A/N: Thanks to those who have read and reviewed. I really appreciate it. It makes me want to continue even more so. Enjoy.
Sian knocked on the door to Hayley's flat. Again everyone was lucky that they lived within a 20-minute radius. On another hand Sophie found this to be a cruel irony for herself. Her she was with two ex-girlfriend's meeting each other in a summat awkward situation. Sophie thought that somewhere her benevolent god was smiling.
Hayley leaped to answer the door. She loved placing Sophie in awkward situations. It wasn't an aspect of her character that Sophie enjoyed.
She had spent a long time focusing on what she would wear and how she would look. Sophie knew that this wasn't a date, but it felt that way. She knew that Sian was dating a bloke so she wasn't a lesbian completely. But then again Sian never had been. It had been a point of contention between them early in their relationship. Sophie had been insecure about Ryan and whether Sian would leave her for something easier. It was a difficult thing for a 15 year old to wrap her head around. But by the time Tommy Duckworth came around with his killer smile then Sophie knew that she didn't have to worry about losing Sian to any guys in Weatherfield. Unfortunately her love of holidays meant that Sophie worried about other girls. Because Sian was gorgeous and Sophie didn't see why Sian would settle for her.
Perhaps that was still true.
She finally picked out a skirt and top that showed off her legs but wasn't too fancy. She really didn't have much of an idea what kind of place they were going too.
After Sian had left her that afternoon, she had called Hayley. Hayley had come and they had done a debrief. Sophie relayed how things had gone and Hayley and her processed it. Probably more than they should. It was so lesbian. Sophie just had to stop overanalyzing it all.
So Sian had knocked on the door and Sophie had nervously answered. She hoped that Hayley wouldn't be too embarrassing about it. Fingers crossed.
Sian stepped in and she was stunning. It's hard to paint a picture about how amazing her ex-girlfriend could look. Of course she was a little older and more tan, but Sian still had a body to die for. Sophie couldn't believe that she had seen this girl naked. Multiple times.
"Sophie" Sian greeted her.
"Oh yeah. Come in, I'll get my purse" Sophie motioned her in.
Sian stepped in. She looked around uncomfortably.
Hayley stepped out from the kitchen. "Sophie's rude or she forgot to introduce me. I'm Hayley" she said while sticking out her hand. Sophie reemerged with her handbag. She was dead nervous and seeing Hayley and Sian in the same space didn't help.
"Oh Aye! Yeah…this is Sian Powers…ex-girlfriend" Sophie introduced as she headed toward the door.
"But I think you already knew that, am I right?" Sian said archly.
There was a tension that Sophie thought might be one-sided jealously. Maybe not. Either way Sophie wanted to put an end to it.
"Okay well let's go. We'll be back later Hayley" Sophie looked at her apologetically. She didn't know why Sian was being a such a stroppy mare.
Hayley nodded and gave a good to meet you as they exited. Sophie turned to her and mouthed "sorry". Hayley just nodded.
As Sian drove them to the restaurant they both relaxed. Sophie filled her in on all the goss. She had forgotten how immersed Sian had been on the street. For a while there she had practically been a member of the family often bouncing between the Websters and Southport.
They sat down at the Mexican place, which was unlike anything they had in Manchester. The waiter's seemed to know Sian already. But then again Sophie guessed that there weren't a lot of hot Mancunian girls in LA who ate there regularly. Sian was clearly the hottest girl in the restaurant, but then again that wasn't hard. To Sophie she was always the most gorgeous no matter where she went.
It had only been a year and a half since Sophie had last seen her, but Sian had changed in some ways. She was a little more hardened. A bit more in control of everything. In their relationship Sophie had been the most dominant most of the time. Sian usually sat back and watched what happened. She wasn't afraid to step in and defend herself or Sophie if needs be. Apparently in the time that they had been apart she had found some strength while Sophie had found insecurity.
"So is Hayley your girl friend?" Sian said looking over a menu. There was an edge to her voice which implied some jealousy. Sophie chuckled. "Aye no! I met her in London visiting Rosie. She saved me some money by letting me stay" Sophie explained. Sian seemed to accept that. Sophie had purposely left out some details. She didn't feel that she had to reveal it all just yet.
"Sorry I was such a mardy earlier. I was just shocked" Sian said. Then she ordered a drink. Clearly this was also a place that didn't card. Sophie took advantage and also ordered. She needed something to help her relax.
"No! Don't be daft. I expected much worse" Sophie replied.
"Oh I've thought about it, trust me" Sian countered.
"I would deserve it. I created such a horrible mess" Sophie dipped her head down. She had truthfully. A wedding to get over her guilt. It was madness that she had let it get that far.
"Soph, you weren't alone. We were so young" Sian said. Her voice had gotten soft, emotions clearly at the surface.
"But Sian…" Sophie persisted.
"Let's not talk about this here" Sian diverted.
The waiters approached interrupting the moment. They both ordered. The small talk began again between them. It was a relaxing atmosphere. Sophie could see why Sian liked this kind of place. The food was far away from fish and chips. She had acclimated to America well.
"Oi! You can't tell me that whatever Miley Cyrus is doing is called dancing because it's not" Sian insisted. Her voice always got so adorably high and squeaky when she got angry.
"Listen to that! You can take the girl out of Manchester, but you can't take the Manchester out of the girl" Sophie teased.
"I'm still right" Sian pointed out smiling. She always loved winning an argument. No wonder she was studying to become a lawyer.
"So how long are you staying?" Sian asked as the bill came.
"Not long. I fly out on Sunday, although oddly I'll get back on Monday. Traveling is so weird" Sophie answered.
"That's not long" Sian said with a hint of dissapointment in her voice.
"Yeah Dev wouldn't let me off for too long" Sophie explained. She had been avoiding mentioning the fact that she still worked in a pathetic corner shop. Although she practically ran the place, like Sunita had before her, she knew that it was a bit pathetic. Sophie had always been smart and hard working at school. She had just been derailed by her family's problems and never made it back.
"Well I feel as if I've barely seen you. Do you need to go home now?" Sian asked. There was a bit of desperation in her voice.
"No. Like I said I came to see you, I'll take as much as I can get" Sophie said.
"Well I know a place where we can go" Sian said as they both got up to leave.
It had started out innocently enough.
Sian had led her to a sand dune on a beach. She had produced a beach blanket from her trunk. They went out, laid down, next to each other and looked at the ocean. The waves were crashing against the shore. It was a bit deafening. But still the dark ocean was beautiful and Sophie couldn't help but be mesmerized by it.
"You're lucky you know" Sophie sighed. "You get to look at this amazing beauty every day. It so gorgeous" Sophie exclaimed.
Sian didn't say anything for a moment. Sophie just kept facing the ocean. Then she felt a hand clasp her own.
"You nearly broke my heart, you know" Sian said softly.
"I know" Sophie replied. She kept a hold of Sian's hand. It had become the one thing that was stopping her from breaking down.
"I loved you so much Soph. I guess there's still a part of me that does. My heart won't stop beating ten to the dozen since I saw you today" she leaned in closer. "You haven't lost that hot body of yours either" Sian said in a low voice.
Sophie had to take a moment to register what she had just heard. She looked into Sian's eyes. They were dark as the night around them.
"You're still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen" Sophie sighed. She reached toward the other girl's cheek leaning in even closer.
The kiss was soft and lingering. They leaned back onto each other's sides facing each other. Grabbing each other clothes frantically, they did not care that they were in full public view.
The two women had found that bubble again, which contained only them.