17th August 2018: Admissions of a Possible Disaster

It was the morning which struck her as awkward especially after the night before. Yes, all she did was kiss her ex but that was because she was in a vulnerable place although in the depths of her heart she wasn't convinced that it was that, she was more convinced at her feelings which were rising rapidly for Peter again. She had to suppress them though if it was to get out what she did last night she would surely have a lot of questions fired her way and she really couldn't be doing with it.

Then it happened Michelle Connor had the nerve to waltz into her not-so-brand-new factory and she knew she was about to get the third degree as well as constant questions about Peter which she really didn't need right now especially after what happened last night. She did enjoy the little digs though as they were quite humorous especially the 'sleeping partner ex' comment thrown at her, oh the irony. Then, of course, she invited her to lunch, along with the 'pep talk' which she was convinced she didn't need because she was in control, wasn't she? Of course, Michelle would be concerned and she totally understood why she would be but with the promise of good wine and a chat with her friend, she was sold. And of course, to go with her friend's departure from her old-yet-new-not-so-new office there was one last underlying dig of sarcasm with a tint of underlying concern.

So, she ended up sitting in the bistro with her glass of wine, her friend sat next to her ready to give her the dreaded pep talk which was something she was going to sit her way through this pep talk...

"Cheers" she clinks her glass with Michelle hoping and praying that her friend doesn't bring up her sleeping-cheating-alchy- ex

"Right..."

"Right?...Oh...Oh here comes the pep talk" she nods sarcastically really not wanting to hear the third degree again "Listen 'Chelle, Peter knows where he stands, ok?"

"Hm" she snorts "Yeah, it's not where he stands which bothers me, it's where he flippin' well lies down"

She looks sheepish all of a sudden causing Michelle to sigh

"What have you done?" she drones grabbing her glass of wine and poising it to her lips to take a sip thinking she might need it

"Nothing"

"Liar"

"Michelle!" she exclaims wanting her to get out of her business so she could live her life "Nothing happened"

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Why are you asking all of the questions?"

"Why are you deflecting all of my questions?" she persists causing Carla to groan in annoyance and sigh

"Like I said nothing happened" she laments picking at her nails regretting that she agreed to this

"Then why don't I believe you?" she asks causing Carla to bite her lip, her expressions really weren't helping the situation she was in "Ok so something obviously happened"

"Somethings a bit of an understatement" she mutters under her breath, it was one of those moments when the niggling voice in her head decided to speak vocally through her voice

"So something did happen?" she shakes her head in utter bemusement as well as questioning why Carla would go back to him

"It was something minor, he asked why I changed my mind about letting him invest and things got emotional, we were talking about Aidan and we kissed, that was it"

"Like a peck?"

"No more like a, well you can probably guess..."

"So you snogged his face off!" she shrieks causing Carla to cover her mouth and groan in annoyance at the whole thing as well as glancing around the room making sure no one was around to earwig, "I told you that you cant set boundaries"

"It wasn't like that, it won't be happening again, he tried to kiss me this morning when I was getting my charger out of my car"

"Please tell me you didn't-"

"No I swerved" she sighs rubbing her forehead "Trust me he knows where he stands, hell will freeze over before I get back with Peter Barlow again"

"And after your little fumble-"

"Hardly a fumble"

"Ok then after your snog-"

"That makes me sound cheap" she moans causing Michelle to whack her playfully on the shoulder

"Ok well after...whatever that was...do you really expect that he's going to remain a sleeping partner?"

"He has to, that was the deal"

"Yeah well, do you really have a say in that? He has rights to run that place alongside you, you've given him a reason to become an active partner now you snogged him"

"Please can we refrain from using the word snog!" she groans causing Michelle to grin "I'm surprised you're not telling me off or going to hound Peter as we speak telling him to stay away"

"You really think I will tell you if I was going to do that?"

"No, but now I know you were thinking about it"

"Look whatever I say I'm hardly going to be able to do anything about it am I? Put it like this Carla, when you and Peter are in love there is no way that can break that splitting atoms would be easier for me to even have an effect on your decision"

"Fair enough" she nods knowing she was partly right "So what now?"

"Well you can do what you like, Peter...well I will make it clear to him I'm not best impressed but as I love you more than the world I will support you through this as a good friend"

"How very sweet of you Chelle" she glints cheekily "I'm sorry I disappointed you"

"Don't apologise, from the sounds of it...it was just a heat of the moment thing, a one-off"

"Yeah" she nods "Well I should probably get back and make sure the place hasn't burnt down yet"

"You do that and remember I'm always here if you need to talk"

"Thank you" she replies giving her friend a hug before her eyes light up "What?"

"I almost forgot!" she exclaims going behind the bar and pulling out a gift bag containing a bottle of wine, Carla frowns "For your filing cabinet, why break the habit of a lifetime?"

"Very nice" she nods "But thank you for all of this"

"No problem. Now get back to work, we wouldn't want that factory going under would we?"

"No, we wouldn't, love you!"

"Love you too!"