A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This is something that I've been kicking around for a long time and I'd love to know what you think. Want more? Let me know that too then.
Maddie worked hard to hide the panic on her face. She didn't even remember shaking the woman's hand. Focusing on remembering to breathe she turned to the bar. Anything to avoid the woman's eyes while she took in the turn of events.
Sian Powers. Sian fucking Powers.
She took a big gulp of her beer and tried to wrap her mind around it. Sophie liked to say that god works in mysterious ways but this was too much.
"Yeah, I expect the street hasn't changed much since I left. It never does" Sian chuckled.
Maddie swallowed her beer and tried not to seem awkward. It had been awhile since she had been duplicitous but she really didn't want to be honest in this moment. It wouldn't be easy to explain that for a fair share of nights this woman before her had dominated her thoughts. She had wondered, worried, and felt insecure over what she would say in this moment. It wasn't the same as Jenna. She knew that she was clearly better than her. I mean Jenna was old enough to be Sophie's mum.
But this woman was different.
She was a bombshell. It was clear that every punter in that pub was eyeing her. And somehow it was Sophie who had broken her heart. It made no sense.
Crazy.
"Yeah" she laughed nervously. And then ordered another pint.
Sian looked around smirking.
"Well it's too bad that you're stuck here. I mean do you see the punters in this place…" she said with a note of haughtiness. Before Maddie could respond they heard a ring. Sian pulled out her phone. She answered it while giving a quick sorry to Maddie.
Maddie took the moment to stop her head from spinning. As she saw it she had several options here. There was being honest, which could be for the best. However it could spoil an opportunity here. It wasn't like Sophie would ever know. What happens in Newcastle could stay in Newcastle. And Sophie...well she didn't like to speak of the past, but that didn't mean it couldn't help Maddie to better understand what could have possibly happened.
As Maddie weighed her options the blonde returned phone in hand. She looked like she was fuming.
"Blokes! Sometimes…" she said frustratingly. She ordered another drink from the bartender.
"Trouble?" Maddie asked.
"I only came out tonight because this bloke said that we'd go out, and now he's cancelled on me. Again! And he knows that I'm only here for another week!" she said her voice getting faster and higher near the end.
"Yeah well sounds to me like he's not worth the bother" Maddie replied.
"You're probably right. I can't imagine the men in Weatherfield are much better. It's slim pickings out there" the blonde sighed.
"Seems to me that anyone who wouldn't choose to go out with you needs their head examined" Maddie gestured to the rest of the bar "Every punter here would buy you a drink. In fact they are all probably fuming because yer sitting here with me instead of them" Maddie finished up. She even surprised herself with such a speech. She chalked it up to the drink. Probably best to slow down she noted to herself.
"Give over! For that I'll buy you a drink" she waved over the bartender. "I'm sure your boyfriend won't mind" she said as she looked back to where Kirk was telling a story loudly.
Maddie grinned.
"Oi! Kirk is not my boyfriend. We just work together" she gulped. "Actually, I have a girlfriend in Weatherfield" she said with an easy grin. I guess in for a penny, in for a pound. "I hope that doesn't bother you" she added.
"Don't worry, doesn't mean nowt to me" she grinned widely and laughed. It was the kind of grin that you see in adverts for toothpaste, it gleamed so brightly. Maddie could see that she was sincere and genuine. It was no wonder that Sophie had fallen for her. Something must have gone seriously wrong for her to stuff it up.
"In fact" she continued after taking another sip of her drink "I had a girlfriend myself once. After nights like tonight I seriously think about going back" she said cheekily.
"Nothing stopping you! You could have any girl in this place except me of course. I'm taken" Maddie laughed.
"It's tempting, but it didn't end well between us" she said her eyes downcast for a moment. "Here's a piece of advice: Avoid lying cheating cows" she said bitterly.
She then proceeded to down the rest of her drink. Putting on her coat the blonde looked to be headed out.
"Heading out?" Maddie asked sounding a bit disappointed.
"It's for the best. But thanks for keeping me company…." she paused.
"Maggie" she answered quickly. Maddie lied on instinct. It might be best considering what the woman had just said. The blonde smiled as she reached into her purse and leaned over to put some money on the bar.
At that moment Maddie's phone burst to life with a ringtone that she instantly recognized.
Sophie.
Sitting on the bar in plain view was the picture of her and Sophie that she had picked in a soppy mood one day. Maddie couldn't grab it fast enough. Sian had seen it.
"Wait" she paused "Is your girlfriend Sophie Webster?" she asked full of shock.
Not knowing what to do. Maddie did the only thing she knew best. She ran.