Chapter Text
The divorce became final four months ago now and Debbie had been gone for three weeks after starting her first year at college. Bea Smith worked as a hairdresser, she spent her days giving out cut and colours and despite Doreen’s best efforts she did not want to be set up with one of Knash’s single friends. Doreen was married now, her and Knash had gotten married a few months before Joshua had been born and now it looked like things between Bridget and her cheeky girlfriend Franky were getting serious. Boomer was still holding out for Daz and Maxine seemed happy to just have her friends around her, Liz saying she was too old to be meeting men now whenever Boomer mentioned it. Things were just fine in Bea Smith’s life, she loved her friends and she’d taken over as manager of the salon which meant her way was the only way.
She didn’t want to meet a man, Harry had been horrible and dating appeared far more trouble than it was worth. Ultimately, she was content to run Wentworth Style and that’s all she needed to focus on.
“Bea, did ya change your number or is it the same?”
Bea finished opening the bottle of wine Bridget had brought over and went to get four glasses, side-stepping Bridget who was leaned against the counter with her arms folded.
“I don’t know, Booms. I don’t think the guy mentioned anything.” Bea shouted back to Boomer, who clearly didn’t think it was worth taking those few steps from the living room to the kitchen to ask in a civilised manner.
Bridget chuckled and took two glasses from Bea, leaving her with the final two and the role of bringing the bottle in. “I still can’t believe Debbie hasn’t convinced you before to get an Iphone, honestly it’s not that complex.”
“Piss off,” Bea grumbled good-naturedly. She set off back into the living room with Bridget following her, both joining Maxine and Boomer who had already gotten themselves settled in their usual spots.
While Bea poured the wine, Boomer fussed over the new silver Iphone 7 that had Bea had just recently bought. She was perched on the arm of Maxine’s chair, leaning the phone away from her friend as Maxine tried to prize it away.
“There’s a text!” Boomer announced, standing up and flashing a grin at Maxine.
“So it must be the same number,” Maxine deduced, thanking Bea as a glass of merlot was handed to her.
Bea sunk down into the couch at the opposite end to Bridget and shrugged her shoulders, “Probably is. It’ll be Debbie, she’s been asking to facetime since I bought the thing.”
Boomer tapped away at the screen, deciding it was her duty to read the message since she had the phone already, however the number came up as unrecognised and the text certainly didn’t seem like it had come from Debbie.
“It says Sorry about last night, Kaz can be a little much sometimes. Hope your friend liked her, all I’ve been hearing about is Joan this and Joan that. It was nice to meet you!”
Maxine raised an eyebrow and gestured to see the message, “Obviously wrong number, unless there is a friend named Kaz you’ve been hiding from us.”
Once the phone was passed back to Bea, the redhead reread the message then shook her head. “No, no Kaz in my life. Should I just leave it?”
“No, just text back and tell them they must have the wrong person. Otherwise they’ll be texting you forever.” Bridget advised as she sipped her wine.
Bea nodded and started typing, though she still wasn’t quite used to the new Iphone format. “There, I just said must have the wrong number, sorry.”
Maxine and Bridget nodded their approval while Boomer grumbled that Bea should have played along for a little while. Bea locked the phone and set it on the arm of the chair before reaching forward to grab her glass. As she took a sip of wine Boomer began informing the group of her latest encounter with Daz, she’d been trying to get him back for weeks and finally it appeared to be working.
A few minutes passed by while the group chatted, then the Iphone buzzed beside the redhead.
“Someone’s popular,” Maxine grinned, though Bea merely shot her a playful scowl as she picked up the phone to look at the message.
“It’s that number again, they’ve said no problem, thanks for letting me know. My date was a little dull anyway and this Joan was crazy intense, looks like I got lucky!”
Bridget leaned over to look at the message, then shrugged her shoulders. “They sound sweet, whoever it is.” She commented idly.
Maxine nodded her agreement, while Boomer grinned and nodded to the phone. “Do we think it’s a guy or a girl?” She asked the group.
“It doesn’t matter, I’m not replying.” Bea stated, locking the phone and setting it down again to prove her point.
Boomer rolled her eyes and grumbled about Bea being no fun, but ultimately left the conversation there and allowed Bridget to begin her story about something Franky had done the night before. Bea listened carefully to the story and ignored the buzz of her phone again, deciding that whoever it was could wait until the night was over.
The girl’s left at around 11pm and Bea washed up the glasses and put the two empty wine bottles in the trash before heading up to bed. She changed into pyjamas and brushed her teeth in the quiet of the bathroom, then made her way into her bedroom and set the phone onto the bedside table so that she could settle down.
Once she was comfortable, Bea picked up the phone in favour of sending a goodnight text to Debbie. As the screen lit up, the stranger’s message from hours ago was written across the screen.
[18:37]
Guess that was oversharing – sorry!
Bea sighed and shook her head a little, wanting to be more annoyed at the stranger than she really felt. Yes, the unknown person had overshared, but they seemed harmless and perhaps even a little sweet. She frowned to herself and crafted out a quick reply that would end the conversation entirely.
[23:31]
No problem.
Bea sent the message, then deleted the conversation from her phone. She wouldn’t be needing the number again, after all. She adjusted the blanket around her body then set about crafting a quick message to Debbie, it might be too late in the evening for her daughter to reply but Bea wanted Debbie to know she was thinking about her.
[23:34]
Wasn’t sure I’d be hearing back from ya. It really take you hours to type two words?
Bea blinked at the screen, unsure if she ought to be offended by the stranger’s response. It didn’t take her long to type out a new message.
[23:36]
I was busy with friends, some random guy on the other end of a phone is hardly a priority.
[23:37]
Random girl, actually.
I’m Allie.
Perhaps in hindsight it was more obvious that the stranger was female but Bea was more confused over the fact that the woman was introducing herself over a text!
And you are?
The next message popped up as Bea was considering whether she even wanted to answer and Bea could barely believe the nerve of this Allie girl.
[23:40]
I’m going to sleep. Stop messaging me.
[23:41]
Hardly seems fair, you know my name.
[23:42]
Goodnight.
[23:43]
Goodnight … ????
Come on, a first name isn’t so bad!
Bea rolled her eyes and put the phone down on the small table beside her bed. There was no way she was getting sucked in to playing some texting game with a girl she didn’t even know.
While Bea lay with her eyes firmly closed, her phone buzzed two more times.
You texted me hours after I texted you, I could have been asleep y’know. It’s late.
Alright stranger, nice talking with ya. Sleep tight! X
-
[07:04]
My name is Bea, now leave me alone.
Bea Smith was half way through cutting the hair of her second client of the day when her new phone buzzed in the back pocket of her jeans.
When she opened it at lunch, she had to angle the screen away from Boomer who was trying to read over her shoulder.
[10:03]
Morning sunshine. Pleased to put a name to the number. Are you always awake so early?