"You didn't have to stab me with a fork!" Sophie heard shouted as they neared the Rovers. She had caught up with Chesney even though she had had to lock up the shop.
"I'll get Sian, you've got Ryan" she huffed at him.
"Really can we switch?" he asked.
"CHESNEY!" she shouted.
He looked at her and huffed a reluctant affirmative. There was already a crowd collecting outside the Rovers, which included the usual suspects. Michele was holding back Sian while Steve had Ryan. Sophie and Chesney burst onto the group forcing their way thru then splitting to either side. Sophie turned toward Michele as she took over.
"Michele I've got this," she said as she pushed Sian towards the ginnel area to disperse the scene.
"All right! Shows over! Get back in the pub or do one!" Michele shouted as she looked to make sure her son was calmed down. She ushered Ryan back into the Rovers as Norris shuffled back into the Kabin.
Sophie pushed Sian into the ginnel area with her hands on both of her girlfriend's shoulders. Gratefully there were no smokers around so they had the space to themselves. Safely out of sight, the heavy breathing of each woman was the only sound. Sian had so much frantic energy that she was a bit all over the place. It wasn't often these days that her girlfriend made a scene on the street like that. It was disturbing to see her kick off like that. Sophie knew that something had to be wrong.
Sian leaned her head on Sophie's shoulder. Sophie swung her arms around her back finally settling them softly on the other girl's lower back.
"Are you all right?" Sophie whispered into her ear. Sian nodded that she was into Sophie's shoulder. "Came as soon as I heard, locked up the shop and all" Sophie explained.
Sian remained quiet while her breathing settled. She raised her head and sniffed as she pulled away from Sophie. Turning away from her, Sian crossed her arms. Sophie could see her back muscles stiffen.
"Made a show of myself didn't I?" Sian said bitterly.
Sophie turned her around by her shoulders. She looked her in the face with a half-smile.
"Oi! Worse things have kicked off on this street right? I'd say you rank about a 3 out of 10" she chuckled. Sian uncrossed her arms and slowly returned the cheeky grin.
"Hey, I at least get beauty points right?" Sian said placing her hands in her back pocket.
"We'll have to put it to a vote" Sophie said keeping up the banter.
Upon the scene came Steve McDonald with his cigarette lit and already a quarter down.
"Ladies!" he shouted. Having startled both the girls they jumped apart and then laughed at themselves.
Steve took another drag on his cigarette.
"Looks like everything's settled down eh?" he asked.
"Yeah Steve. I'm sorry for kicking off. He just had such a smug look on his face…" Sian tutted in disgust.
"Well it's not going to go away any time soon, so for the sake of his mum we'll both put up with it right?" he sighed.
Sian nodded. Sophie could tell from her body language, though, that she was putting up a front. She choose to let it go for now.
Flicking his cigarette away, Steve shook his head. "Well you gonna finish your shift? Don't worry he's upstairs with Michele, and if he wants to avoid a spoon to the ribs I think he'll stay up there. Come on" he said as he headed back into the pub.
Sophie gave her a peck on the cheek and a hand squeeze.
"Are you really okay?" Sophie asked worriedly.
"Nope" Sian said shaking her head "But I will be." Sophie saw her push a smile onto her face and walk back into the Rovers.
Sophie was surprised to see Sian sitting on the couch when she got home.
"Class canceled?" she asked as she put her keys on the table. Taking off her jacket she sat down next to her. A rerun of TOWIE was playing on the telly, but Sophie doubted that it had Sian's rapt attention. She hit the mute button and turned to face her. Sian had a face on her when she looked back. It was in full on stormy mode.
"Didn't go. Couldn't concentrate on nothin' after my shift at the Rovers" she replied.
"Won't you get in trouble for that?" Sophie asked.
"I'll just get notes off Melissa. I think I can take one night off aye?" she replied with a bit of a mardy tone. With her arms crossed Sian turned back to the telly.
"Sian" Sophie sighed at how hard this was "What happened today?" she asked quietly. Sian's back went rigid and she looked to the ceiling. Exhaling a long breath she turned back towards Sophie.
"So I was working in the Rovers and in he strode. As if he were still all that y'know? He made some remark to everyone at the bar about how they "had no chance with this one." Such a smirk on his face, I just couldn't stand it" Sian explained.
"And you stabbed him with a fork? For being cocky?" Sophie couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sophie!" Sian pouted.
"Let me get on the phone to the Weatherfield Gazette. Oh have I got a story for them!" Sophie kept on going. "Babe, if you want I'll go and give him an earful but a zebra can't change his stripes. I've chosen to let it all go, really, I wish you'd do the same" she replied.
Sian continued to sulk but Sophie could see her resolve slowly cracking. "I mean he could have tried it on with you instead and then I'd have to battle it out with him for your honor. Pistols at dawn and all that" Sophie smiled.
"Yeah well he'd have to get up before noon, so I doubt he'd show up" Sian smart-assed. They both laughed. After a few moments Sian fell silent again. Sophie could see her face get dark and her breathing become laboured. Her girlfriend was gearing herself up to say something but Sophie could not tell what it could be. A part of Sophie feared what was coming.
"Sophie I have to tell you something…" Sian started after a minute of silence. Sophie nodded for her to go on. "Do you remember how I told you that he tried it on with me after everything? Ryan showed up at my dad's house in Newcastle. I was still shattered Sophie" she said slowly.
"What happened? What'd he do?" Sophie asked suddenly scared.
"I was so angry and bitter. He acted like he was so concerned…it was just like it used to be. A part of me remembered what it'd been like to have someone whom I could talk with…he was very sweet actually considering…" she paused. Sophie took her hand and squeezed it assuredly. She desperately needed to know what had happened but knew not to rush it.
"But then he tried it and it made me physically sick. I pushed him off before anything even started. I think it was because it wasn't you. I still wasn't over it all, and well he took it badly" she finished up as a soft sob escaped from her chest. "He went to use the restroom but then he hadn't come out for ages. I went to check on him" she exhaled nervously. Sophie sat just as breathless until Sian finally continued on "I found him doing coke in my bathroom Sophie." Sian sniffed in disgust at the memory. "I was so angry and he was high as a kite. I threw him out straight away" Sian finished up sighing heavily.
"Sian" Sophie turned her face toward her own. "I've seen him like that. There's nothing that you could have done" she tried to empathize.
"Yeah, but he came right here to Weatherfield. I could have stopped it. But I was still such a mess" Sian continued. She sighed exhausted "I was selfish Soph. I should have tried to help him." Sophie saw the tears well up in her girlfriend's eyes. "You could have died Sophie" she forced out with a voice layered with regret.
"But I didn't. God must want me here badly, he keeps saving me" she said genuinely. "Sian, it wasn't your fault" Sophie tried to explain. "I choose to throw myself in front of that car. I couldn't let him be alone in that road-not in that state" Sophie said forcefully.
"Oh listen to you" Sian said giggling. She quickly wiped away any tears that had fallen from her cheeks. Flinging her arms around Sophie's neck she softly kissed her. As their lips separated, Sian leaned her head on her shoulder. Cuddling in together, Sophie's phone beeped with a text message. She went to read it.
"Who is it?" Sian asked.
Sophie put her phone away and stood up from the couch. "I'm not going to force you or anything, but I really think that you should come with me to visit with Ryan in the Rovers" she said as she grabbed her jacket.
"I'll pass Soph, but go on and tell him that I'm not mad," she said.
Sophie grinned inwardly as she headed out the door.
"Oi! That haircut was so minging," Sophie laughed mockingly.
"Hey! It was popular at the time! And you were the only girl who thought that by the way" Ryan said defensively.
"Yeah, Funny that" Sophie said with a smart-ass grin as she gathered the glasses to get the next round.
They had been lucky to get a booth as The Rovers was hopping. Sophie was a bit glad that Sian had chosen to stay home. Even with Sean, Liz, and Michele behind the bar, she might have been recruited to help.
Heading to the bar, she saw Michele serving up. She took their glasses and started pulling them another round of beer.
"Is Sian all right? Or should my son be defending himself against further impaling?" Michele asked.
"She's mortified Michele. Don't worry, it won't happen again," Sophie said sincerely as she took their pints.
"Good to hear. It's so nice having him home" Michele smiled. Sophie nodded in agreement. It wasn't often that you saw Michele Connor without her arms crossed in a strop. Sophie knew that her son had caused her plenty of trouble, but every mother loves her son.
As she approached the booth she saw that a blonde lass had taken her seat. She was sidled up to Ryan really close-like.
"I guess we'll need another glass?' Sophie asked as she sat down.
"Hiya! I'm Christy. You must be Sophie right?" She asked extending her hand. Sophie looked her over. She was fit, but not gorgeous. Sophie heard an American accent that stood out for a mile.
"Yeah don't worry about it Sophie. Christy doesn't drink. She's a proper tee-totaller" Ryan said smiling at her.
"Well don't believe a thing that he's said about me. It's all lies" Sophie smirked.
Ryan rolled his eyes.
"Oh don't worry, nothing but good things. Have you told her yet?" the blond looked over at Ryan.
"No I was waiting for you" he smiled back at her. He took a sip of his pint and then cleared his throat.
"Sophie, Christy and I are getting married" Ryan announced.