Chapter 8

A few weeks down the line, things had improved between Tony and Carla. They hadn't had any arguments apart from the common bickering. Carla and Peter had kept out of each other's way and they hadn't really had much conversation with each other. When they'd had come face to face Peter didn't engage in much conversation with Carla. He was polite and did talk to her but in a way… Carla was expecting more from him. She knew that this was wrong as she was happy with Tony but she couldn't help from feeling as if she wanted more from Peter. Even though she wanted more from Peter, she couldn't say what she actually wanted from him. She was happy with Tony but she still craved a bit of attention from Peter. She knew that this was so wrong and in time she hoped that this feeling would pass.

Tony on the other hand was still receiving texts from Erica and a few weeks back, he had to phone her to tell her to stop. Of course, she didn't listen and the texts kept coming in. The texts read something like "I miss you so much ;-( I hope we can meet up soon. Ring me ;-) Xxxxx" or "When you're on a business meeting again ring me ;-) We should have a drink again and you know what :-P Xxxxx". Tony had kept all of these messages In the "saved messages" category on his phone. Simply because if there was something to happen, he had something to prove that it wasn't him that had been texting her, she was obsessed with him. He had tried to kept this whole situation from Carla as everything was going great between them and he didn't want nothing or no one to spoil that for them…

Peter on the other hand had started looking forward and to his future. Some way or another, it had finally sunk in that he would never have a future again with Carla. She had simply moved on from him and he thought that he should do the same. He had settled into his old flat above the bookies and he had finally made it look a bit more like home for him. Since Tracy had converted the bookies into her shop in which once she shared with Jason's dad Tony, Peter had been out of work when he first returned to the street. Since he had previous experience in running a bookies, he had had a job in running another betting shop closer to Manchester central which was about 20 minute drive from Coronation Street. Even though he had started to move on from Carla, he still had a soft spot for her. Carla had admitted to him a few weeks back that she would always have a soft spot for him and Peter felt exactly the same for her. The way Peter looked at the whole situation, he would always be there for Carla as a friend but nothing more anymore. He wasn't going to be unhappy for the rest of his life, chasing after a woman that didn't want him. He would admit that he was still sexually attracted to her but relationship wise, they both knew that they weren't good for each other anymore. Peter couldn't say that he was in a relationship, but things were starting to get more intimate between himself and Leanne. Yes, Leanne. Leanne his ex-wife. They weren't in a relationship, but they had started to come closer over the past few weeks. Simon was the main reason why they had started to come closer to each other. Simon spent five nights with Leanne and at the weekend, he stayed with Peter. Peter and Simon had been doing something every weekend like went bowling or maybe going to see a football match. The majority of the time, Leanne had gone with them and to strangers, they looked like the perfect family unit. They had shared quite a few "moments" in the last week or two and they had shared maybe a kiss or two. He wasn't doing this to try and score points when it comes to Carla, he was just simply and honestly moving on. He hadn't gone out and chosen a woman that he may would want to start a relationship with. He had simply been spending more time with Leanne again and something had clicked between them again. They might not be "in a relationship" but they were certainly seeing each other and in a few weeks' time, they might become a couple again…

It was now the 12th of September and today, it was Steve and Michelle's stag and hen do. Peter had obviously been invited to Steve's stag do as Peter was one of his best friends and Carla had obviously been invited to Michelle's hen do. Tony had also been invited on Steve's stag do but he wasn't one of Steve's "closest" friends. Michelle had a theme to her hen night and her theme was "schoolgirls". Steve on the other hand had decided not to have a theme for his stag night. Around 5pm, Carla and Tony were starting to get ready for the hen and stag night. They had sent the factory lot home an hour early today simply because most of them were going on the stag and hen do themselves and also, Carla and Tony wanted to knock off early because they wanted to get themselves ready as well. All of them were to meet in the Rovers at 6:30pm. Carla came down the stairs at around 6:00 and she looked drop dead gorgeous. Her black hair was curled and her makeup was immaculate. She wore a short tight mini skirt, a classic school shirt which she had left most of the top buttons undone, she had stolen one of Tony's ties which she thought might look like an old school tie and also not forgetting her killer black heels.

"Well well well Mrs Connor," Tony said getting up from the sofa and turning round so he could have a proper look of Carla walking down the stairs. "You look drop dead gorgeous."

"I could say the same thing to you Mr Gordon," Carla replied as she went to put her arms around him and kissed him passionately on the lips.

As their kiss came to an end, Carla said "As much as I'd like to do this all night, I think we should make a move don't you."

"And I was just starting to enjoy myself." Tony said winking at her.

"Come on you…" Carla said smacking him bum and grabbing her bag from the sofa.

As he was about to put his coat on, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Carla made her way towards the door and Tony said to her, "Look you head off to the Rovers, I've forgotten my wallet upstairs. I'll come after you."

"You sure you don't want me to wait for you?" Carla asked him.

"Look if you wait for me I don't think we'll make it out to night… I'd love to have you all to myself…" Tony said giving her another wink.

"Ok then," Carla said with a laugh, "but DON'T be long!" she said as she left the flat.

A couple of seconds after Carla left the flat, Tony went to sit back down on the sofa and he went to get his phone from his pocket. Of course, it was a message from Erica again, and it read "It's been way too long ;-) We should meet up soon :-P Xxxxx". After reading this text, Tony decided to ring Erica. He wanted this over with once and for all. He rang her and it didn't have to ring for long before she answered. He cut to the chase and he just said to her, "Look, I don't know what you want for me or what you think you're going to get from me but you might as well stop now. I'm not interested in you Erica. What happened between us in that lift two months ago was a massive mistake, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. I'm with Carla. I love Carla. Once you get that into your thick head then you might then stop harassing me. Don't EVER text me again or I mean it. I will be going to the police and I will be doing you for harassment." And with this, he put the phone down on her. He wasn't going to let Erica ruin his night out…

Around 8:00pm the same night, everybody were now in the Rovers. The girls had been drinking champagne since everybody arrived at 6:30pm and it was fair to say that Carla was a bit tipsy by now. All of the girls were sitting in the booths in the Rovers and all of the lads were standing by the bar. Leanne wasn't able to attend the hen do as she wasn't due back from her holiday in Spain with Simon until the following afternoon. Peter was there. He was stood at one end of the bar chatting to Steve and Tony was at the other end talking to Kal. Carla and Peter knew that they were both there, but they had avoided every chance of talking to Peter. Peter did look Carla up and down when he first saw her and he would admit that he did check her backside out and he knew that he wouldn't be the only one tonight. She looked drop dead gorgeous and he simply didn't want to come face to face with her as the lust for her was evident in her eyes. Tony had kept his mobile in Carla's bag as he didn't want to take it to town with him. She had heard his mobile vibrate and vibrate in his bag and in the end she decided to check it. As she pulled the mobile out of his bag, she saw that it was ringing and the number was an unknown number. At this point, Tony saw that Carla answered the call and she was still smiling at something that the girls changed but her expression soon changed. He was about to stop her from answering the phone but he was too late. He then decided to turn back to his pint and try to carry on with the conversation with the lads. A few moments afterwards he heard someone say quietly in his ear, "You better get home now!" and with this, he turned his head and it was Carla. She now knew everything and he needed to explain everything to her. As Carla made her way towards the Rovers' door, Michelle stopped her in her tracks…

"Where are you going 'Car?"

"I just need to pop home for a few minutes 'Chelle." Carla said putting a smile on her face as she didn't want to cause a scene. "I'll be back soon I promise." And with this, she kissed her best friend on the cheek and she left the Rovers with Tony following her a few seconds afterwards. Little did Carla know that Peter had seen all of this and he knew Carla very well to say when something was wrong or not…

Back at Carla and Tony's flat. Carla was standing right in the middle of the room looking towards the door, waiting for Tony to arrive. As Tony reached the flat, the door was already wide open and Carla was standing there with her arms crossed. It was clear to Tony that she'd been crying and he just stood there for a few seconds himself looking at her, before closing the door behind him. He was the first to say something….

"Look 'Car…" he said holding his hands up.

"Don't you dare 'Car me." Carla said pointing at him and starting to cry again.

"It's not what you think…"

"I've heard that one before…" Carla said. "So this Erica then…" Carla questioned him as she paced the living room floor.

"Look Car I can explain all of this…"

"You better have a good excuse mate I'm telling you now…"

"I have." He said. A few seconds went by and Tony started to explain himself. "When I went on the business meeting over a month back…"

"The one where you didn't come home…" Carla quizzed him starting to get tearful again.

"Yeah that one." Tony said looking down at the floor. "Well I met this woman. Erica. I can't remember where she's from now but that doesn't matter… Anyway," he said looking up. "She decided to join us when we were having a couple of drinks with the lads after the meetings. She tried flirting with me and stuff but I made it clear that I was with you and that I LOVED you. I must have gone to the toilet and left my mobile on the table or something and the next thing after I come home, I get all of these texts coming through. I know what it must look like Car but I didn't sleep with her."

"I didn't say you slept with her did I." Carla said walking towards him.

"No I know you didn't but…"

"BUT…" Carla said stopping when she was standing in front of Tony. "something must of happened for her to get these sort of signals."

Tony couldn't answer her because she was telling the truth. Something had happened between them.

"Tell me Tony…" Carla said starting to get tearful again.

"Look we kissed but..."

"I don't want to know," Carla said interrupting them. "As far as we're concerned… Were over. This relationship is a joke."

"Oh come on Carla it was just a kiss…"

"Just a kiss?" Carla said raising her voice. "What If I was to go out tonight and kiss every man I saw in town. Maybe I could get away with it and come back and tell you… It was just a kiss. If this is all what our relationship is about Tony then we shouldn't even be together should we."

"I love you too much to let you go that easy." Tony said giving her a stern look.

"So tell me then…" Carla said giving him a sarcastic laugh. "Was it just a peck on the cheek. A good night kiss?" Carla asked giving him a smirk.

"No." He said. He thought he might as well be honest with her if he wanted this relationship to work.

"What happened then?" Carla asked him as she started to pull herself together.

"We were in the lift." Tony started. "We'd had a bit too much to drink. She made a pass at me and things started to get a bit too passionate. I then came to my senses. She wanted stuff to go further but I said that I didn't want her. She then said that she wouldn't say anything and that whatever happens on business meetings stays on business meetings. We then arrived at the floor that my room was and I pushed her off. I told her that I loved you and that my relationship with you meant more to me than a steady one-night stand."

"How nice of you…" Carla said.

"Look I've been honest here with you." Tony said walking towards her. "She means nothing to me honestly." He said putting his hands on her hips, but she moved away from him.

"I meant what I said Tony."

"So are you ending all of this because of her. The woman that I don't even want anything to do with."

"Let's be honest Tony... Our relationship ended months ago and it's about time that we come to our senses."

"Car please. We can try harder."

"We've tried and tried Tony and look where it's got us." Carla said in a calm manner. "I think you should pack your stuff and go."

"Please Tony!" Carla said starting to get frustrated. "Please just go."

Tony was by now crying and in the end, he thought that the best thing to do for tonight was to go find a hotel or something. Just until the dust had settled. He loved her too much to let her go for good. With this, he made his way to their bedroom.

When Tony was in their bedroom packing some things, Carla made her way to the kitchen and she poured herself a larger glass of whiskey. She downed that drink in one go and she poured herself another one. After a few glasses of whiskey, Tony came from the bedroom with a small bag.

He made his way to the kitchen where Carla was in the middle of her drink and he said, "I've packed a few things for tonight and I'm going to find a b&b or something."

"Look," Carla said turning around with the glass still in her hand and leaning on the kitchen units, "I don't think you should go back tonight to the stag night..."

"What am I going to say to Steve?"

"I'll figure something out," Carla said. "Just go." She said turning back around and pouring herself another drink.

Tony didn't want to argue with her tonight. He just made his way towards the door. Before he left, he said "I love you 'Car." She didn't reply to him. He waited for a few seconds, just in case she was going to answer him but after waiting a few seconds and getting no reply, he just left with his head down.

After this, Carla went into her bedroom to freshen herself up. She needed to sort her make-up out as she didn't want anyone to see that she had been crying. Tonight was Michelle and Steve's night and she wasn't going to let herself nor Tony ruin that for them…

Ten minutes later it was nearly 8:30pm and Carla was heading back towards the Rovers. After freshening up and sorting herself out, she was adamant that she wasn't going to let what had just happened with Tony ruin her night out with the girls. They were going to have a fab night and she wasn't going to mention anything to her best friend about her relationship coming to an end with Tony. Not tonight anyway, tonight was Michelle's night… As Carla walked through the doors of the Rovers, Michelle ran straight towards her with a glass of champagne and said, "Get that down your neck! We're leaving in less than an hour! Where's Tony anyway?" Looking quizzical as she looked around the Rovers, thinking maybe he had already arrived back before Carla and Michelle hadn't noticed. Carla downed her glass and said to Michelle, "Oh yeah about Tony, he's had to go to visit a member of family, an auntie in Sunderland."

"What tonight?!" Michelle asked her.

"We'll it's a family emergency or something. That's why I dragged him home so we could talk properly you know. He left around 10 minutes ago. He was gutted that he was missing the rest of the stag do but he said he's going to call Steve tomorrow." Carla said with a small smile.

"Well that's a shame." Michelle said. "Are you alright? Shouldn't you be with him?" She asked holding Carla's hand and guiding her to the bar.

"No he said it wasn't anything too drastic. He just had to sort out a family matter or something and it wasn't worth me missing my best mate's hen do for. Well he made sure that I was staying anyway." Carla replied with a laugh.

"Well that's that then." Michelle laughed pouring Carla another glass of champagne. "Get that down 'ya. I'll just go and tell Steve what's happened." And with this, Michelle walked off to the other end of the Rovers. As Carla sat down in one of the booths with the rest of the girls she couldn't help but look over to Peter's direction. He looked gorgeous tonight and she couldn't help but look him up and down as he stood there talking away with Kevin, Dev, Garry and Jason. She was hoping that he would look in her direction but he didn't. Why did she feel like this? Why was she craving Peter's attention so badly?

It was now nearing up to 9:30pm and everybody was getting themselves ready to head off to town – both the men and the women. Carla decided to go out to the smoking shelter to sort herself out and get her head together before she headed to town with the rest of the girls. When she stepped outside, she was not alone… There he was standing with his back against the wall with one leg up, taking long drags out of his cigarettes - Peter Barlow. Carla felt a tingling sensation go through her body as she couldn't help but feel excited with being in his presence, alone. Peter then looked up as he heard the back door of the Rovers close and there she stood. The figure that he was all so familiar with. Carla Connor.

For a few seconds, they just stood there looking at each other up and down before Peter just said oh so casually "Alright?" before taking another long drag of his cigarette and looking down.

"Could be better but hey ho…" Carla said walking towards him and asking him, "You got a spare one of those?"

"Since when did you take up smoking?" She said and looking at her properly. First time he'd looked at her properly in days.

"I don't. I just need one now. Let's just say I've had a stressful night." Carla said as she put her hand on the wall nearly by where Peter's head was resting on the wall of the rovers."

With this, Peter handed her a cigarette and said, "Shouldn't you be discussing this with Tony instead of pinching my fags," he said with a smirk and genuinely trying to be nice.

"No I shouldn't." Carla said, lighting the cigarette and taking a long drag of her cigarette and starting to pace the Rover's smoking shelter.

"Oh," Peter said stubbing out his cigarette and going into his pocket to get a chewing gum and standing up properly. He could tell that Carla was pissed off with something. He could read her like a book after all, she was his ex-wife.

"Look Carla, do you want me to leave you alone?" He questioned her, again trying to be nice. She had told him over and over again that there was no "them" anymore so now, he wasn't going to take advantage of her vulnerability. It wasn't fair on her.

With this, Carla just looked down and tears started to run down her face as she began crying. "Hey," Peter said deeply concerned practically running towards her.

"Were over Peter." Carla said wiping the tears from her face.

"What do you mean?" Peter questioned her.

"Me and Tony." She started. "Were over." And with this, she made her way into the smoking shelter to sit down on one of the benches…

Five minutes later, Peter had now joined Carla and they were both sat on one of the benches in the smoking shelter. Carla had now composed herself and they were now having a heart to heart.

'Listen Car.. Feel free to tell me to mind my own business but I hate seeing you like this. What's happened?"

Carla just looked down, as she was leaning forwards slightly in her sitting position – her arms resting on her thighs. As Peter said this, he also leaned forwards so he could also be in the same position, hoping that he'd make some eye contact with her. Carla didn't look at him nor did she answer..

"Car look at me.." Peter said again, "Please."

"Me and Tony… Were done." Carla finally said and looking Peter in the eyes.

"Well yeah I gathered that… but what's bought this all on? I thought both of you were happy?"

"We haven't been happy in ages Peter… Well not really anyway. The contant bickering, arguing… It's finally taken it's toll."

"Can't you work it out?" Peter questioned Carla. He wasn't playing mind games with her. He was actually being deadly serious. The conversations that Carla and him had with each other these past few weeks showed Peter that Carla deeply cared about Tony.

"I don't think we can go back after this Peter…"

"After what? You seemed happy in the pub earlier…"

"That was until.." then Carla stopped mid-sentence.

"Until what Car?"

"Until.. Until I found a load of text from another woman on his mobile that's what." Carla said, her voice cracking a bit as she said it – obviously she was gutted.

Peter didn't answer to this nor did he question it. He just let out a sigh and he also looked down.

"You know Peter, I thought that I'd finally cracked it with this whole relationship malarkey. Guess not. It must be me. I must drive everyone away."

"Look Carla stop talking like this."

"It's true though isn't it. I can't make any man stay with me."

"What? So you're telling me Tony has gone and left you?" Peter asked her, obviously starting to get worked up himself.

"No he hasn't left me… I told him to go."

"Is that what you wanted?." Peter questioned her again, starting to calm down a bit.

"I really don't know anymore Peter…" Carla said starting to cry again. "He told me that he never slept with this woman.

"And is this someone you know?"

"No.. Well I might have met her before actually. You know when I told you Tony had gone away on a business meeting?"

"Yes…"

"Well that's when all of this has happened… Funnily enough that's the night that you and me kissed."

Peter couldn't help but smile as she said this but he knew that this wasn't the right time.

"When I read the texts earlier I was gutted. Mind you.. he never replied to any of the texts that he'd been getting. He could of deleted them but why would he delete his replies but keep the texts that she'd been sending him. He told me everything that happened that night. That the shared a rather passionate kiss in the lift as they were heading back to their bedrooms, but he stopped it from going any further. He told her that his relationship with me was far more important than a one night stand with her."

"and do you believe him?"

"I really don't know at the minute Peter. I think I do but like I said, I think that this just tops it off. We haven't been getting along these past few weeks… Our relationship has become very strained. I think a break would do us good to be honest."

"You know best 'Car."

"What do you think I should do Peter?" Carla asked him as she turned so she was now sat facing him, making direct eye contact.

"It's not my place to say 'Car… all I can say is," he said as he leaned closer to her. Their faces inches apart and taking her hands in his. "Do what makes you happy. If you truly think that you and Tony can make a go of it again then go for it. If not well… you just carry on doing what you do best. Pick yourself up and dust yourself down. Let's face it… a woman like you won't stay single for very long.

"And what if I say that I know for a fact that my relationship with Tony will never make me as happy as the relationship that I had with a certain someone…" Carla replied looking deeply into Peter's eyes, then to his lips then back into his eyes.

"Well… I would say… Make that decision when you're one hundred percent sober." He replied with a small laugh as he felt his heart practically thumping out of his chest… was this really happening?!

"I know what I want Peter…" she whispered.

"Oh aye… and what is that?"

"You…" she said as she placed her hands either side of his face and placed a passionate kiss on his lips….

Well guys! It's practically been a year since I have uploaded the last chapter and it's been months since I started the first half of this chapter. I hope it's ok! And I hope that all of you is still interested in reading this story I have a lot planned for it. And believe you me, it's not going to be as straight forward as it seems to be at the end of this chapter so KEEP READING ;)! Please leave a review or PM me. I love to hear what all of you guys think! If you're not following me already I'm on twitter, and my account is CarterFanxo . Give me a follow and I'll follow you back. I'm happy to answer all of your questions on there aswell. Thanks again x