Chapter 5 – Just Friends

A few days later and Carla and Tony had kept themselves to themselves. Carla had obviously been avoiding the Rovers just in case she bumped into Peter – even though she wouldn't admit to it. Even though she was pretty sure that she didn't have any feelings for Peter any more, she still didn't want to see him. Seeing Peter back on the street bought everything back to her, the affair, Tina's murder and her miscarriage. Even though she would avoid him for as long as she possibly could, she knew that she would have to get used to it.. Especially if he was planning on staying on the street.

It was around 7:00pm the same day and Carla and Tony were about to leave the factory. They had stayed later today to make sure that all of the paperwork that they had were up to date so they could have the whole weekend to themselves without having to do any work. Tony sneaked up behind Carla, wrapped his arms around her waist and started to kiss her neck..

"What are you up to Mr?," Carla asked with a smile on her face.

"Well I was thinking," he said spinning Carla around so she was now facing him and pecking her on the lips, "Since we have worked hard today I thought we could have a night in with a bottle of wine, takeaway, a film and who knows what afterwards.." he said smirking.

"I think that's a great idea," Carla said kissing him. She pulled away after a few seconds and said, "Look I'm finished here so you I'll go get the wine and you can go and get the takeaway."

"Don't you want a lift home?." Tony asked as he pulled away and went to keep his stuff.

"No you're alright. By the time I've got the wine and walked home you shouldn't be far behind me and anyway it's not far and I think the fresh air will do me good.."

"If you're sure.."

"Sure... Now Go! I'll see you in a bit.." Carla said smiling at him.

"I'll see you later.." Tony said as he walked off and out of the factory.

Carla smiled to herself as she watched him walk out of the factory. She was so lucky yo have him. Why did Peter have to come back to the street now? No actually he was nothing to do with her now.. Why was she even thinking about Peter? After all, he was supposed to be out of her life for good..


Around fifteen minutes later, Carla had picked up the bottle of wine from Dev's and she was walking down the street towards the flat in which she now shared with Tony. As she was going around the corner by Audrey's she literally bumped into Peter, nearly dropping the bottle on the floor..

"Sorry!," Both of them said at the same time. They stopped for a second and just stared at each other. Both of them not quite sure about what they should say to each other.

"Look I need to get going.." Carla said as she went to walk past Peter but Peter blocked her.

"Hang on a minute." Peter said grabbing both of her elbows with both of his hands, "We haven't spoken properly since I've got back.."

"Yeah well there isn't much to say is there Peter?." Carla replied as she tried to walk past Peter again but he stopped her in the same way.

"Look, I know that I'm probably the last person on earth that you want to be standing in front of right now let alone talk to but deep down.." Carla looked down. "Please Car look at me," Peter said. Carla looked up and gave Peter a very stern look before Peter carried on, "Deep down you know that you are going to have to face me so you can run away as much as you like.. but that isn't going to solve anything is it? All I want is 5 minutes.." Carla looked away at this point before looking at him again as he carried on talking. "I know that you may never forgive me for what I did and believe you me I won't blame you but we can try. Try to get on. We can try to be at least civil to each other when we pass each other on the street. It will be better for both of us in the long run and we can carry on with our lives.. Can't we?." Peter said as he looked at her pleadingly.

"5 minutes." Carla said as she went to sit on the bench in front of Audrey's..


They had been sitting there for a couple of seconds in complete silence and it had now gone dark. Carla made sure that she had also sat as far away from Peter as possible.

"Look.. To be honest I don't know where to start.." Peter said.

"That's why I said that we've got nothing to say to each other any more." Carla replied not looking at him.

"I should start by saying sorry I guess.."

"I've heard it all before Peter.."

"I know you have but sorry isn't enough. If I could turn back time I would every time. Turn back to the time when we were happy."

"I can't be long, Tony's waiting for me." Carla said making it clear that she was now taken.

"I'm sorry but I've got to say this. I've had three years to practice haven't I," Peter said with a small laugh but Carla didn't react. "I also think back to the time before we got together. You were 28 back then, I was 35. I think about all of the pain that I wouldn't of put you through if we didn't get together. Other than that though I look at the happy and then I think about how glad I am that we got together. I had the world with you. Any man would be jealous of my position and I threw it away. All because of one silly mistake.."

"Something that you keep going back to for the third, fourth, fifth time Peter isn't a mistake. It's a decision and it was you that made that decision."

"You're right.. The stupidest decision that I have made in my entire life.."

"What are you trying to get at Peter?."

"What I'm trying to say is that you are constantly on my mind. Even when I was in Portsmouth. That saying – out of sight bout of mind is so not true. I've had another relationship in Portsmouth but I broke it off. I will never love anyone else as much as I love you Car."

"I'll be honest with 'ya," Carla said. "I've been thinking about you too."

Peter gave her a small smile before continuing, "I thought about you day and night Car. Wondered if you were ok. If you were happy. If you were with another man.." and with this Carla looked down as she instantly thought about Tony and felt guilty. "Deep down somewhere Car I knew you'd be with another man. I mean look at 'ya. You're gorgeous."

"Look Peter this was a mistake, I need to go." Carla said as she got up but Peter stopped her from walking away.

"Car, Please! I need to say this. I love you. I haven't stopped loving you and I don't think I ever will."

"Peter.."

"Look if you don't feel anything at all for me then you can walk away right now.. I won't stop you."

Carla just looked at him. She didn't walk away.

"You see.. I knew you still loved me." he said as he walked up to Carla until there was no gap between them, their faces inches apart.."

"I DID love you Peter. DID. I'm with Tony now."

"You didn't say you loved Tony though.. and anyway. Why didn't you walk away right now then when you had the chance?." Peter questioned her.

"Because I do feel something for you. I care about you. There's a difference between loving someone and caring for someone and let's face it.. We would never work out." Carla said with a small laugh.

"We could make it work.." Peter said, his voice just a whisper.

"Were bad for each other. We always were. You need to move on like I have if it's for your own sake.."

"The truth is Car I don't think I can.."

"You can.. One day you'll think back at this conversation and you'll laugh.."

"I don't think so.."

With this, Carla felt really sorry for him but that was the truth.. She cared for him. She didn't love him. She then leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek before saying, "Take care of yourself yeah.." and walking away.

As she was walking away, Peter shouted at her, "Carla.." and running after her. "If we can't be together.. Can we at least be friends?." Carla smiled at him.

"If you promise me that you'll move on. Then yeah we can but do me a favour.. Even if you don't want to talk to Tony at least try and be civil with him yeah? And don't tell him about our little conversation."

"I won't.." Peter said looking down.

"Eyy.. Chin up!," Carla said as she used two of her fingers to lift Peter's chin so he was looking at her and with this he gave her a small smile.

"Does this mean were friends then?." He asked her.

"Friends!." Carla said as she gave him a smile and walked off towards her flat. She was so glad that she had spoken that night to Peter, even if at first she didn't want to. She had finally cleared the air after three years with him and from that point on.. Both of them could move on and be happy..