• Monday 20th September --- DOUBLE BETRAYAL
Candice, Fiz and Katy are having a combined birthday party at Martin and Katy's flat (for Candice and Katy's 18th birthdays, Fiz's 20th). In the Grimshaws' living room, Jason is busy trying to choose which shirt to wear; he holds up two shirts and asks his mum to choose one. Eileen says helpfully: “The black one – you always make a mess of ironing the other one.” Jason moans: “Oh, mum, can't you do it? I mean, the party starts in an hour and I still haven't had me bath.” Sean walks in the room and, overhearing their conversation, chips in: “Is this Fiz's party? Eh, Todd, do you fancy going? You could be the life, I could be the soul!” Todd's face drops and he replies: “It's in, er, Sarah's dad's flat and she'll be there.” Jason tries to encourage Todd to change his mind: “So? You don't have to talk to her. I mean, as long as you live across the road from her Todd, with the same mates, you're always gonna bump into her aren't you?” 
Eileen points out that Jason's going to be there and Jason points out that Sean will be there too, but Todd isn't convinced and explains: “We'd both be uncomfortable though and we'd sort of agreed we'd try and avoid each other, so ...” Then he asks Sean: “Anyway, I thought we were gonna go and try out this new club that you ‘must be seen at'?” Sean jokes: “If the party's a flop, don't blame me!” and leaves the room. Todd goes up to Jason to ask a favour: “Eh, Sarah doesn't really get out much, you know lately. And she don't let on, but she gets dead nervous, you know, lots of people, so could you just keep an eye on her?” Jason agrees, putting Todd's mind at rest. Todd adds cheekily: “Oh, and that shirt – defo!”
Jason arrives at the party and Candice is really pleased to see him because she's hoping to get off with him tonight. When they go over to get some drinks, Sarah and new boy Warren are standing by the drinks table and they all get chatting. Jason refers to Sarah as Candice's body guard and tells Warren: “She may be small but she is tough!” Candice tells Jason he'd better be nice to Sarah so Jason shakes Sarah's hand and says: “Friends eh?” Sarah replies: “Well, as long as a certain person isn't mentioned.” 
Jason smiles and zips his lips. A bit later, Warren makes a play for Sarah after first checking with Jason that he wouldn't be treading on anyone else's toes.
Sean and Todd go for a drink in a local pub. Sean tells Todd that it's not too late to go to the party but Todd replies: “It is from where I'm sitting. That's my old life, you know, my old friends.” Sean tells him: “They still are your friends, well some of 'em.” Todd hastens to point out: “No, I don't mean I hate 'em or out like that. I just think I've moved on. You know, most of them find it difficult to know what to say to me.” Sean assures him: “Listen, if they're worth knowing, they'll accept you as you are. I mean, let's face it, Jason can.” Todd says: “Yeah, he's trying. He can see I'm happy.” Sean smiles and adds: “We can all see that.” Then Todd has a bit of a heart to heart with Sean and tells him: “For the first time ever, I'm comfortable with what I am. Not wondering what's wrong inside of me like I did for years. And you know, I'll always love Sarah, but for so long I knew there was something different about me, didn't always know what, just that it was.” Sean tells Todd he doesn't actually realise how lucky he is. 
When Todd questions him, Sean explains: “I knew from, well, forever, what I was. So did everyone else. You didn't get the bullying, the not having friends, the sheer misery of growing up queer. Now, it's payback time. Life is so much more boring on Planet Straight.” Todd grins in agreement.
Back at the party, Candice has been busy chasing Jason, but Sarah ends up chatting and flirting with him over the drinks. She tells him he's dead sweet even though he tries to act so macho, but she knows the truth about him. He asks her if she's having a good time and she says she didn't think she would, but she is enjoying herself. Sarah notices there's no vodka left and she needs some because she's making a drink for Warren that will knock him out. She says the corner shop will have some but Jason tells her they won't serve her because she's not 18, so he ends up going across with her, but the shop is already closed. 
Sarah acts like a complete drunken cow, giggling and flirting heavily with Jason in the street, then she kisses him and drags him into an alley for a passionate snog. They get totally carried away and waste no time in going to Jason's house to carry it on there. Jason reassures her that the others won't be back for ‘yonks'. Once in the house, they can't keep their hands off each other and Sarah drags Jason onto the sofa for some intensive snogging.
Right on cue, Eileen arrives home from her bingo session and Todd and Sean also arrive outside the house at the same time, having decided not to bother with the club after all. Todd tells his mum that they're just off to the Rovers for a quick pint so Eileen says she'll see them later. She's just putting her key in the lock when Sean asks her to come with them and says he'll buy her a drink with his first week's wages. 
Eileen declines his offer, saying she's knackered, but Todd says mysteriously: “Oh right, so er, you don't wanna hear me news?” Eileen rolls her eyes and asks: “Well, it's not bad is it, 'cos I don't think I could take it.” Todd fills her in: “My tutor says I should reapply for Oxford.” Needless to say, Eileen quickly changes her mind about the drink and shrieks: “Seriously? Well in that case, what're we waiting for!?” The three of them link arms and happily head for the pub to celebrate Todd's good news. Just as well, 'cos Sarah and Jason are still busy snogging on the sofa, totally unaware that the others very nearly walked in on them! 
One thing quickly leads to another and the pair soon go upstairs to finish what they started. Afterwards, Jason suggests that they should get back to the party but Sarah wants to stay in bed for a couple of minutes. Not surprisingly, they quickly fall into a deep contented sleep.
Eileen is thrilled to bits that Todd is planning to try for Oxford again and she grills him about it over a pint in the Rovers. Eileen: “They think you'll get in?” Todd: “Well, they say I've a good chance.” Eileen: “For next October?” Todd: “If I get a place and me ‘A' Levels are okay yeah.” Eileen: “To do Law again?” Todd: “Yeah probably.” Eileen: “This is the best news I've had since, well -” Sean butts in: “Since you won that cruette set at bingo the other week?” Eileen asserts: “I'd go as far as to say this is even better than winning that cruette set!” She still can't believe what she's hearing though and grills Todd some more: “Look seriously, it is what you want?” Todd tells her: “Mum, this is definitely what I want. I've thought about it, I'm going for it.” She asks: “So what's changed your mind?” Todd: “‘Cos I wanna make something of my life.” Eileen: “Yeah, but why? I mean, what's different?” Todd: “Well, do you want me to do it or not?” Eileen: “Of course I do, I just wanna be sure that you want it. I mean I don't wanna get all excited and then find that you've changed your mind.” 
Todd reassures her: “Believe it mum, ‘cos, I've decided I can't hold meself back ‘cos of what happened with Sarah. I want a career with prospects, not some dead end job like I did when I was with her, and if I don't get into Oxford , I'll go somewhere else.” Eileen is finally convinced and says: “Well then, if there's anything I can do to help,” but Todd declines her offer: “Well, if you're talking about money you can forget it. I'm getting a student loan like everyone else, ‘cos I'm not having you flogging your guts out like you did last time.” So that settled, Sean breaks the mood: “You're wondering where the catch is, aren't you Eileen?” She jokes: “Hey, there's not a ‘Grim' in Grimshaw for nothing. Every silver lining has a big black cloud in my experience.” Little does she know how big and black is the cloud that's looming over their heads as she speaks.
Todd, Eileen and Sean head back to No.11 and the three of them arrive home in high spirits. Eileen wants to continue the celebration and gets the vodka out. Todd jokes: “Oh no, not the Freshco's 7.99 vodka?” Eileen retorts: “Er, nothing but the best for us tonight!” 
Then Todd, ever the optimist, asks: “Yeah, what if I don't get in?” but Eileen insists that this is not about whether he gets in or not and Sean points out that of course he will get in. When Todd asks him how he knows, Sean says: “Female intuition.” Eileen pipes up: “It's about fresh starts,” Sean adds: “New leaves,” Todd joins in: “Lights at end of tunnels,” Sean goes on: “Old doors closing,” and Eileen takes up the theme: “... and new ones slamming in your face, yeah I know!” 
Then Todd looks thoughtful and says: “I still think a lot about Sarah and Billy though.” Eileen reassures him: “There'd be something wrong with you if you didn't. What matters is that you're getting it in perspective and you're getting on with your life.” Todd agrees with her: “Yeah, know what, I'll drink to that.” Eileen cries: “Eh! To the future!” and the three chorus: “To the future!!!” clinking their glasses together ...
... while upstairs, Jason and Sarah are sleeping peacefully, just waiting to be discovered.