Waking up today was weird, I found myself taking extra time in the shower, extra time on my makeup, and even more time than normal on my hair. I was still out of the door early enough to bump into Beth though as she walked with me, eating her breakfast as we walked. It was a mindless conversation until I remembered to actually ask about her niece and an incredibly talented worker, Sinead was still in recovery and here I was not caring.

"How is Sinead doing? I really need to pop over. I'm a thoughtless cow sometimes."

"She's fine – well, apart from the spinal injuries and that."

She had a way with words and looking at the world that always made me smile, at least she held no resentment for the lack of care I had shown recently, too wrapped up in my own world. Our pace was matched, and it was nice to walk with someone to work, predictably, as this street was too small for its own good, we walked past Nick who was busy on the phone. Despite that, it felt weird if I just ignored him, so I spoke a greeting as we passed him.

"Morning Tilsley."

"Is it?"

That had both me and Beth stopping as it clearly wasn't a response, more of a conversation starter, evidence that something was wrong and I hated the part of me that cared so much right now and wanted to fix things, just like he did for everyone else.

"I'm sorry, I-I-I-I think the expected response is morning Carla, you grumpy git."

It did the job, I got him to smile and laugh at my response.

"Sorry."

"You got a hangover?"

Was he blaming the little kiss on too much to drink? I didn't mind if that's how he wanted to play it, even if I didn't want it that way.

"no, no, no, I'm fine."

"Oh, not buying it. Come on I'll take you for breakfast at the café, I bet you've not had one, have you?"

I wanted to be his shoulder to cry on, I wanted to be the person he could rely on right now as he was tense and upset, I needed to be there for him. Of course, Beth had something to say but I shut her down with a blank stare.

"Skiving Mrs. Connor? I'll er- get to work then."

As soon she was off my attention reverted straight back to Nick and my eyes fell to his arm that he was offering, my arm slipped effortlessly through his, it felt right. Nick carried on though like it wasn't a big deal for me to be holding onto him like this.

"I'm fine really."

"Yeah, that's the second time I've heard that. You know what fine actually stands for?"

"No what?"

"Feeling insecure, numb, and empty."

"Who told you that?"

"One of Peter's things from his groups, they were full of them, mind you they were full of that of things, so was he, you're buying breakfast by the way."

I don't know why I brought up Peter, I tried my hardest to cover up the slip with a joke, but it was still out there like a bad smell. Maybe it was because I saw him yesterday, maybe it was because he was still in the back of my mind or maybe I just needed to accept he was still in a lot of my stories and advice considering how long we were together and how much time we spent together. Instead of saying anything though, he continued walking with me as we completed our journey to Roy's and finally separated as we ordered toast and sat down at the small table.

It didn't take long for Nick to open up, it didn't take long for me to see that his problems weren't even his to carry but he was in any way. Nick loved his family, it was a trait I used to hate in Paul but for some reason, I found it admirable and sweet in Nick, maybe I had finally grown up or maybe he just cared in a different way. There were way too many maybes in my head today. His problems, that weren't his, were revolving around Sarah getting with David's wife's baby daddy who was fighting for custody, I didn't want to tell him I was lost, instead just agreed with his main point in that Sarah was in the wrong and being used.

"… I know David can be a bit of an er…"

"Rapscallion?"

"Rapscallion?"

"mmm, I was trying to be clever, I'm not even sure what a rapscallion is, Roy?"

Perfect timing from Roy as always, on his trip to bring over the toast.

"A rapscallion is a disreputable person."

"Bang on."

There was pride in my voice as I awed myself at using the right word, for showing off that I knew things too. Also, that I kind of impressed Nick.

"Ark at me, the brain of Britain."

He was sending me that smile again, he was giving me that look that made me feel like m stomach was filled with fluttering or that it was doing cartwheels. Did he always smile like that? No wonder he had half of the street after him at one point. To break the spell, he was putting me under, and to try and lift the mood from his free therapy session, I made a joke in a typical Carla fashion.

"Look at me eating carbs, the worlds gone mad, here."

"Thanks for listening."

"Oh, think nothing of it. I don't really do anything between nine and ten more strenuous than, I don't know, drink my coffee and flip through my grazier."

We continued to talk a little more about his family and Sarah, I gave him advice which I was never actually good at I tried my best to compare myself to Sarah, saying that I used to be just like her. He laughed and sarcastically suggested that I hadn't changed. It wasn't a mocking laugh though, it was something lighter and a joke I felt included in rather than laughed at. We carried on discussing his family until his phone suddenly rang and broke our moment, he moved away to answer the call. Roy approached though at that moment leaving me time for thought as he dived into a conversation with me.

"Could I make an observation?"

"You certainly could."

"I'm glad you have a friend like Nick."

"Aye? Me, I have loads of friends, granted I don't like most of them, I'll give you that, but still…"

"You seem somewhat at ease in each other's company, merely an observation."

That was clearly food for thought as I processed what he said, maybe it wasn't all just in my head, especially if Roy could see it. I wasn't left alone with my thoughts for long as Nick returned, and I expressed that I needed to finally make a move back to work. We walked in the direction of the factory and the Bistro, side by side like we had been for weeks as my arms were crossed over my body, faking warmth but really to make sure my hand didn't stray to his. It wasn't until we were walking past his mom's house that he finally spoke to me, his mood having been lifted.

"Look at you getting into work late."

"oh, I've got an in with the boss."

"That's lucky, I've heard she's a right cow."

He definitely deserved the slap I gave him across the back of the head for that remark.

"Ah, brain injury, remember?"

"You're not still milking that one."

Sadly, our moment was ruined as Sarah, probably his most annoying sibling right now popped out of nowhere and interrupted our conversation, not caring that we were talking.

"I am trying to sort this; I just can't get hold of Callum."

"Oh, is that the drug dealer you're seeing, who's trying to take max off of David?"

Ok, so apparently, I paid more attention than I thought.

"Have you been gobbing off to your girlfriend about my private business?"

My head whipped round to Nick, had he described me like that to his family? Surely not. Then I am interested in how he would get himself out of this without insulting me.

"A- she's not my girlfriend, B- none of your business, C- why are you trying to talk to Callum when it's David you need to be talking to?"

"Because there might be nothing to tell, it's not like he's, my boyfriend. He's not even taking my calls."

Without meaning to, I jumped in again. Why was I involving myself in Platt family drama?

"Oh, surprise, surprise."

"and what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means he's using your love, or do you think it's a coincidence he started sniffing around you when he's fighting for custody? Do yourself a favour and dump him now. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run."

"Callum likes me – "

"- Yeah. And I'm Cara Delavigne's bum double, see you later then, lover."

I don't know why, I don't know what persuaded me to, but I kissed him as I left, it wasn't a drunk fumble, we were both sober and I definitely intended to place a kiss directly on his lips. It felt stupid but I didn't regret it, I kissed him, and it felt way overdue, surely, we had been heading there for a long time and I had been making the moves ever since. I kissed Nicholas Tilsley; I would do it again. Walking into the factory, I tried to conceal my smile and hide it from the vultures who would speculate if they saw it and quickly barricaded myself in my office. As soon as I sat down though, my mind was consumed with Nick, with his problems, well his family's problems but they were now his, I couldn't help but have concern for the man. It would be an easy solution if Sarah weren't so stubborn, but she was and even then, David would still be fighting for custody. So, in the end, Nick would still be worried and stressed and there was nothing either of us could do. A knock brought me out of my trance as I looked up at the doorway as Beth stood there, obviously trying to get out of doing her own work.

"Can I get you anything, Mrs. Connor? Tea? Coffee?"

"Er yeah, sure, a coffee please Beth."

"Do you know when I was talking to – "

Oh, God. She never shut up, did she? I thought my acceptance of a drink, that I actually really wanted would get her to leave and fill my order, but no, she stood there yammering on. My mind wasn't focused on her, it kept going back to Nick and his annoying family, trying to find some way to help him and find a loophole. Nick and Sarah and David and kids that I couldn't be bothered to remember, Max, I think, people that I never cared about before and I never thought I would think about. Here I was though, caring about them, thinking about their lives, their problems, and I couldn't stop, all because I wanted to help Nick. Beth's nattering was bugging me though, I finally snapped.

"Beth, I asked for a coffee."

"Oh yeah, sorry, what am I like?"

Just as I thought that I would be left in peace and maybe get some work done, Michelle appeared from nowhere and demanded more of my time today.

"Have you got a minute? I need to offload."

"Look at you, right little agony aunt today you are Mrs Connor".

She never got the hint to get lost.

"Two coffees, no sugars."

Finally, she got the hint and my dismissal and left to fulfill my drink order, now my attention went back to my best mate who needed me right now. I spoke to her as she moved without asking, to the vacant office chair in front of me.

"What's up?"

"Oh, just wedding stuff, I can plan these things for a living but when it comes to my own, I can't seem to make any decisions, especially because we need to do it on a shoestring".

I wanted to help her and listen, be her sounding board like she had been mine, but I couldn't help but float back to ideas of helping Nick, even if it was t help him feel less stressed. Of course, Michelle caught on.

"Hello? Pouring my heart out here."

"Sorry, I was miles away."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing"

"Well, it doesn't look like nothing."

Seriously? She knew me too well. what's the harm of telling her I was worried about Nick?

"This is just my bitching resting face."

"Come on spill."

what's the harm of telling her I was worried about Nick?

"No really nothing, what was I thinking of? Err… Nick's going through some family stuff at the minute."

Suddenly a smile appeared on her face as she seemed as excited as a child on Christmas morning.

"Nick aye? Spending a lot of time with recently…"

"No, I do not."

Did I?

"Nick this, Nick that…"

"Michelle!"

"What, you brought him up."

"Well, you asked."

I had hoped that would be the end of it but I could see her fidgeting in excitement, and as she did me, I knew her too well to know that she wasn't done yet.

"Do you love him?"

"Oh please."

"Fancy him?"

"Michelle, will you give over. What are you nine?"

"Has he made a move?"

"No."

"Do you want him too?"

I couldn't even answer her with words as my blush heated my face and I smiled to my hands knowing that I couldn't even give her a convincing lie. I really wanted him to make a move, especially since I had been making loads.

"Oh my god you do, you're after him, you massive tarte."

"Michelle, no I am not, he's far too decent".

She was busy laughing at my discomfort, so I acted childishly like she was and threw a pen at her as she carried on laughing at me before she made her excuse to leave. Thankfully, she chose not to speak about Nick anymore as she had successfully made me admit to myself that I liked Nick.

Just over two hours later as Sally droned on about something not important, my phone lit up and showed an incoming text from Nick causing me to smile as I read it.

'Come to the Bistro for a late lunch date xx.'

I couldn't help but jump up at the opportunity and practically run out of the door with my bag and belongings to see what the new opportunity with Nick would be. As I walked in the door, I walked past a woman looking distraught, I thought I recognised her as I think Erin or Erica of some sought. I paid her no mind as I walked past her and straight into the Bistro to try and find Nick, not seeing him straight away I asked a server who directed me to him near the back.

"Hey, you."

"Oh, er hey."

Well, that wasn't the response I was expecting or even wanted, did he really forget that he invited me here, he wanted me here? Whatever triggered his foul mood, I decided to finally suck it up and say what I think has been on both of our minds for weeks.

"Listen, we've been mates for a bit now haven't we, and er I know nothing has actually been said but, I think we both know how we feel and we're both grown-ups – "

"Ok, I've got something to tell you, Erica's pregnant and it's mine."

"Well… er, wow."

Just as I was about to ask him what he was going to do to maybe get a clearer picture of if this affected the way I was sure he felt about me, he looked behind me and had to dismiss himself due to new customers.

"Look, I should go and er, can we talk later?"

"Yeah, sure."

My voice was more stable than I thought, his voice already sounded different. As I walked out of the Bistro and across the street to the Rovers, I knew that whatever I imagined for me and Nick was over, it would never begin as he would want to create the perfect family with parents that were together, it's just who he was.

When I walked in, Michelle wasn't behind the bar, but Peter was in front of the bar, on his own and I needed familiarity wherever I could get it. I approached him and watched him become shocked that I was settling in next to him.

"Drink?"

"Yeah… sure."

"Red wine and water? Please, Steve."

The looks I was receiving from my best mates' fiancé wasn't stopping me as I chugged my wine seeking comfort from my prematurely broken heart, Nick wouldn't be talking to me later, he would be talking to Erica, the woman pregnant with his baby.

"You alright?"

"Yes, I'm perfect Peter."

Steve, like the perfect snitch, had just returned from the back and was looking at the door to the back and me and Peter, he had snitched to Michelle.

"Actually, do you want to head back to mine?"

"err – "

Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed his hand and pulled him all the way back to Victoria Court not wanting to be spotted by Michelle and be moaned at. I wanted to feel wanted, I wanted to get over the man I never actually had. Something my mom always said was the best way to get over someone is to get under someone. I didn't have it in me to be rejected anymore, who better than the man I knew would sleep with me?

As soon as we shut the front door, I pounced on him, kissing as desperately as I could with him eagerly responding.

Nick who aye?

I wanted to upload more as I am challenging myself, I don't want to stockpile chapters and instead work with your reviews and what you want to happen as I feel like that will make me a better writer. The uploading will slow soon but I want to work with you and will get a schedule going like my other stories.