Sophie hadn't heard from Ryan or Ches for almost half a day and while she was dying to know what was going on, she didn't want to be involved. Nor did she want to be in the middle. Again.
She walked out of the house for the first time in a day and was glad for the fresh air. She was craving a bacon sandwich from Roy's but had a weird feeling about going in there. Not that she didn't want to see Sian or Ches or Ryan, but she probably needed all of her strength back before any conversations were going to happen. Her hunger had definitely come back to her after not eating for 24 hrs or more and while grease didn't sound good to her when she woke up, it sure sounded delicious now. She walked past her front wall with her mom's flowers on it and headed toward Roy's. She was casually looking around at the street when she saw her, Sian at the bus stop with her arms crossed. They instantly locked eyes as if Sian knew she would come around the corner. Sophie looked down and started to cross the street.
"I was wondering if I was going to see you! Alright Sophie? Feeling better?"
Sophie could feel an overwhelming sense of sadness come over her and fought with herself not to let the tears well up. "Yeah ta. Well still a bit weak." She could feel the heat come back to her head and ears as she stayed on the sidewalk and looked Sian directly in the eye. "She at least looks sincere," Sophie thought. Sophie kept walking but slower. She passed Sian and stepped off the curb.
"Oi, can't you even talk with me for a second?" asked Sian, more hurt than angry. Sian knew this was her doing, but once Darren was out of her life this second time, she could explain all. For now she knew she had to push Sophie away. It's just a few days after all.
Sophie stopped walking and sighed. She turned around to face Sian. Maybe Sian would explain all this hot and cold business. She walked slowly back to Sian at the bus stop who was now standing.
"Sorry Sophie you don't have to. It's just I…," she stopped as she got closer to Soph. Sophie didn't run like she wanted to in that instant, but instead looked down. She couldn't bear to look into Sian's eyes and melt all over again. She had to be icy cold, to protect herself.
"What, Sian. You what?" Sophie said with a little bit more force than she wanted.
Sian felt Sophie's words and they did sting a little but she wanted to touch Sophie again. She had to. She reached out and put hair behind Sophie's ear. Sophie looked up at Sian with that gesture and felt herself being pulled by the riptide that is Sian Powers. Uncontrollable and mysterious.
"I just.. wanted to make sure you were better is all." Sian put her hands on Sophie's upper arms and looked at her. She wanted so badly to tell Sophie everything. Where she was going, who Darren is or was, that after Friday she could see if they could pursue a relationship themselves, but she also knew that her bus was on its way and she had to meet her formally violent ex boyfriend in the city. She could tell that Sophie was blushing but she wasn't smiling. She had a look of confusion on her face and Sian wanted nothing more than to have Sophie's soft lips on hers again. Sian looked at Sophie's lips and licked her own. Almost as if on a tv show or a movie, Sian's bus pulled up to the stop. It stopped to let people off and it was only when someone brushed up against Sophie was the spell they were in broken. "I have to go Sophie. Meeting … a friend in town. We'll talk later yeah? Please say yes," Sian said putting her arms down and grabbing her bag from the bench.
Sophie's mouth was as dry as a desert and all she could manage was a quiet, "Sure." Sian smiled at her and boarded the bus, leaving Sophie alone with her mildly fevered brain swimming in thoughts of what just happened and what almost happened. She knew when someone wanted to kiss her. She turned to watch the bus leave and maybe catch a glimpse of Sian but it had already turned the corner by the time she could focus to look for her. If she wasn't so weak she would probably tear the place apart. Break all the glass, rip all the newspapers and kick down the actual bus shelter. She was so angry she had tears in her eyes. Her body was still in recovery however, so the most she could muster was sitting down on the bus bench in a huff. Why was she so angry? Could it be that she gave in so easily after the very apparent show of disinterest Sian had for her on Sunday? What about who the shit that weird guy was? Or the fact that she wanted to be stone cold to Sian and Sophie had not only done as Sian had asked, but she also made a promise to talk later? Or was it that Sophie was weak when someone she wanted was around. Erinn preyed on her for years knowing that Sophie was putty in her hands even when Sophie was trying to be impervious. Sophie wanted to sleep for a million years. Her body felt weaker than it had just 10 mins before, and after slowly and carefully walking to Roy's for a bacon buttie, she was was going to try to at least sleep for half that.
Sian made her way to the upscale cafe where Darren had told her to meet him. She walked in and looked at all the tables, looking for a familiar face. Darren smiled brightly at Sian when they made eye contact.
"Alright love? Just on time as per usual," Darren said as he pulled Sian's chair out for her. Sian sat down and took a good look around the cafe.
"This is nice innit?"
"Only the best for you my dear," Darren said with a cheesy grin. He held it for as long as he could before they both bust out in giggles.
"Alright Darren enough playtime. What's going on then?"
"Sian I…" Darren began. Just then Sian noticed beads of sweat on his forehead and a red tint to his face and neck. He was bricking telling Sian whatever it was he had to say. "Remember Charlie?"
"Yeah that jerk, what about him?"
"Well, he's in town. And.."
"And..?" Sian said impatiently. She knew this was not a good idea whatever it was. Nothing ever good started with Charlie. Or ended for that matter. Charlie was probably the reason Darren got caught. He was always bragging and flashing his money around as well as his wares. Sian would smile and nod along when they'd all hang out, but knew deep down she disliked the guy immensely. She could almost wager good money that Charlie's dishonesty and disloyalty got Darren sent up. This was not making Sian happy.
"And.. um. Well, okay I'm just going to say it. I'm involved in a massive drug move, outside greater Manchester that Charlie has set up.. "
"You what?" asked Sian interrupting Darren and not caring that her voice got loud enough for surrounding tables to turn and glance at her.
"Just listen Sian. Listen. They needed someone to front the drugs to where it's sold and move the money back to Charlie's home base. Since I'm already going to jail, I volunteered. If I get caught, well they'll just add to my sentence. Probably max it out at 7 years instead of the 5 I'm getting. Maybe even double it. Some of these guys, Charlie, Mark and Andy? If they get pinched again they'll be doing some serious time, possibly life… so I volunteered," finished Darren, waiting for the response. Bracing himself.
"You are a piece of work you know that? You are honestly going to show loyalty to the crowd of people that probably got you caught? How messed up are you aye? Did the drugs really do that much of a number on you?" asked Sian bewildered.
"This is what this is Sian. Loyalty. Listen, I get out in 5-7 years, I'll be mid to late 20's, no job experience, no place to stay, not knowing what the outside world is like or how it's been for the past almost 10 years… I need to do this, so when I get out, Charlie can help me. I don't want to rely on you and whatever you've got going on then. I don't want to burden you. If I do this last hurrah for the gang, then I can have a place to set up and start over."
"You mean to start slinging again right?" asked Sian coldly.
"Well I hope not but, I can't know that can I?" asked Darren as the waiter came by with refills of tea and water. They sat in silence as their glasses were filled.
"I knew something was going on. I KNEW IT. Wasn't expecting anything like this," said Sian putting her head in her hands. "When is this supposed to happen?"
"Thursday," said Darren sheepishly.
"Well good, I've got a full day to talk you out of this hairbrained scheme! I mean honestly," said Sian suddenly feeling quite stifled.
"You can try but you won't succeed I'm afraid. I'm doing this for me Sian. One good thing can come out of this. It's a safety net, that's all."
The blonde stared off into the distance. "How'd this ever get this far?" she thought. She thought of being in her warm bed. Asleep and away from her problems, in her cocoon. She also thought of someone else she wanted in her blanket fort. Sophie. Her smile and her wit and her voice.. those eyes.
"Sian. Sian! Earth to Sian, want to order some food?" Darren asked looking at the menu.
"Yeah ta. I could eat, but this isn't over. This discussion. Far from it," said Sian sternly. Darren sighed but nodded. Exactly what he expected.
Sian and Darren quietly went back and forth about this subject for a couple of hours. Sian could barely control her temper but knew she was in a posh cafe so she pretty much kept it in check. Darren, who at first was smooth and suave, was a sheepish shy wreck by the end. He could tell how much Sian disapproved of this scheme, he knew she would, but when it was actually happening he couldn't help but feel ashamed. Sian knew things were over between her and Darren, but couldn't help but feel angry at his supposed friends that had probably set him up to get caught and now are quite possibly setting him up again. He sounded so sure about doing this, maybe she could talk to him and convince him. Use some of that Powers charm. But how much?
Sophie woke up in the early evening to a soft knocking on her door.
"Alright baby sis?" asked Rosie walking into the half lit room. Sophie sat up and gathered her thoughts. Another vivid dream about Sian, this one was about them trying to find a place to make out in a crowded house full of family. It was funny at the time and funny when she woke up, but made her stomach drop when she remembered the current situation. Sophie fought the urge to just pull the covers over her head and stay there for another day or two.
"Come in why don't ya," said Sophie with an eyeroll.
"Oh hush, you know you like.. miss me. So you sick then?" asked Rosie brushing off the duvet where she was about to sit.
"No Rosie, I've become a shut in. A hermit. Yes of course you numpty."
"You aren't like contagious are yas? I can't stand to get sick, who would pass out cherry vodka to punters?" asked Rosie dead serious.
"Yeah what would the greater Manchester area do without you and your skating ability?" asked Sophie dripping with sarcasm which her sister never ever picked up on. "What do you want Rosie?"
"Just checking up on ya. Mum said you were bad there for a bit. How's the stuff with Sian?"
"Whoa one at a time Rosie. Me? I'm better. The Sian thing? I'm just as, if not more confused than I was before."
"Ohh spill Sophie. I need details!"
The girls talked for a few hours with Sally trying to listen in by interrupting them with cups of tea and biscuits. They would change the subject when they heard their mum coming up the stairs, so no gossip got out. The girls couldn't help but giggle after Sal would leave the room because of the ridiculous subjects they would think of. How old Norris was when he started losing his hair, if Chesney has had sex yet, Steve and Lloyd in a buddy police film.
"Maybe you should just let it lie for now. If she's never been with a girl before, maybe it's too much for her. I mean it's a whole lifestyle change," said Rosie eating a biscuit.
"I'm not asking her to be some out lesbian in a parade, I'm asking her to just be fucking normal with me for once," said an exasperated Sophie.
"Alright steady on Soph. I agree but who knows what's going on. Doesn't seem like you'll know anytime soon. Maybe you should be okay with being someone she dates, not her like….wifey."
Sophie rolled her eyes.
"You know what I mean Soph. If she came here and slept with Ryan and then moved on to you right after, maybe she's just you know.. playing the field. And whoever this OTHER guy is, I don't know. I've dated a few people at a time."
"Oh we all know this Rosie. I don't get the feeling that Sian is a harpy like you. Seriously though, I could be okay with it if she would just tell me what the hell was going on."
"Here's a thought baby sis. ASK HER! What would you have to lose?" asked Rosie getting up to leave.
"I suppose. Thanks for the chat Rosie, you've come through like the super star you are. Let's do lunch this weekend yeah? I'll be back up to my fighting weight by then."
"Ciao Soph. Good luck. Now to see what that impossible man is up to."
Sophie watched as Rosie walked out. She was feeling better no doubt, but even more confused with the Sian thing. "The last little encounter earlier was a good sign right?" Soph had to give her the benefit of the doubt, but not at the expense of her own feelings. She was getting sweaty and her breathing more shallow the more she thought about how these are the same things she would think about Erinn. Too close to home for her liking. She would have to play it cool and let Sian come to her. If she could pinky swear herself she would, but she nodded her head as she agreed on her plan of action. Now to act on it, which was a whole other issue all together. Sophie couldn't help but smile at the thought of Sian however, but like her dad said, if it's meant to be it's meant to be. Sophie couldn't wait to find out.