Black Eyes and Simon's Lies

The Bistro remained quiet and empty as Nick and Leanne tasted the delicious menu ideas that Robert had created. He had cooked a spicy chicken, rice and stuffed marrow dish. "Ken gave me the recipe, It was Deirdre's signature dish," began Robert, as Nick had another mouthful of the food. "It's delicious, was it really Deirdre's recipe?" Asked Leanne. Nick, still chewing, looked at Robert too, awaiting an answer. "Yeah, I modified it a bit. Added spices, seasoned it a bit more than the recipe said. Other than that it all belongs to Deirdre." Leanne smiled and said, "She'd be proud, Tracy and Ken will be pleased too. The street needs a legacy of Deirdre- this is perfect. I think we should name it after it's founder, something like 'Deirdre's Delight' or 'Deirdre's Dish'. I definitely think Deirdre would agree it would taste good with a glass of red wine."

"Red wine? Ooh yes, make it a large," said Carla, interrupting the tasting session."Yeah, sure," Nick replied, walking to the bar and pouring her a glass. Leanne sat and rolled her eyes at Carla, who was obviously flirting with Nick. It was Leanne's turn to interrupt now. "Nick, we haven't finished," Leanne smirked as Carla frowned. Nick turned to Carla, then to Leanne and asked, "Can't Carla join us? She could help us with the menu." Leanne looked angry. Carla saw the smile on Leanne's face fall and she patted Nick to stop him. "Yeah. Of course Nick. Why don't you offer her my 50% of the Bistro too?" Leanne remarked, the fury beginning to rise in her voice. "Oh Leanne, don't be ridiculous," Carla rolled her eyes. She really couldn't stand Leanne. What was her problem anyway? It wasn't like she had feelings for Nick anymore because before Kal died she agreed to marry him. She even left Nick for Kal. If she loved him she wouldn't have done that. So why all of a sudden had she become so protective of Nick?

Leanne turned to Robert and spoke, "Sorry, we'll have to do this another time. Sorry." With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the Bistro. The weather was still warm on the September afternoon and there was barely a cloud in the sky. Norris appeared outside The Kabin, sweeping up the dust that had blown from the construction site of Victoria Court. "Hello Leanne," shouted Norris, not looking up from his sweeping as Leanne walked over to him. "Hi Norris. You alright?" She asked, as he looked up at her face to see the bruising. "Oh, what happened to your face?" Leanne suddenly remembered. She'd been crying earlier and had forgot to cover up her bruises. "Nothing, mind your own business," Leanne snarled; storming off down the street and sitting on Maxine's bench.

Nick sat with Carla in the Bistro, listening to her talk about her financial woes. Well, listening being far from the truth. His mind kept going back to Leanne. She flinched when he touched her. Not in a sexual way did he touch her, but as a friend. It was strange. She had no reason to fear Nick and yet he wondered why she had completely shut him out. Then there was her bruises. Her constant staring off into space. The lack of Battersby fire in her. It really seemed like he shared a restaurant and a surname with a stranger. It was obviously to do with grief. Kal and Deirdre died within weeks of each-other, so it must be that. But then why has she been desperate for Nick to stay for dinner or a coffee? She offered to work extra shifts in the Bistro- offering night times and weekends. It was if she was trying to avoid something, or someone. "Honestly Nick, the situation down at the factory is so bad Michelle's cousin Aidan is trying to step in and buy me out. I never should have gambled that £15,000 in the casino." Carla moaned, taking large gulps of wine. Nick nodded and replied, "Sorry Carla, I need to go and talk to someone. I won't be long." Carla pulled a face as she knew straight away who this 'someone' was. Leanne. "Sure. Run back to Leanne." Nick frowned, annoyed at what Carla was suggesting. "It's not like that. She's gone through a lot recently- I'm worried about her." Carla quickly knocked back her glass of Merlot and demanded Steph pour her another. "Steph I won't be long," Nick said before rushing out of the doors of the Bistro.

Leanne hadn't moved from her spot on the bench. She shut her eyes and tried to think of nothing. It was difficult because every time she closed her eyes she was taken back to various low points.


Simon throwing the TV remote at her face. Leanne accepting Kal's proposal and watching the flats explode with him inside, right before her eyes. Dan violently attacking her. Simon discovering the truth about Leanne's prostitution. And...


"So this is where you got to then," Nick said, gesturing to the space next to her on the bench. Leanne moved her bag onto her lap and spoke. "Yeah, I needed some air. Sorry I stormed out of there. I just can't stand her. She takes everything I care about and turn it against me, or take it away from me."

Nick furrowed his brows in confusion. "Wait, Leanne; I'm confused. What do you mean?"

"Everything that I love and care about ends up turning against me or becoming property of Carla. Peter? I was married to him and she managed to seduce him and make him fall in love with her. And Simon. I bought him the wrong coloured trainers for his birthday, but Carla bought him the exact pair he wanted. He had a right go at me because Carla got him what I didn't. Then there was Kal. Alright she started the fire by accident but because I saved her, he died. She's come out of it unscathed but I haven't. I have the bruises to show for it."

"That's not true and I'm sure Simon didn't mean it. Peter's an idiot anyway. He didn't appreciate you when he had you. Besides, one pair of trainers isn't going to compensate for the fact that Carla and Peter's affair caused a divorce and a painful custody battle which split up is family and sent his Dad to LA. You're his Mum Lea, he loves you so much; he's just had a hard time of late, that's all. What do you mean unscathed? Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"...It's nothing, honestly. I've just had a rough time but I'll be okay. You know me, Battersby at heart."

"And Tilsley by name; which means you're still as important to me as you were when we were married. Come on Leanne, what is it?"

"Nick, I told you, I am fine. Get back to Carla or Erica. Whichever way the wind is blowing."

"Oh for god's sake! If I didn't care about you I wouldn't be sat here trying to get answers! Leanne, please. Whatever it is, I can help or be a friend."

"Ugh. Fine. It's...it's Simon," Leanne whispered, she could feel her voice wavering and Nick could too. He put his hand around her, urging her to continue.

"That's it, keep going."

Leanne took a deep breath and sniffed, pulling back the tears she wanted to let out. "He's been hitting me, calling me names and telling me how much he hates me. I don't think I can take much more Nick. It's too much for me to cope with."

Leanne lifted her head up to see Nick's shocked but calm expression. "How long has this been going on for Leanne? Weeks? Months?"

"He threw the TV remote at my face a couple of days after Kal's funeral. Since then it's been hell. Things got a little better after you took him out for some days out. Then Dan told him about when I... when I was a prostitute." Leanne couldn't hold it all in any longer. She started crying hysterically. Her sobs soon became muffled and the smell of Nick's aftershave overpowered her senses. He held her close and tight in his arms. It felt like when he came round just after the Victoria Court fire. He didn't make her talk then. He gave her what she needed and held her until there were no more tears to cry.

"It's alright Leanne. It's okay. Why don't I ask Simon what's going on too?"

"Why do you need to do that?" Leanne asked, lifting her head up from Nick's shoulder, staring him in the eyes.

"Well, to hear his side of the story too? I'm sure he would want to explain what's been going on for him as well."

"Wait a minute... you don't believe me, do you?!"

"...It's not that I don't it's jus..."

"Don't! Get out of my face now! Go on, get back to your precious Carla!" Shouted Leanne, standing up and walking back towards her flat.

"Oh Leanne! I didn't mean it like that! Come back!"

Leanne reached the door of her flat and pulled out her keys. She could hardly see what she was doing as the tears were falling even more. She finally unlocked the door and quickly locked it behind her. As she made her way upstairs, she stopped and collapsed in a heap of heartbreak on the floor. Her cries getting louder as she clutched the wall. It really did feel like she was alone. It felt like the battle wasn't worth fighting anymore. Standing slowly, Leanne walked into the main living space of the Kebab shop flat. The phone buzzed. She didn't need to know who it was. She ignored Nick's ringing and opened the fridge. A bottle of Pinot Grigio was calling Leanne and it seemed like it would ease the pain of her existence. If existence was even a word for what she was living right now. Penance seemed more of an apt word to describe her life.

Leanne filled the glass up high with the wine and sank down on the sofa. Her phone rang and then a text appeared too. Leanne took a huge gulp of the wine and read the message. No surprise, it was Nick.

Nick:

Leanne I'm so sorry. Please let me in or reply to my texts. I want to know you're okay and you won't do anything stupid. Please Lea. I'm on your side. Xx

Leanne switched her phone off and put it down on the table. After a few minutes, and another glass of wine, Nick's ringing at the door stopped. Finally, he had given up.

Nick shouted one last time, in the hope she would stop being so stubborn and let him in. "Leanne! Leanne please open up!" After getting no reply, Nick headed off towards the Bistro again. Just as Simon's school bus dropped him off outside Audrey's.

"Hi Si, how was school?" Nick asked, attempting to be polite to the child he had been told was abusing his ex.

"Alright I suppose."

"Do you fancy coming to the Bistro for a bit? I could get you some dinner and we could have a proper catch up."

"Well I'm stayin' at Grandad Ken's tonight so Leanne won't mind," Simon said. Nick suddenly noticed it. He had just called his Mum Leanne. He never did that.

"Great, come on then mate," Nick lied, trying to hide his disgust and anger at the young lad.

In the Bistro, Simon and Nick sat at a booth together. Simon munched on a steak and chips and occasionally stopped to drink his chocolate milkshake. Nick twiddled his thumbs awkwardly, waiting for the right moment to talk. "Is everything alright with you and your Mum?" Nick finally asked.

Simon stopped chewing and froze. Nick looked at him, awaiting his answer.

"No, not really," Simon started. Nick gestured for him to carry on. "It's Leanne. She's been all depressed and she keeps saying how much she hates me. Sometimes she hits me too Nick. I'm scared of what she might do if anything else happens."

"Wait, she's been hitting you?" Nick looked stunned but the more he processed it, the more sense it made. All the pain and heartache Leanne has suffered over the years, the strange behaviour. There's only so much a person can take, thought Nick.

"Yeah, it's been horrible. I told her to stop and I tried to sort it out but she's horrid. I want to come and live with you Nick."

"You haven't been hitting her then? Or calling her vile names and giving her insults?"

Simon shook his head. "Did she say that I did that?"

Nick nodded. "If you have, just be honest, then we can get all of this sorted."

"I haven't Nick! Why do you care anyway? She's not your wife anymore!"

"I care about your Mum a lot. I also care about you, but if you aren't honest then we can't sort this mess out."

"Well she said my Dad left because he hates me and wishes I was never born. She hit me too. I hate living with her. I'm really scared."

"Don't worry. You finish your dinner and then go to Grandad Ken's. I'll take care of your Mum."

"Thanks Nick, I really am worried about going home."


"Leanne!" Nick screamed. "Open the door right now or I'll kick it down!" Leanne answered the intercom phone of the flat and shouted, "Why?! So you can accuse me of lying again?!"

"I'm not accusing. I just spoke to Simon, gave him his tea at the Bistro. He said you hit him and that you told him Peter hates him! He's twelve; how could you do that to him?!"

"You told him what I said to you!? No! Why did you do that?! I thought I could trust you!"

"So did I Leanne. I thought you were different. A catfight in the street yes but beating a child? I never, ever thought you would do that."

"Nick, I never did that! I thought you understood! How come you don't believe me? I was your wife- twice! I cannot believe that I ever thought I could trust you," Leanne cried, her sobbing could be heard down the phone.

"Don't you dare blame me. I thought I knew you as well Leanne."

Leanne heard Nick walk away from the intercom. She crumbled to the floor in tears, she could barely breathe; the pain in her chest hurt that much. Nick was the one she thought she could trust, one she knew still cared about her. Now, Simon's little lies had turned him against her completely. The blinding pain returned and so did the fear inside of her. Leanne knew Simon was soon going to get revenge on her and lash out like never before.


Thank you for reading! Just wanted to say thank you to 'glitteredeyes' for your lovely review- it really encouraged me to update this story! Do let me know your thoughts- constructive criticism is always great to hear! Lots more to come so stay with the story! I will update again very soon if people want me to, I am still unsure if I should carry this on. Thank you!

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