Band-Aid on a Gunshot Wound: Chapter 4:
Catalyst:
"Right, I've got this meeting with Sid Altry this evening." I remind Nick, walking out of the bathroom as he hands me a plate of toast. "So I might not be back till late, but I suppose you'll be working."
"How late?" He asks and I shrug, taking a bite of toast.
"Seven." I guess. "So you can be our waiter for the evening."
"Oh ok, I'll eat by myself then." He rolls his eyes.
"Sorry baby, you know I'd rather be eating with you." I kiss him and his eyes move to my forehead once we retract.
"Yeah yeah." He smiles, planting a kiss on my skin.
"Uh, Johnny is the table booked under your name?" I ask, as I enter the Bistro with Aidan, he was already sat drinking a pint and chatting to Nick.
"...Well it's the same name either way." He reminds me.
"Oh yeah." I frown and Nick laughs at me. "Oi you!"
"Yeah hello to you and all." He raises his eyebrows before I go over to kiss him.
"Public display of affection, cover your eyes." Aidan drones and I shoot him a look as Nick wraps his arm around my waist.
"Haha." I glare at him before turning back to my boyfriend. "Ok so is our table ready then?"
"Yes, right over there." He points to it.
"Mm." I nod, smiling. "Ok, uh... Four glasses of-"
"Red. Yeah, I got it." He grins and I kiss him once more before going over to take our seats.
"So you know what you need to know, we know what we need to know..." Aidan indicates to the figures in front of Sid.
"All there is to do now is sign." I finish his sentence.
"You always were one for cutting straight to the point." Sid eyes me up cautiously.
"Well what more do you want?" Johnny asks him. "From what I can see you've got thirty units for a bargain."
"Ey? You'd like to pay it would you?" Sid retaliates.
"Refill?" Nick automatically pours me another glass of red and I smile at him appreciatively. "Looks like you need it." He whispers and I nod as he walks off.
"So, Mr Altry, let's not mess around with this." I flash him a smile. "Are we in business, or not?"
"Well you've always been good to me." He moves to place a hand on my arm. No. I flinch. I try to cover it up but his hand is hanging in midair.
"You ok Carla?" Aidan asks, humour in his voice which irritates me slightly.
"Yeah I'm fine sorry." I force a smile before his hand falls down on to my knee. I gasp at his touch and he looks taken aback again. "Don't touch me please." I say, harsher than I intend.
"I was only touching your leg, look." He places it back and I stand up abruptly.
"I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME!" I yell and he rises from his chair, alarmed, trying to calm me down.
"Chill out." He grabs my arms in his and I fight him off, screaming the place down. He finally lets go and I feel another pair of hands on my shoulders.
"NO!" I continue to scream, receiving panicked looks from customers at my uproar.
"Ok." I hear Nick's voice soothe me and I relax slightly. "It's ok darling shh..."
"What the hell is wrong with her?" I hear Sid ask.
"I'm sorry, very sorry." Aidan apologises, ushering him out. "I have no idea what's going on..."
"It's ok." Nick repeats and I fall onto his shoulder, crying my eyes out.
"What the hell was that for?" Aidan snaps, storming back in, whilst Johnny sits bewildered at the table.
"Leave it." Nick warns, rubbing my back in circular motions.
"HE WOULDN'T LET GO!" I scream and Aidan holds his hands up.
"Steph, can you clear the place please?" Nick asks and I hear her mutter a response. "Tell them not to worry about bills, it's on the house."
"You're a mess." Aidan practically spits before I hear him walk away. I was a mess. I was scarred and tortured and haunted. What I wanted to know was why this had suddenly started happening now.
"Calm down, it's ok." He whispers, stroking my hair softly. "Hey?" He places a finger under my chin and moves me to look at him. "Sit down, I'll get you some water." He helps me into a booth and I wipe my eyes, feeling stupid. No, stupid was far too easy. I was a disgrace. I'd emptied the Bistro with my meltdown, ridded us of a successful order and made myself look like a complete idiot. "Here you go." He places it down in front of me and I look at it for a few seconds. Why was he being so nice to me? I ruined everything for him. I gave him a bad reputation. I burst out into tears again and he sighs, sympathetically. "Oh sweetheart..." He sits down next to me, letting me lean my head in his chest before he wraps his arms around me.
"I'm so stupid." Is all I can say.
"No you are not stupid." He says firmly, kissing me on the forehead.
"Yes I am!" I practically shout, pulling away from him and I could see how pained his expression was at seeing me this way. "I don't understand Nick! I don't get why this is all happening now. Someone lays a finger on me and I freak out. Four years it's been. Over four years and it hasn't bothered me this much until now."
"Maybe... We need to get you some help." He sighs and my eyes widen in panic.
"No." I shake my head, my heart rate increasing again. "No, Nick no. Please. Don't-"
"Ok." He soothes, concern in his eyes. "Alright, we don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"...Are you going to leave me?" I ask, weakly and the hurt in his face tells me everything.
"Carla." He exhales. "I'm not going anywhere. That's something I can promise you."
"I love you." I whisper and he smiles warmly at me, holding his arms back out which I gratefully accept.
"I love you too." He tells me, running his fingers gently through my hair as I drift off to sleep, content in his embrace, with the calming music from the Bistro playing in my ears.