"Hesitation, awkward conversation

Running on low expectation

Every siren that I was ignoring

I'm payin' for it'

...

Carla, having finally reasoned with herself that there was no going back, that it was time to be brave, swallowed hard, the lump in her throat refusing to disappear. Pushing the door of the pub she had frequented so many times before, she entered.

Immediately she felt eyes boring into her, their gaze burning her fragile skin. Still, it was done now, and if she was going to return to Wetherfield she would do it with her head held high. Standing tall, tossing her ebony hair over her shoulder, she walked over to the bar.

Of all things Carla had expected, Peter Barlow standing, ready to serve her was the last thing she had expected. As Peter looked up, and their eyes met, the once formidable couple were silent and shell shocked. Peter was barely unable to contain the surprise at seeing his ex wife standing in front of him, as beautiful and exotic as ever. Hey eyes sparkled, her lips full, her skin, alabaster white, framed by her midnight locks.

'Carla' was all he could muster. Carla, unsure of wether to laugh or cry pursed her lips together. The last person she had expected to see in front of her, was her estranged husband, the man she would have once done anything for. It was a punch in the gut but even now, three years on, her stomach came alive with a flourish of dancing butterflies.

Then, registering how odd the situation was, an alcoholic serving at the bar of a busy pub, Carla came to her senses. 'Why are you, here?' she asked, gesturing with her finger, emphasising the oddity of this predicament

Peter, relaxing a little, grinned. 'I own the place now, run it even'. Carla let out a faint splutter of amusement, 'You are joking, aren't you?'.

'I've been on the wagon for 8 months' he reassured her confidently, only to realise that whilst time might have passed, Carla's grudge hadn't. 'I don't care Peter, you're not my problem anymore'. Glancing around the pub, Carla dragged herself away from the bar, forgetting to order a drink, and instead taking a moment to sit alone, at an empty table. She scoffed at the thought of Peter running the place, how stupid could the man get.

Then she berated herself for choosing the Rovers for being the first place she'd had to return to. Had she bothered to stay in touch with loved ones, she may have been able to avoid the awkward exchange they'd just had. Her stolen thoughts were quickly interrupted as Peter tentatively placed a glass of red wine in front of her. 'On the house' he smiled.

Once again, those fucking butterflies returned, and she felt the effect his big brown eyes washing over her. She loathed the fact that after all he'd done, after all this time, after Nick, it was Peter bloody Barlow who still lurked in the deepest part of her heart. She hated the man with a passion, but passion was the problem.

'Oh, I'm not drinking, but thanks' Carla replied, pushing the glass away and back towards Peter. 'Things have changed' Peter said as Carla grew angsty. 'Yeah, they have, I mean, you running this place was the most intelligent thing you've ever done' Carla said as Peter drew up a seat beside her.

"I've changed too, you know' Peter said, his expression full of sincerity, which only annoyed Carla more. 'It doesn't matter to me Peter, not anymore. I think you're needed back at the bar"' Carla said, turning her attention to the mousey woman who stood at the bar, her eyes locked on Peter and Carla.

Peter turned to face the bar, seeing Toyah, full of paranoia at the sight of him in such close proximity to another woman, and such a beautiful one. 'Oh, yeah, I better get back' Peter said, reluctance in his voice, as Carla breathed a slight sigh of relief.

'It's good to see you, Carla' Peter said, her name rolling off his tongue with such delicacy and smoothness that even he felt the bliss of being able to utter her name once more, a delight he had most certainly missed.

...

Scrolling through her phone, as she waited for Michelle to reply, she sensed it was time to move. on. Staying up and pulling her biker jacket around her shoulders, she headed for the door, her heels clicking against the floor.

'Carla..' a voice called apprehensively. Looking up, the woman who'd been staring at her from the bar, eyes wide, her position awkward and paused, seemed desperate to say something. 'The very same' Carla said, before adding, 'Who's asking?', with a pout of her lips.

'Oh sorry, I'm Peter's girlfriend, Toyah.. he's told me all about you' Toyah said, seemingly focused on letting Carla know she was now Peter's lover.

Carla refrained from saying a sarky comment, flashed a killer what grin, and reached her hand out over the bar.

'Nice to meet you Tohah, and commiserations' Carla said, as Toyah looked slightly bewildered at Carla's glossy appearance and sharp tongue.

'Hopefully not, we're going really strong' Toyah smiled, throwing Peter, who looked awkward as could be, a smile.

'Well, I really don't care, and Im in a rush, so, nice to meet you' Carla said, making a quick getaway from the woman, who she could tell was going to be a thorn in her side from now on. Hearing her phone ping was a relief, with an exuberant message from Michelle and a missed call, walking away from the Pub, Carla headed towards the Bistro to reunite with her best friend.