Thank you for a the lovely reviews. This is more of a filler chapter as I try and set the scene. Already started on the next chapter :)

Six weeks

It had been six weeks since Carla's behaviour had changed. In the beginning Nick had welcomed it. Carla's dependency on alcohol had subsided, In fact he rarely saw her with her usual glass of red in her hand, her hip holding up the side of the bar.

Then things changed

And he did not embrace this change

Maybe he should've said something when she started suggesting dates with physical activities thrust onto them, like walking through a park over nights out in the bistro, or even nights at pub. He figured she wanted to stay away from the temptation of alcohol, Nick could respect that. Walking together could be romantic too, and they were discovering new places together, which he found romantic

Maybe Nick should have noticed when he started to find the food he bought home from work in the bin. He would always make sure to bring home things that he knew she liked. And Carla would always accept it with a cheeky smile. Nick became worried. The brunette and had never turned them down, at least that he knew of. But again, he figured that this was her way of being healthy.

Nick should've said something when he noticed her face getting even thinner, It wasn't directly obvious, but her cheeks were starting to sallow and her round eyes looked slightly bigger. While Carla had a temper before, she had now started snapping at people more often. The day of the broken wine glass replaying on his mind.

Maybe he should've noticed any of the signs. Like the fact that she now wore about four layers of clothing daily. Or the fact that she forgot to paint her nails one day and they were slightly blue. Or the fact she was sneaking out of the flat early in the morning , only now he wished it was to the casino, instead of the dreaded Gym.

Maybe he should've noticed any of the many signs. But Nick refused to believe that someone so beautiful could think herself so ugly. He refused to believe that she would torture herself like this. And he refused to believe that it was as bad as all of the signs pointed to

"You know you're beautiful, don't you? " Carla jumped at the sound of Nick's voice, but didn't turn away from the mirror in front of which she was getting dressed.

"What's that got to do with anything " She laughed, but in the mirror Nick could see how her eyes were directed at the floor. Walking over to Carla he wrapped both arms round her waist, causing Carla to move from his embrace

"Are you ok?" He asks, feeling rejected

"Yes"

Nick wanted to believe her, so he did. It was easier and he felt she needed to trust her

"If you wouldn't be, or if it would change, would you tell me?" He reached for her hand, she takes it instantly, squeezing gently.

There wasn't much more he could do, not really, and trust was a good thing. Most of the time.

Did he actually trust Carla tell him if this became worse?

Honestly?

No

He kisses the back of her hand before releasing it. Leaving her bedroom. Leaving Carla to get ready to go to work

Carla knew what she was doing was wrong, it didn't ease her guilt, but it did make her feel a little more in control, it made her almost happy, having a goal to look forward to reaching every day.

Carla studied herself in the mirror in her room, adjusting her skirt and plastering on a picture perfect smile. She then sighed, sitting on her bed, head in her hands. What was she going to do?

It was nothing in the beginning, really. Carla didn't think anything of it. She was just watching what she was eating, trying to become more healthy, quit the drinking, trying to ease Nicks worry.

Then it morphed into something else, something new. Carla became fascinated with the way her weight dips lower each time she hits the scales. With each passing week it escalated and now she is down to counting every single miniscule calorie she puts in her mouth. It's madness, but it feels good. Something else to focus on other than the guilt of the fire.

She is in control.

At least, that's what she tells herself