Title: Apathy and Empathy (Chapter 2)

Rating: PG- 13

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Don't sue! :)

Summary: Set some time after the Webster's find out about Kevin's affair. Sophie and Sian haven't met yet, and ''the fall'' hasn't happened. (Yet?) This chapter is pretty much filler, but essential to the story, so don't be too hard on me! Hehe.

A/N: Please let me know if you enjoy this chapter, and if I should continue. Feedback would be appreciated. And thank you for all your lovely comments so far :)

''Babe, you so can't go to a party, looking like that!'' Rosie sighs at her younger sister, flops down on Sophie's bed defeatedly. (She can't even believe they're related some times. Sophie may have got the intelligence in the family, but she certainly didn't acquire her sister's taste in clothes.)

''What's wrong with it?'' Sophie asks, looking down and tugging self-consciously at her t-shirt. She'd spent ages rifling through her wardrobe, haphazzardly tossing clothes over her shoulder in frustration and not even bothering to think about how much her mum will kick off when she sees the state of her room.

''Nothing, if you want to look like some sort of God-bothering nerd!''

''As opposed to looking like a trashy slapper?'' Sophie bites back.

''Erm, for your information my agent says I'm, like, the classiest girl he's ever worked with.'' Rosie tells her proudly, glancing in Sophie's full-length mirror and adjusting her hair for the millionth time.

''Oh, right. The same agent who asked you to get your baps out for a photoshoot? Yes, Rosie, really classy.''

''Look, do you want my help or not? 'Cause if you don't then I could be doing something much more worthwhile with my time. Like, y'know, painting my nails or something.'' Rosie glances down at her bright red nails, already contemplating which colour would compliment her new jacket more.

''I don't wanna look like you, okay? I just..'' Sophie sighs, running her fingers through her hair and letting it fall messily across her face. ''I just want to look a bit...nicer.''

''Aww, is this for Lee?'' Rosie grins excitedly, squeezing her sister's shoulder lightly. ''I knew you were like, totally into him. And he's a football player. You could end up being like...''

''Rosie, this may come as a shock to you'' the brunette interrupts her sister's rambling. '' But not everything I do is for some lad who I've only known for 5 minutes. I'm not you, y'know?''

''Errr, if you must know, me and Jason had like an instant connection.'' Rosie says incredulously before grinning smugly.

''What, did you spend hours bonding over your lack of braincells? Or were you just trying to organise a search party to go out looking for them?'' Sophie rolls her eyes. (Honestly, Rosie seems to meet 'the one' every other week. Always some nice but dim bloke who certainly wasn't fortunate in the brain department.)

''I'm going to choose to ignore that comment. Anyway, look.'' Rosie's face softens as she looks at her sister lovingly. (They might spends hours bickering with eachother, but she loves the younger girl to bits really. Not that she'd ever admit it.) ''You're dead pretty, Soph. Runs in the family, doesn't it?'' She laughs. ''Seriously though, you just need more confidence. Luckily, you have a devestatingly attractive older sister to teach you!''

Sophie looks at her skeptically as Rosie picks out a top from the wardrobe (one which Sophie had considered wearing, but then decided it was simply too revealing), shoving it towards her.

''Here, try this on. Eyeshadow, a bit of lippy and you'll look fab. Trust me babe, Lee won't be able to keep greasy little his hands off you!''

An hour and a half later, Sophie is standing nervously infront of Lee's house wishing she'd come up with some sort of believeable reason why she couldn't make it. Smoothes her skirt down anxiously (I knew letting Rosie help with my outfit was a big mistake, she thinks) as she hesitantly rings the doorbell. Not that it makes much difference, of course, since the music is so loud that she doubts anyone would be able to hear it anyway.

She's proved right when, several minutes later, she's still standing outside the house like a complete idiot. Decides that it's probably best to just let herself in and instantly regrets it when she's greeted with an overwhelming smell of cheap alcohol and burnt pizza. Eugh, this is why I didn't want to bother dressing up for the occasion. It's hardly the Ritz, is it? Bumps past a group of drunken teenagers and tries to find her way to the living room.

''Babe! I thought you weren't coming 'cause it was getting proper late and..'' Lee shouts at her as soon as she enters the room. Eugh, Lee, people as annoying as you really shouldn't drink, Sophie mentally tells him. Is forced into a bear hug by her boyfriend and tries to remind herself to smile.

''Yeah, sorry.'' She tells him, pulling back from his clumsy grasp. '' Rosie was trying to help me get ready and..'' she's interrupted by Lee whistling loudly.

''I'm glad she did, babe. You look well fit.'' He tells her, looking her up and down in a way which makes Sophie feel even more self-conscious than she already did. Pulls her jacket even tighter around herself.

''Lee, at least get the girl a drink before you start drooling all over her!'' Sophie hears someone say with amusement in their voice. Looks over towards the direction of the voice and sees the blonde from the shop sitting on the sofa smiling in amusement, her boyfriend's arm draped over her shoulder.

Thank God for that, Sophie thinks. Saved by the bell. Or, in this case, the blonde.

''Yeah, sorry babe. I'll get you a blue WKD. Got loads of them in the fridge!'' Lee says, stumbling off towards the kitchen as Sophie tries to force herself into being even remotely excited by the prospect. He really knows how to make a girl feel special...

Sophie stands awkwardly on the spot, fully aware that both Sian and Ryan are looking at her curiously, and prays that Lee returns from his expedition to the kitchen sooner rather than later. (She's never really been good at interacting with people she doesn't know.) Is disappointed when she hears a loud crash from the kitchen, followed by Lee laughing loudly. Eugh, he's blatantly not coming back any time soon.

''You may as well come and sit down. He'll probably be hours, knowing what Lee's like when he's drunk'' Sian smiles kindly to Sophie, roughly shoving Ryan over on the sofa to make room for the brunette. Ryan doesn't exactly look thrilled with Sophie for interrupting his time with Sian, but he shifts over obediently and Sophie sits down tentatively next to the blonde.

''So, erm, how long have yous been together then?'' Sophie asks Sian, fidgeting nervously in her seat. Where the hell is Lee with that drink?

''About 7 months. Dunno how I've managed to put up with him for so long to be honest!'' Sian laughs, nudging Ryan's shoulder playfully. Sophie feels a pang of jealousy. Wishes that she could be as comfortable with Lee as Sian seems to be with Ryan. It'll happen eventually, she keeps reminding herself.

She makes small talk with the couple for several minutes, finding herself relaxing in Sian's presence (they have the same sense of humour, Sophie notices.) Finds herself laughing frequently as Sian tells her stories of the losers who attend her college. She even manages to forget about Lee, who has seemingly vanished off the face of the earth in search of her drink.

''Babe, do you wanna go to another room? I mean, we were supposed to be spending time together. You know, without other people.'' Ryan says to Sian, looking pointedly in Sophie's direction. Sophie's smile fades instantly, and she suddenly feels about two feet tall. Worries that maybe they've both been trying subtly to get rid of her since she first sat down, and she's simply been too stupid to pick up on their signals.

''Um, yeah, I should probably go and find Lee actually . He was supposed to be bringing my drink back ages ago, so...'' Sophie mumbles awkwardly, hastily getting up from the sofa. Feels a hand gently grabbing her wrist and lightly tugging at it, pulling her back down into a sitting position on the sofa.

''No, it's okay. Ryan will go and look for him.'' Sian tells Sophie, glaring over at her boyfriend with a look that Sophie certainly wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of. ''Won't you, Ryan?''

''Um, yeah. I guess so...'' Ryan replies. Gets up from the sofa with a loud sigh and disappears off into the kitchen.

''Eugh, sorry about him.'' Sian says once he's out of earshot. '' Y'know what lads are like. Only after one thing!'' Sian grins at her, shifting on the sofa slightly so that she's facing Sophie.

Sophie can't help but grin back, relaxes into her seat as she nods in agreement. It's definitely a valid statement, she thinks to herself. Well, from her experience of blokes, anyway. Lee has done nothing but try to cop off with her for the entire two weeks since she'd (reluctantly) agreed to go out with him. In fact, they've barely even had a proper conversation. Maybe that's what all relationships are like, Sophie has often found herself wondering. It's not like she's got any previous experience to compare it to.

''Yeah, tell me about it. Hopefully Lee will have passed out drunk before the end of the night so I don't have to make up an excuse not to stay over!'' The brunette says, gazing over at Sian, who seems utterly amused by her statement. God, I wish I looked that pretty when I smiled, Sophie tells herself.

Sophie isn't sure why Sian is even talking to her, in fact. From their fleeting conversations, Sian seems like the kind of person who would be the life and soul of every party. One of those irritatingly popular kind of girls who Sophie went to high school with. The type of girl Sophie had always secretly despised. Yet at the same time, there was a certain warmth about the blonde which the brunette had a gut feeling was totally genuine.

''Well, if I know Lee and Ryan..'' Sian says with a smirk. ''They'll both probably be in a coma before the end of the night, so we'll both be off the hook!'' She winks then, nudging Sophie's arm lightly.

Maybe tonight won't be a total waste of time after all.. Sophie thinks.