Startled awake, Sian heard a thump followed by a girly giggle. Although she had her eyes closed, she had not really been sleeping at all. Her girlfriend had not gotten home even though she had texted her an hour ago that she was leaving. Sian knew that Sophie could take care of herself and she was only at the Rover's after all. However Sian didn't trust Ryan to make sure she could get home all right. For all she knew he'd leave stranded while chasing some slapper bird trying to cop off. It was only one of a thousand scenarios that she had spun in her head as she waited for her Soph to get home. It was the not knowing that kept her from being able to sleep.
But what she did know is that girly giggle. She'd only been hearing it since she was 15.
Walking into the front room, she found a giggly mess on the floor.
Sophie Webster had made it home.
Sian sighed and headed towards the brunette trying to keep her calm. She sat down on the floor next to Sophie who was sprawled on the floor staring at the ceiling tittering. She quieted down as she turned toward Sian grinning drunkenly. Sian swept a stray hair behind Sophie's ear.
"You're so beautiful" Sophie said with a lecherous look in her eyes. Sophie lurched herself over trying to lay her hands on Sian's bare leg. She missed it by a good foot and a half only being able to grope more carpet.
Sian grinned and chortled aloud.
"Look at the state of you" Sian exclaimed. She knew that she should be furious but it felt better to release all her pent up energy by laughing. Watching Sophie try to make a move on her while extremely uncoordinated was beyond adorable. Her girlfriend was always so amorous after too many pints. She got very handsy at times.
Sophie grunted and turned over again.
"I think I might be sick" she said lowly.
Sian got up quick as a shot, trying to pull Sophie with her. It took some effort. Her girlfriend was heavier than she looked. They got to the bathroom, where Sian propped her up against the sink. Sophie let out a groan.
"You all right?" Sian asked concerned. The brunette paused, swallowed, then shook her head that she was fine. Silently she filled a glass with some water and held it out to her girlfriend. Sophie tried to push it away.
"Come on. Trust me-tomorrow you'll wish you had" she said pushing a smile on her face. Watching Sophie like this she started to fume. She knew that while Kevin Webster could be a heavy drinker if he chose, but his daughter hadn't developed the stomach for it. Sophie knew it too. She bet that Ryan had goaded her into it. And of course he didn't have to deal with the consequences.
She was going to kill him for this.
Sitting together at breakfast the next morning, Sophie looked every bit the hangover that she was suffering. Sian had already cooked her patent hangover cure bacon with a side of Advil.
"Eat" Sian said as sympathetically as she could. Sophie groaned as she started with the coffee. On one side of her brain Sian was still fuming a bit. Getting Sophie to bed had not been the easiest thing last night, especially after she had gotten sick. At least she had passed out once her back hit the sheets.
"Never Again" Sophie shuddered and pushed her hand thru her hair back to front.
"Too right you better not. I've got class today and I'll be dead tired as well" Sian warned while digging into her own plate.
"Trust me. One night only. Never Again" Sophie groaned some more as she downed the pills with some eggs.
"I'm gonna kill Ryan for this. He better steer well clear of me" Sian warned.
"Hey now, it's not his fault. He weren't pouring the pints down my throat Sian" Sophie started to explain. She was interrupted by the buzzing of her phone. Looking at the Caller ID she chuckled and answered.
"Speak of the devil" she grinned to Sian. Sian did not smile back. She didn't want to be a kill-joy or a nag but she didn't like this side of Sophie. And she didn't like how Ryan Connor was bringing it out.
"Y'all right our kid?" she laughed into the phone.
"Aye, just a bit mingin'' he chuckled while his scratchy voice told another story.
"Is that him?" Sian hissed listening in.
"Oh my girlfriend is not happy with you" Sophie warned jovially.
"Oi! It's not my fault! You were the one who was mad fer it too mind" Ryan sulked.
"Well we was celebrating aye" Sophie settled.
"Put him on speakerphone Sophie, I want a word" Sian ordered. Sophie looked toward her girlfriend who was clearly intent on having a strop.
"Don't do it Soph! She sounds like a right stroppy mare" he protested.
"Yeah well with good reason I suppose" she laughed. Sian, sick of waiting she made a grab for the phone out of Sophie's hands. Sophie ducked out of the way, so she missed. The brunette got up from the table and took a step back.
"Sophie!" Sian growled in frustration. Ryan just laughed into Sophie's ear.
"Best go Ryan. I still have to tell her about it but I'll text you later" Sophie said quickly as Sian seethed.
"That's if you're still alive!" Ryan laughed.
She hung up the phone and shrugged. Sitting back down she put her attention towards her plate, avoiding her girlfriend's glare.
"Ryan had to go but he says Hiya" Sophie says breaking a tension filled silence.
"I'll bet he does" Sian huffed.
"Oh now don't have a go. I think he's still scared to death of you. And anyway I've got good news" Sophie tried to settle her down.
"What could it be? Has he finally got that recording contract? Or maybe a job at Tescos?" Sian sneered.
"No! It's honestly good Sian" Sophie pleaded. Sian was being all hard and cynical. Sophie noticed how Ryan brought out this side in her. Like an old wound, that had never scabbed over. It scared Sophie how angry she was about things that were long past.
"Ryan's getting married. On Saturday. It's why he's here. We're invited to go" Sophie smiled. She looked at her hands. Vaguely she recalled writing the details on her hands last night but they had smudged away.
"Yer kidding!" Sian exclaimed. Of all the things, she hadn't expected that. Her anger dissipated and was replaced by a nervous anxiety. How was it that even Ryan Connor was getting married? What poor lass had roped him in? Despite the fact that Sophie had said that he'd changed for the better, Sian still couldn't reconcile that image with the one she had always known. At 15 she had met a broody loser who lacked any self-worth. He had always needed propping up and self assurance back then. Otherwise he would sulk away and find it somewhere else. Usually with another girl or drink or drugs. Surely this was another disaster waiting to happen and she didn't want Sophie within 10 miles of it.
"No joking. It's really happening that quick" Sophie said excitedly.
Sophie loved weddings-she had attended many over the years. It always filled her with hope to witness two people promise each other faith and love. A sanctioned commitment in front of God and all was sacred and binding. She honestly believed in it despite the disaster that her own had been. She still believed that it was possible for herself to walk down that aisle. It had to be.
"Look I know I have no right to ask you a favor after last night..." Sophie started apprehensively. "Why don't you come with me? You have it off and it'd be fun. We haven't been to a wedding together since…" Sophie stopped.
"I don't know Soph" Sian said staring into her plate of eggs. She wished that she could match her girlfriend's enthusiasm. It still made her a bit nervy. When she was with Jay she could put on a fake face of enthusiasm during their aborted engagement. At the time she had lied to herself and everyone, but now she realized that she would have never gone thru with it. She had been horribly dishonest about it. Thinking on it now made her feel a bit sick inside.
Sophie got up to clear her plate. Her head was still a bit achey but she was determined that they were going to go together. Slowly but surely Sian was working her way back into the street community. It seemed like that final step that they needed to be able to truly be recovered. The brunette had attached an emotional importance to this one thing. Perhaps she was adding emotional importance that wasn't warranted but there it was. All of a sudden, going to Ryan Connor's wedding together had become urgent and necessary to her. Otherwise she feared that they'd never move forward.
She circled back around to the table having deposited her plate. Standing behind her girlfriend she kissed her softly on the head.
"Just think about it yeah?" Sophie said softly.
"Where is it going to be?" Sian asked lowly.
"Grawley Lane Chapel" Sophie said under her breath. "They was lucky there was a last minute cancellation" she explained as dug into a piece of bacon. "Should be really nice" she added then went back to her coffee.
They ate quietly together for a moment. Each lost in their own memories of the place where they had chosen to get married themselves all those years ago.
Sian sighed. She really hoped that Sophie wouldn't push this issue any further. As much as she was playing it cool, Sian could tell that her girlfriend really wanted her to say that she'd go. Still she couldn't help the weight on her chest at the thought of being in that chapel again.
"Ew" Sophie groaned. "Going to shower" She said stepping away and heading toward the bathroom. "I won't be home for tea tonight, but I can bring you some dinner from the Bistro later" Sophie said quickly. Sian turned toward her without getting up from her chair.
"Whut? Why are you going to be at the Bistro?" Sian asked annoyed.
"Oh, Ryan asked me to hang out with his girlfriend tonight. She doesn't know anyone here and he wants to go out with his mates" Sophie explained.
"But the Bistro?" Sian continued suspiciously.
"Well he said he'd pay so I figured I might as well. She's a nice girl. A blonde American-you'd like her" Sophie said as she started to strip off her clothes. Sian followed her into the bathroom.
"I don't like the sound of this" Sian huffed and crossed her arms.
"Look, I don't know what you're on about, but we'll stop by the Rovers after all right?" Sophie said as she pulled the shower curtain closed. Sian stood fuming for a minute just staring as the shower ran.
"Are you going to join me or just stand there?" Sophie smirked from inside the running shower.
Sian just shook her head and stormed out.
She didn't like this one bit. Not at all.