Just a short chapter that I thought of while stuck in motorway traffic today!
Peter leaned heavily against the gravelled wall as he placed a cigarette between his lips and hunted around in his pockets for a lighter. Successfully sparking the cigarette he inhaled deeply, slowly breathed back out and let his head fall backwards. The bookies had been busy all morning and this was the first break that he had been able to sneak away for. Peter looked around the street in front of him glad to be outside in the fresh air than cooped up behind the counter. He noticed Michelle walking across the road and he waved he presumed she was on her way towards the factory facing another day in charge. The last couple of times he had been in the Rovers she had looked stressed and he felt bad that she had taken on so much especially so soon after the drama with Ciaran.
Peter had been sceptical when he had heard that Carla had gone too see her brother. In all the conversations they had had in the past few months Carla had mentioned her brother once Peter didn't even know his name let alone anything about him and he got the impression that they weren't close. It just didn't sit right with him that the minute Carla had returned to Weatherfield she had rushed off somewhere else. Peter sighed and stubbed his cigarette out on the pavement as he lifted his head a taxi drove past Peter smiled at the cabbie and as he glanced into the back there was Carla.
"Carla!"
Peter waved as the taxi drove past he wondered about heading over to see how she was but then he remembered Leanne she would kill him if she decided to call past the bookies and he wasn't there. Sighing Peter headed back inside as he sat behind the counter he looked across to his phone no harm in one text I suppose.
"Hey hope u've had a nice trip and your brothers well u ok? Well best get some work done see you soon :) x" As the screen flashed sent Peter decided to send one more message before setting back to work.
"Michelle it's Peter just seen Carla arriving back in a taxi thought I'd give you the heads up that she's home " Peter felt better for letting Michelle know at least she could nip round to the flat and the pair of them could natter probably all afternoon about Carla's trip and the factory. Women. Smiling to himself Peter quietly went back to filing the betting slips away already happier knowing Carla was back in Weatherfield.
Carla looked around her flat in disdain already she could feel the tension building in her shoulders and she had only been in the flat 10 minutes. She filled the kettle with water and flicked the switch on she felt overdressed in the clothes she was wearing and they reminded her too much of that night and Michelle. Shaking her head Carla immediately went in search for something more comfortable. Emerging from her bedroom 5 minutes later to the boiling kettle she had slung her old grey jogging pants on and one of Liam's old hoodies that still faintly smelt of his scent. If anything could calm her slightly it would be snuggling into the couch in her slobbing clothes with a decent coffee that crap they served in hospitals didn't even justify having the same name.
Leaning back into the couch cushions Carla let out a deep breath now she was back everything seemed more difficult. She hoped to god that Maria had had enough sense to keep her mouth shut about what had happened, last time she had been lucky only Peter, Leanne and Maria had known anything about her overdose and the pity from just Peter and Maria was unbearable. Lucky Leanne had kept it to a minimum Carla snorted at the thought Leanne would rather she had kiffed it that night a waste of skin were her exact words that day evil bitch she had only gone round to try and apologise. Sitting in the silence Carla found it oddly soothing if she could just stay like this forever never moving never having to face the darkness then she could probably cope. Already the thoughts of being here at night alone were enough to make Carla tremble and she huddled deep into her hoody and pulled her arms in around herself.
Suddenly Carla was startled from her thoughts by the sound of a key entering the lock and she started to panic please don't let that be Frank please god no. Carla stood bolt upright and backed slowly towards her bedroom her eyes wide open in fear, her breath coming in short gasps and she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. As the door slowly opened and the person walked in Carla couldn't stop the gasp of shock that escaped her and she felt a smile slowly grace her features. Walking slowly forward she couldn't help the onslaught of emotions and with tears streaming down her face she gathered herself into the persons embrace and wept.
"Chelle ... you came back"
Carla crushed Michelle to her body terrified that if she let go she would disappear and it would have all been a vision dreamt up by her taunting mind. With her head leaning against Michelle she could hear her soft soothing voice whisper into her ear.
"Sshh Car it's me, I'm here and it's all going to be ok"