By Emily Sheridan

PUBLISHED: 18:59 EST, 11 December 2013 | UPDATED: 03:15 EST, 12 December 2013

There's clearly some unfinished business between Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone on The Only Way Is Essex since their split back in April.

However, fans hoping for a resolution between the pair were disappointed when Lucy declared she needed some time away from the Brentwood 'massive' in the special Christmas episode of the show.

On The Only Way Is Essexmas, Lucy ended up caught in the middle of ex-fiancé Mario and more recent boyfriend Tom Pearce, with both accusing her of not being honest about her feelings.

Scroll down for video

Earlier in the episode, Lucy admitted to friends Sam and Billie Faiers that Mario had escorted her home following a drunken night out in Brentwood recently, but nothing happened between the pair.

However, Mario's version of events was rather different, with him telling Ricky Rayment and Jessica Wright the pair had shared a kiss.

He admitted he was disappointed to see Tom stayed over at Lucy's flat a few days later.

To make me things more complicated, Mario's ex-girlfriend Pascal Craymer joined some of the gang for a Christmas getaway in a country barn, to the chagrin of Lucy.

As fans will remember, Mario snuck away from Pascal at the '80s party in the last series of TOWIE to tell Lucy he still had feelings for her. A few days later, he told Pascal their relationship was over - off camera.

Finding Lucy alone in the dining room, Pascal tried to clear the air: 'Sorry if I'm making you feel awkward. Ferne invited me.'

However, Lucy wasn't so nice: 'Ferne can invite you, but why did you come? These are my friends.'

Pascal continued: 'My issue has never been with you. Mario has been the issue. I stayed at his that night after what he said... He didn't tell me at all. He texted me after and told me.'

An incredulous Lucy fumed: 'He's just a liar.'

However, Lucy continued the awkwardness over dinner when James 'Diags' Bennewith asked Pascal about Mario.

When Pascal declared she had been 'used' by Mario, his best friend Charlie Sims piped up to defend him, with the model replying she didn't want to talk about him.

Lucy asked her: 'Then why are you here?'

After Elliott Wright played peacemaker, he then started quizzing Lucy about her feelings for Mario.

After he told Lucy she wanted Mario back, she replied: 'No I don't.'

However, when her on/off flame Tom overheard, he piped up: 'Elliott you've got a point. You're bang on the money.

'Your life would be a lot easier if you were honest to yourself Lucy.

'If she was honest from the start, she wouldn't get herself in this situation.'

Later that evening, Tom took the opportunity to flirt with Pasal in the hot tub, which was witnessed from afar by Lucy.

However, it didn't stop Lucy inviting Tom into her room later that night, but after she tried to kiss and cuddle him, he decided to leave her.

The following morning, after Ferne told Lucy that Tom had tried to kiss Pascal, she demanded an emergency summit meeting with him.

He fumed: 'Don't have a go at me. Stop lying to everyone. You know how much I care about you.'

Lucy broke down: 'You know I care about you. My head's just a mess. I promise I didn't ask Mario to stay...

'I've handled everything wrong. I am sorry. This isn't going to work. It's not fair on you the whole time.'

Finally, at the Christmas lights competition, Lucy had a heart-to-heart with Mario and told him she was too confused.

Mario said: 'After eight months, the best I could do is be honest for once...'

Getting upset, Lucy said: 'If it could be like it was in the beginning it could be amazing, but my head is saying what are you doing?

'We've got to either give it ago and see what happens, or we just go away.'

Mario said: 'If you can walk away, then fine. But if you will always wonder what could have been...'

Lucy finally decided she needed some time out - meaning she will be leaving TOWIE for the foreseeable future.

She explained: 'The only way I can conclude this is if I go away for a bit. I need to get away for a bit. It's the only way we can move on. This is it. See you later.'

She then hugged Mario and kissed him on the lips, before quietly sneaking away from the party leaving all her friends and co-stars behind.

Meanwhile, Lucy's former love interest Dan Osborne finally put Jasmin Walia out of his misery after telling her they couldn't start dating, despite their flirty friendship.

After Jasmin told him they had a lot of 'sexual chemistry', he replied: 'Really? I do like you but I think we should leave it as friends.

'You're a bit of a wild one. I like to stay at home... The flirting stops now.'