Tilly spent the next two days sat in the coffee shop watching over the shop, hoping that Tina would appear.
Tilly had promised Jen she would fix the mess, but she wasn't actually sure
how she would do that. She had tried calling Tina, but the phone was never answered. So there was nothing else to do but just sit and wait.
A few people she knew had come into the coffee shop and exchanged polite chit chat. At one point she had seen Esther and Ruby walk through the door. As soon as they had seen Tilly sitting by the window they changed their minds, making a few nasty comments in her direction. Tears stung in Tilly's eyes, but she didn't let them see. She had messed up and Esther was clearly hurting.
Tilly would be turning 18 in 11 days time. Assuming she achieved her Alevel grades needed for Uni she would be leaving Hollyoaks behind her. There had been no talk about the future between her and Jen, but it went unsaid that their future was together. They just had to survive this.
Tilly was just about to give up for the day, when she saw the flash convertible pull up outside the shop. Tilly quickly snapped shut her laptop and gathered up her things and ran over to the shop. She hadn't really noticed Tina the night of the opening, events had happened to quickly to take everything in, but Tilly thought she looked amazing. She was in her early 30s and had perfect hair and make up and although obviously dressed head to toe in designer gear, she carried it off without looking tacky.
Tilly took a deep breath and walked into the shop, her heart racing as she approached the woman who was talking to the young guy who had been in the shop the past two days.
Tilly cleared her throat to get their attention. Tina turned round at looked Tilly up and down. "Yes can we help?"
Tilly swallowed hard "ummm I ummm was hoping if I could have 10 minutes of your time... I ummm, I mean my name is.."
Tina interrupted "your name is Tilly right?"
Tilly stood still and just nodded
"OK well Tilly as you can see we are actually in the middle of something so now is not a good time. I'm sorry"
Tilly was shocked at how unfriendly Tina was being, but she was clearly still very angry.
"Oh OK. I'll just wait outside... It...it's really important."
"Well I've no idea how long we will be so its probably best you just went home"
Ouch Tilly thought. But she wasn't giving up.
"Honestly... It's fine. I've been waiting for the past two days, so I can wait a bit longer"
Tina's face gave an expression that showed she was clearly impressed by the dedication of the young redhead standing in front of her.
Tilly saw this an seized upon it "I'll just wait outside on the bench." Without waiting for a response she turned and headed out the door, trying to get her heartbeat under control as she did so to keep up the image of being calm.
Tina let out a small sigh, before continuing her conversion with shop manager.
After 30 minutes of rehearsing her words, Tilly looked up at the sound of voices. Tina was at the door saying goodbye and walking back over to her car as if to drive off. No way lady, Tilly muttered to herself and walked assertively over to the car.
"Hi!" Tilly said cheerily "can we talk now?"
Tina looked at her designer watch, sighed before responding "OK young lady, you have exactly 15 minutes."
"Great" Tilly responded "shall we grab a coffee?"
Tilly ordered herself another coffee and a herbal tea for Tina and then went and joined the older woman at the table she was sitting at.
"Thanks" Tina said cooly as Tilly handed her the drink.
"Ummm so I know you don't know me, but I... I wanted to talk abou.."
"Jen." Again Tina interrupted Tilly "you are here to talk about Jen Gilmore and her relationship with you" Tina paused before adding
"Her unlawful relationship I should add and one, that despite all my support, could put Jen back in jail".
Tilly took a deep breath, this really wasn't going to be easy. "Yes. But it's not what you think Tina. I promise you. Nothing has happened between Jen and I, I mean we've talked and yes it was me at her flat the other morning, but I can assure you, nothing happened." Tilly paused, but Tina remained silent.
"We both know the risk Jen took, but the fact is we love each other. When we saw each other at the opening, it was like we had never been apart."
"Only you have remember... When Jen was in jail for having a relationship with her pupil!" Tina snapped back at Tilly.
Tilly felt the tears in her eyes before to form, this woman was tough! Tilly blinked and willed the tears away. She needed to remain calm.
"Tina, Jen ended up in jail because of me. Because I told people about the affair and I have regretted it ever since. Sure what we were doing was wrong, but Jen is no pervert! She didn't deserve to go to jail. I punished her because I hated myself for being so happy and sovcaught up in my own life that, I didn't notice a friend in need. When Esther tried to commit suicide I blamed Jen when in fact...I was the guilty one."
Tilly swallowed before continuing "you know Jen, you know she is sensible, we both are ... I'm hopefully heading to London in a few weeks time to start my degree in medicine, but throughout all of this we have simply been unable to ignore the intensity of our feelings for each other. Don't get me wrong... I did try... Esther the girl who smashed the picture" Tilly paused slightly embarrassed.
"Ahh so that's who that was. Now it makes sense" Tina remarked.
"Yes. I'm really sorry about that. I'll pay for the painting as I guess it was my fault."
"The painting was up for sale for £1000." Tina stated at which point Tilly nearly spat out her coffee. There was no way she could afford that!
"I remember my time as a student, and unless you are a secret millionaire, I don't ever remember having that much money." tina smiled slightly for the first time before adding .." but I appreciate the gesture."
Tilly smiled back, in thanks.
"I did try to move on.. i tried to forget all about Jen, but as soon as i heard the news she was back... well i realised i had been kidding myself."
"Esther...umm well as you saw, she didnt take the news very well, and if I'm honest, I didn't handle it very well. When it comes to Jen, I kinda go a bit crazy if you know what I mean?"
Tilly paused hoping that Tina understood her point.
" Jen feels awful that she has let you down. That you saw her talent, and didn't judge her for her 'crime', but the bottom line is... And we both really feel this... Is that love this strong rarely comes your way and neither of us want to..." Tilly felt the tears started to form in her eyes, this time she could fight them "...or can walk away" Tilly wiped her tear stained cheeks. "We love each other so much. We fell in love the first time we kissed, and have been fighting that love ever since. We... We just don't want to fight anymore.. Please don't make us fight anym..." Tilly couldn't finish the sentence as the tears turned into sobs.