Time flew quickly and it was now edging towards half past three. School kids were running across the square chasing eachother,pleased that the day was finally coming to an end. Ben Mitchell made his way upstairs,he liked living at the Vic although sometimes he found it hard living with a bunch of woman. He walked across the landing to his bedroom putting his school bag on the floor near his bed ready for tomorrow. Ben always felt like a disappointment,his dad was nothing like him,the complete opposite infact. Ben hated football and sport,all the things his dad expected him to love he hated. He felt he had to like these things just so Phil loved him,accept him. Shutting his door behind him and relived school was finished he walked into the living room,"Oh Ronnie,where's Gran?" he asked.
Ronnie stood staring out of the window,she watched as Ian Beale ran around after bobby,she was even jealous of Ian. Ronnie smirked and cursed herself for being so pathetic,"I dont know,i think she popped out" she said her voice distracted by Stacey Slater and Danielle. The blond girl looked lost,in a world of her own as people walked past her. The same girl Ronnie had thrown out of the club,the same girl she went with to have an abortion. She didnt like to admit of but Ronnie did feel guilty for not attending the second appointment with Danielle,it seemed she started to rely on Ronnie to much.
"Where's my dad?" Ben asked throwing himself on the sofa and grabbing the television remote.
Ronnie peeled herself away from the window and shut the curtain so she wasn't tempted to look again,"Probably working,how was school?" she smiled. Ronnie loved Ben,she thought he was so misunderstood and sweet,he was the perfect little boy and she couldn't understand why Phil wanted to change him so much.
"It was ok,we've got to do an essay about people we love the most,and write why" he babbled on whilst flicking through endless kids tv shows.
Ronnie sat beside him,"And who are you gonna write about?" she asked crossing her arms and staring blankly at the tv.
"Dad,Gran you and Roxy" he beamed and looked up pushing his glasses further towards the bridge of his nose.
Ronnie turned to the little boy and smiled,she ruffled his hair and stood up. Her eyes felt droopy and tired from crying,her head even felt a little sore. Walking into the kitchen she saw a sticky pink note attached to the fridge,'Took Amy for a long walk she wouldn't settle,can you pick some nappies up from the shop. Rox x' Ronnie smiled at her sister's scruffy handwriting and peeled the sticker off the fridge,she couldn't imagine ever living without Roxy,she was apart of her. Reaching into the cupboard she pulled out a box of asprin and filled a glass of water. The headache was starting to thicken and she wanted to get rid of it quick.
Ronnie lent against the kitchen units and stared at the floor. Her life seemed such a mess,full of disappointment and constant heartache. She had no one to turn to,everyone she loved betrayed her in some horrible way,even her little sister had hurt her. Ronnie took another gulp of water and watched as the hall way darkened. The manly figure grinned and entered the kitchen,he looked pleased to see his daughter had been upset.
"Peggy not around then?" Archie pulled out a chair and sat down. Its not that Archie didnt love Ronnie because in his own twisted way he did,very much. Ronnie had let him down,shamed his family and built such a hate for him that Archie could do nothing but fight back. The two had gotten into this pattern of play,who could hurt one an another the most. Ronnie knew this game to well,she knew the rules and knew it was best to say nothing,keep her mouth shut. But he always seemed to get underneath her skin,say something so hurtful and nasty she had to fight back,fight in honor of her child.
Ronnie shook her head and placed the glass in the sink,"No" she said sharply not wanting to make conversation with him,the thought of another argument only made Ronnie's head hurt even more.
Archie drummed his fingers against the table,"Im starting to think Peggy's cheating on me,she's never here!" he joked trying to get Ronnie to smile. As far as Archie was concerned he wanted to leave the past well and truly behind and form some kind of relationship with his eldest. "Oh come on Ronnie,you got the most beautiful smile" he lent back in the chair.
"Whats the point in smiling,got nothing to smile about have I?" she answered back,her voice carrying disgust and hate for her father,nothing was going to change the way she felt about him. "Anyway Peggy wouldn't cheat on,she loves you,cant see past your twisted arrogant mind" she snarled gritting her teeth,she sometimes wondered how she didnt lean over and punch him in the face.
Archie's lip twitched up and he shook his head,"Always miserable,you know your the only one with a face on you,cant be happy for anyone else can you?" he smirked. "You cast a black cloud wherever you go,it cant be good for you V,let it go,let HER go" he stood up and faced Ronnie.
"Makes you happy doesn't it? Knowing that im so unhappy,make you feel good does it?" Ronnie took a step forward,challenging Archie at his game. "I was fourteen,fourteen and you crushed me" she pointed a finger at his chest,wanting to let him know that he hurt her,wanting him to take responsibility for the pain in her life. "You wasn't content on making my childhood a misery so you've wormed your way in to finish me off,we were all fine until you came along".
Archie ran a hand over his lips,"You've me all wrong,ive changed,im not the same person anymore Veronica,all that..its in the past..it was a long time ago" his voice seemed whiny with desperation to make his daughter believe him. "You were a baby yourself,you couldn't raise it" he tilted his head trying to make eyecontact with her.
"It..it..Amy ...her name is Amy!" she yelled feeling her blood boil with anger and frustration,this was all down to him,everything was his fault and she knew someday everybody would see his true colors. "She may not be here..but im so glad she never knew you!" she pushed past him needing fresh air.
Danielle wondered around the square,Stacey had given her a twenty minute break as things wernt so busy. Hoping for a glimpse of Ronnie she sat at a distance of the club,just hoping for a quick look,but after eleven minutes she had given up and found herself in the chippy. She pushed the door open,"Quiet in here..thought your charm would bring the girls in" Danielle joked crossing her arms.
"Its been dead all day,and I stink of fish" he moaned lifting his arms up and breathing in deeply. "Honestly .. smell" he took a step towards his sister.
"Ergh no!" Danielle took a step back and covered her mouth and nose with her hand. Gareth always seemed to cheer her up,she didnt realize she missed him so much when they lived in Telford. "Dad's got a job in the shop" Danielle lent against the counter.
Gareth nodded and walked towards the door,he turned the open sign over to closed,knowing Danielle didnt come for fish and chips,but to talk. "Yeah he seems really happy about it,will do him good" he ripped his overalls off and sat down.
Danielle nodded and sat down beside her brother,"Hows things with you and Stace?" she asked watching the grin spread across his face.
"Yeah really good,shes a lovely girl...Dani..is there anything you want to talk about?" he asked turning around to face her. He knew Danielle was hiding something,she was wearing this mask,this cold distant mask and it just wasn't her,it wasn't Danielle. "I mean I wouldn't tell dad If you didnt want me to" he promised.
"No,im fine honestly..its still a bit of a shock..you and dad living here. Dad just seems abit...you know,overbearing" she confessed rubbing her forehead,the smell of fish was starting to make her feel queasy.
Gareth nudged Danielle lightly,"Thats because he loves you.. he just wants to see you happy thats all..you know what he's like" he explained.
Danielle stood up and opened the door,"Thanks" she smiled walking out of the door. She felt better speaking to someone that wasn't Stacey even if he didnt know the truth. Danielle knew telling them about Ronnie would cause so much heartache and trouble,it just wasn't worth it at the moment.
Andy happily stood at the counter wearing his green apron. He had made quite an impression on Patrick and the two had already arranged to meet for a drink in the Vic sometime. He watched as Ronnie entered the shop,he saw how upset and emotionally drained she looked,he almost felt sorry for her. He knew how pain felt only too well,there was something about her,she had this weird presence that made him feel uncomfortable. Every thought turned to Lizzie,a waste of a life. He never understood how many evil,twisted people were walking the streets and all the good and innocent people seemed to die,it just wasn't fair.
Ronnie grabbed a basket and walked around the shop,she thought she would do a small shop as there seemed to be not even a slice of bread in the Vic. Ronnie also needed stuff for the flat,the thought of staying in the flat all alone was not appealing,she knew being alone only meant more nights of crying. Nappies,milk,bread,biscuits,she chucked it in the basket and made her way over to the till.
Andy smiled and started to scan her items,"Ah..haven't seen these in a while,although it seemed like yesterday my Dani was in nappies" he grinned opening a carrier bag.
Ronnie said nothing,she fiddled around with loose change and notes,everyone seemed to talk about babies. "Yeah well my niece seems to go through them so quickly" she muttered not wanting to ignore him completely.
"Not got any kids of your own?" he asked innocently although this was his way of finding out information. He bagged her items up and typed the amount in on the till,"£8.90" he spoke quietly.
Ronnie shook her head feeling a stabbing pain in her chest,"No im too independent,having kids would only hold me back" she smiled holding her head high in the air,it was easy to lie and put on a cold front then break down to a stranger. She handed him the money and grabbed the shopping,leaving Andy more confused then ever before.
Roxy pushed the stroller towards the Vic,"Ron....Ronnie!" Roxy called,the wind blowing her hair in all directions.
Ronnie turned around watching as her sister ran towards her with Amy,she felt Danielle's eyes on her but she chose to ignore her. It seemed Danielle wanted attention and Ronnie wasn't willing to give her the time of day. "I've got nappies" Ronnie smiled waving the bag in the air.
"Thats great thanks..finally got her to sleep" Roxy panted peering down at Amy fast asleep. "How about you take Amy upstairs,i'll be with you in a minute" she ordered pushing the buggy towards her sister.
Ronnie nodded,"Come on Amy,lets get you to bed" she whispered taking the stroller into the empty pub.
Danielle felt her heart pound as she saw Roxy walk towards her,she nervously stood up and shoved her hands in her coat pockets. Stacey watched on,she was never to sure when the next Mitchell was about to say something hurtful to her friend,she wanted to be there if things kicked off.
Roxy tried to hold her hair in place but the wind was clearly winning,"Listen how do you fancy babysitting Amy tonight?" Roxy asked hoping to take Ronnie out and clear her mind.
Danielle grinned,"Yeah..yeah i'd love to!" she happily replied,spending time with her cousin,what could be better she thought.
"Great come by the Vic around seven yeah?" she touched Danielle's arm and turned her back.
Stacey rolled her eyes at the sudden change in her best friends mood,one word,one touch from a Mitchell and it seemed Danielle was as high as a kite. Stacey wanted nothing more than for Danielle to be happy,she hated facing the truth but her friend was a Mitchell. She knew it was only a matter of time before Danielle told Ronnie.
We are sooo close now ;) Its all going to come together in the next chapter,will get the ball rolling! Please review if you can!