Chapter 2

All she knew was that her friend, her friend who'd stood by her, dried her tears and comforted her in her darkest hours, her friend who'd been there through thick and thin, her best friend in the world needed her help and she wasn't about to let him down.

...

The evening was cool and fresh, it was the end of the summer and autumn was just around the corner. Sophie had been sat in the bar quietly nursing a bottle of lager, while watching Mike play pool, laughing lightly as he missed a sitter of a shot which bounced against the back of the pocket ricocheting back out scattering the remaining ball's across the green felted table.

'Hiya' Tina said shimmying down onto the stool next to the brunette, nudging her with her shoulder as she did so.

'Hi Teen' Sophie replied nodding and smiling her acknowledgement.

Sophie had met Tina at the Uni's LBGT society one Tuesday evening, laughing at her outrageous sense of humour and witty turn of phrase. They'd hit it off immediately becoming firm friends, and it was at one of Tina's legendary 'End of summer' parties that Sophie and Vicky had met.

And when Vicky died, Tina saw that a little bit of Sophie died too. She grieved with her, held her up at the funeral and calmed her down at the wake. But over the following weeks Sophie pushed her away like she had everyone else, hurting her with acerbic words said in haste and anger and more often than not in alcohol, until eventually she wouldn't speak to Tina at all, wouldn't open the door or return her calls. And it had been Tina who'd contacted Mike knowing that if anyone could get through to Sophie it would be him.

'Is he winning or losing' Tina asked lifting the beer bottle she'd been carrying to her lips as she took a gulp.

'Losing' Sophie replied with a chuckle.

'How long before he kicks off' Tina asked fishing her phone out of her handbag checking the text she'd just received.

'Any minute now' was the reply just as Mike threw the pool cue across the table pulling out a £10 note from his pocket thrusting it at his opponent with a grunt.

'Fucking cheat' Mike growled out disgruntled flopping down on the remaining stool at the table.

Sophie and Tina looked at each other amused as there each cocked an eyebrow at the statement.

'How many times have I told you, you shouldn't bet against him Mike, he semi professional for Christ's sake' Sophie laughed out as she took a long swig of cold beer.

'Semi professional my arse, he's shit' Mike muttered angrily.

'Yeah but he can beat you though' Tina laughed joining in with the teasing, only to get angry grimace in return.

'So' Sophie quipped smiling wide eyed as Tina's laughter began to wane 'when are we going to meet this mysterious girlfriend then'

Mike's features visibly softened as a shy smile crossed his lips.

'Later' he replied lifting his eye's to meet the bemused gaze of his flatmate and her friend.

'She's meeting me here in a bit' he continued as Sophie pursed her lips letting out a loud animated 'ooooo' whilst playfully punching his arm lightly.

'Can't wait to meet her' Tina piped up, 'see how long it takes me to steal her away from you', she semi joked teasingly poking out her tongue at the stern features of the rugged man sat opposite her.

'I'm warning you' Mike started to growl leaning forward pointing his index finger menacingly at the grinning features of the dark complexioned woman sat opposite him.

'Oh pack it in the pair of you' Sophie spat out swatting Mike's manly hand down.

'She's only joking, she wouldn't' the brunette continued as Mike adjusted his position on the stool huffing.

'Right' she continued happy that the tension between her two friends had been broken 'who's for another' she continued as she stool making her way over to the bar.

'Oh come on mate, you know I was only joking' Tina said after a few minutes of the silent treatment form the dirty blonde headed man sat scowling down at the beer mat on the table top.

'Mate' she continued as she shuffled her stool around the small table throwing her arm around the rugged man's neck pulling his head towards her as she dotted kisses into his rapidly receding hairline, pinching his cheek with her free hand at the same time.

'Alright, alright' Mike laughed out lapping up the attention.

Sophie smiled as she witnessed the jokey interaction between her two best friends, she'd be lost without them, she'd put them through so much and still they were there for her. She only hoped that if either of them ever needed her in the way she needed them after that fateful night, she'd be up to the job and be able to support and comfort them the way she had been. That's why she hadn't hesitated when Mike asked about his sister, how could she refuse, how could she turn her away, when Mike was so obviously worried about her. She knew that her agreeing to her moving in would create havoc, turn their idyllic peaceful lives upside down, but what else could she do, she knew this would only scratch the surface of the debt she owed the big man and she was more than happy to oblige.

'So Sophie tells me your sister's moving in with you' Tina said taking the bottles of beer out of Sophie's hands and placing them on the table top.

'Yeah it'll just be for a while; she's on the housing associations waiting list, so hopefully she'll have her own place soon'. He replied lifting the fresh beer bottle to his lips.

'How far gone is she' Sophie interjected settling down onto the stool.

'10 weeks I think' Mike replied 'so she should have her own place easily by the time the babies due' he continued.

'Where's the Dad' Tina questioned

'That little shit' Mike spat out 'she hasn't seen him since she told him' he replied grunting his disgust.

'He told her not to worry everything would be fine, and then she hasn't seen hide nor hair of him since, one of his friends told her that he's gone on holiday with his new girlfriend'.

'Twat' Tina spat out

'Yeah I know' Mike replied 'near damn broke her heart, and then on top of all that, my shit of a Father tried to force her to go to a clinic'. He continued in quiet exasperated tones.

'Bastard' Sophie interjected shaking her head and she huffed out a disbelieving breath.

'You know she's had it so hard all her life' Mike continued placing his bottle back on the cardboard beer mat as his gaze concentrated on the label he was picking at.

'She's had to live on her own with that brute since I left for Uni, and I know he hit her, she wouldn't say anything, but I just knew. Every time I went home she'd have some sort of bruise on her and she'd tell me she got it playing hockey, or she'd slipped and banged herself, but I just knew it was him', he continued as Sophie reached across covering his hand with her own rubbing reassuringly.

Looking up he gave Sophie a sad smile.

'I just want to be there for her this time' He whispered out sadly 'I've never been able to help her before, but I'm damned if I'll let her down this time' he continued in a determined tone.

'Don't worry' Sophie replied as she continued to rub his hand 'You couldn't let her down, you're too good of a brother to do that'.

Mike smiled acknowledging the supportive words of his friend.

'Okay, my round I think' Mike said brightly after a few minutes silence.

'Do you know what you're letting yourself in for' Tina whispered out as Mike got out of earshot.

'What can I do Teen' Sophie sighed out 'He need's my help, I won't turn my back on him, not now' she continued getting a resigned smile and a nod in return.

'And anyway like he said she'll have her own place by the time the babies due, and let's be honest even if she hasn't it's not like the baby will keep me up at night is it' she huffed out referring to her endless sleepless nights.

'Is that not getting any better babe' Tina enquired throwing Sophie a sympathetic look.

'Nah' the brunette replied shaking her head.

'What about those pills the Doctor gave you' Tina enquired

'They just make me drowsy all day Teen, no good at all' Sophie replied taking a swig from the beer bottle.

Tina braced herself knowing the reaction she was about to get.

'Look babe, I know you said you did want to do it, but don't you think it's about time you thought about counselling' she said leaning forward getting the young brunettes attention.

'No' Sophie growled out taking another gulp of the cool liquid.

'It might help, let you get things off your chest'

'No' Sophie shouted snapping her eye's to meet the brown orbs staring at her, cutting off Tina mid sentence 'The last thing I want to do Tina, the very last thing I want to do is bring it all up again, live through all that again,... I can't' the distraught brunette said her voice quietening to an emotional whimper.

'Okay' Tina relented knowing that Sophie still wasn't at the stage where she could talk about Vicky and what had happened.

The table went quiet once more as both women took stock of what had just been said between them. Looking up Tina noticed Mike beckoning to some-one at the doorway to come to him, scanning her eyes around the horde of people she noticed some-one wave back at him.

'Oh my God' she spat out nudging Sophie and indicating with her head in the direction of the bar.

'That must be the girlfriend' she continued as Sophie craned her neck trying to get a better view.

Both women looked at each other wide-eyed in shock when the woman he'd been waving to, flung herself into his waiting arms and was lifted off the ground and swung around before being hugged tightly by the usually emotionally impassive man.

'Shit' Tina gasped out 'She is gorgeous'

Sophie sat wide eyed as she watched the spectacle unfold. Tina was right she was stunning, not just attractive but strikingly so. Sophie was struck by how beautiful this woman was, she had a smile that lit up the room, and a presence about her that made every head turn in the bar when she walked in. She wasn't anything like Sophie had expected, she didn't know what she was expecting but that goddess certainly wasn't it. Both women watched open mouthed as Mike handed the woman what looked like a vodka and orange and beckoned towards the table the women were sat at.

'Close your mouth Soph' Tina whispered nudging her 'You're drooling'

Quickly Sophie snapped her jaw shut as she dragged her fingers around her mouth, just double checking that Tina wasn't right and she didn't have drool running down her chin.

'Shrrup' she retorted quickly turning in her seat as Mike and his companion got closer.

'Hey' he wheezed out plonking the 3 beer bottles on the table top.

'Tina, Sophie, I'd like to introduce you to some-one that's very special to me' He beamed.

'This is Sian, my sister'.