Peter shoved Carla through the doorway to her flat with such vigour she stumbled and landed chest first upon the floor just inches from where Michelle stood. She was scowling as was Peter as they both looked at the drunken mess sprawled across the floor at their feet. What on earth had happened to this beautiful woman they both loved so much for her to fall off of the wagon like she had. Slowly she pulled herself up and groaned with the pain as she looked up at Michelle, her expression didn't soften and neither was it sympathetic. It took her a long while to get back onto her feet and the second she did she swayed falling into the counter and grabbing it to steady herself. Using the counter top edge she helped herself move further into the kitchen as both Michelle and Peter watched her. They still didn't look impressed but when they realised what she was doing, Michelle had to intervene.
Carla was staggering around rummaging through every cupboard, moaning when she couldn't see what she was looking for easily. She was certain she had something stashed somewhere but couldn't remember where it was or whether it was vodka, wine, whisky or something else. She had been collecting odd bottles with each shop she did and then hiding it in the most obscure places hoping Peter wouldn't stumble across them. Slamming the last cupboard shut she slowly moved out of the area and round to where the dining table sat and began to rummage in a large vase. That was when Michelle distinctly heard the ting of glass knocking against the object.
Michelle moved swiftly to where Carla stood now with the bottle firmly grasped in both hands as she opened it. The seal snapped, a familiar sound that somehow relaxed Carla. Peter heard it too and a sudden craving hit him, it was going to take all of his control to stop him from wanting to share the bottle with her. He was struggling already tonight and had been fighting his want for alcohol so well tonight it angered him further that Carla had come to put temptation in his way again. This is why he had left her in the first place and it horrified him to know she still hadn't learnt her lesson.
Carla was standing in the broken glass and debris of what had caught Michelle's eye earlier but she had never managed to finish investigating. Closer now she could see it was the smashed frame that housed a photograph of Carla and Peter on their wedding day and she turned quickly to look back to the shelf it usually sat upon. Peter looked in that direction too, following Michelle's gaze along the shelf as she noticed it was empty, all of the photograph's were missing and she turned back to ask Carla what had happened there when she noticed her with the bottle to her lips and she was gulping down the amber liquid of the whisky with in.
"Carla stop!" she called out, treading over the broker glass to get to her and try to snatch the bottle. Pulling it away from her face Carla took a breath and gasped as the alcohol caused a burning sensation in her throat and left a familiar after taste. Michelle grabbed for the bottle from her but Carla swiped it from her reach, causing herself to unsteadily wobble, where she ended up backing a few paces further from Michelle. Carla smirked at her, knowing she was wound up and angered by her petulant behaviour and took great delight in reacquainting herself with the bottle. Poised back at her lips she narrowed her eyes before throwing her head back and glugged down as much as she could manage before she gagged and choked. Coughing and spluttering she came back up and winced as she forced the remnants left in her mouth down.
Shaking his head, disgusted by Carla's show Peter made his way to the door. He couldn't be here with her in that state. She was a disgrace and if it hadn't been for Michelle there he would have told her so that second. Michelle hadn't noticed him trying to sneak out until she heard the front door open, desperate for help she turned quickly and pleaded with him not to go but he stayed silent and shook his head as he let the door slam behind him. When Michelle turned back to Carla she was disheartened to find her drinking away again. This time she reached with determination and snatched the bottle, spilling what missed Carla's mouth in the transfer down her face and onto her clothing. She spun quickly and headed to the kitchen with Carla hot on her heels. She held the bottle up high and out of easy reach as Carla stumbled along behind her. There was a little struggle between the two women before Michelle finally won over and tipped the remaining contents of what she assumed was Carla's last bottle down the sink as her fingers clawed at Michelle's hands trying to reclaim the bottle as she desperately tried to stop her.
"I hate you!" snapped Carla slurring her words in a cold and hurtful tone as she frowned at Michelle.
Satisfied with her achievement Michelle smirked at Carla as she confidently placed the empty glass bottle down by the sink. It satisfied her and made her feel just a little bit better knowing that there was no more of that poison in the house Carla could use to harm herself. Taking a minute to calm down, relax and breath she watched as Carla stressed out before her. She was shaking with nerves, coming across slightly panicky and seemed irritable as she clawed at the skin on her face and tugged at the roots of her hair not knowing what to do now.
When Carla started to pace frustratedly Michelle's confidence suddenly faded and she realised that this was much more serious than she had thought. Hurrying to Carla she grabbed her shoulders and stopped her, she needed to understand what was happening to her and why. Carla tried to resist at being interrupted but Michelle firmly kept her place until her friend gave in. Carla was dead behind the eyes as she looked up and stared at Michelle, occasionally wobbling unable to keep steady on her feet when her friends hands gently fell away.
"Carla what's going on?" asked Michelle sadly, keeping her tone low and calming.
Shaking her head Carla refused to answer, only making herself more upset. She bowed her head again and turned trying to get away from Michelle and headed for the bedroom. She was biting her tongue before she snapped and said something else to Michelle she knew she wouldn't be forgiven for but if she pushed her much further, Carla knew it would tip her over the edge and anything she did say would be beyond her control.
"Oh no you don't" scolded Michelle grabbing her by the wrist to hold her back not wanting her to wake Heather as she slept. Carla snatched her arm back and glared at Michelle before continuing to stride away. She didn't want her there, nor did she need or want her pity, help or sympathy. Michelle went after her, ordering her firmly to come back. Reaching her bedroom door Carla paused, span on her heel to face Michelle and narrowed her eyes.
"Stop being an interfering cow! I don't want you here and I don't need you here either. Go home Michelle" she shouted nastily.
Michelle opened her mouth to protest but just stuttered as the bedroom door suddenly slammed in her face as Carla disappeared inside. Seconds later she winced upon hearing a scream come from baby Heather. Her mother had woken her accidentally with her drunkenness and now she was unsettled and disturbed from her peaceful slumber at an hour no baby should be awake. Michelle didn't want to leave her niece but Carla had demanded she go and that had upset and angered her more. She didn't understand why Carla had to be so selfish all of the time. She stood idly in the hall for a few moments pondering if she should stay and then had a sudden change of heart. If Carla was going to be so rude she could fend for herself. Michelle saw no point in wasting her time tonight when Carla clearly wasn't going to listen.
"Shut up!" Michelle heard Carla yelling in the bedroom as she collected her things ready to go. A pang of guilt hit her inside. If anything happened to Heather tonight and she left it would be on her conscious. Slinging her bag over her shoulder she stormed back to the bedroom and straight into the bedroom to find Carla craned over the crib and screaming down at her innocent and unknowing daughter so hard she was turning red with fury.
"Carla stop it!" she yelled as she hurried over and scooped Heather up into her arms. She pulled the blanket she had kicked off out after her and wrapped it around her tiny body as she began to calm and settle at Michelle's gentle comforting. Clutching Heather to her chest she walked towards the door as Carla stood breathing erratically by the bed. She didn't need to hesitate or stop to think about whether she was doing the right thing. She knew she was. She left the pram but took the baby bag and was gone before Carla could even stop her, not that she wanted to.
Sitting alone now in her brightly lit bedroom Carla was grateful of the silence but it meant that all she could hear were her own thoughts. She sat listening to a few of them for a while until they began to drive her crazy. Getting up she headed back out to the living room where she caught sight of the empty bottle first and it taunted her. She was sure she had something else somewhere. Hurrying about the flat she pulled out every draw and cupboard, each ones contents strewn across the floor as she moved from one place to another. All the cushions she pulled off of the sofa just leaving the frame, emptied the foot stall, booted the coffee table, knocking it out of place and tossing every ornament around until she discovered nothing was hidden in any of her secret places.
She left the room a mess and went into the bedroom where she followed the same procedure. Sheets came all pulled off of the bed, the pillows tossed carelessly to the floor also. Clothes were pulled out of the wardrobe and all draws emptied until Carla had a sheen of sweat on her skin marking her exhaustion. She stood up and panted heavily in the centre of the room letting her eyes glide over all the mess she had made. Eventually her gaze rested on a black leather storage box in the corner and she went dashing over to it. Lifting the lid she pulled out some of the contents she kept on top to hide what she actually had hidden in there. She smiled and took a deep breath as right at the bottom, stashed under a picture of Liam was an unopened bottle. It was pure luck that she had found it there. Clasping it tightly in both hands she pulled it out and admired it with a longing and loving effort.
Unscrewing the cap she found herself staring at the picture of Liam, smiling away at her. It was her most treasured possession and she had always kept it hidden. Nobody even knew it existed except her. She had taken it of him when they had been much younger, just messing around one day on their own when they had been hanging out in the sunshine at a park. He looked so happy and just seeing his handsome smile set her off crying at the thought she'd never see him again. Her true love was he and greatly missed. She had a hole in her heart where he belonged and no matter how hard anyone had tried to fill it they had never been able. Her fingers now trembling lightly reached out to touch his face as her tears softly cascaded down her cheeks. Holding the empty bottle tightly and not breaking her focus on Liam she placed it to her lips and took a sip.
Eventually feeling dizzy and having intoxicated herself further she had managed to upset herself so much with the thought of Liam and how much she had loved and still did love him that she found herself reminiscing as she had been earlier. Having drunk down half the bottle by the time it was heading on for two in the morning, Carla pulled herself up onto her knees and leant over the box to view the other treasures she kept inside. It was mostly Liam's things but she had a set of cuff link's that had belonged to her late husband Paul, a whisky glass that had belonged to Tony and some jewellery he had given her. One of Trev's T-shirts he had left behind was there with one of Liam's of course and picture's of them together. The only one of her ex's she didn't have a possession of was Frank, he had done the most horrific thing to her and the memory of the rape was all the reminder she needed of him.
Pulling out an aftershave bottle, Liam's of course, she opened it and the scent filled her nostrils. Just the smell of him made her heart ache to be re-united with him. Dabbing a little on her wrist she sat almost like a woman possessed and screwed the cap back on to place it into the box. Pulling out Liam's t-shirt she played with it in her hands before deciding to put it on. Taking off her own top she carelessly discarded it by her side. The t-shirt slipped with ease over her head and she loved how it felt against her own skin. Feeling comforted by knowing she had a little piece of him with her she cuddled herself with one arm across her chest and flopped back against the wall, violently swigging at the whisky as she rested. Her mind had gone as blank as her expression as she stared aimlessly at the door, drinking away until her heavy eyelids drooped and she fell to one side where she ended up asleep on the floor.
