"Well here we are"
"Tell me why we are here again?"
"I know why I am here, I have family here, and I've been away too long. The question is, why are you here?"
The blond didn't reply, why was she back here? She couldn't think of anyone that would actually be glad she was back. "Because you offered me a job." She responded with a smirk.
"A career my dear, a career I offered you. I wouldn't let you come back to here for just a job." God knows how this happened the older brunette wondered. Coming back did make sense, she had missed her family. But bringing the younger girl with her? That was another matter, but she believed in kindred spirits and the two of them were certainly a formidable team.
"LinkedIn has a lot to answer for."
"That it does. And I spy another brunette from this family you are very fond of." With a wave of her hand and a big smile she took off.
"Not funny! Not funny at all!" With no choice but to follow the blonde followed along behind her friend, sporting a light blush on her cheeks.
"KATE! Oh, I have missed you. And Michelle, bloody hell the whole gang is here!" The brunette ran towards the other dark-haired women who was waving and screeching loudly.
"CARLA!" They both chorused at the same time, smothering their sister in a tight hug. Of course, Michelle wasn't actually her sister, but Carla loved her like one.
"It has been too long since I saw your miserable mug." Michelle laughed, but stopped when she noticed who was stood a little behind Carla.
"Oh yeah it has been what, six weeks since I saw you in Ibiza. But you only came for the weekend as you wanted to get back to Robert." Carla singsong Roberts name to tease her.
Michelle still hadn't taken her eyes off the blonde behind them. It couldn't be her, could it? No, she must just need to get her eyes checked.
"Dad and Aidan are going to be so made up that you are back for the wedding." Kate was thrilled Carla was back where she belonged, with her family.
"Come over here, daft fool. Not like you to go all shy, you know everyone anyway." Carla gestured her travel companion to join them. "I know Kate is very happy to see you."
"Hey, how are you Michelle?" The blonde almost whispered, whilst there had been no bad blood between them, it was still a face from her past. Before Michelle could answer she was pulled into a hug by Kate.
"I am so happy that the job worked out for you, bringing you bad to Manchester. Finally, I will have a decent wing woman."
"I thought you just wanted her to be your woman Kate?" Carla snorted amused at embarrassing her sister so easily.
Are my eyes seeing who I think I am seeing? Michelle was still too stunned to move. "This is who you are going into business with, the great prodigy you kept banging on about?"
"Yes, Michelle, this is exactly who you think you are seeing. If you think I can be a bitch in the boardroom you should see this one in action." Carla pulled her friend forward, worried that this was a mistake, that coming back wasn't going to work out for both of them.
"Michelle you look like a goldfish with your mouth open like that." Kate spun round to Carla. "Being my woman? You should know me by now Carla, I only go for brunettes." Kate babbled trying to and disperse some of the awkwardness, moving closer to her friend. "That has just confirmed why we kept our fling between us."
"As much fun as it would be to have Carla issuing death threats to me if I hurt you, then wanting to know why we didn't work out. I am very happy to keep it between us, and we worked out very quickly we would suck as a couple. "They both burst out laughing remember the holiday together in Ibiza. "Michelle, I am sorry…" How do you offer condolences to someone you haven't seen for 6 years?
"Come here you." Michelle didn't want to talk about Ruairi, she carried him in her heart with her always. Whilst she couldn't quite believe she was back, she pulled her old friend in a hug. "Welcome back, it is lovely to see you."
"We could have just got a cab you know, save you coming out to collect us." Carla linked arms with Michelle as they headed towards the car park.
"No chance, but get ready for Kate's driving, and don't say a word about the car."
"Jesus Christ! A pink Land Rover! You expect me to get into that thing?" Carla exclaimed seeing Eva's choice of car.
"I know, but you didn't exactly give us much notice, and Aidan's car would be too small." Kate explained putting the luggage into the boot. "I was thinking, drop the cases off and then to the Rovers?" To say she was excited was an understatement, Kate couldn't wait to see her Dad and Aidan's faces.
"Sounds like a plan to me. You'll get sick of me soon enough Michelle, how lucky the flat opposite you and Robert became available." Carla smiled knowing full well how the flat came to be available, now she was back she wanted to be as close as possible to Michelle.
"Just throw your bags into the second bedroom." Carla shouted over, the flat was perfect she thought, with plenty of space for both of them.
"I'm just going to stay here, unpack and get settled. Give you time with everyone." The blonde replied heading back into her bedroom.
Carla leaned on the doorframe taking in her friend's behaviour. "I know there are some people you would rather put off seeing, but treat it like a plaster, just rip it off in one go." Carla's heart went out to the girl knowing this wasn't easy for her. "If you don't come I will get Kate battered and send her over here. We both know how annoying she is, so stick some lipstick on, and let's get going." Carla's tone didn't leave a lot of room for negotiation.
"Finally?" Kate shouted as Carla appeared in the Rovers. Johnny and Aidan were both stood with their back to the door, completely unaware of Carla's arrival. Before Carla could make herself known, someone else ruined her surprise.
Sophie was frozen to the spot. "Sian?"