Sticking Around
It was odd and empty in Nick's newly refurbished flat in Victoria Court. He stared mindlessly at the grey and blue wallpaper he chose after the fire. Well, Leanne offered her "Interior skills" and "Eye for colour" when he was stuck between a dark blue, orange, green and black. The thought of her made him smile and reach for his phone in the breast pocket of the black suit jacket he was wearing. It wasn't too early to ring her, or even text. This time yesterday they had sat and had breakfast together and she was always up early when they were married. Her name appeared on his contact list, Nick clicked on her number.
Leanne's phone began to ring loudly in the flat. "Nick? Are you okay?" Leanne asked after finding her phone buried at the bottom of her signature black handbag.
"Yeah, I'm good thanks. How are you today?"
"Alright if I'm honest. How are you after yesterday with Erica?"
"Fine. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders now. When you asked me a few weeks ago if I actually had feelings for her or if it was guilt about the baby I realised I was lying. I feel bad for her and I didn't want to hurt her but it would have caused her more pain if we had been together longer. At least now she can move on with her life and I can too."
"I can't help but feel guilty though Nick. If we hadn't of done what we did Erica wouldn't be devastated and probably wouldn't be heartbroken. I know you said it was your decision but would you have dumped her if you and I hadn't spent the night together?"
Nick sighed and answered truthfully, "After seeing you when Simon had hurt you, I don't think I could have pretended that I didn't still care about you. It was bound to happen at some point Lea. This is you and me. No matter how hard we try at relationships and how far we go from each-other, we're always lead back to each-other."
"I know. When I saw you with Carla and Erica I just felt jealous and confused. I assumed it was just jealousy because Kal had gone. Obviously not." Leanne smiled slightly as she thought about her situation. She was on the phone, almost declaring she still had feelings for her ex-ex husband.
"That's how I felt when you were with Kal. All the time it hurt seeing you together. It was part of the reason why I started hurting you. Speaking of which, have you heard from Simon?"
"No," she sighed, "I haven't seen him yet but I have found some counsellors for us to go to. If I bring the printouts into work later could you help me?"
"Of course I will. I'll come with you too. I want to be there for you, know that you're alright."
"Aw, thank you. I'll see you later then."
"Yeah, see you in a bit."
Leanne put her phone in her bag and saw Eva had texted her twice. Can't be bothered, Leanne thought, ignoring her sister and rushing out of the door to work.
The walk to work was pleasant. Despite it being the middle of September the sun was still beating down brightly on Weatherfield and all those who lived there. Norris was stood outside of The Kabin, dishing out his usual gossip and speculation. The factory workers were queuing up outside, waiting for Carla or Michelle's cousin Aidan Leanne reached the end of the street. She crossed the road and walked into the Bistro.
"Hi Leanne, how are you?" Gail asked in between polishing the tables.
"Oh, hiya Gail. I'm good thanks, how are you?"
"Fine, fine. Has Nick mentioned anything about Erica?"
"Er no, no. Why do you ask?" Leanne was getting sick of telling lies, so much so she felt as if her nose was growing more and more each day.
"Hmm. It just seems odd that's all. He's committed to her one minute and then he bins her off. I wonder if he's finally going to do something with Carla," Gail suggested and even Leanne couldn't hide her obvious disgust at the thought of them two as a couple.
"I don't know to be honest Gail. Carla tried to comfort him after he dumped Erica but he ignored her and carried on working."
"My poor boy. He doesn't know what he wants." Gail said, looking down at the floor, saddened.
If only she knew, thought Leanne. He wants me.
It was about nine and Nick came in to the Bistro.
"So, come on then! Let's have a look at these counsellors we can go to," Nick smiled at Leanne as he came behind the bar and took hold of the sheets of paper Leanne had neatly put together.
"Hmm, he looks a bit dodgy," Leanne laughed as Nick pulled a face at the image of the first man.
"She seems alright and I've read wonderful things about her," Leanne pointed at the woman that Nick instantly recognised. It was Kylie's counsellor that thought Gail was the one addicted to drugs and not Kylie. Nick couldn't hide his laughter.
"What's so funny Nick?"
"She's Kylie's counsellor! She thought Mum was Kylie because she'd been cleaning in the Gym and a pipe burst. Mum had to borrow clothes from the lost property bin and her hair was a mess. David and I couldn't stop laughing when she thought Mum was a drug addict! You can't go to her Lea, I don't think I could stop myself from laughing."
"Well that leaves this one. She seems really good and is pretty local. I'd just need to hop on a bus to get there."
"Yes, she does sound good but you are not going to get a bus there Leanne. Not at all, I'm coming too so I will drive you. We could pick Simon up from school and then go straight there. How does that sound?"
"You're too nice, but are you sure you want to come? Would you not rather go and see Carla?"
"No, of course not. I want to be by your side every step of the way."
"Thanks Nick."
"Don't worry about it."
The lunchtime rush had already begun in the Bistro. Robert was preparing mass amounts of his exquisite food, Leanne was sorting out all the drinks orders behind the bar whilst Nick sorted orders and serving customers. Carla soon strutted in. Nick didn't even move from his position at a table.
"Leanne, I'll have a huge glass of red," Carla demanded. Leanne faked a smile and served her permanent love-rival.
Leanne slammed the glass down in front of Carla, who jumped at Leanne's sudden anger.
"That's £6.95 Carla."
"Are you not going to say please then?"
"Erm... no."
"Well, no tip for you then."
"As if I'd want it from you."
"What's that supposed to mean, Battersby?" Carla chortled, Leanne wasn't amused by her smug facial expression.
"It's Tilsley, actually," Leanne grinned back, her matter of fact tone irritated Carla.
"Oh shut up!" Carla gritted her teeth before standing up and heading towards Leanne.
"Woah! Woah!" Nick shouted, standing between the two warring women.
"Your ex is a bitch!" Carla yelled, trying to shove Nick out of the way and give Leanne a good battering.
"Carla! Carla! Go and sit over there before this gets out of hand!" Nick said, pointing to a table hidden behind a pillar.
"Fine! I haven't finished with you Leanne!" Carla jeered as she headed to the table.
Nick turned around and mouthed "Sorry."
Over at Nick and Carla's table, Carla had finished her red wine and Nick could tell she'd drunk alcohol before coming into the Bistro. She stank of vodka and he could see the large bottle sticking out of her handbag.
"What are you playing at Carla?"
Carla looked up at Nick, her head resting on her hand. "I'm not entirely sure Nicholas but I doubt you know what you are doing either."
"What?"
"Oh come on," Carla began to slur, "You dumped Erica so now you and I can get together. Isn't that right?"
"Er, Carla...I, that's not..."
"Sssh," she placed a finger on his lips and leaned forward to kiss him. Leanne was watching from the bar, she could have smacked Carla into next Tuesday.
"No Carla," Nick pushed her away. "I don't want this," Nick gestured between the two of them. Carla was seething and Nick could tell. Leanne however looked shocked.
"What? You don't want me? How? What about you and I kissing all those weeks ago? Or you crying about your kid to me. You were supportive when my gambling got out of hand. What do you mean you aren't interested?"
"I mistook friendship for feelings. I don't want to spoil our friendship Carla but I don't think you and I would work together. You belong with Peter, not me."
"Spoil our friendship? Say one more flamin' word and I'll spoil your face!" Roared Carla as Nick stared at her.
"Carla, I didn't mean to upset you."
"Get lost," Carla hissed as she drunkenly stumbled out of the Bistro.
Leanne had seen everything and touched Nick's arm reassuringly to show it would all turn out alright in the end; even if that was far from the truth. The Bistro had been so busy in the past few hours, neither had noticed it was almost time to collect Simon and head off to the counselling session.
As Leanne and Nick grabbed their coats and walked towards his car outside, Carla stood outside the factory, watching the two of them together. Nick opened the passenger door of his Audi and Leanne jumped in the car as he ran to his side of the car. They buckled in and drove off as Carla watched on, suspicious.
The car drove down the street and indicated left towards Leanne's. Then right, passing Victoria Court. Leanne couldn't help but ask.
"Nick?"
"Hmm?" He said, glancing at her before concentrating on the road again.
"Do you think Carla caused the fire?"
Nick frowned, Leanne could tell he was thinking deeply. "Honestly Lea I'm not sure. I used to think she was completely innocent but then all of the gambling she'd been doing became so bad and she said it was a way of punishing herself. Why would you punish yourself if you knew you were innocent?"
"Well you wouldn't," Leanne nodded her head in agreement, she knew exactly what Nick meant.
"I know you say you don't have feelings for Carla but did you...did you ever sleep with her?"
"What? No! I kissed her a couple of months ago but that was it. I made a go of things with Erica instead. I wasn't going to do that to Erica."
"You just did it with me instead of Carla," Leanne said, raising her eyebrow at Nick who had turned to look at her as they sat queuing in traffic.
"But I have a history with you and a valid reason for what we did. If Carla and I had happened, what would the reason of been?"
"I don't know. Would you both be on the rebound? Would she even need a reason?"
The traffic started moving and Nick replied casually, "Does anybody need a reason?"
Once they approached Weatherfield High, Leanne could see Simon walking out of school. She didn't wave but moved to face Nick. "I want to say thanks by the way. Thanks for coming with us today. I know we aren't your responsibility anymore but it's been great knowing I have you there when I need you."
"I don't mind Leanne, honest. I just want to know you're okay. I hate seeing you hurt."
Speaking of hurt, Nick needed to drop a text or ring someone that would be hurting a lot.
Nick:
Hi Carla, it's Nick. I'm sorry for rejecting you before but I just think you and me should remain as friends. If you still want a friend, you know where I am. X
"Mum? What are you and Nick doing here?" Simon looked confused.
"We're going to counselling now. So come on Barlow, bags in't boot and get in the back. Can't keep poor Nick waiting."
"Oh, er, okay then. I'll put me stuff in the boot."
Leanne sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. The next hour was going to be one of the longest ever.
The centre was familiar to Nick and to Leanne. It was the place they had tried to mediate last July but had ended in disaster; Nick's convertible getting towed away and Michael's ice-cream van getting a battering. Still, it held everything Leanne desperately wanted- normality. Simon stepped out of the car and the others followed.
"Deep breaths yeah?" Nick asked, touching Leanne's back, urging her inside.
"There's only so deep a woman can breath Nick."
The three sat in the chairs in the main room and waited for their female counsellor to arrive. Kathy Jenkins was her name. Kathy took her flamin' time, thought Leanne as she stared at the posters in the large, clinical room.
"Ah, Mrs Tilsley, Simon. Sorry I'm late, I'm Kathy," She burst into the room, surprising all of them. Kathy was a young brunette that was slim and petite. For someone so small she practically caused a hurricane when she came in.
"Just call me Leanne. This is Nick...he's my..."
"I'm here to support Leanne."
"Hiya Leanne, Nick; nice to meet you both. And you must be Simon," Kathy smiled, shaking his hand.
"Yeah, I am." Simon sat back in his chair again and waited for the abundance of questions from the stranger in the colourful spotty dress.
"So, now that we are all here and are ready; let's begin. Simon, could you describe for me, in your own words what made you hurt your Mum for the first time?"
"Erm, I don't know really."
"Simon, come on mate," Nick said, trying to get him to open up.
"I...Leanne had just got engaged to her new boyfriend Kal. He was dead nice and he always played footie with me. The night they'd got engaged there was a fire and Leanne ran in to save people, well, she saved my cousin and my Dad's ex-wife. Kal followed her in but he couldn't get out in time and he died. I wasn't allowed to go to his funeral and I just felt angry."
"Why did you feel angry?"
"Because it seems that everybody that comes into my life leaves or dies. I feel as though I can't get attached to anyone as they'll get taken away from me at some point anyway. Leanne was just there at the time and it felt like the easiest thing to do. Letting out my grief by hurting her."
"How did you hurt her Simon?"
"I threw the TV remote at her and called her names. I said she wasn't my Mum because my real Mum died of cancer when I was little. I said other horrid things too but they are the ones I remember the most."
"Was that all you ever did?"
"No," Simon began, just as Leanne felt her eyes fill up with tears. It wasn't nice reliving it all. Nick watched her struggle, he felt like his heart was breaking watching her hold back tears.
"I did other stuff too. I hit her arm, called her all sorts of nasty things, kicked her, intimidated her and just ruined her life."
"That's not true Simon, you haven't ruined my life," Leanne faintly smiled, her glossy eyes were waiting for a trigger, then there would be no stopping the water works.
"It is Mum, I'm sorry," Simon touched Leanne's shoulder genuinely. She smiled, and let the session conclude.
"That went well I think," Leanne said after she and Nick had dropped Simon off at Ken's. They had told him that Simon had been doing some sports club after school and that was why he was back late. Again, Ken didn't query why Simon was staying over, yet again but smiled at Nick and Leanne and took Simon inside.
"I think so too. It's baby steps with him but it's progress, definitely."
"Thanks again Nick," Leanne smiled as they came around the corner past Audrey's.
"No problem, oh Lea, do you fancy coming round for..."
"About flippin' time!" A strong Mancunian voice yelled from outside Leanne's flat.
"Eva?" Leanne shouted, rushing over with Nick to see who it was.
"Bonjour Leanne! So come on, what've I missed?" Eva asked, grinning.
Thanks again for reading and leaving such lovely reviews after the last chapter! Great to hear all your thoughts and feelings- please do keep reviewing, it's so motivating and really helps me carry on! I want to apologise for the week long delay- I've just been very busy this last week. This week should be much more normal and I should update again in a few days. Let me know what you thought of this chapter and I will update asap!
Please review, follow and favourite! Update soon! Thanks! :)
