Sophie gently washed her face and applied some fresh make up. Nothing too over the top but enough to look presentable for whomever, whichever sex, whatever could transpire that evening. She felt open to anything, or nothing if that's how the night went. She just wanted to laugh tonight.
Now Sophie was big on talking about sex. Being a sexual creature, there was no topic sex related that went untouched. Sophie was big on experimenting and trying new things, so the fact that she had been with 6 guys and 2 girls since she lost her virginity 4 years previous was not really a big deal. She was up for sex but not slutty. She had a little more pickiness to her. In conversation Sophie would only be sexually candid if it was leading somewhere. A joke or a comment to sort of embarrass her mates was always fun for Sophie. It also made it easier to talk about her experiences with women, so it wouldn't be a shock to her close friends. Sophie figured that guys are easier to be physical with and girls are easier to talk to, to make laugh and be charming with. When after all, it was the guy's job to convince the girl to sleep with him, wasn't it? And reverse when trying to get girls? Sort of a brash thought process but it worked for the beautiful Sophie Webster who had to fight 'em off wherever she went. Now as far as girls were concerned, Sophie would wait until she got the signals from the girl first, like "the green light" so to speak and then pounce. She was used to the bi-curious girl in the group of friends of friends making some sly comment when they were alone or in passing. "We are going to make out later," and "Why are you dancing next to that girl, is she trying to take my place?" and "How about me and you and her in a threesome?" are examples of things they would say to Sophie. She would act confused and shrug it off, because there's a difference between the green light and over-aggression and over the top suggestions such as these were unattractive to Sophie.
With Erinn, she got the green light almost immediately, despite her girlfriend being in close proximity. Sophie thought for the longest time it was a game Erinn and her girlfriend played, like to collect crushes or something, until the night six months later when it was the two of them at Erinn's house dancing closely and inappropriately. Erinn spun around and kissed Sophie so hard, their teeth collided. She winced and put her hand to her mouth as Erinn apologized profusely, but our Sophie told her shut up and kissed her just as hard back. Groping, clothes strewn about, drunken kissing and exploring of bodies on Erinn's living room floor, Sophie thought she had died and gone to heaven. That is until Erinn's phone started ringing, which in the process snapped Erinn out of the trance she was in. Sophie quickly got dressed and ran out of the house, with Erinn calling after her, "It's okay Sophie! I just can't. I'm sorry!" Sophie thought then and there waiting for Street Cars to come get her, that she would never be in that position again. Little did she know she would be immersed in that situation for another two and a half years.
Sophie walked in to the Rover's with a sort of excitement she couldn't describe and walked up to the bar. What was the excitement from? That she was going to forget all about yesterday in a matter of three pints? That this is a new and fresh start for her? That her mates would understand and get just as if not more pissed than her that evening? Sophie stood in her own thoughts of the "new her" when she heard a voice talking to her. Sophie focused on the person talking and saw the most beautiful pair of powder blue eyes she had ever seen.
"Sophie, earth to Sophie! Haha you okay? Can I get you a drink?" asked the barmaid.
"Uh yeah, sorry Sian, I'll have a pint of lager please. Thanks girl," replied Sophie a bit dazed. Her and Sian had always had a sort of, well one wouldn't say flirty, but it was.. flirty. Long stares from across the bar, free pints, always a cheeky grin when not in the Rover's. And not awkward stares either, always ending in smiles for both. The blonde had only been in town for 6 or so months from the seaside town of Southport, something about living with her dad while her mom stayed behind. Sophie never got the full story.
Flashback sequence: One night, Sophie was waiting for Ches near the outside of the Bistro when Sian came stumbling out with her Rover's co-workers, Tina and Becky. Sian was younger than they were, but they still got on pretty well Sophie noted. Sian sashayed over to Sophie and asked what she was doing outside all alone, to which Sophie replied waiting on Ches. "Speak of the devil, heyooh Chesney mate!" Chesney started walking quicker to the girls but stopped mid stride to click his heels, much to Sophie's delight. Sophie looked to Sian to share the laugh, and heard Sian say "Damn." Which planted a seed in Sophie's head. Maybe to get over the heartbreak of random college girl that shunned him for Ryan, maybe she could play matchmaker for Ches and Sian. The three of them hung out a few times with Ches bricking it and being too over eager for Sian, who stated simply she just wanted friends, not to date anyone. Sophie pat Ches on the back when Sian went to the loo. "Hard luck mate," giggled Sophie and proceeded to buy him a shot of Fireball Whiskey to drown his sorrows. She never assumed anyone was gay, and certainly not Sian, as Sophie was used to getting attention from girls sometimes. Sian herself had a dark history with something about her ex-boyfriend and drugs. Sophie never got that full story either.
Back to the right now: Sian poured the pint for her and started lightly dancing along to the song on the jukebox. Sophie realized she was staring at her dance and sort of looked away, but then focused right back on Sian. "Damn," she thought. Sophie paid for the drink with a slight blush on her cheeks and tipped more than she should but "Screw it," she said to herself. "Here's to a good night!" cheered Sophie to the others at the bar. Tyrone, Maria, Sean, all the patrons, even turned around to cheers Emily, Rita and Norris, much to Norris's horror.
Ryan was the first to arrive and after a quick wave to Sophie, headed up to the bar and ordered his pint and another for Sophie. She watched Ryan talk to Sian and sort of got a weird feeling about the two of them. More a suspicion than anything. There was a lot of grinning and chatting and before Sophie could make a mental note to ask Ryan about it, the Rover's door slammed open and in comes the hurricane that was Rosie Webster, dressed in her tarty work uniform. "What is she wearing?" asked a startled Sian with a slight chuckle. And not just Rosie booming in, but Rosie and a shorter redhead with an even brighter red face. Rosie had the girl by the arm and was dragging her like yesterday's garbage.
"Oi Sophie, look who I found slunking around our front door! What do you have to say for yourself then?" exclaimed Rosie facing the mortified shorter girl.
"Rosie, I think the word is skulking and let her go!" said Sophie.
"Yeah unhand me you slapper!" cried Erinn.
"What are you doing here Erinn? It's all over with. You promised you wouldn't come here anymore! What do you want?" asked a slightly panicking Sophie.
"Hey is everything okay here?" asked a stern voice from behind the bar. Sophie had never heard Sian use that tone before. She was surprised and a little embarrassed at how hot it was coming from Sian.
"Yeah it's fine Sian, I got this" said Ryan as he tried to corral Sophie, Rosie and Erinn out the door.
"No no, you hurt my baby sister and you are going to pay for it! How dare you show your face around here. I never liked you!" cried Rosie as she is getting pushed out, making an even bigger scene.
"Soph. Sophie, can we talk alone and in private please?" asked a sheepish Erinn.
"No Erinn, anything you have to say, you can say in front of Rosie and Ryan. What. Do. You. Want."
"I just wanted to see if you were okay, I mean I know how it ended yesterday and…"
"You've got some nerve showing up here after the years of torment you put her through! I have a good mind to.." started Rosie.
"Enough Rosie, it's fine Ryan. You can go back inside, the both of you," said a strangely calm Sophie.
"Hey, what's all the fuss about?" asked a bewildered Chesney walking towards Sophie and Erinn.
"Nothing Ches, just go in and grab a pint yeah? Grab me two while you're at it. Thanks mate, I'll explain later. Now as for you Erinn, you have to leave me alone. I want a clean break, I want to be over this, and I don't need you showing up out of the blue like this. It's been a day, not even a day! You have to move on too," said Sophie, surprising herself with her attitude and the words coming out of her mouth. "I want to get over you, and I will try my hardest to."
"But why?" asked Erinn
"Oh my god, you really want to know why? I can't believe you. You just want to keep me as your plaything, but I'm tired Erinn. So tired."
Erinn looked to the curb. She knew she treated Sophie badly sometimes, but it wasn't that bad was it? They were friends first, then things got complicated. Erinn knew she was temperamental and not many friends stuck around. She didn't want to lose Sophie's friendship, but she could see what she was doing to her as well.
Part of Sophie wanted to grab Erinn and never let her go, to beg her to start this life she wanted so desperately with her. Sophie figured a while ago that a functioning relationship with Erinn would not be healthy for her. Always worried and concerned and wondering what she was up to. Sophie also knew you couldn't just shut off desire, but this is where it got her, so she was trying hard to let it go and be the strong willed, strong minded 20 year old girl she has grown to be. Not the weak, shy 17 year old when this all started. Sophie rubbed her face and sighed while looking straight up to the night sky. So many stars, so much history, surely this "thing" with Erinn could be just that. History. Erinn reached out for Sophie's hand which brought her gaze from the sky directly into Erinn's blue-green eyes. Then Erinn said the worst thing she could've said to Sophie in that moment.
"I'm sorry Soph. You'll always have a part of me, just like I'll always have a part of you. Just don't shut the door on me completely okay?"
Sophie was at a loss for words as she looked at her hand intertwined with Erinn's. She mentally felt tired again, like she just wanted to melt onto the sidewalk and get washed away by the rain. She had no answer for Erinn, so she did what she did best: shrugged. Erinn smirked, leaned in and kissed Sophie on the cheek. She started to walk away but kept holding Sophie's hand, until the distance between them was longer than their arm's length. Sophie could just stand there and watch. That's all she had in her now.
When she finally got her bearings, she walked home in a daze. Kevin was asleep on the couch, with Jack also asleep on his chest with some old movie muted on the TV. Sophie had no clue where her mom was, but didn't care at this point and again trudged up the stairs to her room. Sophie sat in silence for a good while, then grabbed her dying phone and texted Ches, Ryan and Rosie that she was home and in bed. And to please not disturb. Sophie then changed into jammies and decided to let her phone die so she wouldn't have to answer any texts or calls. She pulled the covers up to her chin as thoughts of Erinn swirled in her head. "She got the edge yet again," Sophie thought. And for the second time in as many days, her tears came hot and fast.