Carla stood looking at her reflection in the meretricious mirror, staring at herself. She picked up a cotton wool pad, placed some cream on the pad and began wiping her face. It almost felt as if she was letting her tough, bitchy demeanor slip as she removed her makeup, revealing a broken, frail, vulnerable woman who'd just had her whole life ripped apart by the man who claimed to love her, the man who raped her.
He glanced at the clock, for the third time in that minute. He was silently doing the maths in his head, working out what time it was in L.A, wondering if he could somehow send a quick text, ask how she was. As he realised it would only have been 9 pm in L.A, he decided to send a quick text once Leanne had decided to go and pick up Simon from his mates at the agreed time. Not long now.
She looked up from the sink and saw a figure standing in the bathroom doorway, leaning on the doorframe for support. Carla saw the sympathy is Suzie's eyes, the look of pure empathy etched on her face. One thing which Carla always admired about Suzie was the way she could instantly understand how a person was feeling, empathy and compassionate were only a mere understatement of Suzie's personality.
"Do you want something to eat? We've got plenty in," Suzie smiled, gesturing for Carla to follow her to the kitchen. As Carla did so, she heard her phone bleeping, a sign which it was dying. Carla ignored the bleeps, following Suzie into the kitchen, and sinking into one of the leather armchairs in the lounge opposite the kitchen.
Leanne exited their dingy flat, causing Peter to immediately pull out his mobile, and quickly typing "Are you okay? Give me a ring x" He doesn't particularly know why he put a kiss at the end, but hoping the text would bring her some source of comfort, knowing that she was in his thoughts and she was far from alone.
"Mm.. this is lovely, Suze," Carla smiles, though not enjoying the food, not even eating it, though she makes it look as if she is. The last thing she wants to do is eat, her stomach churning at the first whiff she got of the spaghetti. She toys with the spaghetti, wrapping it round her fork while Suzie watches intently.
"Eat up would you! Thought you loved Spag Bol anyway," Suzie said, hoping that Carla would at least stop pretending to eat the food. She just wants the best for her friend, wanting her to regain her fiesty personality once more, though hoping eventually it would happen, as she knows it takes months to attempt to get over a rape. To feel comfortable in a mans presence, to allow people to touch her. Suzie knows this because one of her darkest secrets, was that she was raped too.
After waiting an hour for Carla to text back, Leanne still out, he picks up his phone and stares at the screen, wishing that she would text. A simple 'I'm fine" or whatever, even if he knew she was lying, he just wants to know she's okay. At long last, a message appears on the screen. Wasting no time, he opens the text but frowns, seeing it's from Leanne.
"Sorry love, Stella's asked us for a drink and I couldn't really say no. Simon's staying at his mates for another bit, will text you when on my way back. Love u, Lea x"
He is glad of this text though, reassuring him that if he could actually pluck up the courage to ring Carla, there won't be any sudden interruptions. Before he can think about it, he is dialing Carla's number, just hoping that she'd accept the call.
Thanks to everyone for the lovely reviews on chapter one, I apologise for the delay, but I'd written this chapter, saved it, but couldn't remember the file name I'd put it under. After endless searching and still not finding it, I'd written this one, though it's pretty crap as I wrote it really quickly.
Reviews/Thoughts/Criticisms welcome and greatly appreciated!