A/N: I don't own Hollyoaks or these characters etc! I love this couple and hope to do them justice when I write this story. Not sure how long it's going to be. Let me know if you guys like it (or hate it... or feel neutral about it ;) I'm basically just building upon the original story, with some changes here and there.
I don't have anyone checking this and wrote this late at night, so sorry if there are errors. Also, I'm from the States, so some of my English slang and verbiage might not be right, feel free to correct me!
"I can't believe classes are finally over." Tilly slumped down onto the couch next to Maddie, taking a sip of her tea.
"Oh please, Tilly you love school, give it a day and you'll miss it." The redhead smiled at her.
"You're probably right."
"Besides, we all know you'll miss seeing Miss Gilmore." Maddie nudged her with her elbow.
"Shut it, you know that's been over for ages now."
"True, but that doesn't mean I don't see how you practically undress her with your eyes when she is in the room." Tilly began turning as read as the hair on her head.
"I have no idea what you're taking about!"
"Okay, hun. Sure." The girls were so wrapped up in conversation they never saw that the topic of their discussion had entered the coffee shop.
At first Jen hadn't noticed the two girls enjoying their tea. She went to the counter, order a latte and moved to the other side of the counter to wait for her drink. Casually glancing around the room, her eyes caught sight of bright red hair, tied with an adorable blue bandana. Tilly. The one person she had spent the past few weeks avoiding like the plague. Jen couldn't tear her eyes away, but this was nothing new. She had been constantly forcing herself to avert her eyes anywhere but in the red head's direction for weeks, without much success. Jen was relieved that college was over and she could have the whole summer to get over Tilly. Surely the process would become easy once she wasn't forced to interact with the girl right? She grabbed her latte and made her way out of the coffee shop as fast as her legs could carry her.
"Tilly, I think Miss Gilmore may still like you." The other woman looked a Maddie in disbelief.
"No Mads, she's the one who broke it off. Said it was a non starter and everything."
"Maybe it's just me... but when I end it with some guy I don't spend most of my time staring at them. Is that a lesbian thing then?" Tilly playfully hit Maddie.
"She doesn't stare." Maddie shook her head.
"Right... just like she doesn't try and run every time she sees you."
"That's probably just because she can't stand the sight of me."
"Tilly, that's a load of bollocks and you know it. I bet you ten quid that her sketch book is full of pictures of you." Tilly let her mind wander back to the day that she had flipped through Jen's book outside the hospital. A part of her wished that Jen had filled the book with more sketches of her lips, but she dismissed that train of thought as just wishful thinking. Jen had made her decision and Tilly needed to let go. That's what this summer could be about, Tilly moving on. She smiled at her resolution and took another sip of tea.
"Probably not, too incriminating. It doesn't matter anyway. I plan on having a Jen-free summer. Who knows maybe I could go on holiday and meet some foreign woman who sweeps me off my feet."
"There's my ginger lesbian."
The girls laughed, but on the inside Tilly felt a shiver shake her down to the core. A Jen-free summer was what she needed, but it certainly wasn't what she wanted.
"So Jen, any major summer plans?" Diane sat across from the teacher at her kitchen table.
"Right now just looking for another placement. It looks good on your CV if you have different schools for more experience." Really Jen just couldn't bare staying in the same town as Tilly. Her self control was waning and she needed to get out of there fast.
"Ah makes sense. Well, love, we have enjoyed having you here, even if Sinead has said otherwise. Will you be staying through the summer?"
"Most likely if that is okay with you?"
"Sure love, not a problem at all! I'm gonna fix a cuppa, fancy one?"
"That would be lovely." Jen looked down at the papers in front of her. Almost ten different placement applications lay in front of her. The thought of leaving Hollyoaks was both a relief and a sad idea. If she was away from Tilly, the temptation wouldn't be there, but if she was away from Tilly, she would... well be away from Tilly. The thought of not seeing the redhead again was a bit to painful for her to even think about. She tried to shake the feelings from her mind and focus on the task in front of her. It was harder than it seemed.
"Alright hun, I'm off to bed. Good luck with those applications."
"Night Diane."
"Oh and don't let Sinead frighten you, she said she'd be home late. Something about an end of term party or something." With that Diane headed up the stairs to leave Jen working on her applications.
She had completely lost track of time, until she head the key turn in the door. She glanced at the clock, sighing when she saw it read 3am. She should head to bed. She began to gather her things when Sinead stumbled through the door. The brunette was being loud enough to wake the whole neighborhood.
"Oy Tilly, You're such a mate... Wouldn't have made it home without ya." Jen looked up from her papers when she heard Tilly's name mentioned.
"No worries, you couldn't really get here without me." Sinead had an arm slung over Tilly's shoulders. The drunk girl flipped the switch and illuminated the room, revealing Jen at the kitchen table. Tilly stopped in her tracks, almost dropping Sinead in the process.
"Tills what's... oh god! Miss Gilmore!" Sinead almost flew back into the door. "Jeez miss. you scared the shit out of me, creepin' in the shadows like that."
"Sorry, Sinead. I was just headed upstairs." Jen began to gather her books and papers when Sinead stumbled forward. Tilly's tiny frame was no match for Sinead's drunken dead weight. She was barely able to keep both of them on their feet. Before Jen could catch herself she spoke up.
"Want help getting her up the stairs?" Tilly smiled at the offer, at least Jen wasn't completely avoiding Tilly's present like she had been as of late.
"That would be wonderful, because my plan was to just dump her on the couch."
Sinead looked up at the red head.
"I'm not sleeping on a fucking couch. I can make it up the stairs." She attempted to prove this fact to Tilly but end up almost taking out a lamp on the side table.
"Uh huh, sure babe. But I want to help you. Makes me feel important." Sinead smiled, yawning in her drunken stupor.
Jen moved to the other side of Sinead, letting the girl rest most of her weight on the two sober women. They practically carried her up the stairs. After tucking her in Tilly closed the door behind them.
"Thanks," Tilly whispered "I don't think I would've managed that without some help."
Jen smiled through the dark at the red head. "Not a problem. Fun night I see?"
Tilly gave Jen a half smile. "For some yes. Sinead got wasted, Maddie left early, and everyone else is still there I think. I offered to take Sinead home because she was making a fool of herself on top of the bar." Jen laughed at the thought of her former student gyrating in front of the whole class.
"Well... I'd better head home. Thanks again." Tilly smiled and began to move past Jen to head down the stairs, accidentally brushing her bare arm against Jen's. Both women froze at the contact that sent a shock up their arms. Their eyes locked and it was as if time slowed ever so slightly. The weeks of avoiding each other floated away and their true feelings surfaced. Jen's eyes moved from Tilly's to her full lips. How she wanted to just close the distance and feel them against hers. Tilly must have been thinking the same thing because she inched her face closer. Jen couldn't take it anymore. Her hand flew around Tilly's waist and she smashed her lips onto the redhead's. It took Tilly a second to realize what was happening, but she immediately reciprocated moving her lips against Jen's. She had dreamed of this moment for weeks. Her hand moved behind Jen's head, pressing their faces as close together as she could. She felt Jen moving her backwards, until her back hit the wall behind her. Kissing in the middle of the house was a risky move, but the the outside world had completely disappeared. In this moment, it was only Jen and Tilly. Jen's hand toyed with the hem of Tilly's shirt, threatening to sneak upwards. Before she could make her move Sinead's door opened loudly. They girls sprang apart in time to see Sinead rush into the bathroom across the hall. They two women looked at each other and smiled, glad that they didn't get caught.
"I should go." Jen frowned, already missing the contact of the other woman's lips. How had she gone this long without kissing Tilly?
"Okay, look Tilly..." The redhead silenced Jen placing a quick kiss to her lips.
"We can talk later. Good night, miss." Jen smiled as Tilly headed down the stairs and out the door.
"Goodnight Tilly". She touched her fingertips to her lips, Tilly's soft lips leaving quite the impression. This was going to be an eventful summer.