Part 7.

"Hey", Sian cleared her throat, "these are for you". She held out the flowers she had bought at arm's length, and brandished her best smile.

Then she retracted them.

"Hi, it's great to see you". She frowned, and tried again.

"Hey uhm, I thought you might like these.."

She flopped her arms down to her sides and sighed. She felt soo anxious and soo pathetic. She tried to brighten herself and again tried at a winning smile.

"It's great to see you...", she said as she lowered her voice and started to flirt with the Webster's front door. "Uhm, you fancy a quickie back at the flat?" she laughed to herself.

"Been practising that for long?"

Sian practically jumped out of her skin and spun around, holding her hand to her chest. "Oh Mr. Webster", she breathed, "you scared me half to death!"

Kevin started laughing, he was always fond of Sian, she was so quirky and, well, blond, sometimes. He rubbed at his chin, "sorry", he grinned, wondering if he should pretend he hadn't heard her conversation with the door. "But I thought I should interrupt before the door took you up on that". It was too good to pass up.

Sian had recaptured that 'best smile' from earlier and stared wide-eyed at Kevin, and then at the air behind him as he moved round her and entered the house. She continued to look forward, not quite believing what had just happened. Her expression was dropping as it was sinking in. Her eyes fell shut.

Awkward!

Kevin passed Sophie as he entered the living room and gestured to the door which he had left open. Sophie went to it and looked at the back of her ex-girlfriend. She folded her arms as she stood on the step; even from behind Sian looked gorgeous, in her figure hugging blue jeans, converse and trademark leather jacket. She had always thought it was her best look. Well, apart from that killer prom dress..

"Staying there all night?" she smiled as she leaned on the door frame.

Sian spun around again and she almost choked on her words before they had even come out. She thrust the flowers out in front of her. "These are great, I mean, you like might.." Sian closed her eyes and took a deep breath, shaking her head slightly. Great yeah, fantastic! She tried again, with her cheeks slightly red and an embarrassed smile to her lips. "I got these for you". She opened her eyes and looked at the woman in front of her. She looked, beautiful. Sian swallowed nervously.

Sophie wasn't too sure why her ex seemed so flustered, but it was amazingly cute nonetheless. She accepted the flowers with a smile and pulled herself off the door frame. She had gone through ten outfits herself in preparation for this meal, and had left work two hours early so she had enough time to make herself look perfect. Perhaps Sian had done something similar. "Are you going to come in?" her tone was low.

Sian nodded and was thankful she didn't have to make conversation, or answer any questions, or form any words really, in general. It was going to take some time to regain her composure after that, train wreck of an entrance! She walked into the house and went into the living room closely followed by Sophie.

They stood next to each other for a few minutes smiling awkwardly. Sophie broke eye contact first, "I'm just going to put these in some water", she said before walking to the kitchen.

Sian took in the familiar happy atmosphere that was far removed from the last time she was stood in pretty much the same spot, last week. She took another deep breath and tried to calm down. It was going to be a long night if she couldn't stop herself from feeling so apprehensive. She was busy taking her own advice when she saw Kevin walking over to her. She cringed. Oh God!

He handed her a drink and smiled a reassuring smile. He took a sip of his drink. "Don't try so hard", he said.

Sian looked at him quizzically. Her mind was still falling over itself from her earlier faux pas. What was all this about? She sipped her drink.

"Just be yourself", he continued. "Being something else won't work. Just be the girl she fell for in the first place", he took a quick look around to make sure no one was listening, and then he grinned thinking back to the doorstep, "who couldn't love that?" He winked at her and then moved back to Sally who was busy laying the table.

Sophie came back over carrying two drinks. "Rosie's caught up so she's gunna be late". She eyed Sian's drink, "oh.."

"Oh uhmm", Sian stuttered, "your dad bought it over". She cleared her throat and reminded herself to breath.

Sophie was thinking back to the day before, outside their old flat. The only way she could think to describe it would be to say it felt pretty much like a steel knife in her windpipe.. wasn't that a song, once? Soph thought about it and shook her head slightly. Well it was true nonetheless. Everything she felt when she was around Sian; nervous, excited, giddy, tingly, amazingly turned on..and happy? Were followed by an almighty pain in her chest as if all these good feelings should be taken away from her, again. She shouldn't be feeling them, but she just couldn't help it. The brunette took Sian in as they stood there, and she subtly eyed her up and down, from the toe of her red converse to her long blond hair that framed her face beautifully. Yeh, you're definitely getting turned on.. Sophie swallowed, hard, and hurried a sip from her drink. It was her turn to remember to breath. She was going to have to make a decision. And soon.

Sian knew Sophie was sizing her up and stood there doing her best to not seem bothered about it. She was also stopping herself from reacting to it. She wanted to grab Sophie's hand, entwine their fingers and pull her close.. Stop it! She reprimanded herself. She had to look away and did so as she also took a sip from her drink. A very, very long sip. She removed the bottle from her lips and momentarily shut her eyes. She was feeling a little hot, all of a sudden.

They looked at each other, it was suddenly awkward. Like they both wished they weren't in Sally and Kevin's living room, or at least, wished that Sally and Kevin weren't there, right then. Sophie felt bad for shamelessly wanting it and Sian felt bad, as she didn't want it to seem like that was what she was expecting.

"I'm just going to get some air", Sian hurried, and then moved past Sophie and headed for the back door. Sophie turned and watched her go. She exhaled deeply and tried to calm the sensations in her stomach. She had to admit it. She loved her. With everything that she was and then some more. A great deal more. But for that to work, she had to get past it. Past all her doubts and insecurities and know where the hell Sian was coming from. She had to talk to her.

Sophie downed her drink and set the bottle down on the table. Heavily. She went for the back door.

Sian was taking deep breaths by the bucket load. There was something there, God, how there was something there. But how was she going to get Sophie to understand? To trust her again? She knew the questions that were coming and tried desperately to think of how she could answer them perfectly and get Sophie to believe her. Would it be that simple? Pfft. Would it 'ell.

Sian put both her hands in her hair and ruffled it up, letting out a small groan as she did so. She felt someone behind her and spun on the spot and Sophie was there, right in her personal space as the brunette took a step towards her. Why didn't she hear the door? The air was charged between them.

Sophie raised her eyes to meet Sian's and the blond saw so much there; worry, nerves, apprehension.. desperation? Sophie's eyes seemed to search Sian's, darting from one to the other as the brunette ever so slightly fidgeted on the spot. Her thumbs were hooked in her back pockets and she had her head towards the ground but peered up at her ex, causing her forehead to furrow and she looked just, adorable. Her breathing was rushed as she pushed out breath after breath, not seeming to take any in.

Sian almost didn't know what to do, she looked at her ex-girlfriend and the emotion she saw and subsequently felt caused her eyes to glisten and she involuntarily licked her lips. Sophie seemed to call out to her, asking for what? Permission? It was certainly some kind of answer she was after, but it was like the brunette couldn't get any words out. Sophie's expression was almost lost and so very, very vulnerable. Sian's heart literally lurched in her chest and the heaviness with which it pounded practically hurt.

Sian's hands were slightly out to the sides as she had removed them from her hair. The blond maintained Soph's gaze and tried to follow the brunette's eyes as they pleaded with Sian to make everything alright, right then in that moment. Sian pretty much breathed it, rather than spoke it, and as she did she lightly rested her left hand on Sophie's arm.

"Soph.." Sian whispered.

It seemed to steady Sophie as she stilled herself and stopped fidgeting. Right then Sophie didn't much care for an answer, she found a connection and she was drawn to it, rightly or wrongly. She just, wanted her. Sophie pushed her hair over her head with her left hand and brought her right hand out of her pocket and after her forearm had moved through Sian's grip, she brought her hand up and entwined their fingers.

Sian's breath caught in her throat and she was frozen to the spot. She wasn't sure this was happening, although she was certain it was. Maybe she was hallucinating. It was the best hallucination ever. Sophie let out a ragged sigh and closed whatever distance was left. She rested her forehead on Sian's and closed her eyes, keeping back the tears that had formed there. She swallowed the lump in her throat and felt Sian's fingers overlapping with hers and thought it was the best thing she had felt in years. She then heard the blond murmur something as Sian's free hand cupped Sophie's face. Sophie pushed into the touch and rested her body against her ex's as she felt the familiar tingles race through her being. It was causing her heart to flutter.

Sian thought she had died. And then somehow had come back to life, all in the same moment her body was that on fire. Her fingers pushed along Sophie's neck as her thumb pressed into the brunette's cheek. It wasn't the lightest of touches, but none of their contact was. It was heavy and demanding, as if the need for each other that had mounted over the past four years had suddenly rushed to the surface in each of them. Their bodies pushed into each other and Sophie's free arm wrapped around Sian's back and held her close. Sian was certain she would cry, it meant just, everything.

Sian bit back a breath trying desperately to hold onto her emotions. Her expression was crumpled and she too had her eyes clamped shut. She wished this moment would last forever.

Sophie licked her lips and opened her eyes a little, pulling away slightly from Sian's hand and pushed her face closer to the blonds. Soph lightly nudged Sian's nose with her own as if to get her to bring her face level with hers. Sian responded willingly and they briefly made eye contact and then before they got lost in another moment, Sophie moved both of her hands, grabbed Sian's face and pulled her lips to hers-

"Dinner girls!" Rosie shouted as she stumbled out of the back door. She quickly straightened, however. "Oh..sorry".

Sophie had practically fallen backwards as the sounds from outside of their bubble had come rushing back to her in the form of her sister's voice. She sucked in a massive breath and had no idea how she didn't scream out in frustration. Rosie had scared the hell out of her. Amongst other things.

Sian was still frozen in the same position and still had her eyes closed. The warmth of Sophie's body that had been pressed against her had been replaced cruelly by the cool evening air and the feeling of loss overpowered her. If that was to be the last time Sophie would be that close to her, she would kill Rosie. Easily. She wouldn't even think twice.

Sophie raked her hands through her hair and had stopped several feet away from Sian and was looking in the direction of her sister, the look of death evident on her face. She couldn't, just, couldn't, believe it. Was she 15 again? Pulling apart from her girlfriend every time they heard a voice? Ex-girlfriend..Fuck off! Sophie was not, in the mood.

Rosie scratched lightly at the back of her neck. "I was just saying", she coughed a little bit, "dinner's done, whenever you're ready". And she disappeared back inside.

Sophie pushed out a breath and moved her eyes to Sian who was regarding her with an apprehensive expression. Sophie licked her bottom lip and sort of gestured with her head towards the house. "Dinner then", she pretty much grumbled. And then moved towards the house.

Sian watched her go inside and then covered her face with her hands. Frustrated, much? "Uuuhhhghh!" she practically growled, forcing her hands into the air behind her in utter exasperation. She looked up to the sky. Enjoying this, aint ya? She asked the world. And then she went inside, too.

To be continued.