Maddie hung back awkwardly in the door frame as she saw the two sisters reunite. She had watched as Sophie ran out the door as if she was on fire. Maddie followed with the slightest hint of trepidation. She had been quietly psyching herself up for this ever since they arrived at the house. "You can do this" she chanted to herself as she did some hoovering & dried dishes. Family situations she sighed heavily. They triggered her fight or flight response hardcore. Still this was for Sophie. And she could deny Sophie Webster nothing.
Maddie couldn't help but let out a gasp and then laugh at herself for it as she stepped out onto the street. She saw her girlfriend pulled into the tightest embrace by a woman in white leather pants, bright red lippy, and a low cut red top. The sisters made a proper spectacle out on the street but neither of them seemed to care. Covered in a long black parka, Rosie was every inch the slapper that Maddie had imagined.
When she'd been out on the streets, Maddie had met hookers and club girls before who could be this woman's double. She'd never been interested in those type of girls, even though a few had been interested in her enough to try it. In fact get a girl like that drunk and you could not only cop a feel but walk off with a Prada bag. Easy marks those girls had been, Maddie thought guiltily.
"SOPH!" Rosie shouted, waving her hands and jumping crazily. The sisters finally pulled apart as the cabbie finished unloading her bags on the curb. Taking a deep breath, Maddie stepped out into the street. Rosie was paying the cabby and had her back turned away. Maddie looked at the suitcases. There were at least four of them.
"Really Rosie! I thought you were only staying a few days not a year" Sophie smirked.
"Glamour Model!" Rosie said sarkily as she turned around in a huff. She stopped dead and lowered her sunglasses. Maddie could see her giving her the once-over. Subconsciously Maddie straightened her back and pushed her chest forward. It was as if she could feel Rosie Webster's glare penetrating her body like an x-ray. Even though the moment only lasted 15 seconds-it still felt like years. Maddie never liked being judged by others, especially this laser-like scrutiny. Yet she kept her mouth shut and waited trying not to visibly shudder.
The warmth of relief flooded through her as she felt Sophie's arm around her shoulder.
"So this is Maddie, Maddie as you can guess this is Rosie" Sophie said easily. Maddie gave an awkward small wave. Then instantly hated herself for it. Very smooth you daft cow, Maddie mentally whacked herself in the face.
"Well thank god! When Sophie said that you were tough and hard, I thought that you'd be some butch" she said with disgust.
"Rosie!" Sophie gasped.
"Let me finish!" Rosie demanded to her sister lifting a hand up to Sophie's face. Then she turned back to Maddie who stood awkwardly. "Instead much cuter than I thought you'd be!" she turned and headed toward the house leaving only the sound of her click clack heels. Sophie sighed as she bent over to grab two of the bags.
"Help you with these other bags?" Maddie asked as she gathered them up.
"Well that's my sister" Sophie huffed as they headed into the house bags in hand.
Maddie sat back and watched the two sisters as they chattered at the table. She was quickly learning about how they get on. Sophie had told her that they were different as night and day. And that was easy to see.
Her Sophie was breathtaking but never wanted to be showy about it. Rosie Webster wanted the whole world (and every male) to know how fit she was and she'd tell you it straight. There was a vanity and haughtiness that was clearly Sally Webster all over. The two women could banter back and forth like pros, which made sense because they'd been doing it their entire lives. Maddie recognized it because she shared it with her brother. Maybe it was a thing that siblings do all the time.
"So like is she a deaf mute Sophie? Is that how you two get on?" Rosie laughed.
Maddie snapped to attention. Here was her moment to impress upon another family member how much Sophie was her life.
"No, I'm just smart enough to have learned that with this one..." she pointed towards Sophie "I'm in it for her money" she smirked.
"Well it's not like you have much of a choice I've heard" Rosie turned towards her.
"Rosie! Be Nice!" Sophie demanded.
"It's okay Soph. Go on and ask what you want" Maddie offered as she took a sip of her tea.
"Okay then, Stealing? Should I lock up my creams?" Rosie asked.
"When you have to make due with nothing, you do what you can to eat. I'm not proud of it now" Maddie said directly to Rosie. Maddie then turned towards Sophie with a soppy grin. "But it's how I sucked her in soz" she paused then smirked "I'd still say that you'd make a lousy copper".
Sophie's mouth dropped open in a mock gasp. As Maddie bumped her shoulder playfully, as Sophie's mouth returned to a smirk. They looked at each other with that frisky air that was truly theirs. In the air a kinetic energy built up that invaded Maddie's skin. It was a warmth that spread throughout her body. Suddenly all Maddie could see in her mind were collar bones and hair and hips and everywhere else that hands could touch. And it was all Sophie, Sophie, Sophie.
"Are you two quite finished because I think I might gag up my lunch into this tea?" Rosie coughed up loudly to emphasize her point.
"It was your sister that saved me" Maddie clasped Sophie's hand. "And I'd be a daft fool to stuff it up with such a fit girl" Maddie finished up.
"All right! I get it" Rosie groaned as she rose up out of her kitchen chair. Rosie headed toward the stairs. "Soz love's young dream, I need my beauty rest!" she declared dramatically.
"Rovers later?" Sophie asked.
"God yes" Rosie tossed over her shoulder and headed up the staircase.
Sophie's eyes narrowed as she kept her eyes turned to where her sister had just exited. She stayed quiet for a moment.
"I know that look. What's up Soph?" Maddie asked. Sophie turned back towards her.
"My sister...something's gone wrong. She only returns home these days for two reasons: She's skint or some bloke…" Sophie answered.
"Or both" Maddie added.
"Either way...I'm going to suss it out" Sophie said determinedly.
"Hey, this detective thing is kinda hot" Maddie smirked.
"Hush you" Sophie said mischievously as she leaned in and kissed her. It was soft and slow but not heated. There was a time and place for more than that and it wasn't Sally's kitchen. Breaking the kiss first Sophie gave Maddie that smile that lit up the room.
"I'm so proud of you" she whispered softly.
Maddie basked in the feeling that her Sophie gave her. Her breath caught as Sophie gave her the most gentlest of expressions. It was a look that made her feel as if the brunette saw her as this precious, amazing, thing. Sometimes she didn't know how to deal with such soppiness but this time she just squeezed Sophie's hand. And then she remembered to breathe again.