Kennedy thought to herself. She pulled out her phone typing a quick text to Joe saying 'we need to talk'

Kennedy was sat on the swings at the nearby park, her palms getting sweaty and her heart begins to pick up pace as she sees Joe walking toward her.

"Hey" He said sitting on the swing next to her. Kennedy just gave him a sad smile.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked, hesitating, he reached for her hand and grabbed it. She pulled it away and Joe gave her a questioning look.

"That's only going to make this harder" she replied bluntly, Joe looked away knowing what was coming. He stayed silent.

"I think we need to take a break" she said quickly.

"Why?" Joes voice cracked, he remained looking in the opposite direction.

"I just think it'll be good for me. I've hardly left the house, or your side for ages. Joe... I didn't even know Amelia was missing. I had past Dan and Daz so many times, I've only now noticed all the shirts everyone is wearing, all the missing posters around. I've been too wrapped up with you, I've been oblivious to what's been happening around me" Kennedy turned his head so he was facing her, her eyes became softer when she saw the tears running down his cheeks. She gently wiped them away.

"We can still be friends though" she smiled at him. He rolled his eyes.

"I don't want that! I love you" He said, Kennedy could literally feel her heart breaking. She smiled at him, holding his face in one of her hands.

"I love you too, but I think we need some time apart for a bit" he placed his hand on top of hers before giving a slight nod.  They both jumped apart when Kennedy's phone starts ringing, she got up and walked away a little bit. Joe watched her face as it changed quicker than he thought, her entire face dropped and she looked pale.

"It's Sarah, she's in the hospital" she said to Joe her eyes watering. He looked at her with sympathy and grabbed her hand.

"Come on, I'll take you" the pair both ran towards Joe's car, as he sped toward the hospital.

At their arrival, they were greeted by a doctor who escorted them to outside Sarah's room,l where, Debbie, Charity, Cain, Faith and Ross were sat down. All eyes went towards the pair, Kennedy quickly dropping Joe's hand, her eyes trailed to Ross. Debbie stood up, grabbing Kennedy's upper arm pulling her around the corner.

"What's going on? Is she okay?" Kennedy asked frantically.

"Ken, Sarah told the police about the attack on Ross" she whispered. Kennedy's eyes went wide.

"Wh- what" she stuttered, grabbing Debbie's hand. "It'll be okay. Right?" Kennedy asked, sounding less confident when she finished her sentence. Debbie shrugged, shaking her head.

"Why does Joe look like his pet hamster ran away" Debbie joked, Kennedy looked at the ground awkwardly fidgeting.

"I told him we needed to take a break for a while" she confessed. This time, is was Debbie's turn to be shocked.

"Why!" She whisper-yelled. Grabbing both of Kennedy's shoulders shaking her.

"I thought it was best" she sighed feeling guilty.

"Maybe it may feel like it's best, but you both know you need each other" Debbie smiled, while Kennedy rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, lets go back, and tell me what's up with Sarah" Kennedy changed the subject dragging both of them back to group. After a while the nurse walked up to the group, holding a sad look in her eyes.

"Miss Dingle" she looked at Debbie "should we go to family room" she prompted. Debbie quickly shook her head

"No you can tell me here" Debbie said, coming off a little bit forceful.

"Well, looking at the results at the tests, we can conclude Sarah has heart failure. She will need a transplant" all of the groups faces dropped, Debbie instantly broke down into tears.