A miracle had happened last Sunday night. Well it wasn't like anyone was brought to life or there was a healing of hands to Sophie Webster. However she would have never expected to be asked out on a date by a woman in her congregation. Sure every once in awhile she had to politely decline a clueless male who wanted to chat her up, but she had honestly thought that she was the only "out" lesbian in her church. Just goes to show what happens when you assume.
Sophie had been getting out of her prayer group, which she attended every week. Some folk couldn't figure out how she managed to be gay and Christian. She got more trouble from people for the latter than the former, which she never understood. To Sophie it was just all the same thing: Love was at the center of it all. And it felt good to know that no matter what happened, she feel that unconditional love. And the she could give it to others thru understanding and compassion. If only everyone else felt the same way.
Her congregation consisted mostly of old ladies but there were a few young people. One girl named Ellie, she had noticed from her old church, had started going to hers. Sophie had been forced to change churches because of problems with the pastor, but she never had any trouble with anyone else. Ellie was a brunette and looked like any other girl from Manchester. Manchester lasses tended to be lean, pale, and spend their lives in jumpers. Much like Sophie herself, she looked like a sweet girl who was no-fuss.
After their mini-spat a few weeks ago, Hayley had been a little distant. Sure they had gone back to the flat and had sex, and Sophie had even stayed over. However since then they had only traded a few texts and emails. Of course Hayley was stressed out and busy with finals, but still Sophie couldn't help but overanalyze it. It reminded her too much of when Sian had gone to college, leaving Sophie alone long enough to screw things up.
So when Ellie approached her after prayer group and started flirting, Sophie tried to stay calm. Rather inside though, she was freaking out. It was all too familiar. Out of instinct she had blown her off about making plans, saying that she had a family thing. Still she wasn't altogether dismissive of the woman's advances. It was mainly just a surprise. It wasn't like there were all that many opportunities in Weatherfield or even Manchester, and Sophie knew that she was no prize. Anything was better than another night at home with Sally and Tim, her new boyfriend, so she had left the door a bit open.
Regardless she was nervous about what to do, so she rang up her sister Rosie. Rosie had set her down this path in the first place and maybe she'd know what to do.
"So you're on a photo shoot with goats?" Sophie asked confusedly. Her sister's modeling career was so weird. "Yeah it's for some goat cream or summat. SO WHAT'S GOING ON?!" she shouted over the bleating of farm animals. Sophie outlined for her what had happened. "NO WAY! There's another gay god-botherer. I thought it was just you in all of England" Rosie exclaimed. "Yeah, but what should I do?" Sophie whinged. "Well go out with her, duh. Even if she's not hot, at least you get a meal out of it" Rosie advised. "But what should I do about Hayley?" Sophie moaned. "Oh god, Sophie, sometimes" Rosie sighed. Sophie really didn't need her sister's irritating tone right now. She almost hung up, but then she waited knowing that her sister was working out what to say. "Look Sophie, I have to go, but you are still being relationship girl with this Hayley chick, and you need to break the pattern. I mean do you even know if you are the only one that she's dating?" Rosie asked. Sophie thanked her sister and hung up.
For once Sophie had to admit that her sister wasn't that crazy. Sophie didn't know what Hayley was doing or who with up at Uni. They didn't talk about it when they went out. It was like an unspoken rule between them. Wound up by her sister, Sophie got on the phone and called Ellie. She had her phone number from church already. Ellie was surprised to hear from her. "Frankly I thought you weren't interested when we last talked" she related. "No just family stuff, it's hard to get out of, you know how it is" Sophie said trying to sound non-fussed. "Well what do you say just a DVD at my place, some take away, no biggie" Ellie proposed. Sophie agreed and they set a date for next weekend. Sophie was pleased with how easy it had been. Maybe she could do this dating thing after all.
Sophie showed up with a DVD around 7 pm. They talked and ate for a bit. It was easy for them to talk since they had grown up just a few streets apart. They could talk about how crazy the Platts are or how hot Carla Connor was with ease. It was nice and they started to relax.
"So I have to tell you something and I hope it's not weird" Ellie said. Sophie nodded to urge her on. "Well I wanted to thank you. You may not remember at all but I was at your birthday party when you were 16. We'd gone to church together and you invited us all to go. I was so excited because I'd never really been to a party before. I'd heard all the goss about you and Sian and why you ran away" Ellie started to ramble. She took a sip of the wine that they'd been sharing. "I already knew that I was different inside. Didn't care about boys, even though I dated them, but I figured that I could make it go away" Ellie continued. Sophie had no idea where this was going. "So I went and it was crazy" Ellie laughed. "Oi! That was my sister Rosie not me! Last time she was my party planner" Sophie protested. "Yeah but I remember that I saw you and Sian Powers dancing and having a laugh. You were so happy and it sent out waves of love all around you. And I knew..." She paused. Sophie found herself holding her breath waiting for what would come out next. "I knew that I deserved to be happy, deserved to be loved, and had to stop worrying about what everyone else thought" Ellie admitted. "I'm sorry, if it's too much. But I just had to say thank you" Ellie summed up.
Sophie couldn't help but give the poor lass a hug. She had had no idea that she had such an impact on other people's lives. But then again it seemed that she had. After a minute or two they released each other. "Okay awkward confession time over. How about that movie?" Ellie said getting up to put on the rom-com that Sophie had picked out on. "So, is that why you asked me over?" Sophie asked. "No! It was because you're well fit, Sophie Webster" Ellie said with a wink.
They settled on the sofa as the movie started. It's not like they were close together as the opening credits rolled, but slowly they got closer. Eventually Sophie rested her head on Ellie's shoulder, and then naturally she wrapped one arm around her middle. It was so comfy and they fit together. Sophie thought about how easy this was. Non-complicated. She leaned in and before she knew they were kissing, and kissing, and kissing. It was starting to get heated as Sophie let Ellie's tongue circle around her mouth. Ellie started to have Sophie pinned to the couch. The movie was forgotten.
Sophie broke it off. One reason being that air was becoming an issue but also because she felt it was unfair to go any further. Both women sat back catching their breaths. "That was amazing" Ellie panted out. She was clearly turned on. "Yeah, Yeah" Sophie nodded. "But I need to tell you something" Sophie started. "I don't like the sound of that" Ellie said despondently. She was clearly waiting to hear the bad news. "It's not bad, it's just I didn't think it was okay to go any further without letting you know that I have been seeing somebody" Sophie choked out. "But it's not serious, I mean..." Sophie said guiltily. "Okay, I get it, but let me ask you something then: If you're seeing this other girl, then why are you here kissing me?" Ellie said looking her straight in the face. Sophie honestly didn't know.