Right, I have in my head how many reviews I'm after, if I don't reach the amount I'm after, I'm not updating anymore. I'll still write for my love of this story, but I wont upload onto here. I really hope yous can just leave me some reviews, please :)
Michelle had taken Chelsea home and had sat on the couch with Chelseas head curled up in her lap, Michelle gently running her fingers through the young girls hair.
Steve and Ryan had returned home upon hearing in the rovers of what had happened. They all tried to talk to Chelsea but she was in no mood to speak to anyone. She eventually got up and walked to her room without saying a word.
Rob arrived at some point after tea time to speak to his niece, but like the rest she wouldn't speak to him.
Michelle: "It's like she's went into shock or something, why won't she speak to me?" she said, hurt.
Rob: "She's trying to process it all, in the space of 24 hours her world was made perfect and then turned upside down by the same person, god I could kill my sister" he shook his head gritting his teeth.
It was no secret that Rob wasn't particularly happy to have Carla back anyway, but to see his niece in pieces broke his heart. It was him and Michelle that picked everything up the last time and its them that will have to do it again.
Ryan: "Maybe I should try again?" he asked.
Michelle nodded her head: "Yeah, no harm in trying, take these through to her, she needs to eat" she said wearily. She hadn't eaten herself. Stress wasn't Michelles friend when it came to Ryan or Chelsea, it was visible all over her face, her eyes told the most.
Ryan knocked the door gently and pushed the door open slowly before taking a step in.
"Chelsea?" he said softly.
The teenager turned around and faced her cousin, her face no longer stained with tears, just a sad expression.
He sat down on the bed and gave her arm an awkward rub, trying to be comforting.
He put the plate down: "Mum says you should really eat something"
Chelsea shook her head vigorously.
Ryan looked at her, eyes pleading with her. "Please eat something, if not for me, or you, or Rob, then do it for my Mum"
Chelsea sighed deeply and sat up admitting defeat, picking a sandwich of the plate and taking a small bite, chewing slowly.
Ryan smiled, relieved: "Thanks kid. So, you going to talk to us?"
Chelsea just shrugged.
Ryan: "You know you have no choice right, you're a Connor, you know how determined we are, we won't give up until you speak to us, come on" he smiled cheekily giving her side a tickle.
Chelsea laughed and nodded her head: "Ok, ok"
Ryans face went back to being serious: "You know you'll get through this, you have us, and we will never hurt you"
Chelsea gave a sad smile and put the sandwich down, moving forward and embracing Ryan, he pulled her in tightly and she felt safe in the coccoon of his arms.
Michelle poked her head round the door and smiled to see the two of them hugging. Chelsea looked up at her and motioned for her to join in.
Ryans eyes shot wide open: "Please tell me thats my Mum and not Rob thats joined in the group hug"
Michelle: "Of course its me you dohnut" she said jokingly before another set of arms were put in and a deeper voice was heard.
Rob: "It wasn't me before but it is now"
Chelsea: "Ok guys can yous get off me now, broken arm remember" she said laughing.
Michelle: "Oh, sorry darling"
Rob: "So you gonna be ok, kid?"
Chelsea nodded: "Yeah, I've got you lot" she smiled.
Michelle took Chelseas hand and squeezed it gently.
Michelle: "You'll always have us, no matter what. But don't go too hard on your Mum, she really loves you, you know"
Chelsea nodded: "I know, I've been thinking I'm going to speak to her tomorrow, I mean everybody makes mistakes yeah" she answered looking for the same opinions to be relayed back.
Michelle: "Yeah, they do. Now, you get some sleep, it's been a long day"
She pulled Chelsea into a hug and kissed her forehead when they pulled apart.
Michelle: "Goodnight Darling" she said standing up and turning off the lightswitch.
Chelsea: "Love you Aunt Michelle"
Michelle smiled: "I love you too"
The door closed behind taking the last slither of light with it. She turned over onto her good arm and was convinced she wouldn't sleep, but not even 10 minutes later and she was sleeping.
The door opening and closing woke her up and the sound of hushed voice carried through to her room. Her room door was open ajar and light could be seen in the other room. She sighed and turned over thinking it was almost time for her to get up, as her vision focussed on the alarm clock she made out the numbers, 2:53am.
"What the hell?" she whispered to herself.
As the voices got slightly louder she could make out what they were saying.
Michelle: "Just sit down Carla and get a coffee into you"
Carla: "No, I shouldn't be here, what if Chelsea wakes up"
Chelsea pulled the bedroom door open and looked over to where her mother was sat.
Chelsea: "Too late for that now" she spat angrily. She didn't need to look at her more than once to realise she was drunk.
Chelsea turned to Michelle: "What is she doing here?!"
Michelle: "Look, just go back to bed...
Carla: "No need to lie for me Michelle, I got arrested for being drunk and disorderly" she said matter of factly.
Chelsea just sighed and went to open her mouth.
Carla put her hand up: "Save it Chels, look I don't need you to tell me, here you have it, your Mum is a mess, ok! And you know I think the best thing I could do for you is to go back to LA and leave you here"
Chelseas eyes screwed up, yes she had spoken of staying, but for Carla to say she would leave her, well, her words stung the young girl. Her bottom lip quivered and tears slowly made there way down her cheek.
Chelsea: "I don't want you to go Mum" she cried.
Carla looked up from her cup of coffee, surprised by her daughters response.
Chelsea opened her mouth to speak again but no sound came out, only more tears. She cleared her throat and tried again, trying to stop her voice from shaking as she spoke.
"I know I said I wanted you to stay away from me but I didn't mean it, I don't care how many mistakes you make, your my Mum and I love you"
Carla held out her arms and the young girl ran into them, cuddled into her. Carla rocked her back and forth, the reality of it all sobering her up. She kissed her daughters head and spoke softly.
Carla: "I need you to know, that I love you more than anything else in this world, but I can't stay here, and I can't take you with me"
Chelsea threw her head back and looked Carla in the eyes: "What?" she said furrowing her eyebrows, confused.
Carla: "I'm sorry baby, I can't take you with me, because I think I've already proved I'm not fit enough to be your Mother"
Chelsea: "But you are! And you don't have to take me to LA, we can stay here"
Carla shook her head: "I'm sorry, it's just not an option"
Chelsea moved from her mothers arms and walked towards her bedroom.
Carla: "Chelsea" she said standing up.
Chelsea: "What? You thought I'd be ok with this? With you happy just to leave me again!"
Carla: "It's not like that, you know it's not!"
Chelsea: "Then what is it like? You'll go back there with Peter, you know to be given up at birth, left for a second time, but a third time? Really?! Well tell you what Mum you do it a third time and we're finished!"
Carla spoke through tears: "Don't do this to me"
Chelsea: "I'm not doing anything, you're the one doing it all!" she shouted angry and upset.
Michelle: "Listen, don't be too hasty yeah, you're tired, and you'll maybe feel differently after a sleep"
Chelsea: "No, she's made her choice, I'm through with her!"
Michelle made her way over and put an arm around her comfortingly.
Carla: "Chelsea, please...
Chelsea: "No! I wish Michelle was my Mum, not you!" she shouted before turning round and running into her bedroom slamming the door in the process.
Carla sobbed loudly and Michelle sat next to her, taking her hands comfortingly.
Michelle: "She didn't mean that"
Carla: "Yes she did, she hates me, and who would blame her, I'm a terrible mother"
Michelle couldn't disagree, of course she knew she wasn't a bad mother, but she couldn't console her when she knew that Chelsea was in the next room, her heart breaking into tiny pieces. With that though, Michelle pursed her lips together, gently let go of Carlas hand and stood up.
Michelle: "Look, you can sleep on the couch, theres a cover for you on that chair. I'm going to sleep now"
Carla said nothing as Michelle walked off and into Chelseas room, closing the door behind her.
Chelsea lay sobbing silently, she felt they body climb under the duvet beside her and turned and looked up to find Michelle looking down at her.
She brushed the hair of the 14 year olds face, and wipe a tear from her cheek with her thumb.
Michelle: "Shhh, come on, sleep now" she said and pulled her in closely.
When morning came Michelle was still wide awake, but Chelsea had slept soundly. Michelle gently prised the young girl off her so she didnt wake. She crept out the room and quietly closed the door behind her.
Carla was already up, sitting with her head in her hands. She looked up at Michelle and gave a deep sigh.
"I'm going today, I've booked the tickets to go back to LA"
Michelle: "What? You can't go now"
Carla nodded: "I have to Michelle, I can't drag this out, its not good for any of us"
Michelle: "Look Carla you can't leave, Chelsea needs you" she said looking hurt.
Carla shook her head: "No she doesn't, she has you" she stood up and took Michelles hands.
Carla: "I am so extremely grateful for everything you have done for her, and I know she is with the best person possible. Tell her I love her"
She turned and walked out the door leaving Michelle standing in shock. She stood thinking for a minute before she was snapped out of it by her mobile ringing. It was Rob wondering where she was. She quickly got dressed and made her way over to the factory.
In the office tension filled the air as Carla and Rob stood arguing, Michelle walking straight into it all.
Rob turned and faced her: "She's selling the factory, oh and she's selling the flat too, so looks like I'll be out of a job and homeless too!"
Michelle shook her head: "Its her decision Rob, just leave her to it"
Carla went off topic and turned to Michelle.
Carla: "Have you spoken to her?"
Michelle: "Not yet, she'll be over when she wakes, I'll speak to her then"
Carla nodded: "Ok, look, I need to get going, flight to catch. Look after her yeah" she said to Michelle before pulling her into a hug.
Michelle: "Of course I will, you take care"
Carla left and Rob just shook his head and sat down defeated.
The car was already waiting outside the factory as Peter said goodbye to Ken and Deirdre.
They said goodbye and got in the car, slowly pulling away.
Chelsea came around the corner seeing the car leaving and started to run, waving her arms to get the car to stop.
Carla got out the car and Chelsea ran towards her flinging herself at her. Carla wrapped her arms around her and tears made there way down her cheek.
Chelsea looked up at her: "I love you, and I know you have to leave for your own reasons, but you'll come back and see me?"
Carla nodded her head: "Of course I will, and you can come stay with us in the holidays"
Carla looked at her watch: "I need to go baby" she cried.
Chelsea furrowed her head into her mother: "I wish you could stay" she choked out.
Rob walked over and gently prised Chelsea off her and put an arm around his niece. Carla got back into the car as tears streamed down her face and Chelsea fought against Rob to run after her again, calling out her name hysterically.
She dropped to the ground and sobbed loudly. Rob went onto his knees and pulled her close.
Rob: "Shhh darling, its going to be ok"
Thats it, so remember, no reviews, then no story, sorry folks!
