"How dare you!"

Sophie gasped and turned around quickly. She didn't hear the front door behind her open so she was shocked to see Kevin walking towards her furiously, pointing a finger in her direction. Sophie froze against the kitchen counter as he got closer.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Kevin shouted. "Where on earth have you been?"

"Um," Sophie swallowed.

After making it out of Louise's apartment, Sophie did the Walk of Shame—something she never thought she would ever have to do—back to Canal Street and, from there, she phoned for a taxi. She couldn't remember much from last night but when she shot out of Louise's bed, she caught back of Hurricanes from the brunette's apartment window. She easily remembered the name of the club because Steph didn't stop going on about how amazing it was on the way there. Sophie figured she could walk there and get a lift back home. The last thing she wanted was Louise seeing her.

In last night's clothes, she walked through the door of No.13 minutes after her Dad left for work, narrowly avoiding him. Instantly, she ran upstairs to get out of her dress. She jumped in the shower and threw her dirty clothes in the wash before heading downstairs, dressed in fresh grey tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie, her hair tied in a bun on top of her head.

Sophie knew she should have called Kevin back and called into work but she couldn't face the embarrassment.

"Go on, then," Kevin said sternly. "What's your excuse?"

Sophie hadn't realised she'd been too caught up in her own thoughts to respond. "Um, I stayed at a friend's."

"Oh," Kevin mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, Steph said something about meeting some old friends from college."

"She...she did?" Sophie stuttered then, walking slowly back towards the kitchen top, she picked up her tea of cup and bowl of cereal—she hadn't eaten since last night after all—and placed them down on the dining table before taking a seat.

"Yeah, yeah," Kevin swallowed. "I was just worried about you. You should have text me to let me know where you were."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay," Kevin said. "You're an adult. I know you wouldn't go out and do something stupid anyway."

Sophie nodded slowly. She wasn't expecting his reaction. She was expecting him to blow his top. Give her a massive lecture on how she should behave and set a good example for Jack but he didn't. She was shocked he trusted her.

"Well, if you're okay, I need to be getting back to work. Tyrone's off to the hospital again."

"Is everything with Hope?" Sophie asked.

"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck. "She needs more chemo, poor little thing."

"I'll say a prayer for her," Sophie swallowed. It was hard for her family to watch Sally battle the disease, she couldn't imagine the pain Fiz and Tyrone were feeling with their daughter. She's the same age as Jack, it would kill her inside if it were him suffering. "Can you manage at the garage by yourself?"

"I'll have to. Luke's agreed to do overtime," he sighed. "It's the paperwork, it's getting on top of me. Ty usually does it."

"Well, if you need any help, just call, yeah?" Sophie said before taking a mouthful of cereal.

"Cheers, Soph," Kevin patted his overalls, when he felt his keys, he headed towards the door. "Are you sure you're alright here?"

"Go, go," Sophie put her hand over her mouth before waved him off. "I'll be fine."

"Okay," he resisted the urge to walk over and give her a hug. Instead he gave a small wave and put his hand over the door knob. "Oh, by the way, you might want to go see Dev. He doesn't seem too happy."


Sophie went to see Dev after her conversation with her Dad. He wasn't happy to see her, and she wasn't surprised. The two of them had a very good relationship, he helped her, and she helped him out. Dev was a massive rock to Sophie after Maddie's death, he allowed her space and time to grieve, he didn't push her into long shifts because he knew himself what it was like to lose a loved one so suddenly. But there was no excuse for her to be late now—she lived next door. He was aware it was her twenty-first birthday this week, he expected her to go out and have fun. What he didn't expect was for her to come into work, at noon, looking like she was suffering from a mild-hangover. It was unknown for Sophie Webster to have more than a couple.

There meeting went the way she had expected: he shook his head at her appearance, had a joke about what she had been up to over the weekend then they agreed she would work the afternoon to closing shift. She had two hours before she had to be in.

It was enough time to go home, freshen up and put any unnecessary thoughts to the back of her mind.

Also, it allowed her to answer the door to a very excited Steph and Sinead.

"You dirty little stop out!" Steph said, pushing Sophie out the way to make room for her to enter. Uninvited, might Sophie add.

"What are you doing here?" Sophie questioned. Steph, followed by Sinead, made themselves comfortable on the couch.

"Your Dad came in earlier, we just wanted to make sure you were okay," Sinead replied.

"I'm fine." Sophie mumbled. She joined her friends but sat on the armchair, tucking a leg under her.

"So where did you cop off to last night then? Or should I say get off?"

"Steph!" Sinead slapped Steph's arm.

Sophie swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably. She scratched the back of her neck. "We just went back to hers... that's all."

Steph scoffed. "Lair."

Sophie hated how her friend could read her like a book. Even when they had only just started talking, she could analyse her every move. She was the one who made Sophie realise she saw Maddie as more than a pet project. For that, she had a love/hate relationship with Steph ever since.

So what if Sophie was lying? It wasn't going to change anything. She was never going to see Louise again—and she didn't want to.

For the first time in her life she was regretting sleeping with someone. It was how it happened, if it had been in a more conventional setting, she wouldn't be banging her head against a wall but knowing it was nothing more than a one night stand, had her stomach in knots.

She had always been so careful. So three wasn't a number to brag about but Sophie was a traditionalist and preferred to be in a relationship with sex, not have sex with no strings attached. Maybe it was something to do with God, she wasn't sure. She had her own beliefs and standards outside of Him.

She thought back to her first night with Sian, the morning after she had asked the blonde if she was alright with the next step but she was worried sick and fearful she wouldn't want them together again. Same with Maddie. After Jenna, Sophie thought waking up alone was a thing of the past but there she lay that morning, with the space beside her empty. She was nervous to question Maddie after everything that happened that day but it had to be done and, although it was apprehensive, Maddie admitted she didn't regret their night and they moved on from it pretty quickly.

But now, Sophie was sat with the shoe on the other foot. She couldn't even look Steph or Sinead in the eye because they knew full well what had happened without saying it.

"You've gone quiet, I'm so right!" Steph smiled with pride. "You dirty mare."

"Do you know her name?" Sinead gasped.

Sophie nodded.

"Talk, Webster," Steph grinned, leaning towards the brunette. She was going to get the truth out of her.

"There's nothing to talk about!" Sophie pulled at the sleeves of her hoody. The room was suddenly very hot.

"There's everything to talk about!"

"Steph, you can't force her!" Sinead reasoned. She could see how uncomfortable Sophie was.

"Look, it was nothing, okay?" Sophie finally answered. "I'd like to forget about it, if that's okay?"

"So you didn't comment t'appelles with her?"

"What?" Sophie and Sinead said.

"What's that X-Tina and Pink song with the rappers?" Steph asked, tapping the side of her head.

"What, Lady Marmalade?" Sinead said.

"Yeah! Is that not what she says?"

"No," Sinead made a face. "I think it's Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?Not comment t'appelles."

Steph looked at her, confused. "What did I say in english?"

"'What's you name'," Sinead answered proudly. She took A-level French in college. "The song translates to 'do you want to sleep with me tonight?'"

"Oh…," Steph coughed. "Same thing."

"Seriously, guys?" Sophie interrupted their music lesson. She glanced at the clock. She was running out of time. They apologised.

"Give me an answer then, Soph," Steph demanded.

"It's nothing!" Sophie threw her hands in the air. She really wasn't in the mood for their grilling. She stood up and made her way over to the door. "I don't want to talk about it. I never asked you to come here. You're that interested in my personal life, figure it out for yourself."

Sinead and Steph could take a hint and realised they had out stayed their welcome but not before Steph caught the blush creep upon Sophie's cheeks as she finished her sentence.

"I knew it!" she jumped, clapping her hands together.

"C'mon, Steph, it's time to go," Sinead rolled her eyes, pushing Steph towards the door.

"When I first met you, you were too scared to admit you had feelings for a girl because you hadn't know her long and know you've slept with a girl you just met! A lot can happen in a year for sure!" Steph laughed, throwing her head back. She didn't mean it negatively. She was in shock, she never expected Sophie would do such a thing.

But Sophie didn't see it like that, her blood was boiling.

"It's really none of your business," Sophie mumbled.

"Hey, I'm your best friend," Steph's voice dropped. "I'm trying to look out for you. If you want to talk, you know."

"Bye, guys," she let them out. Pushing the door shut once they had left. She didn't slam it, she couldn't. She didn't want them thinking she was mad when she was fuming. She hated herself enough, they—well, Steph—didn't need to make a joke out of it at her expense.


I've written so many Steph/Sophie scenes because I miss how many scenes they used to have together until it got serious with Maddie and they stopped. I want them back.