Hi, I've been thinking of writing a fiction but i haven't posted before. I'd like to think there would be fans of Carla although Carla's leaving, I'm unsure of the ratings but trying to learn a little more about where this should be, I've taken a guess but it might move. I think i better point out that the bit in italics at the beginning is part of a song and the bit in the fiction that's in italics is a flashback. Not sure what more so say so i hope you like it.

Broken Pieces

"You are beautiful in every single way."

A 15 year old girl, pregnant. Dirty. Slapper. Can't keep her legs closed. She knew what people were saying about her and though she guessed that with their comments they liked to think they knew her situation she knew they didn't, they hadn't a clue about it.

The floorboard creaked outside of Carla's room and her hands clutched at the sheet that covered her small frame so tightly her nails pressed into the palm of her hand through the sheet. She desperately tried to pretend being settled, though her heart hammering in her chest and the way her body shook made sure to let her know she wasn't, not that she had to be reminded. As the door opened and the light from the landing was let into her room she bit the inside of her mouth so hard she was sure she'd made it bleed but as the voice came from the doorway the panic she'd felt began to subside and after hesitating she turned and pushed herself into a sitting position, though continued to hold the sheet over her as Catherine made her way into the room and sat beside her. She was a friend of Sharon's and someone who had been around for as long as she could remember. She placed her hand over Carla's and used her thumb to stroke the skin on the back of her hand in a soothing manner as she spoke to her, her voice gentle and soothing to match that of her touch.

"Frank called, they're on their way back, I think they were going to try and find somewhere else to stay but there'd been a change of plan or something so I'll stay here with you until they get back."

"What are you telling me for?"

"I thought you should know, and I think there's a conversation you should be having with them." As she spoke, Catherine reached out and brushed her hand over Carla's swollen stomach, the neat bump hidden by the sheet covering her.

"Please don't make me tell them..." she whispered, the pleading in her tone unmistakeable as she spoke.

"You've got to baby."

Carla didn't answer and bit her lip as it quivered knowing if she tried to speak that she wouldn't be able to hold back the sob she'd been trying so hard to. Catherine squeezed her hand before moving from where she'd been sitting with her and after leaving the room she closed the door and Carla kicked out, at what she wasn't sure but the emotions she felt were getting too much for her. She turned and pushed herself into the pillow and couldn't stop the sob that had been in the back of her throat from escaping as she did, her whole body wracked with shakes as she sobbed to herself.

.

Catherine leaned against the old kitchen table after leaving Carla's room and slumped against it, she completely understood why Carla didn't like the thought of talking to Sharon about being pregnant but she knew she should know, regardless of being unsure of what use she would be and regardless of knowing Carla thinking she could have the baby on her own she knew she could probably do with all the help she could get. She cared for the girl, she hadn't been able to have children of her own and since Sharon had introduced them as Carla had been a baby she'd fallen in love with her as a tot and more so since she'd grown and they'd gotten to know each other. Carla hadn't told her about the pregnancy, but had spoken more openly to her about it than she'd thought she would have after Catherine had gone into her room not knowing she'd been changing.

She pulled on a pair of leggings with an oversized shirt that went to her thighs and a pair of flat shoes after throwing everything she could get her hands on into the biggest bag she owned and after sitting on it, she'd managed to get it closed without breaking the zip though she thought if she'd put anything else into it she probably would have. Carla got her coat and shrugged it on before fastening it and after getting the bag she'd put her things into she stepped out of her room and strategically made her way to the stairs and then the door, being careful not to step on the boards she knew made noises. As she reached the front door she unlocked it quietly, though as the keys rattled together she flinched and paused as she was unsure of whether Catherine would have heard her but after there was no other movement she stepped outside and closed the door slowly and quietly before turning and hurrying along the path. She folded her arms around herself in a protective manner as the cold wind hit against her skin harshly and whipped her hair.

Carla knew she probably wouldn't get very far walking and especially being pregnant and she knew she had to get as far away as she could from the place and the estate that she'd been born in. She shoved her hands into her pockets and pulled out some change, it was all she had and it would have to do. She continued walking and a little further along the street a taxi drove along the road and she gestured for it to pull over, which it did. She opened the door and got inside, appreciating being out of the cold and after closing the door the driver spoke, his gruff voice and harsh tone making her a little uncomfortable but she thought that maybe it was her being over sensitive. "Where to love?"

"As far away from here as you can get me."

The driver frowned but shrugged nonchalantly, he doubted she'd give him any hassle and it was better than having a load of rowdy drunks in the back of his cab.

.

She giggled, some silly comedy show was playing and though she knew she shouldn't have been in the lounge and should have been settled in her own room it wasn't like Sharon was around to make sure she was, she was at the pub as per usual. Carla shifted in her position on the couch and stretched her legs out as she moved a blanket over her and tried to get a little more comfortable. She was unsure of how long it was she'd been there before the door opened and after turning in the direction of it she moved a little and into a sitting position and then moved to stand and leave but as she did, he placed his hand on her arm. "Don't rush out on my account."

"I'm not supposed to be in here."

"Don't you like this show?"

Carla hesitated, unsure of whether it was some kind of trick question, was he trying to catch her on the hop and then lose his temper about her not doing as she'd been told? "I guess..."

"I tell you what, why don't you stay there until it's finished, I won't tell if you don't."

She offered a small smile before moving back to the couch and as she did Frank moved to sit beside her, he was another of Sharon's boyfriends and though Carla hadn't had a lot to do with him, from what she did know of him she thought he was nice enough. Having another guy move in wasn't something Sharon thought she should talk to Carla about and rather tell her he was whether she liked it or not, regardless of her having not known him that much before they'd embarked on a romance.

Carla wasn't sure of what changed but as the credits for the show that had been playing rolled she suddenly found herself feeling uncomfortable and due to that she shuffled so that there was a larger gap between them on the couch and swung her legs around to stand but before she got to her feet she felt a hand on her thigh and not only did she know it was completely inappropriate but he held her harder than was necessary. She moved her hand to his to push it away but he held her tighter and slid his hand further along her thigh.

"Frank..." she whispered and her voice was shaky as she spoke, but almost before she'd got the words from her mouth he more his finger to her lips to shush her.

She found her body frozen, and though she'd doubted she'd have been able to move him if it hadn't been she couldn't move as his hands did, and to places that they shouldn't have been, she didn't know what was happening, but she did, she knew she should shout, kick and hit but she couldn't, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out, nothing. Was this her fault? Was she encouraging him by being unmoving? She felt dirty, tainted. His hands were forceful as he gripped her shoulders and pushed her back against the couch his grip on her so tight she knew that he'd leave marks on her delicate skin...

.

She'd settled into the corner of the cab and guessed she must have drifted off but she was startled as she was shook, the driver holding her in the same place Frank had made her move her hand to her mouth as she wretched. The cab driver had stopped the cab and he was stood with the door open on the side Carla was leant against as he'd tried to rouse her, though none too gently. She pushed against him and sat back a little trying to create a larger gap between them as he spoke, his voice gruff and uncaring as he did. "Before I take you anywhere else you owe me."

"I've got it, in my bag..."

He stepped back and leant against the cab with his arms folded as she pulled her bag from where it had been in the cab beside her and rested it in her lap as she moved her hand to open the zip but as the cab driver was distracted by something behind him she began to run, though given the heavy bag she was carrying and given that being pregnant she didn't get very far before he'd realised what she'd done and chased after her, grabbing her by the arm and throwing her against a wall roughly as he did. "You've got to be quicker than that if you're going to try and do a runner on me you scheming little-"

She cried out and moved her hand to her stomach and the bump that had been covered by her shirt wasn't as the material was pulled tighter around it as she clutched at it with her hand. "Get off of her." It was a voice she didn't recognise but she appreciated it and it got the drivers attention who let go of her wrist and turned in the direction of the other man who was walking over to them. He was slim and she guessed quite handsome, she couldn't tell what colour his hair was given the lack of lighting but he wore a pair of trousers with smart shoes and a long coat, something she silently decided suited him.

"Do you like intimidating women?" He snapped as he reached them.

"She owes me money." The driver growled and turned to Carla who slumped a little and slid with her back against the wall to the cold hard floor.

"Here." The stranger put his hand into his pocket and threw a note at the driver before speaking again. "Get lost."

He scurried away and after making sure he'd left he turned to Carla and crouched so he was of a similar height to her. "I'm Nick and I'm no expert here darling but I think you're in labour..."