Hello and Happy New Year! Sorry for the delay for this ending for this story. I'm beyond grateful for all the lovely messages and readership and hope this has lived up to some of my favorite stories on this site. You guys are all awesome.
Since this story was quasi-autobiographical if I were to write more or again it would have to be purely fictional and I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of commitment right now! We shall see.
Also, I plan on writing one more epilogue-ish chapter for this story since I wanted to end it at the 42nd Chapter as the number 42 is basically the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Cheers again and feel free to write a comment or review as those are so lovely to get. Good or bad.
:))))))))))))))))
Sophie sat on her bed not wanting to really do anything. Maybe a nice long seven day nap would do the trick. She couldn't help but feel a sense of dread about, well, not having anything to do on her birthday. Rosie was trying to make up for everyone and offered a night out to which Sophie now didn't want to go through with. Sophie knew herself however, and knew she would regret not doing anything for her birthday, so she slowly got dressed and tried to pump herself up for a night out with her older sister.
Meanwhile, at the Rover's the preparations were getting set for Sophie's birthday bash. Everyone was coming in and out using the back entrance as to not be seen by the birthday girl across the street. Rosie texted everyone in a group message to be there and set by 545pm and if they couldn't make that time to wait half an hour and come in after the actual surprise part. She didn't want anything to ruin the surprise.
Sian's phone buzzed on her bed as she was taking a quick shower to get ready for the party. When she finally reached her phone she realized she would be just beyond the 545pm meeting time, which meant she would have to wait longer to see her Soph. She then slowed down and took her time since she knew she had about an extra thirty minutes.
Just as she made herself a sandwich, she heard the footsteps of her dad on the front porch. "Oh great," she thought. Vinnie walked in and put his stuff on the dining room table. Sian turned on the faucet in the kitchen as a signal that she was there in the house. Vinnie picked his head up from the mail he was reading and glanced into the kitchen. He saw his only daughter standing with her back to him at the kitchen sink. He dropped the mail on the table and went for a shower. He did what he did best: avoid the problem.
Sian sighed and closed her eyes upon hearing him walk away. This once she was grateful for his usual course of action regarding a problem. She walked to her room and shut the door. Sian thought she felt lonely in this house before, now she felt downright bereft of any comfort. She needed to move and soon.
Sophie slowly walked to the Grimshaw house. She wanted to stay positive but couldn't help trudging along. Soph didn't even bother looking up at people's faces, she knew they wouldn't know her inner turmoil. She could be sure that if no one said it yet, then they wouldn't know it was her birthday. Sophie only knocked once before the door flew open with a very dressed up and low cut Rosie.
"You're late," said Rosie walking back into the house to grab her coat.
"I know Rosie, I'm just not feeling up to a night at the Rover's…" started Sophie.
"Oh hush baby sis! This is your 21st birthday. And if all those losers forgot, then they owe you double time to make up for it. If you march in there acting like nothing is wrong, then they can shower you with drinks and then later gifts. Believe me, works like a charm," said Rosie shooing Sophie out of the doorway and onto the sidewalk.
"Well either way, I look forward to maybe seeing Sian, if she's working… that'll be my present," said Sophie with a small smile and a soft blush. As they started walking Rosie couldn't help but see this happen and felt a twinge of sadness. She really really wanted this to work out for them, BOTH of them. This felt so right, even though she wasn't really involved.
They approached the front of the Rover's. To Sophie it seemed quieter than normal inside. "Great, first no one remembers then it's a dead night in there," thought Sophie feeling some tears forming. To Rosie she felt on fire, hoping that this seriously would go to plan. She hadn't talked to any of the participants since about an hour ago, and hoped this rag tag group of folks could assemble themselves as planned.
"Remember this moment Sophie. I love you, we all love you," said Rosie, reaching for the door handle.
Sophie didn't know how to take what was just said to her, but didn't have time to ponder it either as when the door opened and she walked inside, she was scared right down to the core by a shout of "SURPRISE!"
At first Sophie's reaction was to run the hell out of there. She was so scared! Then her mind wrapped around what exactly was happening and couldn't help but get her tears in her eyes again and start laughing. In the crowd she saw her mum, her dad holding baby Jack, Chesney with Katy, Ryan and his mom Michelle, Steve, Eva, Jason, Sunita, Rita... even good old Tyrone was there.
Sophie walked around smiling and hugging everyone. She looked around at the decor that was set up for her and smiled as they played Haim's If I Could Change Your Mind on the jukebox. She didn't have to go that far to get a pint as three were getting handed to her as she mingled around. She felt the complete opposite as she did about up to ten minutes ago and couldn't stop smiling and chatting.
Once the initial shock and happiness wore off, she noticed one major absence. Sian. She looked around for the blonde and noticed she wasn't there. If her heart could drop any farther, it would've come out of the other side of the Earth from where she stood. After a fair amount of chatting and downing some drinks, she excused herself to go out back for some air.
Sophie stood outside and glanced at the night sky. She couldn't quite see the moon but saw where it was behind some clouds. Sophie then looked down and shook her head. "What was I expecting? If she needs time, I'll give her time, but… I won't wait forever." She then glanced back up at the sky and saw the moon shining bright from a brief opening in the clouds.
"You promised," she said sadly to the moon.
Back inside the Rover's a very disheveled Sian walked into the Rover's.
"You're late you cow. You were supposed to be there before the surprise and now you are here about thirty minutes after. You better have a good excuse," said Rosie cornering the blonde right away.
"Rosie I know, I was running late all day, I'm here now aren't I? Anyway, I was securing Sophie's present. Well, one of… where is she?"
"I saw her go toward the back by the restrooms. You better apologize and make it a good one babe. If she's upset on her birthday, then so am I."
Sian looked around toward the back exit of the Rover's but stopped and looked at Rosie upon hearing Rosie's tone of voice. She nodded at the elder Webster sister and made her way to the back. She walked into the loo and said "Sophie?" She realized no one was there and made her way slowly out to the rear of the pub. Sian took a deep breath and walked outside. There she saw exactly what she had missed and had wanted since that day long ago when she moved here and first laid eyes upon the brunette.
Sophie was contemplating doing something, what exactly she didn't know. Text... don't text. Go home... stay and put on a brave face. Go to Sian's and pound on the door to demand some answers..? Surely she wouldn't do that, she didn't want to exacerbate things between Sian and her dad, but she couldn't just stand there and curse at the moon could she?
"Soph?" said Sian timidly. She didn't want to scare Sophie.
Sophie was staring upwards when she heard the voice. The only voice she ever wanted to hear. She closed her eyes and hoped she wasn't just imagining it.
"Soph, it's me," tried Sian again.
Sophie slowly turned around and saw Sian standing there all bundled up but her hair done up and eyes sparkling.
"Sian? I thought you weren't coming… I.."
"Of course I'd come Soph. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you lately, it wasn't you, it was my dad. I didn't want him flying off the handle if I was talking to you and…"
"It's okay Sian, really it is. I just don't want you unhappy or in any kind of….turmoil."
"Nice word usage but yeah. I get," said Sian with a slight grin. She was trying to lighten the mood.
Sophie laughed to herself. "Thanks."
"Happy Birthday beautiful," said Sian holding out the small jewelry box she had wrapped so carefully but still looked thrown together.
Sophie slightly lunged at Sian and went past her outstretched hand holding the box and instead went right in for a kiss. Sophie needed to show Sian what she meant to Soph at all costs. Even if Sian rejected her or if Sian didn't feel the same, she wanted Sian to know then and there that this is how she made Sophie feel. She wasn't going to miss any more opportunities.
Much to Sophie's relief, Sian embraced Sophie and returned the gesture by wrapping her arms tightly around the brunette. Sian too wanted to show how sorry she was for how she acted and how much she had missed our Soph. She too didn't want to miss any more opportunities.
After a bit of necking, the girls were stopped by the sound of a throat clearing in the darkness. Both girls looked to see who the interruption was and saw a grinning Rosie Webster. "Um babes, nice to see you've made up and all but there's a bar full of people trying to wish you a happy birthday little sister. Make it snappy." Rosie was pleased that the girls had made progress in the short time they were outside, but honestly, she could only make excuses for them for so long. And anyway, she wanted to get tipsy tonight and this was cramping her style.
The girls smiled at each other when Rosie turned and walked back into the Rover's. Sian went in for a little more kissing and suddenly remembered her big gift she was to give to Sophie. It was actually a gift for both of them, to hopefully start their life together, but she knew Soph would be dead happy.
"Sophie, I've got some good news and bad news."
Sophie dropped her arms from Sian's waist and groaned. "Oh not now Sian, it's my birthday!"
Sian smiled at Soph's reaction, "Go on, which one do you want to hear first?"
"Let's start bad news.. no! Good news! No wait.. bad…"
"Ugh Soph okay. First the bad news then. We have to clean out Amber's apartment."
"Wait why? Did Dev find out I go up there? Or…" Sophie stopped talking. It dawned on her. "Is that because…"
Sian grinned and nodded. "Yep Soph. I can move in as soon as Amber's stuff is out of there!"
Sophie hugged Sian again and this time picked her up in her excitement. "Oh my God Sian! That's so amazing! You'll be living across from me.. " Sophie set Sian down and looked around in wonderment. "Is this really all happening?" she thought to herself. She looked back at Sian who was watching Soph get lost in her thoughts. Sian loved to watch her do that.
"Shall we head back in?" asked Sophie extending her hand to the gorgeous blonde.
"Why yes me lady, we shall," answered Sian grabbing Sophie's hand into her own.
When the girls walked back it was sort of a second surprise of sorts as everyone cheered upon seeing a beaming Sophie Webster walk back into her party. Also, those that cared and knew the situation were happy for Sophie seeing the sweet and equally beaming blonde holding hands with the birthday girl. Kevin even put his arm around his wife and Sally didn't pull away.
Sophie made her way to her mates. "Oi Ches, you kept this secret pretty tightly wrapped didn't ya? You too Connor. I was beginning to write yous two off!"
"Haha, have you ever met your sister Soph?" asked Ches with a scared looking grin.
"Yeah as hot as her threats were, even I got a little nervous I'd ruin it," added Ryan. Sophie hugged them both. They were in close proximity to each other she noted and turned as she saw Katy walk over and stand near Ches. In all this time she hadn't kept up with this saga of the three of them and seeing as they weren't at each other's throats, guessed that Katy had chosen.
"Hey Katy. Would you like a drink? I'm going to the bar," offered Sophie as a way of adding her to the conversation.
"Um no thanks Soph. Can't in my … condition," Katy said as she blushed.
Sophie looked at Chesney who had the biggest grin of his life on his face. "We're going to have a baby Sophie, she's pregnant."
Sophie took a second to process the news. Then reached out and hugged both Chesney and Katy. "Oh my God you guys! Congratulations! What? How? When… well wait I take that back, I know HOW… "
All the friends gathered laughed. Even Ryan. "We found out two days ago Soph."
Sophie looked at Ryan who was a bit red faced but still smiling. "Dodged a bullet there mate, I'll tell ya what…" said Ryan jokingly pointing at Katy. Sophie reached out and lightly hit Ryan in the stomach.
"RYAN!"
"Haha Soph it's okay, we've all moved past all that," said Chesney motioning toward Ryan. Ryan nodded at Soph.
"Best birthday ever or what eh?" asked Sian putting her arm around Soph's waist.
"Well no, my thirteenth birthday when I got an XBox …"
"Oh hush. Kiss me," said Sian. Sophie complied.
"Best birthday indeed."