24/06/2013

Abi excitedly prepares for her 17th birthday party. On discovering Lauren’s bed empty, Max and Tanya assume she’s spent the night with Peter. Joey asks after Lauren, Tanya insists she’s no longer his concern. Peter tells Max their date didn’t go well. Lucy lies Lauren met some college friends after R&R and texted her, but then leaves Lauren a worried voicemail. Tamwar finds Lauren’s handbag outside R&R. Tanya learns from Joey that Lauren was drinking the previous night. Max rings Lauren’s phone and Tamwar answers. Lucy confesses she lied - Lauren went off with a man. Max drags Lucy to the police station. Tanya returns for Abi’s party where Abi’s worried. Tanya’s admitting Lauren’s missing when Lauren staggers home, yellow and jaundiced. Cora calls an ambulance but Jack offers to drive to the hospital. Tanya and Jack bear Lauren outside, Lauren shrieks in pain and sinks to the floor. Max pulls up with Lucy to find a terrified Lauren cradled in Tanya’s lap.

Kirsty’s depressed that her period is due. Carl and Max take digs at each other at the car lot. In the Vic, Roxy talks to Kirsty about pregnancy. Kat allows Carl to buy her a drink. Kirsty’s flustered by Carl and spills his pint. At home, Kirsty’s calming her nerves with a whiskey when Max arrives; he smells the alcohol and is appalled. Frantic, Kirsty confides in Kat who warns she’s going to come unstuck. Carl teases that Kirsty will come back to him.

When Alice demands answers, Carl claims he lied about meeting her because he was intimidated by Kat. Carl says he met Derek when he gave him a black eye playing blackjack. Alice warms to Carl when he tells her Derek protected him in prison. To Joey’s irritation, Carl says he reminds him of Derek.