Caz pov

Even though we seemed to be back to normal in the café place…. Kate has been very quiet since we arrived at the factory and she still seemed a bit agitated with me. We are standing right next to each other packing boxes but it feels like we are still miles apart. I really don't understand what the big problem is. I came all this was to see her and she couldn't change her stupid plans with a mate so she could have breakfast with her fiance?

I mean Sophie is just a mate. A mate. One that she hasn't even known for that long.

I'm really getting fed up with how she is acting right now. Like I was the one in the wrong. I can feel my blood pumping and I'm getting more and more annoyed at how Kate was acting because of Sophie. I'm get the feeling that this is about more than just me wanting to have a quick breakfast with my fiance before she went to work. I mean is she really being like this over something so small? Or is something more going on here behind my back? Oh. My. God. That's it isn't it? They are becoming more than just mates. I had to excuse myself to go into the bathroom for a breather. All of these thoughts of them together is popping up into my head and I can't take it. I reach the sink in the bathroom and I splash some cold water on my face and I look up to at my reflection in the mirror.

"Pull yourself together…" I mumble under my breath before filling my hands up with water leaning down to splash my face yet again.

I can hear some voices right outside the bathroom. I open the door to leave but I freeze when I hear who they are talking about… I slightly close the door again slowly not wanting anyone to notice I was in here. I leave a little spring, just enough for me to hear what they are saying.

I wasn't here on the street very often but I could still recognize Sally and Sean's voices anywhere. I'm trying really hard to breath quietly so I could make out what they were saying.

"Did Sophie have a good time last night? I saw them both jumping into a cab, they looked well tipsy and like they were having a blast." He said.

"Yeah she did, It's so nice seeing her moving on from what happened to Maddie. Letting down her hair a little bit." Sally answered.

Yeah… Moving on with my girlfriend, I thought to myself.

"Did you get anything juicy out of her?" Sean was referring to any gossip that Soph might have picked up on Canal Street.

"Sophie did help Kate with a little problem she was having…" She continued.

What? What problem? She hadn't mentioned anything to me. Not over the phone last night or at breakfast this morning.

"Oh this sounds good. What or who was she having a problem with?" Sean asked seeming rather delighted to get a bit of gossip from her.

"Well I did tell Sophie I wouldn't breath a word to anyone, but I guess if I only mention it to you it shouldn't matter." Sally did hesitate a little bit but in the end she never really could help herself.

"Oh come on spill! My lips will be sealed scouts honor." He said placing two fingers on his chest.

"Alright well you didn't hear this from me but… poor Kate seems to be suffering a little bit from cold feet when it comes to her wedding." She whispered but it was still loud enough for me to hear.

I can't believe this. Kate was having second thoughts about marrying me?! This must be Sophie filling her head with things and trying to steal her right from under me.

"Noo… you're joking. They seem so happy together" He gasped.

"Apparently Kate feels like they haven't spent enough time together. You can't really blame her it does seem rather quick." Sally added.

"Yeah but when it's love you just know don't you… What else did little miss Webster say?" He asked intrigued.

"Nothing. That's all she would say… She has it in her head that I like to spread gossip around." Sally stated rolling her eyes.

"Oh blimey I don't know what would give her that idea." He said sarcastically something that she didn't pick up on. "Oh well back to work." He added before walking away.

I never heard Sally leave but I slowly opened the bathroom door hoping that she wasn't still in the break room.

She wasn't I sighed in relief. Wouldn't want them to know I overheard their little conversation. I looked out the window and saw Sophie standing outside the garage, she was talking to a middle aged man who she handed car keys too and in return he handed her some papers he had just finished filling out. My blood started to pump again and I could feel my whole body getting warmer and all flushed. I had to talk to Sophie. I had to tell her to BACK. THE. FUCK. OFF. I walked passed Kate on my way out the door.

"Where are you going?" Kate asked confused with a frown on her face.

"I'm just feeling a bit warmed so I'm getting some air." I stopped in my tracks, I turned around and walked towards her. She was tapping up a box she had just finished packing. I gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"I will be right back and when I am we can grab some lunch together." I said looking into her eyes and she nodded.

I walked out the door and I immediately saw the man Sophie had been talking to jump into his car and drive away. I spotted Sophie standing there she was reading through the papers that the man had given her. She was looking all smiley and pretty. God I hated her. She is ruining everything for me. I walked… well I almost ran towards her.

She looked up from the papers and she had a very confused expression on her face acting all innocent. Like she had no idea of what I might have to say to her.

Sophie pov

I could hear really fast and loud footsteps getting closer and closer so I looked up from the papers I had been given. All of the sudden Caz was standing there. Right in front of me and almost in my face.

"Can I help you?" I asked her feeling a little bit intimidated by the way she was looking at me and by how close she was standing.

"Can you help me?!" She spat back. She didn't just seem upset, she looked really angry… Pissed of even.

"Yeah is there something I can do for you?" I asked her again trying to keep my cool and not give her any kind of reaction.

"You could back off my girl for starters!" She shouted.

This felt like a bad episode of one of those Spanish telenovelas, she was really this worked up about me and Kate being mates. Telling me to stay away from her. I glanced a bit behind me and I could see that my dad and Ty had heard Caz shouting and they had probably come out to see what it all was about.

"Are you okay Soph?" Kevin asked crossing his arms together.

"Yeah we are fine here." I answered and looked at Caz whilst she scoffed.

"Would you like to come into our office… maybe we can sort this out." I pointed to the office. She started to walk towards it without giving me a real response.

I walked after her and closed the door behind us. Before I got the chance to open my mouth and say anything she continued ranting on.

"You know there is nothing to sort out here." She gestured between us. "You need to stay away from me and Kate and that's it!" She continued.

"I don't understand why you are this worked up about our friendship." I stated.

"A friendship?! I know you just want to work your way into her life so you can steal her right from under me!" She spat out.

I was absolutely gob smacked by this statement. I had to tell myself to close my mouth that I had opened in shock. Where is all this coming from? What gives her the idea that I would want anything more from Kate then her friendship? Or is she really just that insecure in herself and their relationship so Kate can't even have a mate in her life…

"What gives you the idea that I would even want her like that? That I am even interested?" I asked. Trying really hard not to get worked up and snap back because I doubt that would help this situation. This is that kind of drama I really wanted to avoid.

"Well don't you." She stated, glaring into my eyes.

"No I don't. Kate is a mate." I answered leaning against the desk.

"Yeah right." She mumbled.

I could tell she was calming down a little bit now. She didn't have the same crazy angry intimidating looking in her eyes.

"No really she is just a mate Caz. The only thing we pretty much talk about is you and her." As soon as these words left my mouth that looking in her eyes was back.

"Yeah me and Kate's cold feet!" She spat even louder now than before.

"Who told you that?!" I shouted back. I mean there is only so much I can take before reacting back.

"It doesn't matter where I heard it from… what matters is the fact that you aren't denying it." She hissed and through her hands up in the air.

"So I helped your fiance with a problem! She was feeling a bit overwhelmed and scared… you weren't here and I helped her. As a mate!" I shouted back at her.

"But I am here now and she still haven't mentioned anything to me." When she said this the anger had switched to hurt in her voice. She took an interest in the floor in front of her.

"Caz look…" I sighed "Kate probably didn't want to worry you about something that wasn't relative anymore. We had a good talk last night and she felt better." I continued.

"She can talk to me?! Why are you any better than me?!" She spat. There it was again the anger. I couldn't be bothered to go around this again. "I want you to stay away from her Sophie." She demanded. "If you really are just mates that shouldn't be too hard!" She continued.

I can't believe she is actually saying this. She is banning me from having any sort of contact with Kate. This is being controlling… actually this is the very definition of being controlling. Normally I wouldn't just agree but I really don't want any more drama… Despite of this little act from Caz, they seemed to have a pretty good thing going and I didn't want to come between that.

"Okay…." I mumbled and shrugged my shoulders a little bit.

She looked at me intensely.

"Okay?" She asked.

"I will back off." I answered.

"You won't see her, you won't text her…" She demanded giving a very serious look.

I shook my head. This was crazy.

"Okay… But you have to tell her." I wasn't going to be the bad person here who stopped being in touch with her mate. If Caz didn't want me to see or speak to Kate she could at least be the one to tell her that. She didn't say anything else… she stormed off. I walked out the office only to be meet by the watchful eyes of Kevin and Ty.

"Are you okay Sophie?" Ty asked and looked at me concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine." I answered and smiled at him.

"What was that about?" he continued to ask.

"Yeah what did she want?" Kevin joined in with another question.

"She just wanted me to back off from mine and Kate's friendship…" I said and shrugged my shoulders.

"And you are going to? Just like that?" Ty asked whilst they were both looking at me waiting to see what my answer would be.

"Yes just like that. I don't want any more drama in my life. It's easier like this." I sighed and l started to fidget with my fingers before walking into the office. I sat down and sighed before looking at my phone that had vibrated during mine and Caz's little stand-off.

Great. It was a text from Kate.

[Hey Soph, I'm sorry about how this morning played out. Please let me make it up to you. Meet me and Caz for a drink later at the Rovers?]

I hesitated with my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Should I write anything back and if so what should I write? Your fiance just asked me to back the hell off so I will? I took a deep breath before I clicked on…

Delete.

…

Thank you so much for all the comments and thank you for reading.

Cassandra x