A/N: Just a note to say that I am so grateful to those who are enjoying this story. Feel free to drop a review (and for those who do so regularly I really do appreciate it!) it helps me keep writing along. Cheers.
Sophie was glad when the first day of classes came. She looked forward to being able to show her parents, Dev, and the street, that she really meant to make them proud. Sophie had begged her parents for money. It had taken a miracle to get her dad on Skype from Germany. Her father was not technologically inclined, even though he fixed cars. He was so old school. Computers were still a bit confounding to him.
Sophie told him about her test scores. He looked proper chuffed even over web-cam. "That's great Sophie!" he smiled. Holding little Jack in his lap, he had a massive grin. "Look at that little fella, isn't your sister smart" he cheered. Sophie had always been her daddy's girl. Her mother was snobby, always wanting higher than her position. Kevin, on the other hand, never demanded more than his hard work had given him. They had that in common. Sophie was fine with staying in Weatherfield with maybe a house with a garden.
Sophie knew that her father wasn't perfect by any means. He had destroyed their family and her life, with sinful acts and the best intentions. But she always knew that he loved her. That's why she had come out to him first. It had been one of the hardest things that she had ever had to do. She had been prepared for him to be shouty and worse, but he hadn't been. For the first time she saw shock and then acceptance. He had only questioned her once about her feelings for girls, then never after that day. She knew that he would stick by her with her mum or anyone else. And he would beat up anyone who gave her trouble for being gay or otherwise.
Unfortunately Kevin was also tight-fisted. He wouldn't drop a nickel if he could save a penny. Fortunately for her he had rolled over after Sophie had outlined a 2 year plan to pay him back that Hayley had helped her put together. She threw on a layer of charm on top, and he melted like a sap.
Dev had been irritated by having to change her schedule but then she had leveraged her position by giving up Sundays. She didn't like it, but she figured that the lord would understand. Her manager would never admit it aloud, but Sunita had always tried to help Sophie when she could. He wanted to do the same by the girl that he had given a job to when she was 15. Dev owed Sunita that.
She had worked out a schedule with Mr. Callahan that would start her out slow. It would ease her into Further Education while building up her transcript. The classes weren't rocket science but she would at least have a chance to show that she could do school again. She'd have to give up watching telly as often, but it would be worth it.
Sophie knew that she'd never have been able to do it without the confidence that Sian's forgiveness had given her. She felt that she was hurtling towards something for once, rather than running away.
She had made it thru the first few months unscathed. It was hard getting into a new routine. Not being able to do what she wanted all the time. But it was worth it because she finally felt like she was heading in a direction.
It became clear to her one day when she was working on an assignment over at Chesney's. She had been doing a lot of baby-sitting lately to earn extra cash. It also gave her the chance to do her work without dealing with Webster family drama. Sometimes she'd rather deal with a squalling baby than Rosie's latest bloke trouble or her mum and dad's will they or won't they. It was always something.
She had put Joseph to bed with very little fuss. He had gotten so used to having her around that she feared he'd start to get attached. That'd be a terrible irony for both Sinead and Katie-the child would rather be around the lesbian than his mum or potential step-mum. Well Chesney just seemed to be happy for the help.
Speaking of Chesney, he and Sinead came in the door. They'd been out to dinner and a movie. The two young lovers looked happy with each other. It was good to see her best mate happy for once, he had been so miserable for a while there. Sophie liked Sinead alright, thank god she wasn't like her mother. That woman was the worst.
"Hiya Sophie" Chesney said pulling out his wallet. Sophie swore that she could hear an audible sigh as the wallet was pried open. Sometimes Chesney was as bad as her dad.
"Well Joseph's been in bed for ages. We did a bath and a story," Sophie reported as she gathered up her books and things.
"Oh Good" Chesney said giving Sinead a grin.
"Well I'll leave you to it" Sophie said taking her money from Chesney.
"Thanks again" Chesney said.
"You're so good with him Sophie, sometimes I'm just lost" Sinead admitted.
"Yeah he's getting so smart having you around Soph, All I can teach him is 1-10. Soph will having him doing times tables in not too long" Chesney said.
"Oh Go on! It's nothing," Sophie said. She had enjoyed showing him some things while she had been watching him.
"Yeah Soph, you should think about childcare" Sinead had added.
"Oh I don't think so, may be if they were older, and with a little less drool" Sophie said as she headed out.
"So I've got a surprise for you" Sian said teasingly over Skype.
They had not talked as often as they used to since both were now wrapped up in school. Sian had gotten back into her hectic school and social routine. And she could be a dating machine. She would go on a few dates with this guy or that then it would be over. Sophie didn't like to talk about it, because it stirred up some jealousy in her, but also because it often felt like Sian was trying to prove something. They shared sexy texts and photos sometimes, which hopefully her snoopy mum would never find. And while Sophie enjoyed the flirting, sometimes the mixed signals were difficult for her heart to deal with. But then again she knew that the blond would come around to trusting her again. She had really meant it when she had said Forever. But Sian had been right-they were only 20 years old. Time was still on their side. She could wait.
"Well you gonna spill or do I need to tip you over?" Sophie sipped her tea.
"You know how here they have spring break over here soon?" Sian asked rhetorically.
"Yup I've seen it on telly. What are you thinking of doing?" Sophie laughed.
"No! Come on what kind of girl do you think I am? Actually here it becomes a nightmare, can't go anywhere" Sian replied with a small amount of annoyance. "My mum wants me to come out and see her in Southport. So we'll be on the same continent for once aye," she giggled.
Sophie's heart swelled. They had not actually been in the same room together since last year. And that had been a world-turner for Sophie. But now it would be nice just to see if they could just "be" again. Leave their angst aside for a moment. The very idea just made Sophie's chest pound.
"But what about your new bloke? What will he say?" Sophie asked tentatively. Despite her dating ways, Sian had been seeing "Jay" on the regular for a bit now. Sophie tried not to get jealous about it, but it did make her insecure.
"Argh! Yeah I think that is over, he got all serious and commitment-heavy and you know me…" Sian said.
"Well send me the dates and I'll start working on Dev" Sophie said eager to change the subject. Frankly she didn't need to hear Sian complain about her boyfriends.
"Yes! And we'll go to the beach and the pier Soph, it can be just like old times but Soph…I'm going to steer clear of Weatherfield…It's just too hard…" Sian explained. Sophie understood. Her village could be such a goldfish bowl and it would be a white-hot spotlight if Sian came on the cobbles again.
"Nah, I'll come down, What about your mum won't she want to be with you?" Sophie asked. Knowing that Sian's relationship with her mum was difficult at best so she tread lightly.
"Oh you know how she is! She'll put in her time for a bit then run off with the newest boyfriend leaving me in the house alone" Sian said irritated. She was getting a bit worked up about it, Sophie could tell.
"And she'll be okay with me being there right? The last time I saw her wasn't so great" Sophie hated bringing it up, but felt like she should. It was a potential minefield subject for the two of them. But she defo didn't want to force herself on someone who might hate her.
"Sophie! Don't worry and if she says anything I'll shout her owt" Sian reassured her.
Sophie sighed with relief. She smiled finally allowing herself to get excited about seeing Sian in person again. It would be amazing, even if the potential of sex weren't involved. Sophie could not fathom getting the two of them to this point even a year ago. It made a warm feeling spread throughout her body.
"Well look at the grin on your face! What are you thinking about in that mind of yours?" Sian said shaking her shoulders back and forth in that teasing way that she had.
"I think you know" Sophie laughed.
"You bet I do. Good night Sophie Webster" Sian winked and signed off.
Sophie started checking online for train tickets immediately.