"Soph are you sure you have enough booze there?!" questioned Laura, rushing over to her friend as she stumbled through the door armed with several bags of alcohol.

Grinning demonically, Sophie shook her head, "Craig's got the rest."

Sure enough, Craig joined his two flat mates in the living room a few seconds later, armed with several crates of beer and another bag hanging from one of his wrists.

"Jesus christ guys, this is one party and you look like you're stocking up for the year." stated Laura, completely awestruck by the amount of bottles, crates and cans that currently lay before her.

Sophie shrugged, "Well we weren't sure what everyone would like so we kind of … bought a bit of everything."

"And you funded this how?"

"My dad paid a healthy amount into my account last week and Soph just got her end of term bursary through. Need we say more?" asked Craig, struggling to the kitchen in desperate need to relieve himself of the heavy crates he was currently still holding.

"Well that's all well and good but when people are drunk beyond repair in our flat then it's on your heads." stated Laura, picking up a few bags from the ground and helping Sophie into the kitchen.

"Deal!" chimed Craig and Sophie in unison, shooting each other a grin as they began to unpack their bags and place the appropriate items in the fridge.

It was just a few short weeks until Christmas and as everyone handed in their final essays and assignments for the term, the three flatmates had decided it was only appropriate to throw a party. Everyone had been looking forward to the holidays having been bogged down with university work for several weeks, a night of fun with friends and far too many drinks seemed like just the antidote for the stress they'd been suffering from.

"So how many people are we expecting?" asked Laura, picking a bottle of vodka out of the bag and placing it on to the kitchen counter, "Because our flat isn't exactly massive."

Sophie shrugged, "Not sure. It's just kind of an open house tonight."

"So … it could be hundreds basically."

Laughing, Sophie shook her head as she cracked open a can of beer, "I wouldn't go that far."

"Relax Laura, it'll be fine." chuckled Craig, joining his friend in opening a drink, "Personally I can't wait to get absolutely shit faced."

"Cheers to that!" stated Sophie, grinning at Craig as they clinked their cans together.

Raising her eyebrows sceptically but seeming to admit defeat, Laura shrugged and grabbed herself a drink, "What the hell."

A few hours later and the flat was bustling with people. The sofas had been pushed back against the walls for optimal room and the living room had turned in to somewhat of a dance floor as music sounded loudly throughout the building and people danced and drank with their friends. The kitchen was full of students talking loudly amongst themselves, mixing drinks and generally socialising as they basked in the knowledge they were free from university work and the holidays were upon them. Groups of friends stood throughout the flat, taking up most of the space in the corridors as they chatted and drank to their hearts content. Any worries Laura had previously had about the party had quickly dissipated as she felt herself getting tipsy and Sophie and Craig were stood in the living room chatting to a few of the girls from their course.

"He did not say that to you!" giggled one of the girls in disbelief, slapping Sophie on the arm playfully.

"I swear to god, that's exactly how it happened!" laughed Sophie, taking a sip of her drink before continuing, "Told me I was more than welcome to drop by any time for some 'personal tutoring'. I nearly gagged."

The girl erupted into another fit of giggles at Sophie's story and shook her head, "That boy needs to know when to quit for real."

"Tell me about it."

As silence settled over the pair and they both took another gulp of their drinks, Sophie's eyes drifted across her flat, taking in the people that were present. In all honesty, she'd say she knew less than half the people at the party but it didn't bother her. She was more than happy to socialise with new people and get to know them better. Not to mention the fact that her idea of a party was the more the merrier. Glancing around the room, Sophie's gaze settled on her best friend dancing with Sian, the two of them obviously no longer sober as they laughed together in the middle of the living room. Sophie felt a smile tug at her lips as she watched Sian laugh. The brunette couldn't deny that Sian looked beautiful when she laughed. They way her eyes sparkled and her smile seemed to light up her whole face.

Since talking to Craig about her troubles weeks ago, Sophie had tried to distance herself from Sian as much as possible without making it obvious she was doing so. Not that she felt she couldn't be around Sian but the fact that the blonde seemed to be getting under her skin so much was not something Sophie wanted to entertain further. She merely thought it much safer to put a fair amount of distance between the two of them and try to get on with her life as normal. Trying not to over think her actions and allow Sian's words not to play on her mind had proved to be a little difficult for Sophie but in true Sophie Webster style, she simply thought it best not to dwell on it and brushed those feelings under the carpet. For the most part and with a little help from not talking to Sian too much, Sophie felt she was getting back to her normal self. However, on occasions such as tonight where she couldn't help but be drawn in by the blonde, even for just a brief moment, Sophie knew that no matter how much she ignored it, Sian had an undeniable effect on her. Not one hundred percent on what exactly that effect was, Sophie tried her hardest to justify it to herself, deciding it was just because Sian seemed to see through her, that the blonde did everything in her power to push her buttons and having never been treated like that by a girl before, Sophie found it both irritating and interesting at the same time.

Excusing herself from the group, Sophie finished off the last of her beer, setting it down on the coffee table before making her way to the bathroom. Grumbling to herself as she stopped behind two other girls, Sophie rested against the wall and let out a sigh. Possibly the one downfall of house parties, the queue for the bathroom.

"Does it not seem somewhat unfair to you that you have to queue to get into your own toilet?"

Sophie turned her head to the side, grinning as she shook her head, "Just a tad."

"Then again … we are all guests so we should be allowed to go before you."

Sophie laughed, "Is that your way of trying to cut in front of me?"

Settling herself opposite Sophie and leaning against the wall so they were facing each other, Sian shrugged, "Maybe."

"Hate to break it to you but that's not gonna happen."

"But I'm a guest!"

Sophie scoffed, "Hardly. You spend just as much time here as I do."

"You say that like you're not pleased about it."

"Am I that easy to read?" teased Sophie.

As the door to the bathroom opened and the two girls in front entered, Sophie and Sian shuffled up the wall so they were next in line.

"They better not fuck in my bathroom." muttered Sophie, looking at the door with disgust.

Sian laughed, "Soph they were totally straight."

Smirking back at the blonde, Sophie shrugged, "A girls only straight until she's not."

"So Sophie Webster isn't just a lady killer but a great converter too, eh?"

"Well I don't like to brag but …"

Shaking her head in disbelief, Sian laughed. She was quite drunk after making the most of all the alcohol on offer and could feel herself loosening up. "Sometimes I wish I could be more like you in a way."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, "A whore?"

Sian snorted out a laugh, kicking Sophie in the shin playfully, "No! Just … you're so care free and confident and you do what you want, when you want.

"Why is that so desirable? Surely being with Laura is better than that."

"Yeah of course …" started Sian, trailing off as she huffed out a breath, "Whatever. I don't know."

Sophie frowned, "Are you not happy with her or something?"

"What?! No! I mean yes, yes I am."

"But …"

"But nothing." objected Sian, before raising her eyebrows at Sophie, "Even if I wasn't, I don't really think it's appropriate to discuss this with you."

"Why not?"

Sian scoffed, "Really? You're asking me that question?"

Nodding, Sophie shrugged her shoulders and looked at Sian expectantly, "Why not? We're friends, right?"

"Oh really? We're friends are we?" asked Sian, surprised what Sophie nodded her head in response, "On what grounds are we friends?"

"Well yano … we …"

Sian laughed, "Exactly. We never hang out, we don't talk, we only spend time together because I'm dating your flat mate. You couldn't exactly describe our relationship as a friendship could you?"

"Well thanks a lot." muttered Sophie with a frown. "What would you class it as then?"

"Fucked up."

Breaking out in a smile, Sophie shook her head, "Okay yes, maybe."

"Maybe?" repeated Sian incredulously, "Lets see, we first met when you flirted outrageously with me at a bar. Then I rejected you to which you did not take very kindly, then I waltz in to your life with the news I'm dating your best friend. And since then we've argued and made up and argued and made up and seem unable to actually see eye to eye most of the time."

Sophie couldn't stop herself from chuckling, "Well when you put it like that … although you make it sound worse than it is. Plus I wouldn't say I flirted 'outrageously'."

"Mhhhmm, sure thing Soph."

Opening her mouth in mock shock, Sophie protested, "In what way was it outrageous?!"

Flashback …

Sophie had been stood at the bar for approximately half an hour, sipping on her drink as the girl she'd come with was off dancing. Watching out the corner of her eye, Sophie could see that the girl was having too much fun to leave the dance floor any time soon, not to mention the fact she was getting quite a lot of attention, and so took it upon herself to get a little drunker before finding a new prospective bed mate for the night.

Swirling the last of her drink and ice around the bottom of her glass, Sophie took a large gulp to finish it off before placing it back down on the bar and looking for someone to take her order. Before she had looked too far, her attention was grabbed by a girl stepping behind the bar towards a tall man in a suit.

"I'm so so sorry I'm late Carl, honestly, I've had the night from hell."

The man folded his arms, looking somewhat annoyed, "You're over an hour late Sian, we're already one staff member down tonight without this."

"I know, like I said I'm really sorry, I got here as soon as I could."

"Just stop grovelling and get to work, you're late enough as it is. You better hope for a lot of tips tonight."

Letting out a sigh as she took off her jacket and threw it under the bar, Sian ran her fingers through her hair and tried to make herself look as decent as possible.

Sophie had been watching the exchange carefully, unable to tear her eyes away from the blonde beauty who had just entered, and lost in her daze she had failed to notice that someone was speaking to her.

"Anyone home in there?" Sian snapped her fingers impatiently in front of Sophie's face.

Jumping slightly as Sian snapped her fingers, Sophie frowned playfully, "What kind of customer service is that?!"

"Well maybe if you were paying attention to me I wouldn't have had to do that." answered Sian, knowing she should be more well mannered but unable to control her bad mood.

Sophie smirked back at the blonde, "You know, considering you have a lot of tips to make up, you might wanna try being more polite. Especially to me."

Raising her eyebrows sceptically, Sian rested her hands on the bar as she leant closer to Sophie, "And why 'especially to you'?"

"Because I tend to be a pretty generous tipper if the barmaid's as hot as you."

Sian snorted, "Oh … right … okay. I see how it is. Does that line generally work for you?"

"Does the moody, sullen look usually work for you?"

"Do you want a drink or not?" asked Sian, feeling herself start to lose patience.

"How about you have one with me and then we can work on that attitude of yours?"

Sian sighed, "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm working."

"I had noticed," stated Sophie, folding her arms in front of her and leaning further forward, "But you don't seem too fussed on punctuality so I figured maybe you wouldn't mind a bit of casual skiving."

"Is that so?"

Sophie nodded her head, "So … what's your name?"

"You know my name."

Frowning back at the blonde, Sophie shook her head, "What makes you think that?"

"Well you were quite clearly eavesdropping on the conversation with my boss earlier."

"I wasn't eavesdropping," started Sophie, "You just got my attention."

Sian narrowed her eyes as she assessed the girl in front of her. Strong eye contact, a playful grin, a charming twinkle in her eyes and the fact she was leaning towards her. Sian shook her head and chuckled, resting her arms on the bar as she mirrored Sophie's position.

"Come here." Sian raised her finger, beckoning Sophie closer as the brunette shuffled forward, their faces now just a few inches apart, "You're good. But I'm not going to sleep with you."

"You do think highly of yourself don't you?" asked Sophie, "Although don't get me wrong, I'd just love to be that lucky."

"Sorry to break it to you but there's only one person at this bar who fancies you, and it ain't me." started Sian, standing back up straight and smirking at the brunette, "Now, do you want a drink?"

Despite Sian's words, Sophie's grin was still placed firmly on he face, "Playing this the hard way then, eh? I like that."

Sian let out a sigh, "You're not gonna quit are you?"

Grinning again, Sophie shook her head, "I do like a challenge."

Sian rolled her eyes, "What's it gonna take for you to just order a drink?"

"Say you'll have one with me."

"I've already told you I'm wor-"

"Not right now." interrupted Sophie, "But some other time."

Sian sighed, rubbing her forehead as she tried to think of a solution. She had seen Sophie around before and knew exactly what the girl in front of her was like. Not to mention the fact she fended off the advances of people at the bar regularly so was fed up of it.

"I'm all set thanks."

Sophie laughed, "Oh come on. I might be the best thing that ever happened to you and you won't even know because you wouldn't give me a chance."

Sian snorted, "I dunno about that, but you can keep dreaming."

Flashback over …

"In retrospect, outrageous wasn't really the right word," started Sian, thinking for a second before continuing, "Relentless is probably more apt."

"I stand by everything I said."

Sian laughed, her eyes darting to the bathroom door as it opened and the two girls stepped out, "Like I said, relentless."

Both girls stood in the corridor, just looking at each other for a while with a grin on their face before Sian eventually cleared her throat and pointed towards the bathroom.

"You going in?"

Sophie smiled, gesturing into the toilet, "You go first."

"Sure?" asked Sian.

Sophie nodded, "I'm sure."

As Sian stepped towards the door, she leant towards Sophie and smirked, "Now if you'd been a little more like that, I might not have turned you down."

Patting the brunette on the stomach, Sian shot Sophie a grin before stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her, leaving a slightly taken aback Sophie behind.