Sophie stormed towards her home, but upon seeing Sally walking up to the front door, she avoided home altogether. She knew she was avoiding her mum and had been for a while now, but when she's angry she would argue with Sally and that's the last thing she wanted or needed right now.

Sophie just decided to walk around and cool off. "Rosie wouldn't tell them would she?" she asked herself over and over. She could maybe see telling Chesney, because they would discuss stuff about her and Erinn all the time back then, and they all did look confused when she accused them….Sophie also knew Rosie Webster, loudmouth extraordinaire. Rosie could not keep a hot piece of gossip to herself. Even though she felt her older sister WAS trying to help, she could see Rosie going about it all wrong, especially since they all didn't like Erinn to begin with.

Now that Soph was off work, she had the time to really think about what this all meant. Yeah, she wanted it with Sian, that was the plan to begin with when she went with Erinn last night. Now however, her trust and boundaries have yet again been crossed, and while it was the same person yet again and she was so very angry at herself for allowing that to happen, it all could've been prevented so easily. No matter how hard she would try to believe not everyone was like Erinn, Soph would be terrified of giving herself over completely. Before, she would keep herself open and available in case the redhead came calling, meaning she didn't want any attachments from anyone, but now that that option was gone, and she would have to start over again. That scared her more than anything. She liked Sian, and she seemed sweet but she had baggage and she showed it. "But then who doesn't?" Sophie thought as she rounded the corner.

Sophie debated doing another lap around the outskirts of Coronation St, but she was exhausted, she didn't get a full night's sleep and she was still feeling the effects of being hungover so she gave in and headed home. She walked in the door and was greeted by a child's squeal.

"Oh, all right Jack? How've you been aye?" she asked her younger brother, who promptly fell over from his sitting position in all the excitement. Sophie quickly ran over to pick him up, dust him off and see if he was okay. Sally poked her head out from the kitchen and just then Kevin came downstairs. "Jack here fell over so I picked him up. Hi mum, hi dad," Sophie said sheepishly.

"Are you staying for your supper Soph? Or are you busy again," asked Sally leaning on the door frame. "And Kevin honestly, if you're going to leave him unsupervised tell me so I can watch him."

"I just went up the stairs for two seconds Sal, he can't go anywhere," argued back Kevin.

"Sophie just said he fell over! Who knows how long he would've stayed like that," answered Sally walking back into the kitchen to finish dinner. Kevin sighed and looked skyward. He started to follow Sally into the kitchen to hopefully help with the food and to work in an apology. Kevin stopped in front of Sophie.

"I'll watch him dad… go on!" she loudly whispered the last two words trying to force her parents together. Although Sally was annoyed, she was at least annoyed that something could've happened to Jack, her husband's child from someone else. "That's a good sign! Isn't it Jack? Isn't it?" she asked as she shook his legs gently back and forth, earning a smile from the young Webster. "And yes mum, I'm stopping for tea," Sophie half shouted into the kitchen.

"Oh what an honor. Kevin? Kevin, Sophie's stopping for tea tonight," said Sally sarcastically.

"Good, I'd love to catch up… WE. We'd love to catch up with you," said Kevin motioning towards Sally.

"Wasn't sure if you lived here anymore Sophie."

"Alright Sal, she's staying that's good enough for me," Kevin said as he walked over to take Jack from Sophie. Kevin knew there was no headway to be made when Sally had her mind set on arguing.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I just uh.. yanno, been out with friends and that," Sophie said looking straight ahead, not making eye contact with anyone. "Ryan and Ches are both after the new Armstrong girl and they've been at each other's throats so I've been dealing with that…"

"Well from the amount I see both of those boys coming here looking for you, it doesn't seem like you're with them," said Sally, setting the table.

"It's complicated mum. If I'm with one of them, then the other is seeking me out, and vice versa. It's very hard to juggle all of this you know?" If Sophie was going to be honest, after she told both boys she was going to stay out of it, she hadn't heard anything else about it. She had to assume that it was all still going the same. She did see the lads together earlier, but she didn't leave them much time to get filled in on their situation, after kicking off at them. And Rosie. And Sian. Sophie groaned again thinking about Sian even knowing a hint of what had happened with the redhead. Or any of it for that matter. She was not proud of how she let herself get hurt time after time and how now it might damage any other relationship she started otherwise.

Another thought Sophie had, was if her character would be called into question. Who would keep going back to that? Was Sophie so weak she craved that kind of drama? Did they think that of her? She was beyond mortified about what had transpired and if she sat and thought about it long enough, she would be surprised if anyone at the end of the day would want anything to do with her. "Maybe it's best if I don't think about it aye?"

"Mum I'm going to get washed up for dinner, need help first?"

"No Sophie we can manage."

Sophie went upstairs to her room and sat on her bed. She wanted desperately to wrap her head around things and let them pass over her to be done with it all, so it was gone forever from her memory banks. It was hard to get them to form into one exclusive thought however so she sat staring out of her bedroom window. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She absently pulled it out to look at the display. She had a text from Chesney and a new text from Sian.

"Please don't be mad, it's not what you think," texted Sian. Ches's text simply said "Ring me."

Sophie hovered over the reply button. She wasn't going to stand for anymore misunderstandings or missteps with Sian. After what she's just been through, she didn't have the strength to get so badly burned from someone she cared about again.

To Sian P:

"Okay."

For some reason she was going to give Sian the benefit of the doubt for now. She did want to clear the air with her once and for all, and didn't want to text argue. Sophie hated that.

From Sian P:

"Soph, honestly. I'm done at the Rover's. I'm stopping by. Be there please."

Sophie's heart starting beating quickly. She had less than 5 seconds to compose herself and form sentences and have an actual conversation with someone she was…. well what were they? One conversation they were crying, and the next one avoiding each other or making out or arguing. Which one would this conversation be? Sophie sighed.

"Sophie! Dinner's ready," called Sally from the bottom of the stairs. "Ah crap," thought Sophie. Sally was not going to like this. Sophie ran down the stairs to try to catch Sian before she knocked. Just as she reached the stair landing, she heard a light rapping on the door. Sally being the proximity answered it before Sophie could preempt the two of them talking to each other.

"Oh hey Sian, we were just about to have supper, maybe you can come back….."

"No mum, I got this!" said Sophie pushing past Sally and closing the door behind her.. Sally stood there for a minute not fully getting what had just happened. She threw her hands up and shook her head.

"Hey Sian can we do this another time? I still haven't yanno, figured things out yet and I forgot my coat and…."

"No Sophie, we have to do this now. If not now, then when? We keep putting this talk off and I just can't anymore."

"Um yeah well life keeps getting in the way. Maybe that's a sign or something," Sophie shrugged. It really did seem like something was in the way of what they could be. If it wasn't one thing it was another. Sophie didn't want to feel frustrated anymore, she just felt drained.

"Soph.. you don't really believe that do ya? If I've learned anything it's that you gotta work to get where you want to. Work for what you really want. All these obstacles? I think they are going their roundabout way of pushing us together. Look go in and get a jacket. Let's take a walk."

Sophie was listening to Sian talk and seeing the delightful blue in her eyes was making her smile. She was exhausted yes and hungry yes, but this.. maybe Sian was right? They did need a talk, desperately, and nothing was really in the way anymore was there? "Only one way to find out," thought Sophie.

"Okay. OKay! I'll be right back. Don't leave!" said Sophie running back inside for a jacket.

Sian couldn't help but smile at Sophie's sudden burst of energy. She reached for her phone and called her dad. He was expecting her for dinner with his new girlfriend, but this was more important.

Sophie stepped back inside the Webster home. "Sophie did you get that all sorted. We are just about to start dinner…"

"No mum, gotta run, I'll be back soon," said Sophie reaching for her coat hung on the bannister.

"Come on Sophie! You promised!" said Sally to a closing door. "That's it Kevin! We are going to have a serious talk with her when she gets back. I'm sick of this!"

"Okay Sally, yes we will, just calm down would ya? She said she'd be back. We can't fly off the handle every single time. We'll sort this," said Kevin standing in front of Sally with his hands on her shoulders. Sally couldn't help but feel comforted by this gesture, but sure as hell wasn't going to let Kevin know it.

Sally shook off his hands and went to sit down at the dinner table. "First thing, as soon as she walks in okay?"

Kevin smiled. Maybe he was being too forward but he could tell in Sally's eyes that she liked it. Even just a little bit. "Sure Sal."

Outside, Sophie rushed back to a waiting Sian who was on her phone.

"I know what I said dad, but something came up. Something important," Sian said as she locked eyes with Sophie. Sophie couldn't help but smile and blush a bit. She looked down and shoved her hands in her coat pockets and waited for the conversation to be over.

"Yeah. Yes, I know. If she's so important, then I'll meet her at a later date… I know, okay. I said I was sorry! Okay, okay. Bye," said Sian as she hit the end call button. "Nothing like a guilt trip from your parents eh?"

"Oh yeah, you should've seen Sally's face just now when I just told them I wasn't joining them for dinner. Not too pleased."

"I have a question.." started Sian as she started walking. "What are you going to tell your parents? I mean there's only so much you can lie about or amount you can blow them off."

Sophie followed suit with Sian and started walking. "I dunno, I mean I don't want to let them too much yanno. My style is doing things, like already going through it and THEN telling them what I'm up to, that way they can't stop me. Haha, Sally Webster is a force to be reckoned with. For sure."

"Oh you've never met Vinnie Powers. That guy...he just..I have no words actually," Sian said with a giggle.

"Okay there's something we have in common then. Insane parents. Doesn't it suck when you realize your parents are just messed up people. I mean, they don't suck, it's just… like you figure out your heroes are flawed and have issues," asked Sophie looking down at the ground as they slowly walked along.

"Yeah that's part of growing up though isn't it? Disappointment after disappointment.." said Sian at first wistfully then had to even laugh at how dire it sounded.

"Well thanks cheerful. But actually I get what you mean." Sophie was walking next to Sian but starting walking closer to her. This was all she really had wanted all this time. Quiet alone time with the sexy mysterious stranger from Southport. They walked along for a little bit.

"You lead the way Soph, I don't know my way around here that well."

"Erm.. well okay, this way," Sophie said, pointing to her right. She was going to lead them to the canal. Yeah it would be dark very soon, but she wanted away from the tight confines of Coronation Street.

"Okay I'll start. My name is Sian Powers, born about 21 almost 22 years ago. My birthday is December 28th, making me a Capricorn. I don't have a middle name because.. well I think my parents couldn't even agree way back then. I'm an only child born into a bit of money but on my mum's side. My parents split about close to a year ago, and I stayed with my mum until it got to be too much there and moved with me dad, leaving it all behind. Friendships, neighbors… boyfriend."

Sophie swallowed hard at that word. "Boyfriend." Sophie had so many questions about that word and who she guessed that Darren guy was. She was going to let Sian get to it at her own pace. Soph didn't dare draw any attention to her situation by asking about Sian's.

"Ex-boyfriend I should say. Jailbird ex-boyfriend if I want to be honest about it."

"Jailbird?" asked Sophie, wanting to know the story.

Sian sighed. "Yeah, I guess I can tell you the story since.. that's where everything changed for me. And for us."

Sophie took a deep breath to ready herself for what she was about to hear. She wanted to hear every bit of this. She looked around the canal for a spot to sit, but as it was getting colder and colder she had an idea. "Hey let's head back, we should sit and talk yeah?" Sian nodded.

Once the girls reached Coronation Street again, Sophie walked them to near her work. "I'm going to take you to my secret spot. SHHHHH!" she shushed Sian dramatically.

Sian couldn't help but laugh. "All right Soph, all right." Sophie lead the girls up to the apartment upstairs of the Corner Shop. She had made a copy of the key when she realized Dev was letting his wayward daughter Amber live there whenever she breezed into town, which wasn't often. This left the perfect escape when Sophie craved alone time to either drink a six pack of cans or cry her heart out when things went sour with Erinn. Most times she'd do both. "Whoa what is this Sophie? Does someone live here?"

"Part time. It's Dev's daughter's for when she makes her yearly appearance. Wait here." Sophie used the light of her phone to guide her to the cupboard. Sophie reached in and grabbed some candles.

"Oh how romantic Sophie!" Sian laughed.

Sophie blushed. She used the lighter from the drawer. "I just wanted this to be just us Sian. I think we deserve this."

"I know I was just kidding Soph, it's nice. I like it."

"There's not much in the fridge like but there are fizzy drinks."

"I'm good for now, ta," said Sian grabbing one of the candles from Sophie's hand and sitting on the couch.

"Okay hope you don't mind if I have some crisps, I'm starving," said Sophie sitting down near Sian on the couch. "Now where were we?"

"Oh, back to my ex," said Sian sheepishly. She let out a sigh.

"Sian, we don't have to you know…"

"Yeah I know, I want to though. I want us to move forward, but in order to do that,first we have to look back. Sounds good right? I read it on a fortune cookie once," laughed Sian.

Sophie almost choked on her crisps. "You trying to kill me?" Sophie ran up to get a drink of a soda from the fridge. Sophie came back after making sure she wasn't going to choke and had to laugh. "You're weird. I like that. Anyway go on.. your ex…"

Sian didn't know where to start. She thought she should start at the very beginning, she owed it to Sophie. "Okay good thing you're sitting," started Sian.

After about an hour of storytelling from Sian, Sophie was at a loss for words. She thought of the courage it must have taken to just pick up and start over again. Not knowing anyone, not knowing how to be. Sian's whole life was that city and those people in it, including her ex boyfriend and all the drugs and the people that went along with it. Sophie knew if she had to do it she would but to just up and go, to actually improve her life was amazing to our Soph. She leaned over the couch to a slightly emotional Sian and gave her a hug.

"You're amazing you know that? To just up and go like that...wow," said Sophie sitting back down.

"You'd do the same if it were you Soph. I know it. You're strong. Way stronger than I was back then. You just don't have any reason to leave this place. And I for one, am glad you don't," said Sian with a sly grin and an instant blush. She was glad they were by candlelight or Sophie would have seen how red Sian's face had become. Sophie was lost in her thoughts staring at the candle flame.

"I've thought about it before yanno? Just running away. It was during the bad times with Erinn. I didn't care if I lived or died. It's weird to think I was like that then. It's so different now."

Sian nodded along. She was wondering when they would get to Erinn. She didn't want to press Sophie as whatever had happened JUST happened this morning. "Seems like an eternity ago," Sian thought.

"What's different? Just….over it now? I know that feeling obviously. When you've just had enough…" trailed off Sian.

"No, you know I hate to say this but I was ready to give Erinn my full attention. To make it work. Actually go through with the Domme stuff. She was what I wanted for so long, she broke my heart so many times," said Sophie still staring at the candle flame.

Sian swallowed hard. "What changed?"

"Well you came along didn't ya?" Sophie turned from the candle flame and looked Sian directly in the eye. Sian stopped breathing and felt her ears catch fire. Sophie smiled at Sian and looked back at the candle flame.

"Soph… why did you go into town with her?"

"I don't know, I had it in my head that I could be friends with her. I wanted to sort it out with you, but I wanted to show her I could be just friends with her. You know I've known her for so long and I know she's alone now. Or was.. whatever. Also, we saw some friends that play in a band, I missed them and well.. I guess that was a mistake. I just couldn't imagine my life without her in my life. She was always a constant thought, a whim. Do you understand?"

"Well kind of. I mean I knew I'd see Darren again eventually, but I didn't break my back to try to keep in contact with him either. I mean I'd like to keep in touch with him now that he's sober, but I don't want to go to concerts with him or anything," said Sian stretching out her legs.

"Yeah I know, it was foolish of me. I can't help but care about her. Or I did. I don't much anymore. Or well.. it's confusing."

"You don't have to tell me now but, what did happen Soph?"

"Well, the short story is that she betrayed a trust I thought we had. She didn't see it that way and well… you saw the end."

"Yeah.." Sian wasn't going to push it any further. If she wanted to be vague about it she could be, but she did sound done with Erinn.

"That night I saw you with Darren, when he kissed you, I got really drunk and ran to her house. That's how it all started…"

"Oh, well. I'm sorry? I mean, it wasn't my fault.."

"No, I'm not blaming you. I blame myself for that, but let's make a pact right now to be honest with each other yeah? Tell each other stuff that maybe we're afraid the other might not want to hear, sound good?" said Sophie holding out her pinky.

Sian looked at Sophie in the eye. "Deal," said Sian as she reached out and locked pinkies. Sophie's face in the candlelight was intoxicating. Sian had never seen such a beautiful face before. Sian didn't let go of Sophie's pinky when Soph tried to pull away. Sophie smiled shyly.

"Give it Sian," said a grinning Sophie.

"I will. I just..want…" Sian leaned in slowly. Sophie watched as Sian closed in, and looked from her eyes to her soft lips. That was all Sophie needed to start leaning in too. The girls met in the middle, softly kissing each other. "I've missed that Soph. I've missed you. You were blowing me off, making me feel like I wasn't important. Especially after what we had just shared. All those nights," said Sian after she pulled back from the most gentle kiss she'd ever had.

"I'm sorry I was being such a mess. I just thought I lost you before I even had you. Everything was all jumbled. And I over-think things something awful," said Sophie licking her lips, tasting Sian's chapstick.

"You can make it up to me."

"How?" asked Sophie. She was willing to do just about anything to correct this and make it up to Sian.

"More of that," said Sian as she gestured towards Sophie's mouth.

Sophie let out a laugh, "Now THAT, I can do. Come here."

Sian maneuvered herself closer to Sophie and Soph grabbed Sian's shoulders and moved her so that she was essentially lying down, her torso propped up by Sophie's legs.

Sian squealed with delight. "Easy there Soph!"

Sophie laughed before she leaned down to kiss Sian. "Oh shush, you like it."

Sian blushed. She did indeed like it, and couldn't wait for more.