This is a direct continuation from the last chapter. Sorry for how long I've left it. I hope you like it.
"Oh god." I let out my worries as we enter the Rovers.
"What's up?" Nick asks me as I stare back at him.
"Nothing." I quickly shrug it off, determined to get through this night for Nick.
"Look, don't worry. Why don't you go and join Kate and everyone? I'll get the drinks in. Red wine?" He asks me, lovingly.
"Make it a large one." I tell him before going over to the booth where Johnny, Michelle, Kate and Aidan are all sat.
"Hey." I say, calmly as I sit down next to Kate in the booth, quickly putting my arm around her.
"I wasn't expecting you'd turn up? You know, considering everything." Michelle says awkwardly as Nick pays for our drinks from Liz at the bar.
"I'm not turning up for them." I gesture towards the other side of the rovers where Tracy is standing next to Robert, with a smug look. "Im just having a quiet drink with my family."
"Fair enough." I notice Michelle eyeing me suspiciously as she replies.
"Thanks, sweetheart." I kiss Nick on the cheek as he sits down, having brought over our drinks.
"It's okay." He smiles, looking into my eyes.
"I'm really glad you two are okay now." Michelle says, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere on the table as we smile back at her.
"Well, people make mistakes and at the end of the day, we love each other." Nick tells me as I struggle to reciprocate the genuine happiness etched across his face.
"Are you okay?" Nick asks me, clearly concerned as Michelle, Kate, Aidan and Johnny are all too busy in their own conversation.
"Yeah" I answer vaguely, trying to control the feeling of uncomfortableness as I once again connect eye contact with Robert from across the room.
"You sure? You don't look it. You look quite pale." He tells me as he places the palm of his hand lovingly on my forehead.
"Like I said I'm fine!" I snap as he looks at me, stunned. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just- I'm just not feeling that great, that's all. I'm sorry."
"No, there's no need to apologise, I shouldn't have made you come here. I know you didn't want to. Shall we go?" Nick offers, worriedly.
"No, no, it's fine. Look, we're here now so we might as well stay a bit longer." I say, before continuing, "I think I might just go and get some air, I'll be back in a few minutes." I tell him as I stand up from the booth.
"Wait, I'll come with you." Nick says, following me before I stop him.
"No, don't worry it's fine. I won't be long. I just need some air." I tell him again as he sits back and I start to walk out the back of the rovers, trying to ignore the feeling that everyone's eyes are on me.
I lean against the wooden frame in the back yard of the Rovers, letting the breeze of the wind blow against my skin as I try to calm my breaths.
I feel a sudden tap on my shoulder as I turn round, expectantly, only to be met by Robert as the breath hitches in my throat.
"What do you want?" I ask, anxiously, backing into the wooden frame, essentially trapping myself unintentionally.
"I just need to know you're gonna keep quiet." He says, menacingly as I can't help but feel instantly intimidated.
"I've kept quiet for a year and a half now. What makes you think I'm gonna say anything now?" I desperately try to keep a straight face and pretend I don't have the sickly familiar feeling of fear radiating throughout my body.
"Oh I don't know, you're settled with dearest fiancé. Or ex fiancé shall I say? And of course my baby." He taunts me.
"I told you, she is not your baby." I tell him firmly.
"If you say so." He laughs in my face as I struggle to keep myself composed. "Just remember, keep it zipped alright?"
"Keep it zipped about what?" We both quickly turn to look at the door of the rovers which Peter begins to walk out of as Robert backs away from me.
"Nothing. We were just catching up, weren't we?" Robert nods towards me before quickly going inside as Peter turns to me.
"So are you gonna tell me what that was really about?" Peter asks me, concerned.
"I don't know what you're talking about. We better get back inside, don't you think?"
I quickly rush back inside, anxious to escape the look of pity he is giving me and carry on with the night in the hope that Peter brushes off what he witnessed.
Even though I know he won't, even though I know the truth will come out, whether I like it or not.
Thank you so much for reading. I really hope you're still enjoying this fic. Please leave a review to let me know if you are? They always mean the world. Hopefully I'll update this soon. I'm just really busy with exams and stuff at the moment. I'm going to try and update 'Past Symptoms Can Bring Back Fears Of The Past' soon too if you liked that.
