Chapter 6

A few weeks had now gone by and Carla and Peter had not seen that much of each other. Every time they had bumped into each other, whether it was in the Rovers or just simply passing each other on the street they had held a small and civil chat. Peter still felt exactly the same towards Carla as he said a couple of weeks back during the chat when Carla had knocked him back. Nothing had changed. He still loved her. He also knew that Carla must feel something for him and he could see it in her eyes. It might not be love at this moment, but there was definitely something still there between them…

It was now 11am and both Carla and Tony were at the factory. Carla was going through some emails and Tony was getting ready to go to a business meeting. At the moment, things weren't great between Carla and Tony. The factory had been busy due to big orders being finalised and their relationship had taken a battering due to all of the stress. As Tony got his stuff together, Carla carried on with her emails. Both of them were as stubborn as each other about who was going to talk each other first. Tony gave in in the end as he could see that Carla wasn't going to say anything first as she hadn't even lifted her head up from the computer screen.

"I should be home around 7pm tonight." he said in a low tone as he put his jacket on, ready to leave for this meeting. The meeting was an hour and a half's drive away from Weatherfield.

"I won't be home at that time anyway." Carla replied bluntly without lifting her head from the computer screen.

"Why? Where will you be?" Tony questioned her.

"Who are you? My mother?," Carla asked, lifting her head and looking at him. The first time she'd actually looked directly at him that morning.

"Why are you acting like this?," he asked her – his voice starting to rise as he got annoyed.

"If you must know, I'm going to see Michelle. Were going to have a few drinks."

"On a work night?"

"Yes if that's alright with you? Now I thought you had a meeting to go to…"

"Don't worry, I'm just leaving!"

"Good!" Carla snapped back as Tony left the office and slammed the door behind him.

Carla sighed and let her head fall back on the back of her office chair and she just sat there like that for a couple of minutes. She was bought back to her senses by her phone, indicating that she had a text. She looked at her phone and it was from Michelle…

"Hey babe! What time are you coming round tonight? The wine is ready in the fridge! Xxxx"

"Hey 'Chelle! I'll be round at about 6:30sih… Need to get home and sort myself out before coming over! See you later ;-) xxxx" Carla texted back.

Carla then put her phone back down on the desk. She thought if she cracked on with all of her work, she may get to finish half an hour earlier. She couldn't wait to see Michelle tonight! When things were bad, she always went to Michelle and what better way was to talk over a bottle of wine?


It was now 6:15pm and Carla was all ready for her evening with Michelle. She hadn't gone to too much of an effort but she still looked flawless. Her smooth, silk, black hair was straightened to the point where it was pin straight. She wore a pair of black skinny jeans, a sleeveless white chiffon blouse and of course, not forgetting her trade mark killer heels. It was September and it was still quite warm outside so she wondered if she should take a coat or not (as she had to walk home later on). She opted not to because after all, she wasn't going to be home late.

She had nearly arrived at the Rovers when she checked her phone to see three missed calls from Tony. As she was about to enter the Rovers, her phone started ringing again. She decided just to answer him as she wouldn't get any peace and quiet all night otherwise…

She thought she'd been a bit too hard on Tony these couple of weeks but he had been equally hard on her as well.

"Hello…" Carla said as she answered her mobile in a more cheerful way that she had spoken to Tony in a few weeks.

"I've been trying to ring you for ages! Why haven't you been answering you phone?" Tony asked her, his tone of voice was still hard against Carla.

"I was getting myself ready and you know how I can be when I'm getting myself ready…" Carla said with a small, nervous giggle.

"Yeah well I was only ringing you to tell you that I won't be home tonight…"

"Why? Where are you?" Carla asked him.

"Who are you? My mother?" Tony asked her in the same way that she had said to him earlier. Before Carla got the chance to reply, Tony said, "Anyway, I've got to go." And with this, he out the phone down. Carla didn't know what to do next. She never knew that Tony could be so cruel. She wanted to cry but she didn't let herself to do so. He wasn't worth it. Not now anyway… NOTHING was going to ruin her night with Michelle….


After Tony got off the phone with Carla, he headed back to where he was having a few drinks in the hotel bar. He wasn't alone. There was a man and a woman there. The man was called James and he and Tony were pretty good friends. They had met a few years ago in a business meeting and they'd kept in contact ever since. It had been a while since they last met up for a few drinks so they thought they could do it that night. The woman on the other hand was staying in the hotel anyway as she had a long way to travel home that night. Her name was Erica. Erica was good looking and the type to catch any man's eye but Tony wasn't interested. As much as he and Carla had argued over the past few weeks, he still loved her and he was adamant that he was going to patch things up with her.


Back in Weatherfield, Carla and Michelle had shared a bottle of wine between them and they were both having a fab time. Carla had forgotten all about her problems with Tony and she thought not to mention anything to Michelle, until Michelle decided to ask her…

"So come then, how's life treating you and Tony?," Michelle questioned her.

"Ok." Carla answered her with a small smile.

"Ok? Just Ok? You should be saying it's amazing or whatever."

"Yeah well, things aren't amazing at the moment 'Chelle."

"Why what's wrong?," Michelle questioned her again but this time, with a more worried look on her face.

"Let's just say we've hit a rocky patch… I suppose every couple goes through it at some point in their relationship don't they?" Carla answered her honestly, taking a sip out of her wine glass.

"Not everybody does Car." Michelle said looking at her best friend in concern. "Do you think you'll get through this "rocky patch" then?"

"Right now Michelle, I really don't know. He's gone away for a meeting today and he was supposed to be home around about now, but he rang me before I came here to tell me that he's not coming home tonight."

"You what?" Michelle said looking rather shocked.

"I'm not really bothered 'Chelle." Carla said with a small laugh. "To be honest, I'm looking forward to going home to no arguments and an empty bed for myself…"

Michelle was now starting to get suspicious. "Please tell me Car that you're not involved with anyone else?"

"What are you trying to say? Do you think I'm having an affair?"

"Well, you look so calm when it comes to your problems with Tony it doesn't seem to bother you."

"Well believe you me 'Chelle it did bother me to start off with. It's been a few weeks now. The more arguments we have the further apart we go. That's why I think I'm like this."

"Can't you both just sit down and talk. You might be able to patch things up again and things might be great again."

"You might be right 'Chelle but he needs to sort himself out. I know I may not be easy to live with sometimes but he's not a walk in the park either."

"What do you mean?" Michelle asked her taking a sip from her glass of wine.

"Well… I don't think he trusts me 'Chelle. He constantly wants to know where I'm going, what time I'll be home or who am I with and between you and me I think that's something to do with my ex."

"What Peter? Please tell me you're not messing about with him again…"

"Of course not 'Chelle! I mean were civil and we have a chat now and again but that doesn't mean anything. I have to live on the same street as him 'Chelle. Being at each other's throats won't help either of us and it won't be fair on Simon. And anyways, both of us have moved on…" Carla answered her truthfully taking a large sip of her wine.

"Is he with someone else then?"

"I Don't know 'Chelle and it's got nothing to do with me if he is anyway. But I do agree with you.. I don't know how long I can live with Tony the way he is. He hasn't really accused me of anything or he hasn't said anything about Peter but he's got something in his head."

"Well, when he gets home tomorrow. Sit him down and talk things through. If things don't work out they don't work out. But as I've heard from you tonight 'Car… I don't think it could get any worse could it?."

Carla smiled at her best friend. She really didn't know what she would do without her sometimes. "Thank you 'Chelle! Now enough about me, Let's crack open another bottle of wine shall we." Carla said laughing.


It was now 10pm and back at the hotel bar in Birmingham, Tony was finishing off his pint with Erica. James had headed off to his room about an hour back, and it was safe to say that all three of them had had a bit too much to drink. As he finished his pint he said to Erica,

"Well Erica It was nice to meet you, but I better head off to my room now. I need to start back home in the morning…"

"What's the rush?," Erica questioned him looking into his eyes, "the night is still young." They were sitting rather close to each other but it wasn't Tony's doing. Erica had jumped at the chance to sit close to Tony when James had left an hour back.

"It might be for you, but I need my bed," Tony said getting up. He was quite drunk by now but he still knew what he was doing. That's why he thought he should go to bed now.

"Oh Ok then…" Erica said grabbing her back and also getting up. "I might as well go back too. No fun on your own is it?" She said laughing.

They made their way towards the lift and they had to wait for the lift to come down for a few minutes.

"So, what room are you in then?" Erica questioned him trying to make small talk.

"136, what about you?" Tony answered her.

"159." Erica said. "It's a shame really, If we were closer to each other, we could have had a bit more fun tonight…" Erica said suggestively as she and Tony made their way into the lift.

"Look Erica," Tony said looking down at his shoes as the lift's door closed, "I'm flattered, but I'm engaged." He said turning to look at her.

"What happens on business trip," She said getting closer to him, "Stay's on business trips" she said whispering to him. They both stood in that position for a few seconds, their lips inches apart. Erica then leant in and pecked him on the lips. It wasn't long before Tony gave in. As things got steamy between them, Erica started to unbutton Tony's shirt. Tony then suddenly came to his senses and he broke the passionate encounter between them…

"I can't do this," he said as he buttoned up the buttons on his shirt as the lift arrived at the level that his room was on. "My relationship means more to me." He said looking at her and getting out of the lift.

As the lift's door closed, Erica looked down smiling. She was disappointed that things hadn't gone her way tonight, but this sure wasn't the end between them…


"We'll 'Chelle, It's been a pleasure as always," Carla said as she left the Rovers through the back.

"I've really enjoyed tonight 'Car! Thanks for coming!" Michelle replied hugging her best friend. "Are you sure you don't want me to walk you half way?"

"I only live down the road 'Chelle!" Carla laughed as she started to walk pass the smoking shelter at the back of the Rovers. She turned back to look at Michelle and said, "I'll see you tomorrow 'Chelle!"

"Ok! Please try and sort things out with Tony will you?!"

"I will 'Chelle." Carla said as she walked away.


As she reached the corner of Coronation Street, she saw Peter coming towards her.

"What are you doing walking home on your own at this time?" Peter asked her joking as they came face to face.

"I could ask you the same question," Carla said smiling at him.

"Well I've got a good excuse, I've just dropped Simon off at Leanne's. I took him to see a football match tonight."

"On a school night?" Carla said giving him a look but with a small smile.

"He's got a day off school tomorrow. Teacher's training or something." He replied, "but come on, what's your excuse?"

"Catch up with a best friend, followed with a bottle of wine or three count as an excuse?" Carla replied laughing. Peter could tell that Carla had had a good few. He knew her well enough by now.

"Ok then I'll let you off," Peter said smiling at her. "Look," he said taking his leather jacket off. "It's a bit chilly for you to be walking home without a coat or nothing on."

"Peter, I'm fine." Carla said laughing.

"I don't care. I won't look like a gentleman if I don't give you my coat." He said helping Carla to put his leather jacket on her.

"So I am actually going to be a gentleman and walk you home."

"If you want to you can and at the same time you can get your jacket back."

"Tony going to go off on one if he knew then."

"We'll he won't know," Carla said as she and Peter walked down the street, passing Audrey's.

"Why?"

"He's not home. He's on a business meeting."

"Ah right…" Peter said looking down. After walking a few steps in silence, he said, "Look Car I'm glad that you have found happiness again you know."

"Thank you…" Carla said smiling, nudging him as they walked quite close to each other. "I'm glad that we can be friends you know, life is so much easier when we are."

"I know." Peter answered her as they walked past Roy's and towards Carla's flat.

"Well come on then… Is there someone else on the scene?" Carla asked Peter.

"Nah, not yet." He said looking down as they stopped walking because they'd reached Carla's flat. "It's hard you know."

"Why?"

"Finding someone who I know I'll be happy with, who I love and also not messing that relationship up."

"Hey, I didn't want this conversation to end up like this." Carla said looking into his eyes.

"No I know I'm sorry." Peter said giving her a small smile.

"You are an amazing man," Carla said smiling to him and taking his jacket off of her. "You deserve to find someone who will make you happy." She said handing him his jacket back and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"I had someone that made me happy Car and I ruined it."

"Listen," She said taking his hands in hers and walking back so now she was leaning on the we wall and Peter in front of her. "We went through a lot together. I played a big part in our relationship as well. I wasn't a walk in the park to live with."

"Still wasn't an excuse to cheat on you was it."

"That's one thing that we agree on then." Carla said smiling at him. "I will always have a soft spot for you. A soft spot that I will always fight off…" She said looking into his eyes.

"Why should we fight it?" he asked her. Looking down at her lips then back into her eyes. He then leaned in and kissed her on the lips. He pulled back and looked into her eyes again. Carla then leant in and kissed him. It was true what she had said, even though she'd had a bit too much to drink. Their kiss got deeper and their tongues started to roam each other's mouths. Their hands started to roam each others bodies and as Peter started to kiss down Carla's neck, she pushed him away slightly. "I can't do this Peter, I'm sorry."

"It's OK. I shouldn't of pounced myself on you like that. I'm sorry he said," he then went to walk away. He wasn't angry at her. He was angry at himself. When was he going to accept the fact that Carla was with someone else? He needed to move on. For Carla's sake as well as his own.

Carla watched him as he walked down the street towards the cobbles. She didn't feel guilty at all for kissing Peter. The only reason she pushed him back was because they weren't right for each other and she also knew that Peter knew that deep down… She needed to brainwash herself. Brainwash herself to not fall In love with Peter Barlow all over again. She NEEDED to patch things up with Tony…


Well guys, It's been 7 months since the last update… Not going to leave it so long next time. Hope you all enjoyed :) Please leave a review! Would love to know what you all thought of the update. :) xxx