Staring at the ceiling, she tried processing yesterday's events. It felt like her mind was doing a marathon, everything was circling at such a fast pace in her head and she didn't have a chance to digest any of it. It almost felt like a horrible nightmare; the worst nightmare you could have. She didn't get a wink of sleep and it was now early morning. She heard all of her neighbours making their way to their jobs, deliveries being dropped off, school kids chatting amongst themselves. A single tear cascaded down her contoured cheek; what was her life now? What did she have to look towards? The man she loved the most, who gave her life, had gone. And he hated her with every fibre of his being.
Not to mention the fact she was pregnant too. That certainly hadn't left her head since yesterday's shock revelation. She wished she wasn't in such a difficult situation but she was and she had to make a decision. She couldn't be a mum, surely. She couldn't watch her body change, as a human she'd made grew inside her. And then go through excruciating pain and look after it for the rest of her life. It wasn't her, and especially not she would go through this alone.
Rolling over in bed, she shut her eyes and softly sobbed into her duvet.
"Sleep well?" Ken asked, looking above his newspaper to see Peter's dishevelled state.
"You're kidding, aren't you? Didn't sleep a wink." He mumbled into his hands, as he sat on the sofa in his Dad's living room.
"Was it the sofa bed? Or something to do with the reason you slept here tonight."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, clearly it's to do with Carla? Have you done something wrong, Peter? I would've thought you'd of learnt your lesson by now."
"Why does everybody always think I've done something wrong?" He snapped.
"So Carla then?" Ken raised his eyebrows, just as the door bell rung. "Saved by the bell."
Peter sighed, shaking his head. He knew he had to go next door to collect his things, he was still in yesterday's clothes. But he couldn't bare to see Carla yet. Yesterday was a whirlwind of emotions and he didn't know how to feel. Currently, it was anger and pure sadness.
Recently, he'd finally grown up and was ready to settle down in life. He had so many plans regarding Carla and Simon and now it was all ruined. He thought about the foetus that Carla was carrying, how lovely it would've been if she hadn't cheated and became pregnant with his child. They could raise their child, love and protect them from the world.
But that won't be the case, it could be Adam's baby. And that made him feel physically sick. Susan would be so disappointed if she could see him now.
"It's Daniel, Peter." Ken called out, letting Daniel in.
"Peter's here?" He frowned.
"He stayed here last night. I think he's fallen out with Carla."
Daniel into the living room, wheeling Bertie's pushchair.
"She hasn't cheated again, has she?" Daniel asked.
"Again?" Ken's eyes widened. "You didn't tell me she cheated? When was this?"
"No but she lied about who it was. I found out yesterday." Peter exhaled.
"Who was it?"
"You don't want to know."
"Come on, Peter. Who was it?" Ken sighed.
"Adam."
"No..."
"Yes," Peter swallowed. "She slept with my nephew."
"Carla?"
"Carla? Are you awake?" Johnny knocked again, frowning at the silence he was met with.
He quietly opened the door and peeped his head in, seeing Carla curled up in bed with her back facing him.
"Are you okay, love?" He asked.
She ignored him and buried her head in her duvet further.
"It's lunchtime. Can I get you anything? You'll feel worse being cooped up in bed all day."
He took the hint when she ignored him once more, so so he left the room and turned around to see an inquisitive Jenny.
"Is she alright?" She frowned.
"She's not saying much," He sighed. "But I'm pretty sure she's awake."
"She's probably had a bust up with Peter. Have you seen him at all?"
"No," He looked at her intently. "Where is he?"
"I just assumed he was working but if she's in that state..." Jenny shrugged.
"What if this is to do with her meds? You know they eased her off them recently. What if she needs them still?" He panicked.
"Just keep an eye on her. She could just be sleeping."
A few hours later, Carla lay in bed on her phone. She still had no energy to move and with her mind in complete overdrive, she was exhausted. But how was she expected to sleep with the running thoughts about Peter and this baby. The thought of being pregnant made her feel sick to her stomach, and that wasn't even from the morning sickness. She wished she knew who the father was so it would be an easier decision to make whether she terminated it or not.
She couldn't commit to an abortion when her life was calm and settled; newly married to the love of her life. How could she do one now? It felt like she was betraying her body, or even the baby girl she lost. She grieved so hard for her daughter so how could she get rid of her second chance of one.
She jumped when her door flew open and a startled Johnny stared at her, looking quite flustered.
"What?" Carla croaked, sensing something was wrong.
"Why are Peter and Adam fighting downstairs?" He asked, breathless.
"Oh no." Carla sat up and swiftly ran downstairs, her heart dropping as she saw Adam with a bleeding nose and Daniel holding Peter back.
"Oh, here she is!" Peter yelled. "Go on then, help him."
"What's going on?" She cried, walking round the bar and going over to Peter.
"Don't even go near him!" Daniel warned her.
"I want to help."
"Help? You caused this!" Daniel shouted.
"I'm so sorry." She whimpered.
"It's alright Daniel," Peter softened before his eyes turned fiery again. "You might turn her on. Best to stay back."
"Peter!" She shook her head.
"You need to stop wallowing, Peter. It was one time." Adam muttered, wiping his nose.
"Shut up, Adam!" Carla snapped.
"You are lucky I'm being held back right now." Peter said, breathlessly.
"Held back by a scrawny book worm? Oh yeah, must be really struggling to break free. You're pathetic." Adam laughed.
Peter lunged at him, too strong for Daniel now. He punched him hard in the face, causing Adam to fly backwards into a table. He bled more when he hit the floor and shards of glass imbedded itself into his hands.
"Don't do anything stupid." Carla whispered.
"Why? You don't want your new boyfriend to get injured? Is that it?" He screamed.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Why would you care?"
"And you," Peter added, pointing to Adam. "Why would you do this to me? What have I ever done to make you hate me this much?"
"We just got carried away, Peter. You're overthinking this."
"You slept with my girlfriend!"
"Right, let's go to the back room." Carla shoved Peter to the back, surprised when he didn't hesitate.
"Please, just calm down. For Simon." Carla said, shutting the door and leaning against it.
"I am not your problem anymore and neither is my son."
"You don't want to get arrested and be torn from him again. He needs you right now."
"And you're suddenly a maternal mother figure in his life? You've never loved him but hey, you could practice with this one." He gestured to her flat stomach.
"Keep your voice down." She hissed.
"What? Is your precious baby a hidden secret. You're good at them."
"Baby?"
Carla gasped in surprise when the door opened and Adam walked in.
"What are you doing here?" Carla snapped.
"Are you pregnant?" His eyes widened.
"Yes she is." Peter scoffed, causing Carla to glare at him.
"Is it mine?"
"I don't know, Adam. I only found out recently."
"You need to find out," He ordered. "What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know! Just leave us alone!"
"Carry on with your domestic, I'm out of here."
"Please, don't go." She begged.
"I can't bare to look at you. You make me feel nothing but rage and disappointment." He sneered.
"We're meant to be together. I love you."
"Well I don't love you. And I don't know why I ever did."
"You don't mean that." Carla cried.
He shoved past her and walked out the room, leaving her with Adam.
"We need to talk about this, Carla. You could be carrying my baby."
"Just shut up." She sobbed, moving to sit on the sofa.
"You can't pretend this isn't happening."
"I'm not! I just don't want to talk about this and especially not with you."
"You're digging your head in the sand." He scoffed.
"I might abort it," Carla pulled her head up and shouted, staring at him. "Is that good enough for you?"
"I see." He mumbled, nodding before leaving the room.
She released more tears as she sunk into the sofa, but she was not alone for long when a bemused Johnny wandered into the room.
"Can you fill me in please? What the hell is going on?" He sat down next to her.
"Johnny, it's such a mess." She cried in his arms.
"It's okay, let it out."
"I hate myself. Why did I sleep with him?"
"I've made more mistakes then this street all put together. There's no judgment from me." He comforted him.
"I love him so much. I'm never getting him back."
"Give him time."
"Time is only going to make this worse." She exhaled.
"What do you mean?"
"I-I'm..." Carla stuttered. "Nevermind."
"No, go on."
"I'm...I'm pregnant," She confirmed. "I'm pregnant, Johnny."
"Oh." Johnny murmured.
"What do I do?" She cried.
"Well, let's say you're still with Peter and things are going well. If you found out you were pregnant, would you keep it?" He asked.
"I'd panic, I did last time. But I think I'd accept it and keep the baby."
"Which means the only reason you're so negative right now is because of your relationship with Peter. But as it goes with the baby, you've proved that you do want it."
"The situations different."
"Give it time. Don't do anything rash."
"I don't even know who the dad is." She panicked.
"You can find out when it's born."
"If it's Adam's, their is no chance Peter will get back with me then."
"You need to focus on yourself and the baby for now. Everything else can wait."
Hope this is okay! Let me know what you think :)