Wednesday had finally arrived and Carla and Simon were on their way back to Weatherfield. Carla had butterflies in her stomach at the thought of pulling up on the Street she left a couple of years ago. She was excited to reunite with Michelle, Roy and the rest of her family but other than that, she was feeling anxious about seeing the rest of the residents as she didn't exactly leave on the best terms with some of them.
Carla and Peter hadn't spoke much since their phone call on Monday night other than a few texts. The call ended not long after she admitted to saying she would never say never about taking him back as the conversation was heading into dangerous territory. She could hear the cockiness in his voice and hated how attractive she found it, so she faked a yawn and explained how tired she was, said goodnight and hung up, leaving him with a smirk on his face and more determined than ever to win her back.
Parking round the back so her expensive car didn't stick out like a sore thumb on the cobbles, Simon and Carla climbed out of the vehicle and stretched their limbs after being in it for hours.
"Who are you gonna find first then your mum or dad? Not that they live far apart mind." Carla asked Simon as they began walking down the street.
"Probably go to me grandad's first to see him and me dad and then to the pub after, it's gonna be well weird living there without him." He replied. Peter had called Simon on Tuesday morning to inform him about everything that had gone on the day before, the youngster not surprised by the events as he knew his dad wasn't happy.
"Well maybe when your dad gets a place of his own you can live with him? Or split your time between the two, best of both worlds."
"Yeah that doesn't sound like a bad idea actually."
"Okay, well I'm gonna go and surprise Michelle at the Bistro now so I'll probably see you later yeah?"
"Alright. Thanks for the past few days Carla, I really am grateful."
"You're welcome Si, it's been nice spending time with you." She ruffled his hair like she always did.
"Yeah, you're not bad at all. I don't know what all the fuss was about when I was younger."
"Well it's nice to know I've finally got your approval." She grinned, "See ya later!" She waved before heading off in the direction of Viaduct Street, more than ready to shock her best friend.
Sneaking through the Bistro door quietly, Carla saw Michelle straightaway. The latter's back was facing her because she was cleaning a table but Carla could recognise that long and shiny brunette hair anywhere. Placing a finger against her lips towards the waiter who was looking at her strangely from behind the bar, Carla creeped up behind her best friend and placed her hands over Michelle's eyes gently, "Guess who?" She said softly, not wanting to startle her.
Shrugging off the hands over her eyes and turning round at the speed of light, Michelle screamed "Oh my god!" and launched herself at the older brunette, squeezing her tightly.
"Alright Chelle, I've missed you too but I would like my ribs to remain intact." She joked, stroking the other woman's hair affectionately.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Michelle asked stepping back, instantly taking hold of Carla's hands having missed the physical contact with her.
"Kind of a long story, when's your break?"
"Whenever I want it to be, go sit over there and I'll bring a couple of coffees over." Michelle ordered.
"Yes sir." Carla giggled whilst mock saluting.
Shortly after Carla sat down, Michelle brought over their drinks and Carla filled her in on her weekend spent with the Barlow boys. At first, Michelle wasn't too impressed about the situation, not surprising Carla at all as everyone with a brain knew Michelle wasn't Peter's biggest fan after what he did to her best friend but after a while she seemed to soften.
"Right so let me get this straight… You were coming here anyway for a work meeting but ended up coming early to drop your ex step son off after spending the weekend with him and your ex husband?" Michelle summed up Carla's long version of events in a way she always had done ever since she'd known her.
"Er, yeah basically." Carla tried and failed to hold in a laugh.
"Carla."
"What?"
"Nothing happened with you and Peter did it? I know what you two are like.'
"Ay? What are we like then?" Carla replied amused and curious.
"You're like flipping magnets that can't stay apart even if you wanted to!"
"That's a good one that." She smirked, noticing the serious look on Michelle's face, "No, nothing like what you're implying happened. He has split up with Toyah though."
"What?! He spends a couple of days with you and now he's split from his long term partner?"
"When you say it like that it sounds bad but it had nowt to do with me. Peter said he's wanted to do it for a while." She explained.
Not having much to do as it was quiet before the lunch time rush began, the young, blonde waiter from behind the bar went over to Carla and Michelle's table to take away the empty coffee cups, as he picked them up he heard the name mentioned and couldn't help but wonder who the mysterious, attractive brunette that was currently sitting with his boss was.
"Are you talking about my brother?" He directed at both of the women.
"Brother?" Carla asked perplexed.
"Carla, Daniel, Daniel, Carla." Michelle informed them both before turning towards Carla, "Peter's half brother."
"Carla as in Peter's ex?" He asked shocked, having heard all about the woman currently sat in front of him.
"The very same." Carla smirked, "Nice to meet ya, sorry to hear about your siblings." She joked, referring to Peter and Tracy.
"Ha, nice to meet you too. Better take these out, boss is a right meanie." He gestured to the coffee cups in his hands and nodded towards Michelle who rolled her eyes.
Carla and Michelle continued their catch up until the latter had to get back to work as it started to get busy. She promised Carla that she would give her a call when she finished her shift so they could continue their chat, mainly because she knew Carla wasn't telling her everything that had gone on and was going to get it out of her whether she liked it or not.
As Carla had a free day because her meeting wasn't until tomorrow she mentally went through the list of people she wanted to see and after doing so, decided that Roy was next. Leaving the Bistro, she went straight to Roy's Rolls knowing that it was highly unlikely the owner would be anywhere else other than in his cafe or the flat above it. Her chest felt tight at the thought of walking in the cafe and seeing anyone other than Roy but holding her head high, she strutted through the door like she'd never been away.
Unfortunately for Carla, the cafe was busy but as she glanced around quickly it did seem like most people had their food and drink, hopefully meaning that Roy could spare a couple of minutes. She walked straight to the counter and stood in the gap down the side like she always did and waited for Roy to notice her, he was currently writing something down and muttering to himself, making her smile.
"Carla?!" Roy said happily as soon as he looked up from his notepad.
"Hey Roy." She grinned, walking over and giving him a hug, not caring that he didn't really enjoy physical affection, "Ooh I've missed you!" She kissed him on the cheek lovingly.
"I have missed you also." He admitted shyly, "Although I'm quite busy at this moment, why don't you sit down and I'll bring you a coffee over?" He offered.
She'd already had three coffees so far today and knew she'd be buzzing if she had a fourth but nothing else appealed to her, "Sounds like a plan."
"Have you eaten?"
"Ha, things don't change no matter how much time has passed do they?" She chuckled at him trying to feed her.
"Ah deflection, I'll take that as a no then. Bacon barm, cheese salad, sticky bun?" He listed her favourites, refusing to give up.
"Ugh, I forgot how annoying you can be. Fine I'll have a cheese salad please dad." She grinned, not annoyed in the slightest and secretly loving that she had someone like Roy looking out for her.
"Cheese salad and a coffee coming right up."
Carla sat down at the one free table at the back of the cafe and got out her phone, whilst scrolling through her emails she heard the familiar voice of Simon Barlow come through the door, complaining at how busy it was. She wasn't sure who he was with as they were still behind the partition wall and that both scared and excited her at the same time. Continuing to look at her phone, she waited until she was spotted, which unsurprisingly didn't take very long.
"Carlaaaaa." Simon sang, causing her to look up from her phone to see him and Peter not far behind with his hands in his pockets.
"Yes?" She knew what he was going to ask before he even said it.
"Could we sit with you please?"
"Hmmm." She pretended to think about her answer, her finger on her chin and a pout on her lips, "Yes but on one condition."
"Oh and what's that then?" Peter finally spoke, a cheeky smile on his face.
"You're buying Barlow." She directed at Peter.
"Deal."
"Well go on, sit down then." She laughed at the way they waited for her permission, "One of you better go and tell Roy what you're having though, as you can see he's quite busy but just say you're sitting with me."
"Si, you go, if I tell Roy I'm sitting with Carla he might faint or something." Peter chuckled and handed his son a few notes so he could pay at the same time, "Get me a coffee and bacon butty please." The youngster went straight to the counter and waited for Roy to appear from the back.
"He's gonna see us sitting together anyway you numpty." Carla stated, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Well I know that, I just wanted a minute on our own if you must know."
'Sounds ominous, don't get any ideas mate." She smirked.
Peter gazed at her, wanting to admit how much he had missed her even though it had only been a few days but decided not to, "Get your mind out the gutter, actually I was going to say thank you for having Si and bringing him back, he's just been telling me dad and me what a good time he's had. You've got your own little Barlow fan club going on."
"Number one being Tracy obviously." Carla joked.
"Nah, that spot is and always will be mine, Si a close second though." He winked, then saw his son was on his way back over, "All done kid?"
Simon nodded as he sat back down, "Yep! Roy was trying to hide how shocked he was when he noticed you two sat with each other grinning away, it was really funny."
The two adults glanced at each other, the realisation of people seeing them together for the first time in years hitting them both. "I am so going to get grilled by him later, I can already feel his eyes on us." Carla chuckled, "Oh I met your brother earlier at the Bistro." She decided to inform Peter.
"Ah did ya? What did he have to say for himself?"
"Nothing much, he just heard me and Chelle talking and asked me if I was 'Carla as in Peter's ex' so I said yes and then apologised about the siblings he had." Carla grinned, receiving a light slap on the arm from Peter. "I'm serious, he seems way too normal to be related to you all."
"Yeah, he's basically a mini grandad Ken, smart, sensible and boring." Simon added whilst taking his coat off and putting it on the back of his chair.
"Si, that's your uncle you're talking about."
"What? I wasn't insulting him, it's the truth!"
Carla watched the father and son duo with a smile on her face, secretly having missed the normal conversations like these ones, "Well he seemed lovely anyway." She added, looking up when she felt Peter's eyes on her and caught his gaze, their eyes always had a special way of communicating and this time was no different.
Carla, Peter and Simon continued chatting until Roy brought their food and drink over, the cafe owner giving Carla a stern look at the same time as putting her sandwich in front of her, making her feel like a naughty child. Carla knew she was going to have to explain everything to him just like she had done with Michelle and probably would have to with the rest of her family too, she was already tired of it and thought about maybe making a sign or sending out a group text instead of having to constantly repeat herself.
Whilst the trio were finishing their food, Leanne walked through the door of the cafe and saw them laughing and joking together and as Carla was the unfortunate one sat facing in the direction of the entrance she received a glare from the blonde, causing the smile she had on her face to drop. Peter instantly turned around to see who had that effect on her and wasn't surprised at who he saw.
"Ah well isn't this cosy." Leanne sneered once she got to their table, "Didn't take you long did it?" She glared at Peter.
"Excuse me? We're having lunch, not that I have to explain myself to you." He replied, shaking his head.
"With her of all people though." She pointed at Carla with disgust, "Seriously Peter? What if Toyah had been with me?"
"Ah, it's nice to see you too Leanne, sorry I didn't know there were rules on who everyone is allowed to lunch with, you'll have to let me read the book you have so I can get up to date." Carla deadpanned, sarcasm dripping from her words.
Simon sipped on his milkshake, not wanting to get involved in his parents drama but couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips at his former step mother's sarcasm, noticing his dad was chuckling too he didn't want his mum to feel ganged up on so decided to change the subject, "So mum what are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came to find you, I'm taking Oliver down the Red Rec and wanted to see if you would come too as you've been away and haven't spent much time with us lately." She glanced at Carla and Peter as if to blame them, causing them both to look at each other and hold in a laugh.
"Yeah sure that sounds great, you don't mind do ya dad?"
"Of course not."
Leanne muttered a quiet thanks and stormed off, not giving Carla and Peter another look. Simon got up, kissed Carla on the cheek and gave his dad a hug before following his mum out, leaving Carla and Peter alone and able to let out the laughs they had been holding in.
"It's nice to see she still hates me, not that I'd expect anything different mind." Carla spoke once her laughter had died down.
"She's just jealous of you."
"Give over." She brushed off.
"Honestly she is, the way she goes on about you, she's borderline obsessed, always has been."
"Oh what so I should be flattered? Another one in the fake fan club?"
Peter chuckled, "The fan club isn't fake, it's very, very real."
"If you say so." She grinned, "How are you anyway since moving in with ya dad and everything?"
"Yeah I'm okay, back working at Street Cars which is good."
"No regrets ending it then?" She asked curiously.
"None at all, actually should have done it sooner to be honest."
"Well that's good to hear."
"Is it?" He smirked, the typical Peter Barlow arrogance showing itself.
"I meant for you! I'm glad you're happy Peter."
"Are you happy Car?" He questioned.
"Of course." She attempted a smile.
Noticing it wasn't a real smile, he instantly called her out, "I don't believe you… That was your fake smile just then."
"No it wasn't." She lied, hating that he still saw right through her.
"You can't lie to me, I can still read ya like a book baby." He said cheekily, tapping her on the nose lightly before sitting back in his chair when he noticed Roy was on his way over.
Standing by their table, Roy shuffled awkwardly on his feet and glanced between Carla and Peter wondering what he had just interrupted as they seemed playful, "Apologies for intruding but I am about to take my break and wondered if you would like to come upstairs to converse Carla?"
"Yeah of course Roy, you go on up and I'll be right behind." She smiled, watching him go through the door and up the stairs, "Sorry, I just need to get the lecture over and done with. Can't believe being mates with an ex causes this much drama." She chuckled, "My life would be much easier if I just hated you, ya know."
"Well, I'm extremely glad and grateful that you don't." He said sincerely.
"Yeah well, there's still time mister." She smirked at him, "Thanks for paying for this by the way, I was only joking when I said it was a condition." She gestured towards the now empty plates and cups on the table.
"No worries, it's the least I could do after you've looked after Si for the past few days." He gently grabbed her wrist as she went to stand up, the sudden contact making her pause, "you're not going back to Devon straight after this work thing tomorrow are you?" He questioned looking sheepish.
"No, I was going to stay until Saturday or Sunday, why?" She glanced down at the wrist he still had a light hold of, instantly causing him to let go, thinking he may have crossed a line.
"No reason, I just didn't want this to be the last time I saw you before you went home that's all." He shrugged his shoulders and stood up just like she had, "I've missed you." He finally admitted confidently, he didn't give her a chance to say anything back as he said goodbye and walked out the cafe without looking back.
Slowly walking up the stairs to Roy's flat, Carla found herself lightly stroking the part of her wrist that Peter had been gently holding, the realisation of what she was doing making her laugh to herself. It seemed like Peter was back under her skin, literally.
a/n: thank you for the reviews, hope you're still enjoying :)
