"I'm gonna miss this." stated Sophie, leaning back in her chair and grinning, "Back in Manchester it isn't exactly acceptable to drink every night of the week without getting a few funny looks."
Katy pouted and shook her head, "Don't talk about going back, I don't wanna think about it."
"Yeah we've still got a week left Webster, stop bringing us down." chuckled Sam, reaching out and taking a sip of her drink.
Sophie laughed, "Trust me, no one wants this trip to come to and end less than me."
"Wouldn't happen to be anything to do with Powers would it?" asked Katy in a knowing way.
"Got it in one." chuckled Sophie.
The truth was Sophie was more than a little afraid of going back to the real word, completely unsure of what it would do to her relationship with Sian. It was as if when they stepped off the plane in Mallorca, they'd entered a parallel universe where everything was different and the two of them could actually manage to endure one another's company without it ending in an argument. However, going back to Manchester, Sophie was sure things could get ugly. As Sian had said a week ago, they couldn't hide what they were doing forever and the fact they'd already been caught out by Sam, Katy and Kerry proved that. The truth would come out eventually and Sophie knew that Sian wouldn't be proudly showing off their relationship any time soon.
Sophie had convinced her friends to go to a bar for a drink down by the beach. No one from college ever went there as it was just too far to walk and it was where Sophie had taken Sian for a drink a few days previous and she'd instantly liked the place. She'd picked the bar for a reason and as Sian walked through the door with Kerry, and Sophie's face lit up, the reason was blatantly apparent to everyone.
Sian smiled coyly at the brunette as she entered before turning her gaze to Kerry and motioning towards the bar to get a drink.
"Geez smitten aren't you Soph?" teased Katy, amused by how entranced Sophie could become by Sian's presence.
Sam laughed, "Yeah seriously Webster, pick your jaw up off the ground."
Sophie couldn't help it. In a matter of weeks she'd went from feeling a sense of dread whenever she was in Sian's presence to becoming nothing short of transfixed by the blonde. She couldn't believe she'd never noticed the little things about Sian before. The way her smile lit up her whole face, how her giggle was nothing short of enchanting, the way she scrunched up her nose in the most adorable manner when she was confused, how kind and warm she could be when she wanted and not to mention how utterly stunning she was. The whole thing was bizarre for Sophie but at the same time it was exhilarating and she'd never felt so alive as when she was in Sian's company. The blonde brought out a side to her she'd never experienced before, sparking nerves, happiness, contentment and an overwhelming sense of desire in Sophie whenever they were together.
At the bar, Sian had her own jumble of emotions coursing through her body, feeling the familiar sense of butterflies in the pit of her stomach as soon as she saw Sophie. Stood with her back to the brunette, she could still feel Sophie's eyes burning into her and it was causing her stomach to flip over repeatedly.
"You alright Sian?" asked Kerry, watching as Sian stuttered out her drinks order to the barman and began to fidget uncomfortably as she waited for him to bring them over.
Sian looked to her left and managed a smile in an attempt to hide her nerves, "This is really strange … I feel a bit sick."
"How do you mean?" asked Kerry.
Sian nodded her head towards Sophie, "She's right there and with her friends and … we all know what's going on between us and like … I dunno, I've never been able to just walk up to her and join her for a drink and be normal." she paused, looking over at Sophie who was lost in discussion with her friends with a broad grin on her face before turning back to Kerry and managing a weak laugh, "I'm really fucking nervous right now."
Kerry patted Sian in the shoulder and chuckled, "Trust me, I don't think you're alone by any means in finding this whole thing more than a little strange."
Sian took in a shaky breath as she picked her drink up from the bar and turned to face Sophie's table, "Okay … fuck … shit, let's just do this."
A large amount of Sian's drink was gone before she even took her first step towards Sophie and her friends, her nerves increasing tenfold as the brunette turned and grinned as she approached.
Sian cleared her throat, gesturing to the table, "Mind if I … Erm, is it okay if we … join … you?"
Sophie couldn't help but smirk, leaning back in her chair and nodding, enjoying the fact Sian's usual arrogance wasn't present and the girl in front of her was quite obviously terrified, "Sure."
"Thanks." muttered Sian, feeling the heat creeping up her neck to her cheeks as she felt all eyes on her taking her seat.
An uncomfortable silence quickly settled over the group, Sian looking down to the table and picking at the corner of a beer mat as she tried to calm her pounding heart.
Sophie eventually breathed out a laugh, unable to take the silence anymore, "Well this is fucking awkward isn't it?"
Sian couldn't help but smirk at Sophie's attempt to break the silence and shook her head, "Just a tad."
"How things change in a couple of weeks eh?" stated Katy, internally cringing at the whole situation.
Sophie slammed her hand down on the table, a broad grin on her face, "I find that if we all just get catastrophically, absolutely, unashamedly paralytic … we should be fine … that's how me and Sian do it, right blondie?"
Sian groaned, "Can we please not go back to that?"
"What?" asked Sophie with a smirk.
Sian prodded Sophie in the arm and gave her a mock scowl, "You know what."
"I think I'm gonna throw up." teased Sam.
"So should I get the shots in then?" asked Kerry with a grin, everyone at the table nodding eagerly before she got up and walked over to the bar.
"I think I'll take this opportunity to go to the toilet." said Sophie, getting up and giving Sian a smirk as she stared back with a look of pure horror and 'don't you dare leave me here' written all over her face.
A few seconds passed by as Sophie left the table and Sian was just begging the ground to swallow her up, taking another large gulp of her drink before staring into it and trying to think of something to say that would make the atmosphere anything short of painful.
"So …" started Katy, looking at Sian and trying to manage a smile, "You and Sophie?"
Sian nodded her head, barely managing to maintain eye contact with the brunette, "So it would seem."
Sam and Katy were both a little taken aback by Sian's behaviour, the nervous, sheepish girl in front of them being nothing like the one they were so used to seeing. For a second they almost felt sorry for her but the past enabled the feeling didn't stick around for very long.
"Before we go back to trying to get on and pretending this isn't the craziest thing that's ever happened in the world, I'd just like to say something." started Sam, resting her elbows on the table as she gave Sian a serious look, "I swear if you fuck her over you'll be sorry … Sophie's a good person and god knows how this whole thing even happened but she seems to be happy and that's enough for me. I personally have no idea what she sees in you but it must be something good so just … don't mess her around Powers."
Sian swallowed and took a deep breath. She wasn't one to let someone speak to her in such a way and not long ago she would have given Sam a piece of her mind but despite herself, Sian slowly started to nod her head, "I'm not gonna hurt her."
"You don't exactly have a good track record for that though do you?" pointed out Katy.
"I know." muttered Sian quietly, feeling more awkward by the moment, "Look I know nothing I'm gonna say will help so … I'll just have to show you. I really like Sophie and you'll see that. Just give me a chance, Sophie has and I'd appreciate it if you could do the same."
"The fact we're still sat here in this torturously uncomfortable atmosphere suggests we're giving you a chance." stated Sam, a small grin tugging at her lips.
Sian looked down at the table and breathed out a laugh, "God what was she thinking bringing us here."
"I was thinking I want my friends and the girl I'm fucking the hell out of to get along." stated Sophie with a smirk as she sat back down at the table.
Sian instantly blushed crimson and hit Sophie on the arm, "Don't be so crude."
"What? Just trying to lighten the mood." chuckled Sophie, reaching out for her drink and taking a sip.
"There's a difference between lightening the mood and making everyone wanna cut their ears off Webster." said Katy.
"Okay no in all seriousness," started Sophie, her tone no longer playful and the grin fading from her face, "I know that everyone here kind of doesn't like each other and there's a lot of shit that's went down in the past … I know one drink isn't gonna change it but I think it doesn't hurt to try … this doesn't have to be complete torture, alright?"
No one got the chance to respond as Kerry returned to the table, a round black tray in her hands completely covered in shots.
"Jesus christ Kerry, there's only five of us, you've got enough for an army there." said Sian, staring wide eyed at the tray as she set it down.
"Okay I'm not so opposed to this anymore." Sam quickly chirped up, no longer slouched in her chair but sitting up straight and eying up the tray eagerly.
Sophie laughed, "You're unbelievable Sam."
"I vote drinking game!" squealed Katy, suddenly getting excited at the prospect and all thoughts of how weird their evening was, getting completely obliterated.
Sian groaned, rubbing her forehead, "Don't make me do this, I get proper gnarly hangovers."
Sophie laughed, patting Sian on the back as she picked up a shot and placed it in front of the blonde, "I'll just have to look after you again … but try not to throw up again this time eh?"
"She threw up?" asked Kerry, suddenly interested in a story she hadn't heard.
Sophie nodded and grinned at Sian, "So you didn't even tell your friends that you threw up in the pantry of a boat?"
"Wait!" interjected Katy, frowning at both girls, "The boat we had to go on for this trip? The one we found you two below deck on?"
Sophie nodded again, "That'll be the one."
"Do we wanna know why you were really down there?" asked Sam raising her eyebrows.
"Probably not." answered Sophie simply earning her a slap to the arm from Sian.
"Don't say things like that … they're gonna start thinking the worst." ordered Sian, narrowing her eyes at Sophie before turning to the others, "For the record, nothing happened."
"Apart from you throwing up?" teased Kerry earning her a few chuckles of laughter.
Sian's cheeks flushed pink and she gave Sophie another playful scowl, "Apart from that."
"So drinking game?" encouraged Sam, eager to start drinking the assortment of colourful shots that covered the table.
"I never?" suggested Katy.
Sophie groaned and rolled her eyes, "Lame."
"Have you got a better suggestion?" asked Katy, her eyebrows raised expectantly.
"A poke in the eye with a sharp stick sounds better than that." returned Sophie dryly.
Placing her hand on Sophie's thigh, Sian patted it gently, "Babe, be nice … I think it sounds fun."
Sam and Katy exchanged baffled looks at what had just occurred in front of them, the contact between Sophie and Sian, the affectionate nickname the blonde had used and the way she'd managed to speak to Sophie so nicely all knocking them for six.
Katy cleared her throat, trying her best not to draw attention to how confused she was by what was happening "So errm … I never?"
"Fine." grumbled Sophie, picking up a shot and placing it in front of her.
"Okay I'll start." stated Sam, grinning demonically at Sophie, "I've never had sex with a girl."
Sophie slammed her hand down on the table, "Oh come on! This is a fucking set up!"
"Don't hate the player, hate the game Webster, drink up." teased Sam, watching in amusement as both Sophie and Sian knocked back their shots before pulling a face of disgust.
"Okay fine." stated Sophie, giving Sam a sarcastic grin, "I've never had sex with a guy."
Sian's head suddenly snapped to the side, staring at Sophie wide eyed, "You've never had sex with a guy?"
"Well … considering I realised I was a lesbian at the age of twelve I'd say no." explained Sophie with a grin.
Sian nodded, seemingly accepting Sophie's answer as everyone else at the table downed their shot.
"My turn!" shouted Katy excitedly, exchanging a wicked grin with Sam before turning back to Sophie, "I've never went on a date with a girl."
"Fuck this!" blurted out Sophie, glaring at both of her friends as they erupted into laughter and even Kerry and Sian joined in at Sophie's reaction, "I fucking hate you all."
Sian nudged Sophie playfully as she picked up a shot, "Come on Soph … we're both losing out here and it's gonna be me that's suffering tomorrow not you."
"I'm still not happy about this." muttered Sophie, complying with the game and joining Sian as they downed another drink.
Sam pointed to Kerry, "Go."
Kerry seemed to think for a moment, "I've never been in love."
Silence engulfed the table as everyone looked at each other expectantly before bursting out laughing.
"How sad are we." giggled Katy, shaking her head.
Sophie shrugged, "Well we are only eighteen."
The next hour or so passed much by the same, everyone getting lost in the game and forgetting about how awkward everything should be, not caring that the whole thing was the most bizarre and unexpected turn of events ever but just choosing to dwell on the fact that they were actually having fun. Not one girl at the table was sober, another tray of shots seeing to that and it was safe to say the alcohol was only fuelling their ability to get along for the night. Even Sam had managed to keep up a conversation with Sian, the two partaking in the occasional joke together and if someone else had looked over at the table that night, they would have believed they were watching a group of people that had been friends for ages.
For once, Sophie and Sian's friends were able to forget the fact the girls were meant to be natural enemies and if they didn't know better they'd actually go as far to say they actually went well together. Playful banter and gentle touches between the two not going unnoticed by anyone as they'd both grin at each other like loons occasionally, utterly blown away by how well the night had been going. Sian had scooted over on the table having offered her chair to a group that needed an extra one and was now sat on Sophie's lap, the brunette's arm wrapped around her waist holding her in place as they sat at the table and chatted with their friends.
"You two," slurred Kerry, pointing between Sophie and Sian, "Better not be keeping me awake tonight … I need to sleep off this alcohol."
Sam groaned and gave Kerry a sympathetic look, "I forgot you had to room next to her."
Kerry nodded, pulling a face, "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
"What can I say, I'm good in bed." laughed Sophie.
Sian shoved the brunette playfully, "Modest too."
Sophie smirked, squeezing Sian's hip and looking up at her, "Complaining?"
"No complaints here." stated Sian, resting her hand on the side of Sophie's jaw as she leant down and pressed her lips against Sophie's, feeling the brunette grin into the kiss.
"Oi!" interrupted Kerry, causing Sophie and Sian to break the kiss and look over at her, "It's bad enough I have to listen to it, I don't wanna see it n'all."
"Seconded." added Katy.
"Thirded." Sam frowned as the word left her lips, looking at the rest of the group questionably, "Is that a word?"
Sophie laughed, "If not then it should be."
"God can you imagine if someone from our college came in now … they'd shit their pants." said Katy, a look of amusement on her face as she seemed to consider the thought for a while.
"They'd shit their pants?" repeated Sophie incredulously, "Mate I'm not ready for that ordeal quite yet."
Sian nodded, her fingers playing absentmindedly with the hairs on the back of Sophie's neck as she spoke, "I'd really rather that didn't happen."
Quickly changing the subject, Kerry looked down at the empty drinks on the table before addressing the group, "More drinks or are we heading back?"
Sophie looked down at her watch and shook her head, "I'm ready for bed me … old before my time."
"More like you wanna get it in." teased Sam, giving Sophie a knowing smirk.
Sophie shrugged, poking Sian in the ribs playfully, "If she's lucky."
"Hey!" shot Sian, narrowing her eyes at Sophie, "I've been on my best behaviour today."
"God fine, you've twisted my arm … I guess we'll have sex tonight." muttered Sophie dryly, making out it was the worst ordeal in the world.
Kerry rolled her eyes, getting up from the table, "Oh goodie."
"Don't worry Kerry." started Sophie, patting her on the shoulder reassuringly as Sian jumped up from her lap, "I'll put a pillow over her head or something."
Kerry laughed and shook her head, "Thanks."
"Not a problem." said Sophie grinning, "Can't stand the sound of her voice anyway."
Raising her arm, Sian quickly hit it against Sophie's stomach causing the brunette to groan, "That's it, you can stay in your own room tonight."
Sam burst out laughing, "Nice one Webster, talked yourself out of a sure thing there."
"Baaaaabe." whined Sophie, reaching out and tugging Sian towards her and pouting, "I'm sorry."
"Don't beg Soph." chuckled Katy, wrapping an arm around her friend, "It's a sign of weakness."
Sian raised an eyebrow as Sophie looked at her, "Oh trust me Soph, you do wanna get begging if you want anything from me."
"Right we'll see you tomorrow Webby." stated Sam, patting the brunette on the shoulder and smirking before lowering her voice, "Good luck."
Sophie said her goodbyes as her friends left the bar and her face fell as she noticed Sian pushing Kerry towards the exit, ignoring Sophie completely.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" shouted Sophie, quickly following after them and stepping in front of Sian, "Are you really mad?"
Sian folded her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrows, "What do you think?"
"No?" tried Sophie, closing one of her eyes and bracing herself for what could be coming her way.
Sian smirked, holding out her hand for Sophie, "Correct, now lets go."
Her face lighting up like a Christmas tree, Sophie linked her hand with Sian's and let herself be lead out of the bar. There was no denying both girls were in high spirits as the two of them walked back to the hotel with Kerry, feeling a lot more comfortable having been able to be themselves around their friends and despite the initial awkwardness, it all going seemingly well. They knew they still had a lot to handle, everyone else at college, Sian still had Tina to face, the fact they still hadn't discussed their feelings for one another in depth and also what it was exactly they 'were'. At that moment however, they were happy to just bask in the fact they were both content with the way things were and that they'd managed to have a perfectly pleasant evening. For now they'd deal with their friends and the rest of the world would just have to wait.