Chapter 1: Full Circle
Michelle stared blankly down the cobbled street; the buildings lining it so familiar, yet so far removed from what she'd become accustomed to. Her eyes settled on the glowing windows straight ahead, adorned with twinkling Christmas lights, and she felt her heart sink. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, as a comforting arm wrapped itself around her waist.
"Do you want me to head in there and punch his lights out?"
Michelle let out a soft laugh, tilting her head back and breathing in the crisp December air.
"No, it's fine. I need to move on. It's been over a year." She turned around, sweeping a hand through the dark locks of the woman before her and offering her a steady smile.
"Michelle, what he did to you was horrendous. It's okay to not be over it."
Michelle sighed, holding the gaze of the sparkling grey eyes that were boring into her; laced with care and concern.
"Look, Vicky. I'm fed up of men lording it over me and ruining my life. Why do you think I've spent the last 11 months shacked up with you, ay?" She grinned, eyes glinting. Vicky rolled her eyes.
"And there was me thinking you actually loved me." Vicky teased, tightening her grip around Michelle's waist and pulling her towards her. "At least that's what you were saying last night…"
"Of course I do." Michelle planted a quick, teasing kiss on the end of her girlfriend's nose, before pulling away and facing the Bistro once more. Her Bistro. Robert's Bistro. She took another shaky breath, before taking a step towards the Rovers.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Vicky called after her. Michelle turned back, shaking her head and offering a reassuring smile.
"No, it's okay. You head back to the hotel and check Sonny is okay with Tyler. I'll text you in a bit and we can sort something out for dinner."
"Okay." Vicky nodded in return. "I love you." She called out, as Michelle turned back towards the pub. Those three simple words always took her by surprise. They'd been thrown in her direction many times by almost as many people, but for some reason they felt different coming from her: As though they really meant something.
"I love you too." She responded, confidently, blowing a kiss in Vicky's direction before heading into the pub.
The Rovers was very much alive as Michelle pushed open the door; Christmas music blaring from the Jukebox, regulars and visitors alike pressed shoulder to shoulder against the bar. It brought back memories, good and bad, and Michelle felt a sense of nostalgia as she took further steps into the room.
"There she is!" Jenny squealed over the bustle of the crowd. Holding out her arms and making her way around the bar, she pulled a shocked Michelle into a tight hug that left her feeling almost suffocated.
"Here I am…" She mumbled, knowing full well that Jenny wouldn't be listening. She felt herself being ushered behind the bar and towards the back room, away from the chaos of the punters.
"Johnny, Carla! Look who I found!" Jenny sang as she pushed open the door, practically shoving Michelle into the room. The flustered look on Michelle's face must have been more obvious than she'd intended, as Carla had burst into a fit of laughter as soon as she'd entered. It wasn't the heartfelt reunion she'd been expecting, but Michelle couldn't help but smile all the same.
"Welcome back, love!" Johnny called from the kitchen; the sound of a teaspoon clinking against china confirming that he was in fact already making her a drink. She wasn't sure tea or coffee would be sufficient fuel for the news she was about to break.
"Thanks Johnny." She smiled, offering her arms out to pull her best friend into a hug. She felt her body being rocked from side to side as Carla squeezed her tightly, making up for almost a year's worth of missed contact in a single gesture of affection.
"It's so good to see you." Carla said, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"You're looking well." Michelle commented, pulling away from their embrace and holding her friend at arm's length; scanning her from top to bottom. Carla shrugged, demurely, pulling Michelle towards the sofa as Johnny returned, a tray of mugs wobbling in his hands.
"Do you need a hand, Johnny?" Michelle offered. He shook his head, carefully resting the tray on the marble surface of the dining table. Picking up two mugs, decorated with chintzy flowers in vibrant colours, he passed them over to Carla and Michelle. The latter took a quick sip, revelling in the warmth provided by the freshly boiled liquid.
"Can I take your coat, Michelle, love?" Johnny asked politely.
"No, it's okay thank you, Johnny. I can't stay long." Michelle replied, her tone breezy, as though this was a quick stop in to see the family after a trip to the shops and not the first time she'd seen them in the best part of a year.
"Why, where are you getting off to? I thought you were stopping here?" Carla quizzed, casting inquisitive glances between Johnny and Jenny.
"So did I!" Jenny chimed in. "I ironed the spare bedsheets especially!"
"Well, that was the original plan, yes. But… Well, we didn't think it was fair to land a family of four on you."
"A family of four?" Carla sputtered, having taken a sip of her coffee at just the wrong moment. Michelle reached around to pat her on the back, offering some assistance in clearing her airways. "Please, for the love of god, Michelle: Please don't tell me Barry and Helen are here."
Michelle let out a roar of laughter at the horror etched across her best friend's face.
"Oh god, no. A week of living with them was enough, even for me." She giggled, taking Carla's hand in her own. "What sort of friend would I be to put you through that? At Christmas of all times?"
"A terrible one." Carla huffed at the mere thought of it.
"Well, who is it then?" Jenny pushed, settling herself down on the arm of the chair opposite. "Oh my god, you've found yourself a new man, haven't you! Who is it? Anyone we know?"
Michelle couldn't help but inwardly groan at the way Jenny was grinning like the Cheshire Cat at the prospect. She took a breath, preparing herself for the onslaught of questions she was sure would follow. Turning to face Carla, she searched her face for reassurance.
"You do, as it happens." She replied, noncommittally.
She watched as Carla thought for a moment, before slowly her brow began to crease.
"Surely… Surely not, Chelle?" Carla responded, taking Michelle by surprise. "Not Ciaran…"
Michelle let out a relieved laugh, which only caused Carla's brow to furrow further.
"Oh god no! Can you imagine?" She laughed, allowing Carla time to recover before dropping the next bombshell. "No, he's not Ciaran. He's, um… Well, he's not actually a 'he' at all…" She paused, assessing the atmosphere in the room. Johnny and Jenny were sharing confused glances across the dining table, as though having some silent conversation; trying to decipher what she meant. Carla's face had crept into a smirk, one eyebrow raised.
"Michelle Connor, you dark horse!" She breathed, punching her arm lightly.
"So, you're not weirded out by it?" Michelle asked carefully, her attention fully on Carla. She wasn't worried about Jenny and Johnny's outdated opinions. Besides, Johnny had Kate. He had accepted her easily enough, so why should Michelle be any different? What she was more concerned about was how this would affect her friendship with Carla.
"No, of course not, Chelle!" Carla blurted, as though upset Michelle could ever think that of her. "I'm just offended you haven't tried to have it off with me, if I'm honest." She teased, her mouth turning up at the corners.
"Carla!"
"Chelle, it really doesn't bother me who's in your bed. It could be the seven dwarves for all I care."
"Oh my god." Michelle grimaced, her head falling into her hands.
"All I'm saying is, you never have to worry what I think of you. I've seen you at your best and I've seen you at your worst and I have never stopped loving you. As a mate."
"You didn't need to add that bit." Michelle rolled her eyes.
"I know, I'm only teasing you."
"So, do Barry and Helen know about this?" Johnny interrogated, with a trace of accusation in his voice.
"They do, as it happens." Michelle involuntarily shuddered, as the memory of their unplanned and poorly timed visit to her house earlier in the year flooded her mind. "And they were very happy for me. Well, after they got over the shock."
"I am happy for you, Chelle. I just wasn't expecting it, is all." Johnny replied, picking up on the hinted accusation behind Michelle's words.
"So, does that make you my gay best friend?" Carla interrupted, quickly cancelling out the building tension.
"Carla, I'm not gay, I'm-"
"Bisexual!" Jenny interjected, proudly.
"Yes, that's the one."
"Very forward thinking, Jenny. Hey, first Kate, now Chelle. Watch out Johnny, it'll be Jenny next." Carla laughed, receiving a punch in the arm from Michelle. "Come on then, who's the lucky woman?"
Michelle hesitated.
"God, it's not Tracy Barlow is it?" Carla cut the silence. "You know, she had a go with Paula over New Year's."
"Oh my god, yes, you told me about that!" Michelle gasped, suddenly remembering their conversation about it. "No, it's not Tracy… It's Vicky."
She figured ripping the plaster off quickly would be the best approach. She watched as Carla searched her mind to place the name, before the realisation hit.
"You mean… Vicky as in Irish Vicky? Vicky as in Vicky who's kid got Amy Barlow up the duff? Vicky as in Vicky who Robert got up the duff? Vicky as in-"
"Yes, Carla, that Vicky. All of those Vicky's."
"Michelle Connor, are you out of your tiny mind?" Carla questioned, searching her face for any hint of a joke. She could tell by the look in her eyes that she was deadly serious.
"You don't know her like I do, Carla." Michelle responded, quietly. "We've been through a lot together."
"What, like framing someone for murder?" Carla hissed, quietly enough for only Michelle to hear.
"Carla, I delivered her baby. She was there for me, after Robert and after Ray. She helped me build myself back up."
"I could have been there for you, if you'd asked." Carla pointed out, a hint of sadness in her tone.
"I know, babe, I do. And you are still my best friend. I trust you with my life. But with Vicky… I don't know. It's just… Different."
There was a brief moment of silence as Michelle searched Carla's eyes for understanding. Carla broke it with a sigh.
"It's the sexy accent, isn't it?" She asked, her lips tugging up at the corners.
Michelle snorted. "Yeah, that's got a lot to do with it."
"Oh, Babe, I'm really happy for you!" Carla pulled Michelle into a hug, enjoying her company after such a long time apart. "So come on, where are you staying then?"
"We've got a hotel round the corner from the Weathey Arms. We'd have got one closer but they're all owned by that sleazebag." Michelle couldn't help the bitterness in her tone. She knew Carla understood from the way she was now gently stroking her arm.
"How long are you here for? I'm sure we could squeeze the four of you in for a few nights. Johnny's got a stack of earplugs so the baby won't be a problem-" Jenny rattled on, already rising from her perch and preparing to make arrangements.
"Well, that's the thing, Jenny…" Michelle began. She sought Carla's hand, holding it tightly in her own and cast a smile in her direction. "We've decided to move back. Permanently."
It was like her smile was contagious: A beaming grin spread across Carla's face and she pulled Michelle in for a celebratory hug.
"Are you serious?" She checked as she let the younger woman go.
"Yes. We've been thinking about it for a while; lined up some viewings and made some plans. And what better time than before Christmas?"
"Well, you're cutting it a bit fine, Chelle. It could take weeks for you to find somewhere. But you know, you're always welcome here for Chrimbo dinner." Jenny beamed.
"I'll have a word with the Mrs." Michelle laughed, catching herself as the words rolled off her tongue. "Sounds weird that, coming from me, doesn't it? The Mrs. Speaking of, I've left her alone with the kids. I promised her we'd get dinner-"
"Ooh, how romantic!" Carla teased, standing to show Michelle out.
"It's good to see you, babe." Michelle replied, scooping up her bag and ignoring her friend's jibes. "I'll head out the back if that's okay? Haven't got the energy to fight my way through the bar."
"Of course, love. You take care now." Johnny said, returning the tray of now empty mugs to the kitchen.
As Michelle stepped out into the courtyard, the chill of the December air hit her face. She watched as the first flakes of snow began to drift from the sky, settling on the pavement and tangling into her hair. She leant against the wall of the pub, gulping in the relief and happiness she felt.
She pulled out her phone, the photo of herself and Vicky tucked into each other's arms in front of the fire on New Year's Eve flashing up on her lock screen; a reminder of the night they'd first kissed; taking themselves and each other by surprise. It hadn't taken long for them to realise what they both wanted.
She allowed the phone to scan her face and unlock itself, before clicking onto the messenger app.
On my way. Pizza in bed? X
Michelle tapped out the text, smiling at screen as the bubble of three little dots popped up almost immediately.
Sounds perfect. Ham and Pineapple? ;) xxx
Michelle couldn't help but laugh.
Margarita. I'm not a monster x
She didn't have to wait long for a response.
I'll be waiting xxx
"I'm back." Michelle called out softly into the room, wary that Sonny had most likely already been put to bed. She wandered past the bathroom, following the scent of pizza towards the bed in the middle of the room. Vicky offered her a smile over the slice she was clutching.
"How did it go?" She asked, once she'd swallowed a mouthful of dough.
"Better than I could ever have hoped for." Michelle smiled, perching on the edge of the bed and slipping off her heeled boots. "How's the pizza?"
"Amazing. It's still warm. If you get in quick you might manage a slice before I demolish the lot." Vicky teased. Michelle rolled her eyes, pulling herself up the bed towards where her girlfriend was propped up against the pillows. Vicky held out an arm, allowing Michelle to slot her body neatly beside her before reaching out for a slice of Margarita.
"Mmm, this is good." Michelle agreed. "Did Tyler find his room alright?"
"Yeah, fine. It's about three doors down the hall."
"Well, we'd better keep the volume down tonight then…" Michelle murmured, allowing her fingers to walk along Vicky's bare arms. She caught her eyes, the twinkle of lust evident within them.
"I don't know why you're aiming that at me." Vicky pointed out, allowing her eyes to rake up and down Michelle's figure. Michelle let out a seductive laugh.
"Well, you weren't complaining last night…" She teased, biting her lip in a way that made Vicky's stomach flip. She shook her head, rolling her eyes at Michelle's blatant desire. Picking up another slice of Margarita, she pushed it gently into her mouth.
"Shut up and eat your pizza."
