Sophie and Sian walked along the streets through town hand in hand. They had been idly chatting for the past couple of hours occasionally stopping to look in a shop window or grab a quick coffee.
Sian slowed her pace, tugging on Sophie's hand gently in order to slow her too, causing the brunette to turn and face her girlfriend, frowning ever so slightly.
"Are you okay?" Sophie looked at the blonde, concern in her eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine .. Just … Thinking." mumbled Sian, swinging their hands between them as she continued walking forward, not looking up from the ground.
"You can talk to me you know babe." Sophie squeezed Sian's hand encouragingly causing her to stop walking, looking up and facing Sophie.
"Aren't you scared?" asked Sian.
"Scared? Of what?" Sophie's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"What's going to happen? We get our A Level results in like just over a month and then … we go away to university if we pass … and then what?" Sian looked at Sophie expectantly.
"What do you mean then what? I don't know what you mean?" Sophie had a puzzled expression on her face, wishing that Sian would stop speaking in riddles. "You know what happens, we're both going to Manchester university, that's what happens."
"Yeah and aren't you scared? You don't even seem bothered. We have to move away from home. And we haven't even discussed where we're going to live. Do you want to live in halls?" asked Sian.
"I … I dunno … I wanna live with you. What do you want to do?"
"See what I mean Soph, I didn't even know you did want to live with me." Sian looked down at the ground, suddenly taking a huge interest in her feet as Sophie let out a long sigh.
"Of course I want to live with you. I thought … well what have we been saving for all this time if we weren't going to live together?"
Sian looked up from the ground "You mean…"
"I mean, I've been saving up this whole time for university because I had every intention of getting somewhere with you. I thought you knew that?" Sophie looked at Sian like this was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm not a mind reader! You never talk to me about anything. You never talk about what you want for us or how you feel about it. You just wait and wait for me to say something and it's infuriating Sophie!" burst out Sian, suddenly unable to hold it in anymore.
"Bu-"
"No, you know what, I've put up with you not talking to me about anything for this long, I can go a bit longer. Listen to me Sophie Webster. We have been together for a while now and you haven't just sat down with me and told me how you feel ONCE. I was the one that told u how much I could fall for you, you blurted out in front of your parents that you loved me and wouldn't have said anything about it if I hadn't asked you, I was the one who told you I thought we were meant to be, I was the one who said I wanted to be with you forever. Why can you NEVER tell me anything?" shouted Sian, finally letting out all the anger she'd been holding on to for so long.
"Do we have to discuss this here?" muttered Sophie causing Sian to scoff back at her.
"You know what Sophie, forget it, don't talk to me." she turned to walk away but was stopped by Sophie grabbing her wrist. Despite herself, she felt herself soften under Sophie's hold and turned to face her.
"I'm sorry Sian, I'm so sorry. I guess … It's scary to love someone as much as I love you and to have you know everything about me. It's scary to put myself out there for someone and not know how they're going to respond. I didn't want to tell you I love you and scare you away, I didn't want to tell you I thought we were meant to be cause I didn't want you to think I was some kind of psycho. And I didn't want to tell you I wanted to find somewhere to live with you because I didn't want you to turn me down. It's not because I don't want to say these things … I just don't want to risk losing you by saying them." admitted Sophie, fidgeting with her hands as she managed to get the words out.
Sian sighed, reaching forward and grabbing Sophie's hands to stop her from fidgeting. "You have more chance of losing me by not talking than you have by saying too much. I need you to talk to me Soph, I need to know what's going on with you. Do you think I'm not scared when I tell you things?"
"I'm sorry. I know I'm being a coward. I'm just not as brave as you and I'm not as strong as you. I couldn't take it if I lost you and I don't want to mess this up." Sophie looked down at the ground, she could feel herself getting upset as the words left her lips.
Sian moved forward, cupping the brunette's face with her hands and forcing her to look up at her. "Then stop hiding. I love you for you, all I ask is you be yourself and talk to me." Sian placed a delicate kiss on the end of Sophie's nose.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll try harder I promise." Sophie smiled at the blonde, giving her a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek before stepping back. "Soooo … Do you want to live together? Like … get a flat?" Sophie raised her eyebrows expectantly, waiting for her girlfriend's response.
Sian crossed and uncrossed her legs, staring up at the sky and playfully tapping her fingers on her chin. "Hmmm .. Do I want to live with you … What a pickle …" Sian scratched her head, lost in mock thought as Sophie stood in front of her, completely unimpressed before the blonde eventually cracked a huge smile. "Of course I want to live with you, you donut!" Sian squealed, wrapping her arms around Sophie's neck as they hugged each other tightly.
"I can't believe we're doing this!" Sian couldn't wipe the smile of her face as she looked at Sophie excitedly. "Oh my God we're like … one of those proper couples who are mature and don't live with their parents and get themselves their own little home. Wow this is … this is big."
Sophie cocked an eyebrow, looking at Sian curiously. "Are you sure you're ready for this cause we don't have-"
"I want to." butted in Sian, "I really really really want to. I can't think of anything I want more."
"Well then we need to start looking, cause once we get our results it'll only be three weeks until we move so … we need to have some places in mind! And we need to think of furniture and … what we can afford and jobs in Manchester. God we have so much to plan." stated Sophie, starting to feel a little panicked as she thought of everything.
"Then I guess we better get home and make a start eh?" Sian held out her hand for Sophie to take, squeezing it gently before turning on her heel and making their way back to the Webster's house.
….
"Open yours." mumbled Sophie, her eyes darting between the envelope in her own hands and Sian.
"I don't think I can. I'm scared." Sian's eyes didn't move from the envelope she had hold of.
"Oh and I'm the drama queen of the family, just open the bloody things and get it over with!" stated Rosie.
Rosie, Matthew, Sophie, Sian, Sally and Kevin were all sat around the kitchen table. Sophie and Sian were at either end of the table, Rosie holding Matthew on one side in he middle and Sally and Kevin on the other. Both girls were clutching their A Level results tightly, neither had dared to open the envelope yet.
"I can't Rosie, this is like the biggest moment of my life." stated Sophie.
"Well how about I open both of them and then tell you what t-"
"Shut up Rosie." interrupted Sian as she moved the envelope in her hands. She took a deep breath and looked up at Sophie. "Same time okay?" Sophie nodded. "One … Two … Three."
Both girls tore open the envelope before they had time to change their mind and quickly scanned the paper inside.
"Well?" blurted out Rosie impatiently.
"Two A's and a B." said Sophie
"Two B's and an A." added Sian before they both let out a squeal and got up from the table, embracing each other in a hug.
"Well thank god for that!" Kevin looked at his daughter proudly as he let out a sigh of relief.
"Ohhh I can't believe it, my little girl going off to university. In 6 months I've had both my daughters move out. This is a lot for a mother!" added Sally, wiping away a tear as she hugged Sophie.
"Yeah when are you two moving in to your little love nest by the way?" Rosie looked up at the two of them curiously.
"Well we have to go put the deposit down tomorrow now that we know we're definitely moving and then … I guess whenever we're ready." Sophie looked over at Sian excitedly as they both grabbed each other again, hugging the other tightly.
"I'm so happy." whispered Sian so only Sophie could hear her.
"I can't wait to get you all to myself and start our lives together properly." Sophie kissed the side of Sian's head before pulling out of the hug and looking around the room. "So what are we going to do to celebrate?"
