Carla walked through the door of her cosy cottage after a long day in the office, silently thanking God that it was Friday. Kicking off her heels and taking off her coat, she smiled at the warmth she always felt inside her home. Going straight to the kitchen, she placed her bag in its usual spot on the counter, got out her phone and saw a message from Michelle saying how excited she was about their virtual catch up that evening.
Realising she only had 45 minutes until Michelle was calling, Carla thought she'd make herself something to eat, going with an omelette and salad as it was fast and easy. Her cooking skills had developed since moving down south, mainly because she knew she couldn't live off of toast and takeaways forever. Admittedly, she was no Jamie Oliver but she was capable of making simple meals without burning the food or the house down which was a massive improvement in her book.
Just as she was putting her plate and cutlery in the dishwasher, Carla heard the familiar sound of the FaceTime ring tone coming from her MacBook which she had set up on the coffee table. Grabbing her glass of red wine from the side, she carefully ran through the kitchen/diner and into the lounge, eagerly clicking accept call whilst getting comfortable on her soft, grey sofa.
Michelle and Carla usually both sit in their comfortable loungewear on their virtual girly nights, as if they were actually together back in Weatherfield having a sleepover but as Carla didn't have time to get changed she was sat in her smart, tight black dress and tights instead. Smiling, she made a bet with herself that Michelle would mention her clothes within the first 30 seconds of their conversation.
"Hey babe!" Michelle beamed at her best friend.
"Hey you."
"Not out of your work clothes yet? Are you working too hard again?" And there it was right on cue, Carla thought to herself. Trying and failing to hide her grin.
"Chelle, I got in just before 7 and actually decided food was a priority over getting changed, I've evolved!"
"No way! I'm proud of you, Car."
"Yeah well, remember you're my mate not my mother. Actually she wouldn't have cared at all so I don't know why I even said that."
"I care about you and anyway we're practically sisters, thank you."
"True that. So, how are you doing? How's you and Robert?"
"I'm good, me and Robert are amazing, almost worrying because things are going too well."
"You deserve it babe, it's good to see you happy."
"What about you? Any men on the scene?"
"Nothing serious, not sure I could be tied down to a southerner ya know, I definitely like my men northern."
"Yeah, northern bad boy's in particular and look how they all turned out."
"Oh haha. Nick wasn't a bad boy and that didn't turn out well either. I've come to the conclusion that I'm the problem."
"No you're not. You'll find someone, look at you. Speaking of northern bad boys though, your ex's son has been a nightmare lately. Involved in a gang, robbing and conning people, roaming the streets, nicking booze from the pub. Although I don't think anyone's surprised with the latter."
"Simon? What, why?"
"No one knows, he's gone from this sweet kid to a rude, gobby teenager."
"Probably just a teenage rebellion stage, getting involved with the wrong bunch of lads kind of thing. Hopefully Peter and Leanne will sort him out."
"Yeah I wouldn't hold your breath there. You'll have to come up here soon and see everyone, we all miss you."
"I will at some point, just need to get some time off work." Carla promised, not wanting to reveal that she was actually coming up to Manchester next week for a business trip and was planning on surprising her family at the same time.
Carla and Michelle spent a couple of hours catching up and gossiping, she felt like she knew every single thing possible about everyone who lived on the street even though she hadn't been there in over a year thanks to Michelle's detailed information.
She couldn't stop thinking about Simon and wondered if it would be weird for her to reach out and contact him. He would always be the closest thing to a child she had, other than the baby girl she lost a few years ago. Deciding that a text wouldn't be the end of the world, she picked up her phone from the table and started typing, hoping she still had the correct number.
Hey Si,
I hope you don't mind me messaging you, it's Carla by the way.
I hope you're doing okay and if you're not, I'm always here for you.
Your grandad Ken even has my address in his little black address book.
Just in case you ever want to get away from Weatherfield for a bit.
Lots of love. x
Smiling to herself and happy with the message, she pressed send. She wasn't expecting to get a reply, he'd probably read it and delete it straight away but knowing she'd reached out to try and help made her feel a bit better.
Starting to get uncomfortable in her formal dress and tights, Carla went upstairs to get changed into her silk pyjama top and shorts set, finishing the look off with a matching silk dressing gown. Slippers on, she went back downstairs to refill her wine glass and sit down in-front of the television, enjoying the peace and quiet after a hectic week of grafting and blagging.
Evidently, it wasn't her own business like Underworld was. She was office manager for a similar business so the authority was there, but it wasn't her baby. Meaning she could still have time for herself and not have the pressure of everything that comes with being the owner, which she quite liked right now.
The sound of a bird cooing outside her bedroom window woke Carla the following morning. Stretching out her limbs, she reached over to her phone and saw that it was 9am. She also noticed that out of the notifications she had on her lock screen, Simon's name wasn't one of them. Carla didn't know why she felt hurt. She knew he wouldn't reply, why would he? She was nothing to him anymore. After putting her phone on the bedside table, she laid back down and thought about Simon and Peter.
She knew Peter was with Toyah Battersby now, Michelle had spilled all when she last came down to see her. She described them as the most boring couple on the planet, making Carla laugh, because of all the things Peter Barlow was, boring wasn't one of them, well when he was with her anyway.
Shaking her head as if to get the thought of him out of it, she got up and ready for the day. Choosing to put on her sports attire as she was in the mood to go for a run. Living so close to the sea had its perks, she could go on lovely coastal runs or walks to help clear her head whenever she liked.
Shortly after having a coffee and slice of toast, Carla put her running trainers on and got ready to walk down to the beach. She preferred walking there and running back as it didn't use up as much energy and it took longer so she was outside in the fresh air more.
It was gone midday by the time Carla got to her street and whilst jogging up to her house she could see a figure on her doorstep, wearing a coat she was sure she had seen before but couldn't quite remember where.
"Si?!"
Simon span round at the sound of Carla's voice. "Hey." He smiled timidly.
"Hey? That's all you have to say showing up on my doorstep alone with a rucksack twice the size of Eccles?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow, walking towards her pastel blue front door.
"You said I could come if I wanted to get away from Weatherfield!"
"You can, but I meant arrange it with me first." She sighed, twisting the key in the lock and opening the door.
"Whatever, I'll go then." Simon sulked.
"No, Si that's not what I meant, come in." Carla ushered him through the door. "Shoes off please."
"Wow, this place is really nice."
Carla smiled. It's something people always said when they came into her home and it made her proud. "Thank you." She lead Simon through to the kitchen, gesturing him to sit down at the breakfast bar. "So, why the ignoring my message but turning up on my doorstep then, you?" She questioned as she stood opposite him on the other side of the worktop.
"I've been feeling like I need to get away for ages so when your text came through last night I jumped at the chance. I went to grandads, took a photo of your address, packed a bag, looked for the next train, kinda winged it and well, here I am." He explained.
"Wow, fast work kid. You could have warned me though, I have nowt in so we'll need to go to the shop. Although I should probably shower first, look at me." Carla said, referring to way she looked sweaty and a bit pink in the cheeks thanks to her run.
"Yeah, ya smell a bit too." Simon joked.
"Oi you, I can still chuck you out ya know."
"I'm only kidding."
"Yeah, yeah. Let me go get showered then we can head out. Feel free to help yourself to any food and drink you can find, other than my wine of course. You can sit and watch telly if you want to, I won't be long."
"Thanks Carla, I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, Si." She smiled, ruffling his hair on her way out of the room.
Carla strolled up to her bedroom thinking about how weird her current situation was. Sure she'd always think of Simon as a son but the fact he'd actually taken up her offer to come and visit shocked her. The truth is she didn't think he actually liked her enough to spend 5 minutes alone with her let alone a few days.
Going into her ensuite she stripped off and jumped in the shower, trying to be as quick as possible considering she had an unsupervised teenager downstairs. Washing her hair and body in record speed time, she quickly dried herself off and chucked on her underwear, a pair of blue, ripped skinny jeans and a black cami top. After brushing her hair, briefly drying it and applying minimal makeup, she glanced at the clock and noticed she'd only been 30 minutes.
Proud of herself, she went back downstairs to see Simon sat watching Friends. Stood by the door, she silently laughed to herself, thinking about the time herself and Peter had been compared to Ross and Rachel.
"Managed to work the telly fine then." She smiled as she sat down next to Simon.
"Course, it's not rocket science ya know. Us Barlow's are not all rubbish with technology like me dad and grandad."
"Ha, fair enough. How is your dad? Is he okay with you being here?" She asked, genuinely curious.
"Yeah fine." He answered, looking everywhere except Carla's face.
"You have told him and your mum you're here haven't you?"
"Erm."
"Simon!"
"I'm sorry, it's just awkward! Mum and Toyah don't really like you much, no offence-."
"None taken, I don't really like them either. Not that I've even met Toyota, I mean Toyah." She interjected with a smirk on her face.
Simon laughed before continuing. "And dad, well he's so awkward when you get brought up. You can tell he still cares about you and they don't like that at all."
"So you thought it was best to not tell them you were coming to stay with me?"
"Yeah. I said I was going out with my mates." Simon winced.
"And you've come to the other end of the country instead." She chuckled. "I shouldn't be laughing. Oh Si, what are we gonna do?"
"Go to the shop, show me around, have a good time?" He responded cheekily.
"I meant about telling your parents, they're going to hit the roof when they find out."
"I'll ring them later, I promise. They think I'm out all day anyway."
"Fine. No getting out of it though, you will be calling them later, alright?"
"Yep. Now let's go, I haven't eaten yet today and you have nothing in your kitchen, how do you survive?"
"You've gotten even cheekier you have. Come on then, get your shoes and coat on and get in the car."
Carla and Simon went into town, stopping at Sainsbury's to stock up on some more teenage friendly food and drink for the few days Simon was staying. Carla wanted to ask him about his recent behaviour that Michelle had told her about but decided it was probably best to do it back at the house rather than in public.
After they were done in the supermarket, Carla took Simon to her favourite little coffee shop along the seafront, treating him to a hot chocolate and ham and cheese panini whilst she had her favourite latte and sticky bun. She could see him checking his phone every now and then, suggesting someone was trying to get hold of him.
"Who keeps ringing ya? Mum or dad?"
"Dad, mum doesn't care she's too busy with Oliver these days."
Carla could hear the bitterness in his voice, she was no psychologist but thought maybe it was part of the problem. "Ah right. Why don't you just speak to your dad then? He's less likely to scream and shout at you anyway." She said before taking a sip of her coffee.
"When we're back at yours I will."
"Okay, good idea." Carla agreed, she didn't want to push him further.
They continued their day by having a nice walk along the beach with Carla pointing out places and giving facts she seemed to have picked up without even realising. Followed by some time spent wasting money and having fun in the arcades. She did love it in Devon, there was no denying that. It just never felt like a forever home, it was more like a long holiday that didn't have an end date.
Once they got back to the comfort of Carla's cottage, she showed him up to the spare room and let him get settled. Instead of having one family bathroom, both bedrooms had en suites, one of Carla's favourite things about the house. She told Simon he was welcome to use the shower and make himself at home before going downstairs.
Carla put the shopping away whilst Simon was upstairs. She thought she'd start on dinner whilst she didn't have much to do, choosing the pizza's they bought earlier in the day. Switching the oven on and taking the pizza's out of their boxes, she put them on the side until the oven was ready and poured herself a glass of wine. She leaned against the worktop and scrolled through Instagram to waste some time. Once the oven beeped, indicating it was ready she placed the pizza's in carefully and went to sit down on the sofa.
"You did remember to take the plastic covering off the pizza's right?" Simon asked cheekily as he came into the room 10 minutes later.
"Ay, of course I did. That was a one time thing, thank you!" She replied laughing, surprised he remembered that incident considering how young he would've been at the time.
"Glad to hear it, wasn't fancying plastic flavoured pizza for dinner."
"You'll get nothing if the cheek continues." She joked. "Have you spoke to mum, dad or step mum/auntie? God that's weird isn't it?"
"Tell me about it, I just stick to auntie Toyah though. I still think of you as my step mum actually." He said honestly.
"Yeah the wicked step mother probably." She chuckled.
"Nah. Well maybe at first but it didn't last, I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"Well I am honoured, you'll always be my step son whether you like it or not." She grinned, meaning every word. "Don't think I didn't notice you ignoring my first question either mister, clearly you haven't spoke to any of them have you." She tutted.
"I forgot how much smarter than most people you are."
"Flattery will get you no where Si."
"Fine, no not yet." He sulked but then got saved by the oven timer going off in the kitchen telling them their pizzas were ready.
"You're not getting out of it, before you go to bed they are finding out even if I have to do it myself." Carla stated sternly.
They sat comfortably and contently at the dinner table, eating their food and chatting away. Carla managed to slip in that she knew about his recent behaviour without riling him up, he said he thought she might know something because the text from her came at such a random time. He discussed that he felt lonely and left out at home, his mum having a baby and now Toyah wanting a baby too.
His new group of friends made him feel included and wanted. He didn't want to be the way he was being, he just didn't know how to get out of it now without even more trouble occurring. Carla felt sorry for him. He hadn't had an easy life, mainly because of his parents and their endless drama, her own antics of the affair with Peter included so she was determined to help him in any way she could.
Once they'd finished dinner and cleared up, Carla sent Simon in the lounge to choose a film to watch on Netflix, instructing him not to press play until he'd called his mum or dad as it was now 8pm and she knew they'd be going out of their minds.
Whilst Carla was putting popcorn into a bowl, there was a knock at the door which confused her. She hadn't arranged for anyone to come round and other than a few work colleagues and the landlord and lady from the local pub, not many people knew where she lived.
"Si, get started on that phone call I won't be long, I just need to get rid of whoever this is." She shouted over her shoulder.
She padded across the hall, towards the front door and opened it. Momentarily shocked at who was standing on the other side.
a/n: i'm usually a one/two shot kind of writer but i have a few ideas of where to go with this if people would like it to be a longer story, let me know :)
