Sophie groaned as Sian went to change her top again. This was the fifth time that she had turned back toward the closet. At this point they were lucky if they would get done before midnight.
"Will you just quit fussin'? That last one was perfectly fine" Sophie said as she checked herself again in the mirror. She was going to have to reapply her lip-gloss.
"I just…Soph! How about we give it a miss?" Sian said looking at her pleadingly.
"You know that we can't. It's Tina's last night at the Rovers. Everyone will be there," Sophie moaned. They had put this off long enough. It was time to reintroduce Sian back to everyone on the street. More importantly it meant that they could be a proper public couple rather than having to hide in Sian's flat or go to Manchester.
They had sat down for an awkward dinner with Sally and Kevin the other night. Sophie was over the moon to have her father back from Germany. Buzzing with energy she had picked him and baby Jack from the airport having recently passed her driver's test. She had desperately missed him. Sure you can talk to someone on the phone but to feel his arms around her, well it was like being whole. Her father had let her down on too many occasions, but she knew that he would die for her. Not everyone had a father who loved their daughters that much.
It had been a bit rough at first. Sally couldn't help her attitude and sly digs. Her mum could be such a nasty cow if she felt like it. But like always her dad had smoothed it over. Before long they were all laughing together again. Now that Sophie's family knows it was ridiculous to hide it from the rest. Norris was already spreading all kinds of stories anyway, so it was time to put an end to such gossip.
"Y'know I don't like being at the center of it all again" Sian whinged.
Sophie walked over to where the other woman was sitting on the bed.
"Babe I'll be there to stop it and don't you want to see everyone?" she lowered her lips to kiss the girl's wrist lightly. If she messed up the other woman's makeup with lipstick than she guaranteed that they'd never leave. "Now go put on the red one that you look so hot in and let's go already," Sophie said in a low voice.
"There's another way that we could be spending this evening" Sian said in a husky low voice.
"You wish. Now come on already," Sophie demanded.
They stood nervously outside the doors of the Rovers.
"Are you ready?" Sophie turned to her. She could hear Sian take in a sharp intake of breath. Sophie was trying very hard to get her girlfriend to calm down. She knew that she had to be empathetic. The last time Sian had seen some of these people it had been on one of the worst days of their lives. A humiliating painful moment for both of them. Sophie had been able to put on a brave face and deal with the way that people reacted to her. But Sian was facing this dead on. Sophie just had to be patient.
She took the woman's hand. "They are not a firing squad Sian, it's just a party. We'll go in together and if you want to go then we can go" Sophie said reassuringly.
Sian gave her a nod and they burst thru the doorway hand in hand.
The Rovers was buzzing. Tina, one of the most beautiful lasses on the street, had been thru so much in the 5 years that she had lived on Coronation. She had been popular with everyone and had dated most of the men. Now she was leaving and everyone was at the Rovers to wish her well. And also to drink. But mostly for Tina.
Sophie and Sian had to settle for the bar since all the tables and booths were occupied. It seemed that everyone was staring at them as they walked over and settle down on the stools. Sophie was used to it, but Sian had not experienced this for a while. She held onto her hand so tightly Sophie feared it would break. Sophie reached up to stroke the other woman's cheek looking into those deep brown eyes. All she wanted Sian to know was that she'd be her safety. Sian giggled as she looked down at their fingers now entwined on the bar. Sophie's breath hitched as she broke out in a grin so wide it would split her face.
"Why don't you two get a room aye?" they heard from behind them.
Sophie looked up and saw Chesney and Sinead seated across from them. She waved them over.
"Oi behave!" she said and smacked his shoulder playfully.
"It's so good to see you again" Chesney shouted and threw his arms around Sian giving her a good squeeze. The three of them had known each other since teenagers. This camaraderie that had developed between them had disappeared as they each dealt with their adult lives. But right now they were enjoying a reunion that brought back the better part of their lives.
"Alright now! You have a girlfriend of your own, keep your hands to yourself," Sophie laughed. Chesney introduced Sinead who had been meekly watching from the sidelines.
"I've heard so much about you" Sinead said eagerly as they sat down next to the two women at the bar.
"I'm sure it was all highly exaggerated and wrong," Sian laughed. Who knew what crazy rumors Norris had been spreading, really.
"I just listen to Ches and his stories, like how you both saw Vampire Weekend in Leeds" Sinead replied.
"Sally sure kicked off when she found out aye" Chesney laughed.
"Yeah well my mum doesn't need much an excuse to kick off does she?" Sophie answered.
"Those 4 day festivals sound like so much fun" Sinead said wistfully.
Sophie chuckled. This poor girl. She knew Chesney would never spend 45 quid on a shirt, much less the chance to see Jay-Z. He was such a cheap-o. But this girl clearly loved him. After Katy he deserved it.
"You just want to snog for 4 days in a muddy field" Chesney laughed. "Is it true that you're staying here?" Ches asked.
"Yes, just have to transfer over" Sian replied.
"You must be mad! From California? Do you just not like warm sunny weather all the time?" Chesney teased.
Sian looked toward Sophie and smiled. "Well I have the best reason to stay" Sian said and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Oh god! You two really are so soppy!" Ches teased.
Sian had started to relax as they talked with more old friends and drank some more pints. Sophie was getting ready to call it a night while Sian headed outside to grab a phone call. She went to settle up their tab, when she finally saw Tina McIntyre living it up behind the bar. This whole night had been about seeing her one last time but Sophie hadn't had the opportunity.
"Sophie!" she yelled waving her over. Tina had clearly drunk her fill but she wasn't legless yet. As Sophie headed over she thru her arms around her in an embrace. It surprised Sophie at first but she chalked it up to drink.
"I'm so glad you came! And where's your other half? I hope she hasn't run off on you again," she laughed good-naturedly.
"Oh ha ha. She's just outside on the phone," Sophie pointed towards the door.
"Get her back in here! It was so good to see you both again" Tina smiled sadly. Sophie knew that Tina had seen her share of romantic disappointment. It was a miracle that she still maintained any sense of sanity considering what she had been thru over the last 5 years. But Tina had always been kind to them when they were teens. She had stood up to douche bag lads on more than one occasion when they would snigger at them in the chippy.
Sian made her way back to them putting away her phone.
"There she is aye?! Now look" Tina leaned in close. She spoke in a loud whisper, which was clearly influenced by voddy "I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOUSE ARE BACK TOGETHER." Sian just nodded as she hoped that no one was noticing how Tina was a bit struggling to keep it together. Tina then downed another shot and the women each gave themselves a look.
"Okay well we was about to go" Sophie stepped towards the door pulling Sian by one hand. Tina grabbed Sian's arm as she went to turn. Sophie was already at the door and waiting while she saw them talk.
"Look I just want to say that I am sorry for your loss. I lost my dad too, and it was way hard" Tina said in a low voice sincerely. Sian could see a wave of anguish fall over Tina's features. It was the same look that she sometimes saw in the mirror herself. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes. "Ise just wanted to say: This time don't mess around. You two have always had a fearless love that everyone can see. Be proper serious about it, keep it safe" Tina pleaded.
"I will" Sian promised sincerely.
Sian cuddled closer to Sophie as they slept. She had already flung her arm across the girl's waist by habit as soon as they lay down to sleep. Sophie had work in the morning and she was proper exhausted. She had basically stripped down and flung herself onto Sian's bed. Sophie had been spending enough time at the flat that she even had a designated side of the bed and a drawer.
Sian thought about what Tina had said.
"Sophie Are you still awake?" Sian said lowly.
Sophie had just been about to drop off when she felt Sian move in closer. She really was tired and not looking forward to spending the morning ringing up milk and cigarettes. But if Sian wanted something she would move heaven and earth to get it.
"Aye" Sophie said in a low voice.
"I was thinking, since your dad is back and obviously him and Sally are getting back together…" Sian started. Sophie quickly interrupted her in a sarky voice "I wouldn't bet on that…they always seem to screw it up."
"I know but…I was thinking…" Sian hesitated nervously. Sophie turned over towards her. Her eyes still closed from sleep.
"Just spit it out babe, I am so tired" Sophie pleaded in a low sleepy voice.
"Well I'm almost done packing up my dad's stuff, and school won't start for a few months now" Sian sighed. She felt a weight pressing on her chest. "It's just that you're here all the time anyway, I was just thinking that you could stay here permanently," she said in a small vulnerable voice.
Sophie paused for a moment, sorting thru what she had just heard. It wasn't like they had not lived together before. They practically did from the very beginning of their getting together. Still that was at her parent's house and it wasn't really by choice. Sian had had nowhere to go, since her parents had chucked her out. She was terrified at the idea of losing this gorgeous girl again so soon. But Sophie had to be honest. It was the best thing.
"Sian I don't think we should do that" Sophie said sighing.
Sian's face moved from vulnerable to fiery angry in an instant. "What?! You don't want too be with me" Sian turned away from the other girl in a huff.
"Hey, Hey" Sophie said turning Sian back towards her. "You know that's not so. We rush into things and it turns into disaster. If we take it slow than I have less of a chance of ruining it" Sophie explained.
"After all this time, you still think it's just you. Sophie, it's not" Sian sighed. "It's the both of us, as long as we're honest with each other then we can face the serious things" Sian replied.
"There's nothing I'd want more in the world but I just can't lose you again. I fear it will break me" Sophie let a sob escape her chest just at the thought.
"Kiss me" Sian asked lightly. She leaned in having placed her hand at the back of Sophie's neck. It was soft and lingering. Purposely not heated but allowing for their lips to move against each other. Just as it was her that had started it, it was Sian who pulled back first. "I'm not going anywhere, if you want to wait then we'll wait" Sian said looking directly into the younger girls eyes.
"Really?" Sophie whispered so low it was barely audible. At that moment Sophie looked just as she been when she was 15 and standing in Sian's kitchen pleading with her to understand. This side of Sophie was one that only Sian really knew. This was the sweet girl that had also smashed her heart.
"We're forever right? Then there's plenty of time" Sian soothed her.