Things are about to get messy and boy I'm excited!
"Are you ok?" the nurse asks, he looks up at her
"Uh yeah...is she ok? For visitors that is…" he trails off, the nurse nods opening the door "Thank you"
"She's currently sleeping but she'll wake up soon"
"Ok thank you" he nods going to sit beside Carla and examine her body
Simon sighed slightly, feeling internally guilty for taking her money and when his mum found out she would be sure to make her fiery presence known. He watched the rise and fall of his ex-stepmother's chest as she slept peacefully under the dull glow of the hospital lights causing Simon to bite his lip. In all honesty, he didn't really know why he was here, maybe he thought she was a more approachable person right now considering he knew the true extent that his father and mother were struggling and with Nick wrapped up in Sam he found an odd sense of comfort in Carla. Eventually, Carla woke and smiled slightly at Simon's presence causing him to smile back.
"H-H...i" Carla smiles, Simon bites his lip
"Dad said your speech is getting better"
"Y-yes" she confirms with a small smile before grabbing her phone
"What can I do for you Si?"
"Um…" he trails off "I just wanted to thank you for the money…"
"You know you don't need to thank me. Is everything ok?"
"Um, not really no…" he trails off feeling rather embarrassed about the entire thing "The money, its helpful but…"
"S-S-Si" she says quietly taking his hand "W-What?"
"I hate to be this person" he sighs shaking his head "But its not enough, i don't know what to do"
"N-Nick?" she questions, Simon shakes his head,
"Sam's his priority," Simon says "I'm further down in the pecking order"
"I'm sure thats not true"
Carla's heart breaks for her stepson
"Your dad?"
"Another thing to throw him over the edge, no thanks"
"Or it could help him realise that if he can help you…"
"No Carla"
"Is there something he's not telling me Si?"
Carla narrows her eyes suspiciously at her stepson
"No…"
"Si" she responds sternly, Simon raises his eyebrows and Carla gasps
"You just spoke without…" Simon says, Carla grins up at him "And no...it doesn't matter"
"I won't give you the money"
She smirks as Simon groans knowing he needed that money
"Tell me"
"I saw him" Simon comments, Carla raises an eyebrow "Drinking, yesterday"
"He wouldn't. He said that he would put himself straight and that he was ok"
"I don't know what you want me to say," Simon says quietly "I'm sorry"
"N-No" she shakes her head taking Simon's hand before grabbing her phone,
"You don't need to apologise. This isn't your fault. How much money do you need?"
"Um, I don't know," he says quietly "Like two grand for the month, it's Victoria Court, you know how pricey the rent is"
"Yeah, sorry. Actually, let me give you my card"
"Carla I don't know…"
"Si" she scolds with a glare enjoying the way she can actually say his name easily without stuttering
"You're taking the card"
"Fine, as if I have a choice" he rolls his eyes taking her bank card "Thank you though"
"Go home Si and make sure your mum or dad do not find that card ok otherwise they will question and the last thing I need right now is your mum on the warpath"
"Yeah ok, thank you," he says squeezing her hand "I hope your recovery goes well"
"Bye Si"
The stinging coolness of the air battered his skin. He looked around and saw the icicles hanging from the sign of The Kabin causing a shiver down his spine. He walked down Viaduct Street in an attempt not to be spotted by anyone. And that was where he waited, it wasn't the thrill but at least now he could put a stop to this. Somehow he wished things were different but he knew deep down that this was far from over but he hoped that Carla's money would help in some way. At least now he could start paying off his debts.
"The drugs" the man orders, Simon gives him the drugs and they exchange the cash "All here?"
"Yep," Simon nods with a small smile "All good?"
"Yeah" his gruff voice nods "See you next time kid"
"Bye," Simon says simply before locking eyes with Kelly at the end of the road, she immediately marches up to him "You didn't see that"
"Seriously?" she questions, Simon rolls his eyes "Simon Barlow, a drug dealer? Well I never"
"What are you even doing here?"
"All my friends live in this area, remember?" Kelly smirks "I won't tell anyone"
"Good you best not" Simon glares "Otherwise you might become embroiled in this scabby business"
"Why?"
"What do you mean by that? We have to stay afloat, it's up to me"
"Very manly" Kelly comments "You and me are more alike than you think"
"Really?"
"Yep, no one but ourselves, lone wolves in this world. Lonely but more importantly we can cope on our own I guess we have to though"
"Yeah" Simon sighs "I just hope things will get better"
"So where's your Si?"
"Oh who knows, obsessed with that job at the chippy" Leanne shrugs "He loves it and I think he's making a real good go at it"
"How are you?" Toyah questions, Leanne sighs and gives her a wary look "Its ok to still grieve Leanne-"
"No one asked Toyah" Leanne drones "How about you and Imran fostering that kiddo?"
"I just wanted to double-check with you that it was still ok-"
"Stop right there-"
"I'd totally understand if-"
"Toyah!" Leanne shrieks "It's fine, you're allowed to live your life"
"As long as you're fine with it"
"I'm fine with it" Leanne confirms shifting around in her seat slightly "So when do they-"
"He" Toyah corrects her, Leanne rolls her eyes at the intricacies "Tomorrow"
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"Yeah, they reckon it's going to be a long term placement until they find adoptive parents. The father's been trying to keep him but it's proved difficult, well he was on a long term foster placement he was born in...uh I keep forgetting but it was somewhere down south. Parents didn't want him at first, sad really isn't it but the circumstances were not right, the mother was ill, was fathered on a one night stand from what I believe, the father was interested and then the mother got ill so she couldn't look after him and he didn't want to be a single parent without her. Was moved up here somehow, it's a long story but a sad one. We just wanted to do our bit when we heard his story"
"I'm sure you and Imran will be great. Should you have even told me that"
"Well, now but I trust you, you're my sister. I reckon this is the start of something amazing you know" Toyah smiles picking up her mug and sipping at her drink, Leanne does the same before glancing longingly at a photo of Oliver…
Peter was walking through the hospital corridors, he was convinced that under his jumper his entire t-shirt was soaked in his own sweat. He wasn't going to see Carla this time and instead he was here for himself behind the backs of his family. Peter had spent the day staring at pictures of Simon and Carla which made him feel immensely guilty that he kept on drinking. Soon it would get to the extent that he wouldn't be able to hide it, well it was to that extent and that's why he needed a quick fix so by going to see a specialist, it felt like he was putting everything right.
"Peter Barlow"
"Uh yeah" he mumbles walking into the room as the doctor introduces themself to him
"As I understand from your notes you were admitted a while back-"
"You don't need to do all this re-read of the notes malarkey, I need a quick fix-"
"Mr Barlow I don't think you understand the extent of your condition" the doctor warns "When the doctors said one more drink could kill you-"
"I know that" he snaps before sighing and feeling bad "Sorry, it's just, I need to get over this. I'll take any treatment plan, anything, rehab, detox, I just need to feel better so I can be there for my partner, she's in here and I need to be there for her-"
"Have you spoken to any family-"
"No" he shakes his head
"We'll run some tests" the doctor considers "But you need to stop drinking. The facts still stand Peter, you could be one drink away from an internal bleed and thats not going to change any time soon"
"What about this one?" Michelle questions flicking through the wedding magazine before rolling her eyes "Earth to Carla?"
She flashes Michelle an apologetic smile
"Sorry"
"Right what's going on" she huffs fed up with Carla being all distant "Is it Peter, are you having second thoughts-"
"N-no" she sighs picking up her phone
"He's drinking again"
"What, how do you know?"
"It doesn't matter how I know. I just know"
"Fine, I won't question" Michelle groans "Do you need me to do anything for you?"
"When I'm out of here can you keep an eye on him for me?"
"Carla" Michelle sighs taking her hand, she just bites her lip "You know you don't have to do this right?"
"Stop trying to talk me out of it Michelle"
"Fine!" Michelle says before sighing "Oh yeah I forgot to tell you right. Do you know that Debbie? Kevin's sister?"
"Oh yeah, the wacky one"
Michelle rolls her eyes.
"That one yes" Michelle grins, Carla smiles "She offered me manageress at the bistro, compensation for Ray and all that"
"Seriously, are you ok with taking that?"
"Well it's good money, a few incentives so it would help you and Peter" Michelle smirks, Carla nods slowly "Do you think I should?"
"I think you should do what you think is right. If you think you can cope then why not"
"Fair enough" Michelle grins "Now are you going to stop brooding and look at these magazines with me"
"It just seems pointless, that's all"
"How do you mean?" Michelle replies concerned
"I can hardly show off a wedding dress can I Michelle? I can't even walk and when I get married to Peter I want to be able to walk down the aisle"
"What if you never walk again though? I hate to be that person but…"
"I know and that will break me"
Carla admits with tears in her eyes before typing on her phone
"I just don't want Peter to envision me in a different way than before and in a way that I don't want to be envisioned in"
"You'll have tonnes of support behind you babe," Michelle says quietly "And Peter he won't care you know that"
"It doesn't stop me from caring though"
"Give yourself time Carla," Michelle says quietly "The future is so uncertain right now try not to jump to conclusions"
"I need a favour"
"Shoot"
"Go and find Peter and tell him I know he's drinking"
"Your wish is my command, I'll give him a talking to"
"Thank you"
"Get some rest before physio yeah?" Michelle kisses her on the top of the head "I'll be back later with or without Peter"
Michelle knocked on the door of number one only to be greeted by a very confused Ken. She explained that she was looking for Peter but was soon informed that he was at the sab office causing an eye-roll and an internal laugh at how stupid this whole set up was. Internally she was annoyed she would have to see one of her exes but either way she was going to do this with her friend.
"When did you get back?"
"Why do you even care?" Michelle questions blankly at Steve who just raises his eyebrows "I was wondering if I could borrow Peter-"
"Oh his missus would not be happy with that" Steve grins, both Michelle and Peter shoot him a look
"Go back to primary school Steve" Michelle retorts as Peter stands up and follows her out of the office, they lean against the side of StreetCars "Right, why are you drinking?"
"I'm not drinking!" he scoffs, Michelle raises her eyebrows "I'm not!"
"So Carla's lying then?"
"What how did she…?"
"It doesn't matter how, well she didn't even tell me how to be honest. How could you be so stupid Peter, she needs you can't you see that? She needs you to be there for her not drink yourself to death, the next thing you know she will be attending your funeral"
"That's why I didn't see her today"
"Huh?"
"I was with my specialist"
"Oh right," Michelle narrows his eyes somewhat surprised he was trying "And?"
"They've given me an alcohol liaison nurse"
"Is that it? What about rehab?"
"Waiting list" he comments before sighing "Sorry"
"No I'm sorry for going at you, I understand it's hard" she places her hand on his arm "Look I've been offered a job, I told Carla, it's good money and we'd be able to afford Victoria Court off my wages alone so if you want to make yourself useful and get onto the estate agents that would be great?"
"Yeah, ok" he nods with a small smile "I'll do that"
"Right and drop in and see Carla, she's really worried"
"I will" he nods "Michelle?"
"Yeah"
"I'm glad you're back, for her sake"
"Me too, I'm glad I'm back too" she confirms as Peter nods and heads back into StreetCars, she walks around and heads to the bistro to see Debbie
"As if it isn't Michelle Connor"
Her head spins around at the speed of light, she gasps in response, her eyes wide with shock
"Lucas"
Now how does Michelle know Lucas...hmm...
