Chapter I -

After some fidgeting with her key, the brunette finally managed to unlock her front door. She dropped her schoolbag at the bottom of the stairs, and peeked her head into the living room.

"Hiya!" She said cheerily, "All good, Rosie?"

Another brunette came running out of the kitchen, her body language signalling it was in fact not all good.

"Where have you been, Sophie Webster?" She shouted, "I was supposed to be at my audition 20 minutes ago! It's bad enough you accidentally took my make-up bag to school, now you've ruined it even worse for me, you dweeb!"

"Oi, you slapper!" Sophie retaliated, "I'm sorry I have a life, Rosie!"

"I'd rather you have some brains!"

"Says the girl who doesn't know the difference between provincial and provisional. Shut up, Rosie."

Few profanities later, Sophie escaped the living room – just in time to avoid the pillow Rosie hurled at her. She grabbed her bag and rushed upstairs, happy she got into her room. She opened her window up for some fresh air, and noticed a familiar blonde standing at the other side of the road. Instantly, she felt herself smiling. An odd feeling in the pit of her stomach brought her back to reality. She had this strange sensation from time to time, when she saw the blonde, and she couldn't exactly put her finger on what it was that made her feel this way.

She realised the blonde had already crossed the street while she had been daydreaming. Fuck, Rosie. Sophie sprinted downstairs, just not fast enough to prevent her sister opening the door and giving the girl a nasty glare.

"And who exactly are you?"

"Um, hiya." The blonde muttered, startled by the eldest Webster's behaviour, "Um, I'm Sian."

"I don't know a Sian, you must've had the address wrong. Well, see you, love." Rosie frowned.

"I know her." Sian pointed at Sophie, "Hi Soph."

"I could've thought you two's were going to know each other." Rosie snarled, "Let me through, I'm late anyway."

She pushed Sian to the side and rushed past her, putting on a jacket while running down the street. Sian looked at the other Webster sister in confusion, before bursting out laughing.

"Don't mind her." Sophie sighed, "She's a moron. What's up, why are you here?"

"I just come from Ryan's." Sian's mood seemed to lighten up, "He asked if I wanted to go to his place on Friday eve. You know, watch some DVD's and all that."

"Right." Sophie frowned, "And you're telling me this..."

"Because we had plans together for this Friday, you silly." Sian laughed, "Now, I told Ryan I'd come and ask if we could possibly reschedule that."

"Oh." Fuck you, helmet-headed jerk.

"The thing is," Sian bit her bottom lip, "I'd really like if you'd just come down to his as well."

"Are you mental?" Sophie grinned, "I doubt he'll like me interfering with his romantic plans."

"Yeah, well." Sian shrugged, "I would just like to spend my Friday evening with both of you."

There it was again, the nagging feeling in her stomach. Sophie tried to swallow it away, but to no avail. As nonchalantly as she could manage, she nodded.

"Sure, I'll come down."

"That's brill, thank you so much." Sian laughed, before pulling her friend in a hug, "Means a lot to me, Soph, thanks."

"No problem, babe."

"Right, well, got to get going. My dad's probably wondering where I am, so..."

Sophie was well aware of Vinnie Powers' temper, so she didn't try and make Sian stay for longer. She gave the older girl another hug, and leant against the door post as Sian made her way out of Coronation Street number 4's porch. She closed the door as soon as the blonde was out of sight, and rest her head against the glass door. Why the hell do I feel like this?

"So, Sophie, how was school today?"

"'t Was okay, mum." Sophie mumbled, shifting her food from one side of her plate to the other with her fork, "Just the usual."

"Where is your sister, by the way?" Sally looked slightly annoyed, "She could at least have told someone she wasn't going to be here for tea."

Sally's sentence had barely finished or the door burst open and Rosie came through, a radiant smile upon her face.

"Guess who got herself a job!" She beamed, "I'm now officially a glamour model!"

"Lovely." Kevin Webster grunted, "Do you have to bother wearing clothes?"

"Oi!" Sally interfered, glaring at her husband in dismay, "I'm happy for you, Rosie. I think it's lovely you are trying to make your own income. I'm proud of you."

Rosie sat down at the table with a triumphant glare, and helped herself. Sophie did her very best not to look at her sister. Ever since she could remember, Rosie had always been considered the more attractive sister. Throughout the years, it had become so bad that Sophie barely had any self-esteem left when it came down on her looks. Rosie was a bombshell, social and flirty – nobody seemed to care about her intelligence. Sophie on the other hand, felt as if she had to compensate, and was pretty much scoring A's in tests she took at school. Rosie had laughed it off when their parents applauded Sophie's efforts, saying there had to be something good about her after all. Sunken in thought, Sophie moved her food around her plate once more. Sian won't ever think I'm pretty. As soon as she thought it, her hands turned clammy. What the hell...

"You alright, Soph?" Kevin frowned at her, "Aren't you gonna eat that?"

"Hm?" Sophie snapped back into reality, "Ah, no. Not hungry. Got homework to do, sorry."

Without any further explanation, she got up and left the kitchen. She heard her mum ask what's wrong, and Rosie answering that she was probably just jealous. Sophie rolled her eyes at no one in particular and entered her room, kicking the door closed behind her. She flopped down on the bed, and looked at the picture of her and Sian on her bedside table. Ever since the blonde had started to date Ryan, she had felt neglected for some reason. After a final exasperated sigh, she pushed herself off the bed and forced herself to start on her homework. She couldn't wait for the morning to come, when she'd meet Sian at the bus stop. She smiled, although the happy thought was quickly pushed back by the realisation Ryan would be there as well, all over the blonde and unaware of Sophie's jealousy issues.

"She's your best mate, for fuck sake." Sophie muttered to herself, "Try 'n be pleased for her."

The burning feeling in her stomach made clear that she couldn't.