A/N Okay so all of these chapters are going to be incredibly short but this is a better alternative than my original plan which was to post this as another oneshot when it's something like 6000 words.
Two weeks. Joey was going to be away for two weeks. It would be the longest they'd been away from each other since they moved in together. Lauren tried to keep telling herself that two weeks wasn't that long. After all, they'd managed to get by without seeing each other for months at a time in all the years they were long distance. But for too long now she'd had the luxury of getting to see Joey almost every day, and she didn't know if she could go this long without him anymore.
They'd already shed many tears over it while cuddled up on the couch with Diane, kissing each other over and over again and holding each other's faces. It was ridiculous, she thought to herself. He was only going to be gone fourteen days, and then he would be back with her as if he'd never been away. But she wanted to hold on to as much of Joey as she could.
They agreed through laughter later on that they'd probably cried more than should have been possible, and definitely more than was necessary for their situation. But Lauren couldn't help bursting into tears again when she gave him a last hug goodbye on the day he left.
Joey wrapped her in his arms, resting his head on top of hers. He hated to leave her, but he was hoping this opportunity was going to be good for the both of them. He stood what felt like hours rubbing her back and smoothing her hair soothingly.
"I'll miss you Jojo," she said eventually as she leaned back in his arms to look at him, wiping her eyes. Her voice was shaky but she was smiling, which was a good sign. She'd be okay.
"I'll miss you too Lo. So much. But you know I'll FaceTime you every single day."
"You better. I want to see your face so much I get sick of it," she said, laughing.
"I love you," he said, ducking his head to kiss her softly. She pressed herself into him as she deepened the kiss and it was a while later that Joey finally – and reluctantly – stepped back.
"I'll see you in two weeks," he said, barely holding back tears himself now.
"Two weeks," she muttered back with a teary smile.
She watched him get into the car, give her one last smile, and then pull away. Her eyes followed the car as long as they could, until he turned the corner and was gone from her sight. Joey was watching her wave from the rear-view mirror the whole time.
When she walked back into the living room, there was a note on the table with 'Lo' scrawled at the top.
Zero. The number of times I want to leave your side.
'What are you being so cryptic for?' she texted him in confusion.
'I don't know what you mean' he replied a second later.
'Don't text while you're driving'
'Don't text me when I'm driving then'
Lauren rolled her eyes. A second text came through a moment later.
'Don't worry, I'm parked at the grocery store. I had to pick up snacks!'
She let out a laugh. Of course he did. She missed him already.
