*Knock knock*

Who could be knocking? No one knows I'm here yet, thought Sian. Rosie was the last person she expected to see when she opened the front door.

"Hiya babes! Can I come in?" Rosie asked. She nudged her way through the door before Sian could answer.

"I know I'm probably the last person you expected to see right now. But I heard you were back in town and I just wanted to offer my condolences. Sian, I am so sorry."

Tears started filling the back of Sian's eyes and she didn't know why. Maybe because Rosie is the first person to say anything to her about her dad and it caught her off guard.

Rosie stepped forward and stretched her arms out to Sian. The second Sian accepted Rosie's hug she couldn't keep it in anymore. Sian felt the tears fight past her eyelids and a sob escaped her throat. But for some reason she didn't care. Oddly enough, Rosie was the first person she felt safe crying in front of. She knew that Rosie wouldn't make fun of her or scold her or say something like "He's in a better place now". That's bullshit. Rosie understands what Sian and her father's relationship used to be like and she knows it's more complicated than a simple "It'll be okay". So Sian let herself cry into Rosie's shoulder and Rosie hugged her tighter.

After a couple minutes, Sian calmed down and broke the hug. She looked at Rosie and saw nothing but compassion.

"So I'm guessing you're staying here?" asked Rosie. Sian nodded. "Well I'm sorry but I don't know how you could stay here when the color of the drapes don't even match the couch! Listen, Jason- (you know that loser I used to go out with? He's my husband now! But anyway) -Jason is away on a business trip and won't be back for a few days. Why don't you stay at my flat? I have a spare bedroom and it's a little closer to town if you need anything."

"Rosie…I…" Sian started but Rosie cut her off. "Sian, please. Honestly I'm a little lonely with my place all to myself and we have some catching up to do!"

Rosie said it in an extremely cheery way but Sian's stomach dropped when she mentioned "catching up". Sian loved Rosie. She thought of her as a sister and she made leaving all those years ago even harder. But she couldn't rehash the past. She just didn't have it in her.

"Rosie I really appreciate that. But right now I think I just want to unpack things here and take a nap. It was a long train and I want to spend a little more time here. But thank you."

"Okay… But Sian please promise me you'll come by if you change your mind or even if you just want to chat with someone."

"I promise. Thanks Rosie."

Rosie gave Sian another quick hug and walked out the door.

Sian was getting ready for a nap when a thought popped into her head. How did Rosie know Sian was in town? She knew most people probably heard about her dad by now since gossip travels around this town faster than a hawk. But no one knew she had actually arrived yet. Except for the people she saw in the kebab shop she thought. Sophie. Sophie had seen her. She must have gone home and told Rosie. But why would Rosie have come over here? Surely Sophie didn't know that Rosie was going to come and chat nevermind offer her a place to stay. This was all too much for Sian to wrap her head around and she drifted off to sleep before she could worry herself any more.

The next day Sian decided to go to the grocery store since she was planning on staying for the week. The night before she woke up from her nap late so she just hung around the flat, ordered in, and watched tele before falling asleep early. She was determined to get out and get some fresh air today so she walked to the little store down the road. Her mind was clouded with thoughts about her show on tele from last night when she ran into the woman in front of her. Sian stammered back and the woman turned around. "Sorry… I just—" Sian looked up and was immediately captured by the bright blue eyes she was all too familiar with. She wanted to bolt again. She wanted to run away, hide under a rock, and never come out. But her feet wouldn't move. Sian tried her best to put on her brave face and find an ounce of confidence. "H—Hi Sophie."

Sophie couldn't believe it. Sian talked to her. Sophie never thought she would see her again and never expected Sian to talk to her even if she did. She realized that she was taking too long to reply so she stumbled out "He—hey Sian." Wow, lame Sophie thought.

"I, uh, sorry I ran into you. Wasn't really paying attention…"

"No no it's okay I was walking too slow anyway. I, er, what are you up to?"

Wow Sophie, you have such a way with words, Sophie thought to herself.

"I'm just getting groceries to bring back to my dad's flat…"

Sophie saw Sian's expression weaken and her heart sunk.

"Sian…I…I am so sorry. I heard about what happened… I can't imagine what you're going through…"

"I know…It's okay. I mean..." Sian looks up at Sophie and half smiles, "Thanks."

Sophie's eyes brighten at Sian's gaze as she smiles like a fool.

"So, uh, need any help shopping or, uh, anything?" God Sophie could you make this anymore awkward?

The corner of Sian's lip raises briefly into a fraction of a smirk and Sophie catches it right before it fades.

"No thanks I think I'm good, I—"

"Hey babe, whatcha doin?" Maddie asks while wrapping her arm around Sophie's waist.

"I, uh… I… Maddie this is Sian. Sian this is Maddie, my…girlfriend…"

Maddie stretches her hand out to greet Sian. Sian unwillingly shakes her hand before pulling away quickly.

"Ahh Sian. It's good to finally meet you." Sian doesn't like where this is going. "Sophie has told me absolutely nothing about you but it seems like you two know each other pretty well. So how did you two meet?"

Sian isn't sure if Maddie is being ridiculously sarcastic or not but by the look of fear in Sophie's eyes and the confused look on Maddie's face Sian is pretty sure she isn't joking. Sian plasters on a fake smile and looks at Maddie. "I think that's a story for Sophie to tell you." Sian looks back at Sophie with a hint of maliciousness and a spec of hurt in her gaze and Sophie all of a sudden feels tiny.

"Sorry I gotta go, but it was nice to meet you Maddie," Sian says as she speeds past Sophie and Maddie toward the grocery store. After a few feet she turns her head back and catches Sophie staring back at her with Maddie behind her trying to pull her in the opposite direction. Sian swears she can see into Sophie's soul at that second but she ignores it and turns back around, arriving at the grocery store without a second look.

"Hello! Earth to Sophie!" Sophie has been in her own little world since they ran into Sian on the street and it has not gone unnoticed by Maddie. "Soph, you've been acting weird since we ran into that girl again. Who is she?"

She's the love of my life, Sophie thinks.

"She's… and old friend. I just haven't seen her in a while that's all."

Apparently that was a good enough answer for Maddie because she simply nodded and then went on again to gossip about her boss at work and a co-worker. Sophie couldn't be bothered to listen. The only thing she could think about was Sian.