A/N: Thank you so much to those who have posted Reviews. I very much appreciate it and it does keep me writing knowing that there are readers out there who are enjoying it.
Here's a nice long one for you.
Sophie had forgotten how nice it was to have a girlfriend. She hadn't had one really since Jenna and now she had Ellie. Ellie couldn't be more different from Jenna though. Ellie and herself were very similar. It made everything easier. It was great having someone whom you could text and giggle over. Someone you could talk to over breakfast tea or watch telly. Someone you could wind up your mum with. Ellie was someone whom she could do all these things with and not have to worry. Someone.
Sophie knew that Ellie worshiped the ground that she walked on. It wasn't something Sophie was used to at all, but she liked it. It was nice that someone found her desirable. She knew it was a bit vain, but still it built up her confidence. Still she wished that Ellie would have a little bit more swagger about her. Especially in bed, I mean Sophie wasn't made of glass.
"Ellie's staying for breakfast mum" Sophie announced as she came down the stairs.
"Oi! Sophie we're going to have to discuss the rules around here" Sally steamed. Sophie could see it coming out of her ears. Ellie had stayed over at the Webster's last night, and even though it didn't really have to do with sex, clearly Sally wanted to have a go about it.
"Mum! Give me a break I'm nearly 20 years old!" Sophie whined.
"Doesn't matter Sophie, we had an agreement" Sally countered.
"It's not like Ellie and I are up to anything. She just fell asleep," Sophie explained.
Sophie went to put the kettle on. Her mum was kicking off for no reason. It did Sophie's head in.
"If I have to put up with your blokes, then I think you can put up with my girlfriend every once in a while" Sophie argued.
"Hello Mrs. Webster! I hope it's okay that I used the bathroom" Ellie said as she bounded into the room.
Sally plastered on her fake smile. Sophie knew it well.
"It's no problem, and how many times do I have to tell you call me Sally" Sally said in her sickly sweet tone. Sophie knew it was utterly fake. She tried to brush it off but it was getting harder. For some reason Sally just would not give Ellie a chance no matter what she did. It drove Sophie up the wall.
"Cuppa?" Sophie asked her girlfriend. She nodded as the girl moved toward Sophie giving her a chaste peck on the lips.
"So what have you got to do today?" Sally asked from the table.
"The consequence of last night's fun is that I have to write a paper today" Ellie said taking a cup from Sophie.
"Yeah I told you that Ellie is going to Uni" Sophie said giving her mum a smirk.
Ellie was studying English at Uni in Manchester. She had told Sophie that she wanted to be a writer, maybe for a paper. Journalist or summat.
"Yep course work, also I told you there's that piece that they want to publish in the Gazette" Ellie sighed.
"Oh yeah! When will that be published?" Sophie asked. Ellie didn't know, apparently it depended on the space. While it was just the Weatherfield Gazette, it wasn't nothing.
"Well honestly though, what kind of stable job can you get from that? I have more stability in my job really" Sally argued. She was really up for it this morning.
"Oh by the way Ellie, my mum works at the knicker factory so she knows everything" Sophie dramatically rolled her eyes.
"No really Soph, your mum's probably right, but then again I won't know until I try right" Ellie shrugged. She was non-confrontational most of the time. Clearly didn't want to rock the boat. This was not a trait that Sophie liked because it made her a bit weak.
"Don't do that, you'll be brilliant, I know it" Sophie reassured her.
"So what have you got to do today Soph?" her mum asked.
"Have to work at two, but today I'll have to fight with Dev to get time off to take my placement tests" Sophie answered finishing off her toast. She had followed up with Mr. Callahan about what she'd have to do get into Further Education. He had outlined that since she'd been out of school for so long that she'd have to sit down for some tests to see where she's at. Ellie had been helping Sophie pull together her transcripts and materials. It was all a bit of a mess. Webster's are never good at keeping track of paperwork. Ultimately she'd have to fight with Dev to get some time off so that she can sit down.
"I'm really proud of you Sophie. Getting back into school, it's the right choice" Sally beamed. Sally and Sophie were often at odds, but it was still nice to have your mum be proud of you. It made Sophie suddenly feel quite chuffed.
"Well babe, I have to go. Can't stay all morning," Ellie said getting up and grabbing her coat.
Sophie leaned in as they neared the door. "Too bad that. I'll just have to sit here and think about last night. I'll just dwell on that," Sophie said lowly so Sally wouldn't hear. "Sophie Webster! Putting ideas in my head. Now I'll get nothing done," Ellie replied in gentle awe. Sophie grinned and kissed her. It lingered but never got heated. Sally was near by. Ellie moaned as their lips separated. "There's something to keep in mind. Text me?" Sophie asked. "Like I wouldn't" Ellie laughed as she headed out the door.
On Skype Hayley just laughed.
"Look at you lady killer!" Hayley needled her.
"I don't know what you're on about" Sophie shook her head.
"You've got that girl so whipped" Hayley asserted.
"Hey that's not true, she's a nice girl" Sophie tried to convince Hayley and probably herself. Deep down she knew that if she asked Ellie to jump off the London Eye she would. It was an unusual position for her to be in. Having all the power in the relationship was a weird position.
"You do realize that you are dating yourself right?" Hayley argued.
"Whut? Don't tell me you're the relationship expert," Sophie argued back.
"Well let's look at this-She's no fuss, from the same area, fits in at the pub, likes the same music and movies…" Hayley started.
"That's not completely true. She likes football and I couldn't care less" Sophie pointed out.
"Still…" Hayley hesitated.
"Look, I like having someone to be with, it's better than being alone" Sophie confessed.
In fact there they were Ellie and Sophie, Chesney and Sinead, watching the Man U game one Saturday. While Chesney and Ellie acted like every corner kick was life or death, Sinead and Sophie just rolled their eyes. She had just agreed to go in order to show that she was a supportive girl friend, but really she was just counting down the minutes. The only thing keeping her from gouging her eyes out was that Sian kept texting her.
Sian: Oi, so when are you going to intro me to this girl?
Sophie: Oh let me think…Never.
Sian: Why? She's not that bad looking is she?
Sophie: Oi! *frowny face*
Sian: Hey babe don't be that way. *Pout*
She felt a tug on her leg.
"It's the half, do you want anything?" Ellie asked.
"Oh no! I'm fine" Sophie said.
"So who are you texting?" Ellie asked as she came back from the kitchen and sat down.
"Oh nobody, just an old friend in California" Sophie said keeping it vague. She still liked keeping her old girlfriend at a distance. Ellie didn't have to know everything yet.
"I heard about that! Is it true that you saw Sian out there?" Chesney opened his gob. Sophie gave him a look that could burn the sun. If she could leap over the couch to shut him up she would. She settled for nervously running her hands thru her hair.
"Who's Sian?" Sinead asked. She had only moved to the street last year.
"Oh you should have seen those two back in the day. Like love's young dream" Chesney explained. Sinead nodded.
Sophie really wished that the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"Yeah well that was a long time ago Ches" Sophie tried to downplay it for Ellie's sake.
"Apparently not" Ellie said in an irritated tone.
Oh boy, Sophie sighed.
Sophie was sitting in Audrey's getting her hair done. She was lucky enough to get Maria thank god. At least she could give her the goss. Having David do your hair was a torture and a half and Audrey was just old.
It had been a week since Ellie and Sophie had had a spat after the game at Chesney's. As much as Sophie tried to explain and apologize it seemed that Ellie was intent on being in a strop. Sophie knew that Ellie had good reason to be, but she really didn't have anything to worry about. It wasn't like her and Sian could have an affair that's transcontinental. I mean come on. Still Ellie had been a bit distant and brushing her off with the excuse of course work. She could very well be telling the truth but still it didn't give Sophie the best feeling.
Speaking of Audrey she was sitting in a chair reading the Gazette. David was doing some old ladies hair on the other side. Maria and Sophie talked about this and that, with David throwing in a smirky remark every once in a while.
"Aye Sophie? Are you still seeing that girl from a few streets over?" Audrey asked over her paper. Sophie's ears perked up as she confirmed that she was. "Well if you haven't you should take a look at the Gazette today" Audrey advised.
"Why? Does Ellie have an article today? She's been writing stuff for them, but she never knows when it's going to be owt" Sophie replied.
"Well you might want to take a look at this" Audrey handed her a copy.
Sophie took it and looked at the page Audrey indicated. She started reading what looked like a written essay piece.
"Frankly Sophie I didn't want to know that much about you" Audrey said as she went into the back to get some tea. David poked his head over. "I'd like to see that next" he said with a smirk. Sophie couldn't believe what she was reading. Sure all the names were changed, but anyone who knew her knew exactly who Ellie was writing about. Sophie started seeing red with every word. This was far too personal and with a little too much supposition and psychoanalysis for Sophie's taste.
"Maria, Are you nearly done? I have something that needs to be done apparently," Sophie said trying to keep her voice at an even keel. She had worked on her temper a lot over the years. Getting shouty had never gotten the Webster's anywhere. "Yeah Sophie I'll finish it up" Maria said clearing her throat nervously.
She stormed up the street newspaper in hand. Her anger was increasing with every step. She had texted Ellie to make sure that she was at her flat. She didn't trust herself on the phone.
She knocked on the door. Ellie opened it. Her smile turned to anxiety really quick once she saw Sophie's face and the newspaper in her hand.
"So you saw it eh?" Ellie said nervously.
"What are you like?!" Sophie shouted. "You had no right to print any of this!" she exclaimed as she stomped into the flat.
"Okay I can see that you're mad, but I didn't use any real names and I turned in last week when I was still in a strop" Ellie tried to explain.
"Oh yeah, How about this…" Sophie looked for the quote "But now she was remembering all the times they had been intimate, all the times Stephanie had touched her, where she had touched her, the things her fingers could do and especially where she would go with her tongue, and Ellie definitely missed it." She balled it up and thru it at her. "My mum's going to read this! My neighbor's! David Platt! I can't believe you" Sophie cried.
"I really didn't think it would get published Soph, I'm really sorry" Ellie pleaded.
"You had no right to write about me, about us, about any of this" Sophie stormed toward the door. "No Ellie, you got mad and wanted to get back at me, well, Good Job" Sophie slammed the door shut so hard she heard it splinter.
Sophie's view got blurry as she went out into the street. She didn't realize until now how much she had really wanted this. To have someone.
Sophie spent the next two weeks in her room. She only came down for work, which was difficult enough. She had fielded abuse all week from the gossip mongers. Sophie managed to avoid direct contact with her mother, thank god. Her smug smirking face was the last thing she wanted to see very much thank you.
Unfortunately Ellie had called or texted her every hour to the point where she had to turn it on silence, which didn't stop the buzzing. Eventually it stopped; Sophie wondered how long it would take the girl to get the message.
It wasn't that Sophie was bothered with everyone talking about her. She knew it would pass. She just couldn't shake the fact that she should have seen this coming. So-called normal relationships just were not for her. Nothing ever works out for Sophie Webster.
Although she was throwing a pity party of one in her room, it allowed her some alone time. Upon reflection she hadn't loved Ellie, hadn't felt passionate about her, and knew that it would eventually fall apart. She had just provided the optimal excuse to explode it. The public exposure was just a bonus.
In the end after she had cried herself out of tears, she decided to crack open her study books. Mr. Callahan had told her what kind of materials would be on the placement tests which her and Ellie had collected. She might as well use her alone time wisely.
And frankly Sophie needed this win.