Thank you for the reviews.

The summary for this story was; Rachel and Eddie are on honeymoon - Sophie and Tommy have gone to stay with Kim in Manchester. Now I wrote this after the chapter Kerian but there is something that happens in this chapter that I have been thinking about for a while and... I did umm and ahh about putting it in and I did in the end. Don't know what you are going to make of it...

Getting this early because... I feel like it.

Summer

If both Sophie and Tommy thought that it was hot in Greenock for the wedding, being in Manchester was even hotter as it was set to be the hottest summer on record.

"We could be in Glasgow with Philip right now," Tommy said as him, Sophie and Dex all laid in the sun in Kim's garden.

"I could really do with a beach right now," Sophie said.

"The closest beach is 45 minutes away," Dex said.

"45 minutes! Greenock is basically on the coast."

"It's on the River Clyde," Tommy said.

"The same thing. Basically, we are no more than like 10 minutes from a beach or a body of water that could keep us cool."

"Mum said that you wanted to come here," Dex said.

"We did. We wanted to spend some time with you as it was the summer holidays."

Tommy smiled at them before he sat up. "I've got to go inside or otherwise I am going to melt."

"Would help if you did what Dex has done and taken off your t-shirt," Sophie said.

"Dex is in way better shape than I am."

"Says the boy that told me to keep him on the same strict diet and exercise regime as me and Rachel for the wedding. You are more than fine Tommy."

"Honestly Tommy, we don't judge around here," Dex said.

Tommy sighed before he grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and lifted it over his head. It wasn't like he was out of shape. He didn't pile the weight on easily, like his mum, but he wasn't as body confident as he probably should be. He didn't expect the wolf-whistle from Dex.

"Mate, if you just did like 20 or 30 situps a day before school, you would be ripped."

"Think of what Mia would think of you then," Sophie said.

"Who is Mia?" Kim said as she finally joined them in the sun. "And it is the hottest part of the day. Why don't you all come inside?"

"You know Kim, only mad dogs and Englishmen."

"Yeah well, you won't be saying that when I have to rub aftersun all over your backs. Come in."

Tommy shook his head as they all came in from the sun and he was quite glad of it. Kim lucky had put a jug of water in the fridge, that Dex got out to get them all a drink.

"So who is Mia?" Kim repeated.

"My girlfriend," Tommy said.

"Who isn't happy that she didn't get an invite to the wedding or that her boyfriend has gone to Manchester for two weeks," Sophie added.

"I'll skype her later. Probably after Mum skypes us."

"She is such a worrier."

"She always has been," Kim said.

"Sophie, your phone has just gone off," Dex said as he handed it to her.

"Why has he contacted me?" Sophie whispered.

"Who has contacted you?" Tommy asked.

She turned the phone to him and his anger grew as he saw the name.

"Give it to me. I'll make sure he will leave you alone."

"Because you did such a great job the first time."

He knew that she was being sarcastic and meant it in that he was still contacting her after the party and having words with him since. He tried not to take it to heart but he did and he knew that she knew that he had done by the way her face dropped.

"Tommy, I did not mean it like that."

"Well I didn't, did I?"

He didn't know where he was storming off to but he needed to be alone and to push down all the thoughts that had started to flow through his mind again about what had happened to both his mum and Sophie.

"Sophie won't tell me," Kim said as she entered the room that she had given Tommy to sleep in.

"She… won't. She is still embarrassed."

"What about you?"

"I just want to protect them, Kim. Is that so difficult?"

"Tommy, you are only 15. Everything that happened with Rachel was way out of your control and I doubt that there was very little you could have done to protect her."

"Sophie was almost... raped. He… He spiked her drink, took photos for her before he… I walked in at that point. Stopped it from happening. Saw way too much of my cousin. Only the second time I have punched someone."

She nodded at him as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I can understand why she would feel embarrassed."

"Mum keeps telling her that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. She went to the police with it because we had his phone and they found out that he had done it to other girls. The investigation is still pending because they are hoping more girls are going to come forward."

"I can also see why Rachel asked me to speak with her and you. Tommy, you can't put that level of pressure on yourself."

"I think part of it is, and Sophie is right, I don't want to be like my dad. I… I worry that the protectiveness that I feel over them will turn into the jealousy that Dad had and I will end up doing something like he did to Mum and then… the cycle of it all. I know it too well."

"Natural worrier like your mum. You aren't him Tommy. In all honesty, I have never seen a slither of Adam in you. All I see is Rachel and her attitude to not give up on anyone while being protective of the few people she let in."

"I suppose."

"Which is why I also know that you aren't going to stop beating yourself up about it as well. I think your mother still thinks about things that she could have done differently years ago."

"Maxine Barlow. She talks about her a lot."

"Exactly."

"Thanks, Kim. I see now why both Mum and Eddie say that the role of Pastoral Care was always hard to fill after you."

"It's not a problem Tommy. And I am always a phone call away if you ever need to talk."

Kim had thought about how she was going to talk about the subject with Sophie. Tommy was right. She probably was still embarrassed by it. She knew that from experience.

"Tommy told me what happened."

"Of course he would."

She sat on the bed beside Sophie. "I think the worst part about it all is that it could have been worse."

"How do you mean?"

"Before Eddie started at Waterloo Road, we had this student that I took to the cooler because of his homophobic bullying. I don't know whether he was trying to prove a point after I told him that if he was comfortable with his own sexuality, why was he threatened by someone else's. The line that still sticks in my memory, even now, is when he said I could take off your bra right now and there's nothing you could do to stop me."

"Oh, Kim."

"Jack expelled him immediately but it wasn't going to be that simple. He did it in the end somehow."

"It wasn't like Tommy didn't warn me as well. I bet he didn't tell you that. He had found out all these stories about him and warned me that he was no good. I see it now. He just wanted to see how many girls he could get."

"But you did the right thing. The police are going to deal with it and it never gets better, but it does get easier. It will put you off men for a while. Although, I don't think that is a bad thing."

"Most boys my age are all idiots anyway."

"Exactly."

"Thanks, Kim."

There was a knock at the door and Tommy came in with his laptop.

"Honestly Mum, we are fine. Look, here is Sophie and Kim." He said as he turned around the laptop.

They all said hello at roughly the same time.

"Kim, they are being good, aren't they?"

"Depends who you think the trouble maker is."

"Definitely the one next to you."

"Thanks, Rach. How is Venice?" Sophie said.

"Absolutely beautiful. We will have to come back sometime."

"Definitely."

"Rachel, for christ sakes, can't you leave them alone for one day?" Eddie said as he came into view.

"I'm just making sure that they are having a good time."

"And I am sure they are and that they are safe. They are with Kim. I would be a little more worried if we had left them with Philip."

"Just…"

"Okay," Kim said as she stood up. "Right you two need to have your honeymoon." She took the laptop off Tommy. "I know it is the first time that you are away from your children but if there was any problems, I would call you. Okay? It is just another week and a half."

Kim handed the laptop back once they had gone.

"Kim, you need to teach me how to do that," Sophie said.

It was a rare moment when it was just Sophie and Dex. Sitting out in the garden in the slightly cooler evening air, she couldn't help but wonder what life would be like if Dex was more in their lives. She could imagine them being like the three musketeers or something like that. Her and Dex would definitely be up for a bit of mischief while Tommy would be a little more reserved. Although she was certain that he would have gone through on their plans.

"What are you thinking about?" Dex asked.

"I know we are good friends. But what if we were all together? Like we grew up together and went to school together. I would like to think we would be really close."

"Same. Mum probably would have liked that. I think because she had me, she felt a little isolated. She doesn't really have the same group of friends as she did when she talks about Waterloo Road."

"I think I would have liked to be at Waterloo Road when they were there the first time around." Sophie paused for a moment. "Except I don't think I would have wanted to be around at the same time as the fire or the gun."

"Or Max. Not that he would have been my dad."

"It is mad but Rachel is right. We wouldn't be the people we are today if it wasn't for all the events that happened."

"A rather optimistic view of life."

"But I would have loved to know both you and Tommy sooner."

"Same."

She had watched many movies and TV shows and she just knew what was about to happen between them. She knew that she could have stopped him at any time, told him that they were just friends and it wasn't a good idea but the way that Dex had been with her, it didn't worry her as he leant in and pressed his lips against hers.

It wasn't anything like her friends had described having their first kiss. Or how it was in the tv shows and films that she had watched. Tommy's description of his first kiss with Mia was probably the closest. Her hand raised to cup his cheek and there was a part of her that wanted it to last forever. It was innocently tender and as Dex pulled back, it brought her from her thoughts and whatever planet she was on.

"I shouldn't have done that." He said.

"Probably not."

"Just ignore it. I'm an idiot."

"Dex, it's fine."

"No, it isn't. You are a friend, a very good friend. I've just…"

"Just kissed me. We can't get away from that fact."

"I messed up. Just… you're amazing Sophie and I am still so amazed that you managed to plan that whole wedding and it was such a great day. That Josh guy. I don't want to know what he did but whether he cheated on you or used you or something like that, he was an idiot. You are just brilliant and I am glad that I am your friend."

She found herself smiling wide at him. "You don't know how much my confidence needed that."

"Why do I sense a but? There is always a but."

"I don't think there needs to be a but. I like you Dex. Maybe we will just have to see what life throws at us."

"I like you too. I don't want to ruin our friendship."

Sophie expected it to turn awkward between them but instead, she found a great amount of comfort as she rested her head on his shoulder as their hands joined together and rested on his knee. If anything, they had this moment. They had this summer.

Little side note...

I have thought up a couple more what-if scenarios... would you be interested in reading them?