A Webster Walks Into A Bar - Part 6
Part 6 - In Which We Come To Meet/Hate Ryan
Sophie threw herself into her work that week. She stayed extra late to not only avoid Will (whom she wasn't particularly keen on seeing which you might have gathered by now) but also to be able to use the excuse, 'I'd really love too, but I'm just too tired, y'know? Maybe next time.'
This meant that not only did she have yet another way of getting out of spending time with Will, but unless Sian suddenly became a six year old with cavity problems she could virtually avoid the blonde for as long as possible. Not that Sophie didn't want to see her. She knew that she had told herself that it was a very bad idea and promised never to be near the blonde again but the more time she spent away from Sian, the brunette couldn't help but want her more. And since she had so much time to herself lately she was able to have a proper think about things. Sian. Will. Sian. Herself. Sian. Herself and Sian. Sian again. And then probably the one that would be the most important, Why the hell did I run away?
...
Sian meanwhile also threw herself into her work in a way, though not for the same reasons as Sophie. She simply just could do with the money at the moment. Since it was the week that Tina had taken off for a holiday with Graeme, Becky was left a little short staffed and although she would have, she didn't need to beg to get Sian to be able to fill in.
The blonde was a quick learner and was soon pulling pints as if she was born for it, making Becky boast at what a great teacher she was. The woman had taken an instant liking to Sian, so was happy to help her out whenever it looked like she was unsure about something, on the rare occasions that that ever occurred.
Although she was polite and civil and always served with a smile, Sian couldn't help but feel as though her heart wasn't in it. She'd be scared to admit it, but if anything her heart was across the street, currently residing at Number 4. She wouldn't dare use The L Word though. No, she could in no way The L Word SOPHIE WEBSTER after the girl had just about torn her heart out of her chest, stomped on it a few times for good measure, and then thrown it onto the viaduct to be run over by an oncoming tram.
No, she was most definitely NOT in L word with Sophie Webster (there was a little voice in the back of her head yelling DENIAL! DENIAL! But she just ignored it). That's why what happened next happened at all:
On Wednesday afternoon a man (who to be honest looked more like a boy) came into the Rovers, causing all the locals and regulars to cheer and exclaim.
"Ryan!" Becky yelled happily when she saw him, moving out from behind the bar to grab the helmet-haired boy in a hug.
Sian laughed to herself at the sight of this 'Ryan' awkwardly patting Becky's shoulder and finished wiping down a table.
"Hi Becky," Ryan said, attempting to release himself from the Head Barmaid's death grip.
Becky however simply pinched his cheeks saying (as if she were talking to a child), "Look at you! You're such a big boy now."
Ryan noticed the blonde watching the exchange and blushed profusely. "Come off it, how have things been?" He inquired.
"Like anything around here ever changes, still same as usual," Becky replied, finally letting him go.
Sian noticed Ryan took a half step away from Becky quickly after she had let go, as if he thought that she might grab a hold of him again.
"What about you?" Becky continued. "Last time I talked to Michelle she said yous was finally finished up at uni."
"Well I finished a couple of years ago," Ryan responded. "But I've been working and playing in a band since so I figured it was finally time to take a break and come home."
"Well it's good to see you!" Becky told him, punching him in the shoulder. "You should have a drink, on the house of course." Without waiting for him to answer (or noticing the fact he was rubbing his shoulder), Becky pushed him down into one of the seats at the bar and gestured to Sian, who had now moved on to cleaning glasses behind the counter.
"Sian, get Ryan here a pint of whatever he wants on me," Becky instructed the newbie.
"It's really not necessary," Ryan insisted.
"Oh shush you, drink your drink and smile," Becky told him.
"Bitter okay?" Sian asked Ryan, pulling a glass up to the taps.
"Yeah, thanks," Ryan answered, looking a little, a lot embarrassed.
Becky watched the two of them and suddenly got what she thought was a great idea. "You know Sian's just new around here," she told Ryan casually. "But already she's pulling the punters in she is." Becky knew Sian wasn't seeing anyone and thought she might cheer the blonde up a bit if she could get her to have a bit of fun instead of simply working all the time.
"So Ryan," Becky started, "Got yourself a girlfriend then 'ave ya?"
Ryan laughed, things really hadn't changed. "Nah," he told her. "No girlfriend at the moment. Had one a few months back but it didn't work out."
"Aww, sorry to hear that," Becky lied, secretly she was thrilled. "Tell you what," she continued, "We've got ourselves a dance here on Saturday at the Rovers, you should come!"
"I dunno Becky," Ryan mumbled.
"Well how long are you here for?" questioned Becky.
"I dunno," Ryan said again. "Haven't decided yet."
"Well there you go," she argued. "It's not like you've got nowt better to do now have ya?"
Ryan sighed, giving in, "Okay fine, I'll come."
Becky exclaimed, "Brilliant!" Then turning to Sian, "And you don't have a date neither so why don't you two go together?"
Ryan choked on the sip of beer he'd just taken while Sian dropped the glass she had been cleaning on the counter (thankfully it didn't break).
"W-what?" Sian stammered.
Becky put her hands on her hips, ignoring their reactions. "Aw come on, you two are young, you should have a bit of fun. It'd do you some good Sian."
"But I thought you needed me to work that night?" Sian asked anxiously, eyes wide. What the hell? How did I get myself into THIS one? Sian thought.
"I'm sure you'll be fine to take breaks every now and then," Becky told her with a wink.
Sian just stared at the older woman, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden circumstances. "I dunno, I guess so," Sian finally said. After all, she'd be working most of the night so it wasn't like she'd have to spend much time with this guy she had only just met.
"Okay it's set then," Becky said looking very pleased with herself. "Now I'm just gonna go out back to finish off the inventory but it was great seeing you again Ryan, come pop in whenever you like."
"Thanks," Ryan mumbled back as Becky left, somewhat regretting 'popping in' in the first place.
"You don't have to do this y'know," Ryan told Sian.
Sian looked at him confused, "Do what?"
"Agree to go on a date with me," Ryan explained. "I know Becky can be a bit pushy."
Sian wasn't quite sure what to say so muttered a, "It's fine" before adding, "Sian Powers by the way. I don't think we were properly introduced."
"Ryan Connor," the helmet-haired guy smiled. "So how long have you been in Weatherfield then? If you don't mind my asking."
Sian paused what she was doing to think, "Well, today's Wednesday, so then about 5 days or so."
"Oh alright then," Ryan chuckled. "Unfortunately there's not a whole lot to see here I'm 'fraid."
"Not like wherever it is you've been then?" Sian smiled back at him. She couldn't help it, alright so she wasn't interested him in THAT WAY but that didn't mean they couldn't have a conversation did it? Technically she WAS going on a date with him on Saturday anyway, maybe this was just what she needed to try and get over whatever it was that Sophie had done to her head and heart. And convince yourself that you're not in L word with Sophie you mean, that annoying little voice in the back of her head reminded her.
"I've been in Glasgow," Ryan elaborated, finishing his drink off. "I have to run I'm afraid. Promised some friends I'd catch up with them." He stood up but hesitated, "Did you wanna do something later maybe?"
"Oh," Sian frowned. "I'm actually gonna be working til really late."
Ryan's face dropped a little, "Oh okay then, well then maybe I'll see you tomorrow then." Then he added quickly, "If you're working in here that is, I didn't mean I'd SEE you see you tomorrow."
Sian giggled at his mumbling before replying, "Yeah I'll be working."
"Oh good," Ryan said quickly, smiling again. "Well then, I'll see you tomorrow, HERE, if I come in for a drink or something."
"Okay then," Sian laughed.
"Well bye," Ryan told her not actually going.
"Bye."
Finally pulling himself together Ryan said, "Bye" again and then hurried out of there, leaving a very amused looking blonde at the bar.
...
True to his word, Ryan was back the next day at the Rovers around roughly the same time as the day before.
Sian had had some time to think about the situation though and was a little more nervous than she was the previous day. It was different when she'd agreed to the date on Saturday thinking that Ryan was being pushed into it as well, but after seeing him stumble over his sentences yesterday she was a little worried at whether he might fancy her. She still wasn't sure what she was, Gay, Bi, Straight, whatever. All she knew was that she couldn't get Sophie out of her head, even when she had a perfectly alright looking guy (he could grow on her maybe) drooling over her.
But Sophie had made herself painstakingly clear to Sian, so maybe she should just give this thing with Ryan a try. Who knows, maybe all she needed was a rebound shag to get over the brunette. You wish, the voice teased. She was really starting to hate that voice.
As soon as Becky noticed Ryan walk into the Rovers she went up to Sian saying, "Isn't it about time you had your break now love?"
"But I just came back from my break," Sian stated.
"Well then why don't you take another, I'm sure you could do with it with all the hard work you've been doing." Then as Ryan wandered over to them Becky added, "Ryan! So good to see you again. I was just telling Sian that she should go check out some of the local eateries what with her being new in town and all."
Sian frowned at Becky, she was sure the woman hadn't said any of that at all.
"Um, yeah," was all that Ryan managed to respond with.
"Well maybe you should take her," Becky hinted. "Y'know, since you know where the places to eat are and all?"
Sian's brow furrowed even more. If she remembered correctly, Ryan hadn't been in Weatherfield for a while now, meaning he probably wouldn't be the greatest expert when it came to those types of things.
"Um, alright yeah," Ryan agreed a little bewildered.
Sian looked at Becky with a face that must have been screaming, 'What the hell are you playing at?' but Becky just smiled happily back at her so Sian sighed on the inside and said, "Yeah okay."
Grabbing her handbag and coat from behind the counter, Becky said to Sian before she'd left (still smiling widely), "Take as long as you want, we'll be fine here without you for now."
"Call me if you need me to come back, okay?" Sian called to her.
Becky shook her hand in her direction, "Yes yes, now go!"
After they had left Becky silently congratulated herself on what a brilliant matchmaker she was.
...
It was about an hour later when Ryan and Sian were finally walking back to the Rovers. The first place Ryan had taken them too, which used to be a Chinese takeaway, had now become a Laundromat so they'd settled for the Chippie instead.
Sian had actually had a reasonable time. Ryan was polite, held the door open for her, and could just pass as being funny, maybe.
"I had a great time," Ryan told Sian as they were reaching the door of the Rovers.
"Yeah me too," Sian replied. "You not coming in for a drink?"
Ryan grinned, "Inviting me in already are you?"
"Shut up," Sian laughed, heading into the Rovers whether he was coming or not. Sure enough Ryan followed her into a now very full pub.
As soon as Steve saw Sian he yelled to her, "Where the bloody hell have you been? We've been flat out here!"
Sian hurried behind the counter, depositing her stuff and forgetting about Ryan. "Becky said I could take a break. I told her to call me if you needed me," Sian tried to explain.
"Oh she did, did she?" Steve grumbled searching around the room for his wife while he poured a gin and tonic for a customer. He saw her sitting over with Hayley having a lively chat so with a rough, "Take over here" to Sian, he went over to have a word with his other half.
Sian got stuck into taking orders before realising after a while that Ryan was still standing there watching her. "Oh Ryan! I'm so sorry, I think I'm gonna be a little tied up here now."
"Don't worry 'bout it," Ryan told her. "How about I come back tomorrow? We could have lunch or something?"
Sian was hurriedly pouring drinks so answered with a quick, "Yeah yeah, that'd be great" before rushing over to the til to get some change. Ryan took that as an affirmative and left the blonde to it.
Friday was much the same as Thursday, except this time Sian sorted her break out with Steve so that she'd be back in time for when it got busier. For the most part, Sian's plan had actually succeeded somewhat. Ryan had taken her to the Cafe for lunch and they'd been non-stop laughing and talking. The constant working and meals with Ryan provided her with some time that was 'Sophie free' and now she was actually able to entertain the idea that perhaps she could sort out all this stuff that was going on in her head.
And then came Saturday...
...