Hey! So this fic is no-longer a one-shot as I've decided to carry this story-on, just for a few more chapters!
It's the New Year. (January 2011.) And Carla and Peter haven't seen each-other since she visited him in hospital before Christmas.
Peter was out and about on the street on his crutches, trying to get used to using them, so he no-longer had to be restricted to using his wheel-chair.
He leant against the wall out-side of the Bookie's, as he forced a packet of cigarette's out of his jeans pocket, and then took one out and lit-it as he balanced-it between his lips, he remained leaned against the wall, as he was not yet able to balance himself upright on his own without the support of his crutches.
"Happy New Year!" Peter heard a familiar-voice call from along the street to where he was stood. The familiar-voice that belonged to none-other than Carla Connor.
Peter could hear her footsteps getting closer to him so prepared himself to talk to his good-friend again as he figured that she would want to chat to him.
"To you too love….." Peter trailed-off with the fag still in his mouth. He spoke in his usually low and deep voice, which was slightly croaky from where was smoking.
"How were ya Christmas?" She asked-him kindly as she stopped infront of him.
"Boring. Yours?" Peter told Carla truthfully as he smoked some more of his cigarette.
"Oh come-on ya Scrooge, I'm sure it wasn't that bad, was it? But mine was great thank-you, and before you ask, no I didn't have a drink! So be proud of me." Carla told Peter, pleased with herself that she had managed to force herself to be strong, so she had resisted temptation.
"Good." He replied with a small-smile.
"So what was wrong with your Christmas then ey? Run out of Malteasers did we?" Carla joked, referring back to when she had visited him in hospital.
"Oh Haaa, Haaa, Haaa." Peter replied sarcastically. "Thanks for getting me those by the way. But anyway, back to Christmas, I just got fed-up of everyone offering to do things for me. I mean…..Just 'cause I can't walk it doesn't mean that I have to sit-around doing nothing all-day every-day!" Peter said, getting slightly frustrated at just the very-thought of it.
"Oh well aren't you just Mister Happy today?" Carla said, in her uniquely sarcastic-manner. "Jokes…..I know it can't be easy for ya….." She said, deciding that this wasn't the best time to fall-out with one of her closest-and-best-friends.
"No I mean-it Carla. Why's everyone being so nice to me? I'm still me Carla, I just can't walk that's all!" Peter ranted angrily.
"Hey take it easy will ya?" Carla told Peter firmly, but she couldn't be angry with him, not-ever, let-alone after what he had been through in the past couple of months.
"No I will not!" He continued.
"Peter….." Carla softened, figuring that this was the only-way to get-through to him today.
"What?" Peter replied harshly, finishing the last of his cigarette-off and stubbing-it out against the wall before he then threw-it to the floor.
"You're acting like you broke ya leg playing football or something…..But you didn't…..That tram-crash almost killed-ya Peter, and it caused ya to have life-saving heart-surgery, of-course people are gonna be trying to help you out, and do everything for ya…..It's just what people do when a disaster like this happens….." Carla trailed-off as Peter interrupted-her.
"A disaster that killed a good-mate of mine….." He told Carla sadly.
"I know, I know it did." Carla paused for thought. "But that's why you've gotta start looking on the bright-side darlin'…..Ashley wouldn't want to see ya like this would he ey?" Carla suggested to Peter.
"No he wouldn't….." Peter whispered to Carla as a tear fell-down his cheek.
"Hey it's alright. Come-Here." Carla said, as she gently hugged-him, being careful not to throw him off balance, or hurt-him in anyway.
The couple hugged, and as they did so…..Carla whispered to something to Peter….."So, dya fancy some Malteasers from Dev's?" She asked him cheekily.
Peter laughed quietly as Carla helped him get his balance back with his crutches. She helped him along the Street to Dev and Sunita's Shop.
"Thank-You….." Peter said to Carla, slightly happier in her company now, as they reached the outside of the shop together.
"For What?" Carla asked.
"For Just…..Being You…..I Guess?" Peter replied calmly, with a small-smile resting upon his face.
"Oh…..Well that's alright…..I suppose….." Carla said to Peter as the couple caught one-another's eyes, and they couldn't seem to distract themselves from each-others gaze.
Eventually, Carla broke the awkward-silence. "So is this where we kiss or what then?" Carla joked.
"Not today ey Carla?" Peter said, returning the joke as the pair of them headed into the shop.
