As they walked across the street Sian and Sophie linked arms, cuddling together and laughing.
"Best not be packed" Sophie moaned with a frown. Sian nudged her.
"Oi, mardy arse, just be happy your out with me" Sophie laughed and nudged Sian back.
They opened the doors of the Rovers and went straight to the bar. Sophie turrned around to see who was in, she nodded and smiled to Emily.
"What do you want grumpy?" Sian asked with a cheeky laugh. Sophie scowled at her.
"Er al just have a coke ta, ere al get 'em, what you avin'?"
"No no al get em, you go sit down with Emily" Sian insisted with a smile giving Sophie's arm a loving touch. Sophie smiled to her and returned the touch.
"What can I get ya?" Tina asked with a smile.
"Er just a coke and a vodka and coke please Tina" Sian smiled.
"Ice?" Tina asked as she dotted around getting the stuff.
"Yeah ta" Sian replied with a smile. She took a look around the room herself, in one booth Gail, Audrey and Nick were sat, in the other Emily and the rest and in the one next to that she could only see a girl, she'd never seen her before. The girl's hair was dark, pitch black infact and perfectly straight with layers and a side fringe. Her eyes were blue and she was dressed in a suit, though she didn't look much older than Sian. Tina had finished bringing the drinks over.
"£3 please" Tina promted with a smile. Sian handed her the money.
"Ey Tina who's that girl there?" Sian asked glancing over to the girl.
"Dunno love, she's sat with Michelle and Carla" Tina replied with a smile.
"Oh" Sian replied with a curious expression "ta" she said taking the drinks over to Sophie.
"Thanks babe" Sophie smiled to Sian.
Sian smiled back but glanced to the girl again "ey do you know who that is?" Sophie looked over to the girl "Tina said she's sat with Carla and Michelle" the girl was laughing and glanced to Sophie and Sian who were gawping at her. She looked away as though she hadn't seen them.
"Dunno babe- oh here's me Mum she might know" Sophie replied with a curious expression, Sally approached the booth "Mum do you know who that girl is with Carla and Michelle?"
Sally looked over "oh that's Carla's niece, I think her names Ella or Ellie I don't know to be honest"
"Oh right" Sophie said nodding her head to Sian and raising her eyebrows to which Sian did the same.
"You girls got a drink?" Sally asked taking her coat off.
"Yeah, here Sally al get you it, what you avin'?" Sian asked standing up.
"Aw thanks Sian, al have a glass of red please" Sally replied with a smile, seating herself next to Emily in the booth. Sian nodded and returned to the bar with a smile.
While Sian waited she had a quick glance at the girl and noticed the girl had just glanced over to her too. Sian smiled and the girl returned a soft smile before returning to her conversation bursting into a fit of laughter. The sound of the girls laugh was like music and everyone in the pub took a quick glance to see the source. Once she had got the drink Sian sat back down next to Sophie. They sat in for an hour or so, the sound of laughter continuously radiating from the far booth. Laughter died down a bit and the three girls could be heard standing up.
"Thanks Tina" Carla said through laughter as she wrapped her scarf round her.
"See ya" Tina replied with a smile. Carla began to walk out of the pub.
"Iya Sally" she said stopped slightly. Michelle and the girl caught up, they were linking arms and smiling mischieviously to each other " 'ave you met my niece?"
The girl rolled her eyes at her Aunt's drunken slurs.
"No, no I haven't" Sally said brightly "I'm Sally I work for your Aunt"
The girl smiled shyly and went to speak before being interrupted by Carla. She glanced to Michelle with another roll of the eyes making Michelle laugh.
"This is Ella, my niece" Carla continued introducing Ella to the table "Ella this is Sally- oh I already did her, and Emily, and Rita and Norris and then this is Sally's girl Sophie and Sophie's girlfriend Sian-"
Carla went to carry on speaking but Michelle clamped her hand over her mouth "right come on you before you introduce her to the entire street" Ella laughed shyly. She glanced to Sian and Sophie giving them a smile.
"Night" Michelle and Carla shouted to the booth together before Michelle forcefully pushed Carla out the pub.
"Nice to meet you all" Ella said calmly in a soft voice to them all before following her aunt's.
The next day Sian and Sophie were walking away from the kebab shop when they saw Ella stood outside of the hairdressers on the bench. Her head was bowed and she was sat silently.
"Ey theres that Ella girl" Sophie started as they crossed the street.
"Oh yeah" Sian replied looking over to the street's newest edition.
"She looks lonely, should we go say hi?" Sophie said stopping.
"Alright" Sian replied with a smile and shrug of the shoulders.
They walked round to Ella who was playing with her phone.
"Iya" Sophie started. Ella looked up. She wasn't wearing a suit today but jeans and Ugg boots with a hoody making her look younger.
"Hello" she replied smiling. She placed her phone back into her pocket. "Sian and Sophie right?" she asked with a smile.
"Yeah yeah" Sophie smiled with a nod "what you up to?"
Ella smiled "oh just waiting for Carla to finish in the factory" today her accent was much more noticable and had posh London twang to it.
"Oh right" Sophie replied. Ella nodded with a smile.
"We was just goin' to Rovers if you wanted to come?" Sian said with a smile. Ella smiled up to Sian, the smile was bright and laced with something Sian couldn't quite place her fingers on, but it made her feel nervous. The smile was only quick though and Sophie missed it entirely.
"Well I think she is probably nearly done..." Ella replied "I'll just text her and say where I am"
Sian and Sophie smiled and nodded walking into the pub with Ella. They sat in the middle booth.
"So why you here? Just visitin' your Aunty like?" Sophie asked once they had sat down.
"Business, actually, but from what I can tell I am here for good now" Ella replied with a sigh resting against her seat.
Sian and Sophie nodded but didn't quite know who to reply.
"You working with Underworld" Sian asked after a short moment.
Ella smiled softly "er, I am helping Carla with a few things but no...I own clubs and bars but I just opened a few in Manchester so that's why I'm staying" Ella replied softly with a slight matter-of-a-factly tone.
"No way" Sophie said leaning forward "that's so cool"
"Yeah" Sian agreed leaning forward too.
"So wait" Sophie began with a confused expression "how old does that make you then?-if you don't mind my asking"
Ella laughed lightly and smiled "I'm 22"
"Really?" Sian asked shocked "sorry- it's just...you look younger than that"
"Good!" Ella replied with a laugh. Sophie and Sian laughed back.
Carla walked in and looked around before finding Ella.
"Ell you comin'" Carla asked strutting over to her. "Oh hey girls" Carla said smiling down to them, they smiled back.
"Yeah" Ella replied with a smile "see ya" she smiled shyly to the girls "thanks" she added as she stood up.
"See ya later" Sian and Sophie said as she left.
Sian smiled to herself secretly and bit her lip. There was something about Ella that just drew her in.
In the street Carla and Ella walked along towards Carla's car.
"See you made some friends already" Carla stated with a laugh.
"They're alright yeah" Ella said nonchalantly.
"So when are they comin' over?" Carla asked with a big smile.
"Friday" Ella sighed with a soft smile.
"Can't wait" Carla said as she got into her car. Ella smiled with a roll of the eyes before getting in the otherside.
In the Webster's that night Sophie and Sian were in the kitchen making a cup of tea.
"Urgh, we're out of milk!" Sophie groaned as she shook the empty bottle.
"It's alright I'll run round and get some" Sian smiled giving Sophie a kiss on the back of the neck. Sophie giggled.
"Cheers babe" she said giving Sian a kiss on the cheek before she left.
Sian walking along the street to the corner shop which had only recently been rebuilt after the tram crash. Her hands were dug into her jacket pocket and she looked down as she walked. The sound of heels up ahead made her look up however. She saw Ella walking up the pavement looking down too. She was in heels making her taller than Sian. Her hair was straight down her face but styled slightly and her eyes had dark make up around them making them smokey and sharpening the colour of her eyes. She was carrying a bag filled with bottles. Sian gasped slightly when Ella's eyes fell upn hers.
"Hey" Ella called lively.
"Iya, you look nice, where you off to?" Sian said stopping infront of Ella to speak to her.
"Some mates are coming round but we've decided to turn it to a party, you should come, bring Sophie" Ella smiled encouragingl.y
"Yeah alright, al go ask Soph, you in Carla's like?" Sian asked with a slight frown of worry.
"No no, as if she'd let me have a party, no. Same building, top floor" Ella said with a smile and a nod.
"Okay, see you in a bit" Sian said with a smile.
"I hope you will" Ella said with a confident smile. Sian felt a flutter in her stomach and felt her breath catch in her throat, she couldn't breathe let alone speak so she simply nodded.
Sian didn't have a doubt in her mind that she loved Sophie, loved her more than anything, and she could never hurt her and no one could fill as much love in her heart as she did. But there was something extremely inviting about this girl, willing Sian to take an interest. Sian shook her head and carried on to the corner shop.
"Hey, you get the milk?" Sophie shouted as she heard Sian come back in.
"Yeah" Sian said with a smile as she entered the kitchen.
"Aw I love you" Sophie said pulling Sian from the waist in for a hug. Sian intwined her fingers behind Sophie's back before planting a soft and caring kiss on the girls lips.
"Love you too" Sian said with a smile. Her mind had forgotten of the party invitation until Sophie had begun discussing the girl.
"She must be loaded" Sophie exclaimed as she prepared the cups of tea.
"Who?" Sian asked.
"Ella" Sophie replied.
"Oh yeah, oh actually I just saw her, she invited us to a house party at her place" Sian said hopping up onto the counter.
"In her place or Carla's?" Sophie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hers" Sian replied with wide eyes and a cheeky smile.
"What do you think?" Sophie asked standing inbetween Sian's legs and placing her hands on Sian's thighs.
"Dunno babe" Sian said with a sincere and playful smile after placing her hands on Sophie's neck.
"Could be a laugh" Sophie suggested.
"Mmm...won't know anyone there would we though" Sian sighed "besides, we've been out four nights on the run now, I want you to meself" Sian smiled to Sophie playing with a strand of her hair.
Sophie giggled and bit her lip "doesn't sound too bad that!" she moved her hand up Sian's thigh to were Sian's top met her jeans and slipped under her top resting at her sides. Sophie looked to Sian who was biting her lip. At first Sophie's expression was adoring and caring but it quickly changed to mischievious taking Sian aback but as Sophie's hands began to tickle her she quickly realised Sophie's plan.
"SOPHIE!" Sian squeeled trying to fight her off through fits of giggles. Sophie stopped after a while and pulled Sian into a hug before waiting for Sian to kiss her. "Er no chance, not after than un-necassary attack"
"I can do it again if you want?" Sophie said with a raised eyebrow.
"Please don't" Sian giggled, barely getting the words out before kissing her girlfriend.
Carla pulled up outside the factory the next day. She got out the car with a huff, Ella got out the otherside- still in last nights clothes.
"I can't believe you" Carla said with a scowl.
"Thanks for comin' to get me Carla, sorry" Ella said softly with a sweet smile.
"How on earth did you end up in Salford?"
Ella shrugged her shoulders. Sally was walking past.
"Morning" she said quietly observing the scene as she walked past. Ella and Carla nodded to her.
"Go get washed and changed, I need you in here at 2" Carla sighed. Ella nodded and turned on her heels. "And Ell, I wont come get you next time, Salford, seriously?" Carla threw her head back in exasperation and walking into the factory. Ella laughed to herself and carried on walking off to her apartment.
At dinner time Sally nipped home. Sian and Sophie were sat at the dining room table with text books set out everywhere.
"Iya girls, oo doin your work?" Sally chirped as she walked in.
"Yeah, how's ya mornin' been?" Sophie asked looking up from her work, Sian looked up too.
"Alright" Sally sighed "ey saw Carla giving Ella a right tellin' off in the street before, something about having to pick her up from Salford!" Sophie and Sian gave each other a look then shook their heads. "Said she's comin' in at two" Sally spoke as she prepared herself some lunch "Lord knows why, that factory don't need some wreckless teenager takin' the wheels"
"She's twenteh two Mum" Sophie corrected living her mouth slightly open after speaking.
"Yeah well she certainly doesn't behave like one!" Sally added.
"She owns clubs and bars Mum...it's like in her nature or somethin'"
"Mmm well, underwear obviously isn't, what are we gonna have sherry flavoured bra's and knickers! Not while am workin there- ew imagine the smell..."
Sian and Sophie began to laugh under their breath while Sally continued ranting. Sian soon trailed off in thought though. She quite liked seeing Ella, there was something about seeing her that felt right. Sally ate her lunch and went off to work. Sian glanced at the clock, it was five to two.
"You fancy goin' gettin' some sweets from the Kabin?" Sian asked merrily.
"What are ya? Five?" Sophie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Aw come on Soph" Sian said standing up and tugging Sophie's sleeve.
"Alright, then straight back to doin' some work after!" Sophie ordered.
"Okay okay okay" Sian laughed as she pushed Sophie out the door. Sian knew she was being silly, who was to say that Ella wouldn't be going to work late- sounded like she had had a rough night, or maybe she had gone early. But as they walked along she turned the corner ahead. Sian couldn't resist a smile. "Ey look theres Ella"
Sophie looked down the road. "Jesus I wished I looked that good after a night out" Sophie gasped.
"Me too" Sian replied quietly. Ella was ina black suit with black heals and her hair bouncy, she wore a black coat and a white scarf, and most notably she wore big black sunglasses. All of the black made her skin look paler and flawless and she simply glided as she walked. Sian and Sophie had stopped dead in their tracks. Sian suddenly realised and Ella looked up "Iya!"
Ella waved with a smile, she went to walk over to them but Carla walked out the factory.
"Look at the state" she laughed as she saw Ella. Ella sighed and bowed her head before walking into the factory. She gave Sian and Sophie a quick smile. Sian and Sophie both got that unnerved and excited feeling inside of them.
They walked in an uncomfortable silence for a moment until Sophie spoke "I don't like the way she makes me feel when she does that smile"
Sian's eyes widened "neither do I" Sian linked Sophie's arm.
"But at the same time I do, you know?" Sophie said after a minute.
"Yeah" Sian sighed thoughtfully.