"We are sorry to announce that flight M1654 to Manchester Airport is delayed by approximately three hours. We apologise for the inconvenience."
Everyone in the group let out a loud groan as the announcement bellowed through the speakers into the boarding lounge.
"I feel like throwing myself onto the runway." groaned Sophie, throwing her head back against the chair she was sat on and rubbing her temples, "I'm so sick of this airport."
Katy nodded in agreement as an unimpressed expression graced her features, "I feel like we've just about done everything fun and I have no money left for more duty free stuff."
Sophie was about to speak up but the vibrating of her phone stopped her and instead she quickly plunged her hand into her pocket to retrieve it. Reading the text, a grin quickly formed on Sophie's face.
Bar just down from the boarding lounge. Get yourself here. Ice cold pint waiting for you babe but didn't know what Sam and Katy would want, S xxx
Nudging her friends, Sophie rose to her feet, "Come on … lets get a drink."
"Do we need to ask who that text was off?" asked Sam, raising her eyebrows and smirking at Sophie in a knowing way.
Sophie chuckled and shook her head as they began the walk to the bar, "Probably not."
"So you guys don't mind hanging out in public now?" asked Katy, with a confused look.
Opening her mouth to speak but stopping as she considered the question, a frown quickly formed on Sophie's face as she thought about the situation. They were about to go to a bar, just next to where the boarding lounge was, all of their classmates surrounding them and probably about to enter the bar as well. Sian had already bought Sophie a drink and was happy for the brunette to join her. Would Tina be there? Was Sian okay with people knowing they were no longer enemies?
Katy watched Sophie carefully as they approached the bar, knowing that her friend was probably just as confused as she was at that moment but choosing to let Sophie speak up in her own time.
"Guess we'll just have to wait and find out." muttered Sophie, shrugging her shoulders as the bar came into view.
Sitting in the corner of the bar were Sian and Kerry, laughing and looking far too happy considering the flight was delayed and they were about to be stuck in a boring airport for the foreseeable future.
As Sophie and her friends approached the table, Sian looked up and smiled broadly at her girlfriend, rising to her feet and pecking the brunette on the lips.
"Hey." greeted Sian before stepping back and taking her seat at the table, "Figured you guys would be bored."
Katy nodded, "You couldn't be more right … Vodka and coke Sam?"
Nodding in agreement, Sam sat down at the table alongside Sophie as Katy headed off to the bar.
Sophie picked up what she assumed was her drink at the table and looked across at Sian questioningly, "So … where's Tina?"
"Errrm … with Tommy I think, isn't she?" Sian turned to Kerry as she finished her sentence, the brunette nodding before Sian looked back at Sophie, "Yeah … I think they're kind of an item now so they went shopping to get some cheap booze and that."
Sophie took a sip of her drink before opening her mouth to speak, "Yeah but … what happens when she comes back? Or some other people from our college come in here? I thought you didn't want them to know about … this."
Sian shrugged, picking up her own drink and taking a large gulp, "Just cause we're having a drink together, doesn't mean they're all gonna jump to the assumption we're dating."
Nudging Sophie in the arm, Sam nodded in agreement, "She's right Soph … that's probably the last thing they'll think."
"Besides," added Kerry, "It's not like it's just the two of you … maybe the five of us managed to find some common ground after six weeks stuck together."
"Which is kinda true." stated Sian.
Arriving back at the table with two drinks, Katy laughed, "You two shagging is not common ground for the five of us."
Sian rested her hand on Sophie's leg, giving it a squeeze and grinning at the brunette, "Well it is for us isn't it?"
"God you two are sickening." muttered Sam, rolling her eyes. "Almost as bad as her and Ches."
Looking up at her friend questioningly, a grin started to form on Sophie's face as she noticed the discomfort Katy was feeling, "You and Ches eh?"
Suddenly extremely excited, Sam slammed her hands down on the table dramatically, "Oh my god Webster I forgot you wouldn't know about this seeing as you weren't in the room with me. This one here," started Sam, nudging Katy on the arm who was now the colour of crimson, "Didn't come to the room last night and Ches walked her back this morning."
Sophie smirked and opened her mouth in fake shock, shoving Katy in the arm playfully, "Katy Armstrong!"
"Alright alright!" muttered Katy, holding her hands up defensively, "You're one to talk Webster."
"Yeah but … Sian's my girlfriend, that's different." stated Sophie, looking at Sian expectantly who nodded her head in agreement.
Katy's cheeks turned an even darker shade of red and she looked down at the table, "Well maybe Ches is … my … boyfriend."
"NO WAY!" shouted Sophie and Sam in unison.
"Wait," interrupted Sian with a frown, "He's that ginger one right?"
Nodding, Katy finally managed to look up at her friends, "We've kind of been seeing each other a little bit and … I really like him and he asked me out last night."
"So …" started Sam, "We all came on this trip as single friends who wanted to have a good time and now we're going back and I'm the only single one … that's depressing."
Laughing, Sophie patted the red head on the back reassuringly, "I'm sure Mr Right will come along soon Sam."
"Yeah … I mean I'm surprised you didn't take advantage of having the room to yourself." stated Katy, "You're the worst out of all of us."
Sam scoffed, "Oh right yeah … that really shows from this holiday … Those two!" started Sam, pointing at Sophie and Sian accusingly, "Have been at it like rabbits for the past few weeks and you've been dating Ches on the sly … I've been an angel compared to you lot."
"Whoa!" protested Sian, "We have not been 'at it like rabbits' for the past few weeks thank you very much."
Nodding, Sophie rested her arm on the back of the blonde's chair, "It's true Sammy … it hasn't even been a fortnight yet."
"And we don't just sleep together … we do other stuff too." added Sian.
Raising her hands defensively, Sam shook her head, "What you two do in your spare time is none of my business."
"Anyway how did we get from Katy finally doing the dirty with Ches, to me and Sian?" asked Sophie, Katy's face falling as she realised her friend wasn't going to let it drop.
Sian laughed and pointed at Katy, "Hah, thought you'd got out of that one!"
The girls continued to chat amicably for the next two hours or so, a few more drinks being consumed among the group as they laughed and teased Katy about her relationship with Chesney. A few more people from their college had entered the bar over time and the girls had received more than a couple of strange glances from onlookers as they seemed to be getting along and having a good time. Most people from the trip seemed to have taken to shopping and the bar wasn't as full as anticipated however Sian couldn't help feeling just a little uncomfortable at the blatant gawking from a few people and tried her best not to act overly friendly towards Sophie.
Sian's discomfort didn't go unnoticed by Sophie but she would flash the occasional reassuring smile in the blonde's direction before continuing to chat with her friends about the past few weeks and their plans for when they returned home. Everyone seemed to be getting along far better than they'd ever imagined, the meeting being a lot better and easier than the last time they'd all been together as Sophie and Sian's friends adjusted to the new peace that had descended over them. There was no denying it was still strange to be able to enjoy one another's company and the fact Sian appeared to be the complete opposite of the girl they'd once known was nothing short of astonishing to both Sam and Katy. However there was also no doubt in their minds that they'd never seen Sophie happier and the fact Sian seemed to be the reason for this happiness in their friend was enough for them to push the past to one side and bask in the knowledge that things seemed to be looking up for the pair of them.
As time passed by, another announcement had blared through the speakers earning a few more groans of disapproval from the people in the bar as the flight to Manchester was delayed even further. It had been around three hours since they were meant to board their flight and no one had any idea when they would actually be able to get home. Even the teachers had joined the students in the bar, clearly sick of spending time with teenagers and ready to get back to their everyday lives.
"Okay I'm actually glad the flight got delayed." stated Sian earning her a few confused glances from the table, "What? This has been nice … like a final little goodbye drink before we go back home."
Sophie laughed, "Yeah but babe we could be drinking in Manchester right now and not be sat in some dingy airport bar, fed up of waiting to just board the plane."
"I agree," started Katy, "The drinks are not quite as enjoyable knowing we're stuck here inevitably."
Shrugging, Sian drained the last of her drink before speaking, "Yeah I know but this has been fun."
"Sian the drinks are like ten times more expensive than they would be back in Manchester." chuckled Kerry, joining Sian in draining the last of her whiskey and coke, "So yeah it might have been fun but my already limited funds are very quickly vanishing."
Sophie nodded in agreement, "Honestly I've never been so poor in my life … I've spent a small fortune on this trip."
"At least you saved on having to buy girls drinks to get them to sleep with you." teased Sam.
Sian shot Sophie a playful scowl, "Oh so that's your game is it?"
"Not anymore." muttered Sophie, narrowing her eyes at Sam who had a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
"Well if I recall …" started Sian, looking up as she appeared to think back, "You bought me a drink the first night we kissed so it would seem that it is your game."
Sam laughed, nudging Sophie in the arm, "Busted Webster."
Shrugging, Sophie grinned, "Worked didn't it?"
"Eventually." stated Sian, rising to her feet, "Just nipping to the loo."
Sophie instantly shot up from her chair, "Me too."
The other three girls were unable to contain their laughter as Sam shook her head, "Subtle Webster."
"What?" muttered Sophie as Sian smirked and headed in the direction of the toilet, "I need to go."
Hurrying after Sian, Sophie tried her best to ignore her friends' laughter and eagerly opened the door to the bathroom to be met by a smirking blonde, leaning against the sink with her arms folded.
"You know they were right Soph," started Sian, raising her eyebrows, "That was far from subtle."
Sophie shrugged, taking a few steps closer to Sian, "I wanted just a minute alone with you."
"And why's that?" asked Sian, her smirk growing in size as Sophie stepped ever closer.
Placing her hands on the sink either side of Sian's body, Sophie grinned, "To give you this."
Sophie leant forward, pressing her lips against Sian's and feeling the blonde smile into the kiss, raising both of her hands and cupping Sophie's face as they slowly began to move their lips in sync with one another.
After a few minutes, Sian broke the kiss, resting her forehead against Sophie's as she ran her tongue over her lips, "God I'm gonna miss seeing you every day."
Sophie chuckled, resting her hands on Sian's hips as she dipped her thumbs under the blonde's shirt, "What happened to you coming to see me all the time?"
"Well … I will." started Sian, her fingers resting on the back of Sophie's neck as she began to play with the hairs there, "But I doubt it's gonna be as often as it has been here."
Sophie nodded slowly, brushing her nose against Sian's causing the blonde to smile, "I'll make sure it's worth the wait."
"I have no doubts you will." giggled Sian, leaning forward and giving Sophie a chaste kiss as she wrapped her arms around the brunette's neck, "And you won't be able to get rid of me once we start uni."
Laughing, Sophie shook her head, "What makes you think I'd want rid of you?"
Sian shrugged as she shuffled back on to the sink, pulling Sophie with her as the brunette rested her hands on Sian's knees, pulling them apart so she could step between them.
"I'm afraid Miss Powers that you're stuck with me." stated Sophie with a grin, resting her hands on Sian's thighs as she pressed their bodies together.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Sian leant forward, gripping the back of Sophie's neck as their lips reconnected.
The kiss only lasted a matter of seconds as the door to the bathroom opened and Sian snapped her head backwards at lightening speed, instantly loosening her grip on Sophie as she flicked her gaze to the door.
Sophie didn't need to turn to know that something bad was happening as Sian's mouth remained slightly agape, her eyes wide and the colour quickly draining from her face. The blonde had hurriedly jumped up to a standing position, pushing Sophie away from her but it had all been too late. A few short seconds passed by and Sophie turned her head, swallowing hard as she made eye contact with the person in the door way before they quickly and silently turned and walked straight back out.
Sian pushed Sophie forcefully in the chest, stepping past the brunette who frowned, noticing the familiar panicked expression on Sian's face that she'd come to hate so much.
"Babe where are you going?" sighed Sophie, already knowing the answer.
Just short of the door, Sian turned and narrowed her eyes at Sophie, "Where the fuck do you think I'm going? I'm gonna have to sort this out aren't I!"
With that, Sian spun back around to face the door, quickly pulling it open as she dashed outside into the bar. Sophie closed her eyes tightly, leaning back against the sink as she pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to take deep breaths. However, no matter how hard she tried to calm herself, there was no ignoring the sick feeling in her stomach and the fact she was certain things were finally about to blow up in her face.
