One thing I hate on these sites is when people don't write for a while and then have a bunch of excuses. Well now I get it. I had my 14 year old cat die this past week and being a Yank, it was also the 4th of July. Weee. Good times. Not really, but life moves on. Don't mean for this chapter to be negative but it's from past experiences and plus this week was not good. Anyway, apologies and thanks again for the lovely comments and votes. Cheers.

Sophie had gone the whole next day without one text from Sian. She had so SO wanted to text a hello, or how's Southport or, or what's the weather like out there, or what are you wearing but she refrained. As was mentioned before, Sophie was not good at playing it cool, so she in turn took it out on her family. A few terse words with old Sal, and some sympathetic looks from Kevin was all she could bear so she legged it from her house. Being it was Saturday, everyone was out for their weekend and she felt annoyed with every single one of them. She was checking her phone so much, she even considered leaving it at home while she went out to run some errands. Of course she didn't and met Chesney for an early supper.

"Alright Ches mate. What's been going on then?" asked Sophie taking a seat at the counter in Prima Doner.

"Not much Soph, you? How's Sia…"

"How's Katy.." they asked at the same time. "You first," Sophie conceded to Ches with a grin. While she was eager to tell of the events from the night previous, she knew Ches was just as eager to tell his news.

"Oh, she's great Soph. Really nice, she puts this air of snobbery, but she's really down to earth. She just does that when she doesn't know people."

It sounded to Sophie that Ches was trying to convince her how great Katy was, when to be honest she thought the girl was alright, just not sure if she could be trusted with Chesney sensitive ways.

"Snobbery eh? And yeah I know, I was talking to her when you were gone remember? Her absolute first impression is the as you say 'snobbery', but that didn't take long for me to charm her did it?" Sophie asked with a wink.

"Oi Webster, hands off!" cried Chesney in mock anger.

"Oh I know I know Ches, I was just kidding. Anyway, I got my hands full with a certain blonde. Or well, I think I do. I'm not sure," said Sophie looking at the kid making her food.

"How do you mean?" asked Chesney getting his food and sitting next to Sophie at the counter.

"Well, her and I had a nice quiet night last night, and.."

"Oooh! Aaaanddd….?" asked Chesney with sauce on his face.

Sophie stopped and looked at Ches in mock disgust. "Alright calm down, it's not like that. I mean we kissed.."

"She kissed you? Or you kissed her ?"

"Well it was mutual but um, she leaned in first…?" said Soph grabbing her food and sitting back down. "I wish I wasn't so clumsy about it."

"I'm sure it's fine, so then what happened?"

"Well then her phone buzzed and she got all weird, saying it was someone she doesn't talk to anymore and that HE texted her out of the blue," shrugged Sophie.

"Was it Ryan? Did she text him back?" asked a very curious Chesney.

"Haha you're more into this than I am I think mate. I don't think it was Ryan and no she didn't text him back. She had to go back home today to see her mum, and she said she was going to text me but I haven't heard from her."

"Hmm," pondered Chesney. "Well that sucks. I hate that." He then finished up his kebob. And sat staring out the window. "Maybe… it was someone from her past, from Southport, and maybe that's why she hasn't texted you. She's seeing him!" Ches proudly looked at Sophie like he solved the world's hardest riddle and instantly saw Sophie's face go pale. "Or well maybe not, I mean it was just an idea, probably not true though, I was just saying… Sorry Soph."

"No it's okay Chesney, I just never thought of that, but anyway, it's not like we are TOGETHER together, so I mean, she can do whatever she wants, I can do whatever I want," said Sophie speaking quickly at the end. Chesney could tell she was a bit upset, so he moved to change the subject.

"Uh well Soph, fancy a walk down to the Red Rec? Want to get crushed at a bit of one on one? I can just run home and grab my ball.."

"Uh no thanks Ches, I have work later anyway. I promised Dev I'd go in for a couple of hours and close up."

"I'm really sorry Sophie, me and my big mouth. I'm sure she's just visiting her mum like she said. And if you are really worried about it text her. The worst that can happen is that she won't answer, but it's not like you won't see her again, she lives here and works at the Rover's. I wouldn't worry about it. Promise me you won't stress about this."

Sophie looked blankly at Ches and slowly nodded her head. Ches knew her all too well. He knew this would set her off to do something crazy like go to Southport to see for herself. He pulled her in for a hug. "Promise me. I'll keep you posted with the Katy stuff yeah?"

Sophie hugged her oldest friend. "I promise Ches, and sounds good. I'll text you later."

Ches smiled back. "It's nothing to do your head in about. Text her if it's bothering you," he said as he walked out.

Sophie watched him walk out the door and sat back down. She turned to look at the kid behind the counter and smiled at him. Knowing that it was slightly awkward as she was done with her food and he had no other customers, she thought quick on her feet and asked for a refill on her drink. When he finally took his eyes off of her she quickly reached for her phone to check all of Sian's social media. "Stalker much?" asked her inner voice. She was about to answer herself out loud but by then the kid had returned with her soda. "Cheers."

"Any time," he said with a wink. Sophie was so caught up in her own mind that she couldn't help but laugh when she saw him do that. So unexpected. He had to be what.. 15 or 16?

"Uh thanks?" Sophie said with a giggle. She walked outside shaking her head. There was no doubt that Sophie was attractive, but sometimes because of the trouble she gets herself into and the kind of girls that she gets involved with, it was hard to remember that. She was always left on the outside when the girls she cared for made their decisions. Which suddenly made sense to her. How could Sophie think that she was the only one that chose "difficult" girls to be with? Sophie was easily won over by these girls. No playing hard to get or any mystery about her. That seemed to attract the girls, but never kept them it seemed. For instance, Sophie was attracted to, drawn to, obsessed with Erinn, but why? Yes she was hot, but was it because she always left our Soph wanting more? Meanwhile Erinn had Chelsea who did the same thing to her. Left Erinn wanting more, hence that attraction. "Ugh, girls are dumb," she thought. Maybe a bit of the old "hard to get" routine would work, but it's already hard enough. "What could it hurt?"

Sophie had to stop herself there. She hated games and hated them played with her, and wasn't about to start it with Sian, as she was barely getting to know her. Plus she didn't know if Sian was with whoever anyway. What she knew was that she could battle herself all night, so to distract herself she went to her texting app on her phone, sought out Sian's name and started typing.

To Sian P:

"Hey girl, how's it going with your mumsy?"

Sophie hovered her finger over the send button. It was harmless enough right? Right? I mean not too intrusive, just asking what's up. The slight fear of overwhelming Sian came over her again, and instead she put her phone away and walked to the bench. "Their" bench. She scrolled through her Facebook and noticed Sian was tagged in a post by a Janet Powers that read "Sian is home! 3" Now the biggest stress of the 21st century, should she like the post? Soph decided that since it was Sian's mom's post and from what she knew of her time in Southport, it wasn't a good time for Sian, and plus the guilt trip her mom gave her, she wasn't going to "like" it. When she clicked on Janet's profile it was on private, so no picture stalking then. Soph then clicked on to the Instagram app and started perusing the people's pictures. She was tempted to just go directly to Sian's account, but instead saw some cool pictures from bands she liked. Suddenly the next picture up was taken inside a vehicle, probably a bus Sophie guessed, of a rainy coastline. S_Powers28's caption read #Southport. She instantly double tapped the screen to like it. It was posted in the morning so probably on her way in. Sophie looked up towards the people walking to and fro in front of her. She sighed a heavy sigh and looked back at the picture."Is this a sign?" Sophie got that strange feeling again of needing to know what Sian was doing. To be near her or at least to hear from her. She exited Instagram and went back to the texting feature. Her message to Sian P was saved as a draft.

To Sian P:

"Hey girl, how's it going with mumsy?"

Sophie hit send and felt her insides churn with an almost sense of dread. Nothing worse than not getting a text back from someone you really really want to be with. Sophie sat there for almost five minutes when her phone buzzed. She looked down and saw she had a new text from Sian P.

From Sian P:

"Oh alright Sophie? It's well…... going. Haha. I'm at the market buying food to cook dinner for old Janet. What are you doing?"

Sophie smiled. Nothing outrageous. Not out on a bender, not all drugged up, not in someone's bed. Not that Sophie had a say in any of that, it was just nice to know nothing crazy was happening.

To Sian P:

"Oh you know, plotting my revenge against Norris. The usual. What's for dinner then?"

From Sian P:

"Ugh I don't know yet. I think she wanted me to come back to be her servant. I left her in her study sorting through pictures, I offered to cook to get out of that."

Sophie smiled even bigger. "She cooks."

To Sian P:

"Maybe one day you can show me how. I can burn water with the greatest of ease. Oh and cereal, cereal is my specialty :P"

From Sian P:

"Okay, you're on Webster. I'm at the check-out line. I'm back tomorrow, hopefully see you then :)"

To Sian P:

"Alright see you soon. Be safe"

For whatever reason, Sophie always tacked on a "Be safe" at the end of conversations when the person was far away. Like if they were far away, Soph wouldn't be there to protect them, so it was up to them to be take extra care. She never knew why she felt compelled to tell people that. What she really meant in this case with Sian however was to not go on a bender, get all drugged up or jump in someone's bed. "Simple." Even she had to shake her head at herself. She set off to go home, tidy up and get ready for her short shift at work. She needed distractions.

Her work shift went by fast enough. It was just 3 hours until she closed. As she was about to start cleaning up, she checked her phone for any news on her social media outlets. She saw she had Snapchats from a few friends, and one that was meant for everyone from a Powers Unltd 28. It showed a quick snippet of people dancing and loud music. Right before it cut off, it showed Sian shielding her eyes from her flash saying "Oi!" almost as if she didn't want to be filmed. Sophie's heart sank. Yes it could be innocent, and it probably is, but she felt weird about it for some reason. She rewatched it about 4 times before she just put it away. "Come on Webster, you have no say in this anyway. It's probably childhood friends and the like." Sophie stared straight ahead. "Yeah yeah," she said aloud. She hated when she felt jealous or was at war with herself. Her heart and her head were two different entities and they were constantly at it.

Soph finished up her closing duties and slowly trudged home. While on the way, she ran into Rosie. "Alright Rosie. Where you off to?"

"Oh mind your own baby sis. I'm in fight with Jase, he's being imposs at the moment."

"So, like I asked, where you off to? You aren't thinking of coming home right now are ya? Rosie there's enough fights there as it is. We don't need anymore. It's doing my head in as it is."

"Geez Sophie, aren't you happy to see your older sister who doesn't live with you anymore? Anyway, why the long face? Not that Erinn again is it? If she ever shows her face here again I'll….well I'd…."

"Save it Rosie, it's not about Erinn. It's about none of your business."

"Right Soph, how about we make it my business over some tea eh? Oh pleeease? You make the best tea Sophieeee."

Sophie had no fight in her at that moment and she was looking for a new opinion of the situation if she was going to be honest. Maybe in Rosie's super blunt, super girly way, she could give a fresh perspective to the still confused Soph. Did she have any right to be anxious about that Snapchat? Probably not but, she couldn't help it. "Alright Rosie, but this stays between us yeah? Don't want this getting out on the street. I don't want to be the new goss." Sophie grabbed Rosie by the arm and lead her to the house.

"Sophie you're hurting me! Alright alright I won't tell, pinky swear." Even though Sophie acted like it was a burden to have Rosie around, she was secretly glad that Rosie was willing to listen. She also knew that somewhere among the ramblings that her older sister usually spouted, there was some sound advice. The real question was how much to divulge. The more she told of her true feelings the more it made her sound pathetic. Well in Sophie's mind anyway. She decided she might as well just get it all out.

Sophie opened the door and let Rosie in. She looked over toward "their" bench and stared. "Is it ever easy?" she thought. "No, but this one's worth it." She answered herself out loud. Soph smiled and walked inside.