Chapter Eight
Nick returned home later that night in a foul mood. Not only was he was feeling humiliated. He got told by Mr and Mrs Deering that they are going to give him a bad review and aren't going to return since their precious Joel is now banned by the "scallywag's daughter". He didn't exactly like what Joel did but he understood it somewhat as he did think Les probably said something uncouth. Amy's defence did nothing to sway this opinion as he's known him for a lot longer. Leanne was currently writing in her journal while Les had gone to the spare bedroom, presumbly to sleep. So it was just the two of them right now. She didn't even look up, too wrapped up in this journal that she's been told to write in by the cult.
"I just had to give the engagment party a discount" Nick began while walking into the kitchen to pour himself a whisky.
"You shouldn't have done that, Nick. Joel was the one in the wrong"
"He shouldn't have grabbed, Les. I'm not defending that at all but your dad says a lot of stuff, Leanne. I knew I should never have asked for his help but you weren't there so I needed somebody. Anybody-"
"Joel called him low-class scum-"
"I don't care what he said!"
"Yet you do care what my dad said to him apparently. I see how it is, my dad deserves to be attacked by him because he might have said something inappropriate. He's getting on a bit now, he's not going to be with the current lingo"
"You're missing the point, Leanne. This isn't about your dad and Joel...I said I didn't agree with that, it's just I understand because your dad is your dad and he enjoys taunting-"
"Whatever"
"Do you not care about the business at all, Leanne? We have been losing so much money because any profits we make go to Rowan. And I'm working for peanuts, I have Sam to support you know. And I don't even know who you are anymore"
"Sam's got enough"
"Maybe he does but guess who doesn't. Me. I don't have enough...I feel like we are on different planets right now. And I hate every second of this. I miss you so much-"
"You see me all the time-"
"No I don't. And when I do see you, it's like Rowan's in the room with us. He's always on your mind constantly. I know you said it's not an affair but we haven't had sex or even been close for months-"
"So this is about sex?"
"No. This is about closeness in general, Leanne. We are emotionally apart, aren't we? I can go without sex for a bit but what I can't go without is feeling like I'm not on the same page as you. I feel like you're a stranger, we don't laugh or go out. We don't hug or even kiss, we do nothing together. We don't even talk about how we are feeling and when we do, it ends up just like this. An argument"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if you don't leave 'The Institute'. We are finished"
"I don't understand why I can't have both-"
"It's pretty obvious why you can't have both, isn't it? I can't be with you when you're invested in this. Look, is this about Oliver? Have they said if you don't leave, you can no longer talk to Oliver? Because that's the only thing I can think of that might make you feel this strongly"
"No. I can speak to Oliver with or without them-"
"Then what it is?"
"I can't function without them right now-"
"But you could function without me?"
Leanne went to answer but couldn't get the words out. She just gave a shrug as if she didn't know. She simply said..."All I know is I need them"
"We're done then, Leanne. We are done" Nick announced.
He left behind a now upset Leanne. Nick cannot accept 'The Institute' just as they told her. Leanne didn't realize however that's exactly what Rowan and his ilk want. They have managed to isolate her from Nick now.
...
"You can't just give up on her, Nick. She's not herself, is she?" Les asked in disbelief the following morning.
"No she's not and I'm not myself either. I need to think about my son and he keeps asking me why we are always arguing. It's upsetting him and quite frankly, it's upsetting me too. I got to think of my son and my livelihood. So I'm going to ask her to pack her things and go. I'm sorry, Les"
"And where are we suppose to go?"
"I don't know but I got to put my son first. I don't mind kipping on the couch until you find a place but I'm not being with her when she's like this. Hopefully she'll see sense when she knows I'm serious"
"Or you'll just push her further towards Rowan"
"I don't think she needs much help, Les. I'm sorry but I'm not sticking around to play second fiddle to him. I'm not living that life and I'm not forcing Sam to either, that's it" Nick told him before walking away.
Les understood but that didn't make it less frustrating, He just walked around again as Leanne was out doing her promotions. He felt useless, he knew this Rowan was out to bleed Leanne dry. And she doesn't even see what's happening, she thinks eveything will be fine because of the promises made by Rowan. He's promised her happiness at the end of this. Now he had to find somewhere else to live, no like it mattered much to him anymore. He was spotted looking forlon by Chesney, his adoptive son. He sighed before walking over.
"Alright, Les?" Chesney asked with his hands his pockets.
"Not really. You hate me-"
"I don't hate you"
"Well you did a good impression of somebody who does. And I don't blame you either so don't worry, this isn't a pity party or 'owt. Nick's dumped Leanne and kicked us both out. So I'm back on the streets and so is she. That enough wrong for you?"
"I understand that feeling. Me and Gemma have been evicted"
"What? You got kids-"
"Like the landlord cares about that. Looks like we're both homeless losers now, doesn't it? My mum called me the other day as well, she's said she's coming back for a visit. Don't look so happy though, she's coming back because Ronnie's out of prison. Not because she cares about me or you" Chesney explained as he sat besides him.
He looked as exhausted as Les felt but it was nice to talk to him. Despite the bad circumstances they were both in. Les really did see him as his son, more so than Greg Kelly (who he hasn't seen for years and years). Greg was in prison last time he checked, he's never been out long enough it seemed to reconnect with him. Chesney waited for him to explain his problems back.
"Oh. Well Cilla's always loved Ronnie more than me" Les insisted with bitterness.
"Why did Nick dump Leanne?"
"You won't believe me if I told you. I already told Kirk...Basically she's got involved with this group called 'The Institute' The main man Rowan has told her everything she wanted to hear, including that she can have Oliver back. She won't give that up and it's bleeding her dry. Nick doesn't wanna play second fiddle...That's the gist of it"
"What? She's giving them loads of money?"
"Yeah. It's got a point now where Nick has banned her from the joint-business account. I hate to see what they will expect when she runs out of money. And I'm scared for her because Rowan doesn't seem the type to let go. He seems to enjoy grinding her down until she's a shell. And she is a shell" Les spoke with head down as he seemed ashamed to even be talking about it.
He wasn't crying but he looked close to it. Chesney couldn't believe it but it explained a lot about why Toyah left suddenly. Chesney was trying to think of something to say but what could you say to that? It wasn't a common problem but he did have one idea but he doesn't know if she'll even be up for it.
"My mother-in-law is a bit wacky, Bernie she's called. I bring her up because she likes crystals and all that humble jumble. I know it`s probably not the same but maybe she could come up with something for Leanne" Chesney suggested.
"I don't know. Leanne doesn't seem to listen to anybody but Rowan"
"I could ask her about it. I reckon she may come up with something...And her son's dying. So she's no stranger to the harsh stuff either. Leanne might not even wanna talk to her and vice versa but I could still ask"
"Go for it. There's nothing better to try right now"
...
"No! I'm not giving up the spare room for snotty Leanne and her dad, Kirk. You must be joking!" Beth expressed.
Kirk was asked shortly after Les spoke to Chesney. He was their temporary option right now. Which wasn't great for anybody involved in the pokey flat above the kebab shop but they didn't have much options. Leanne couldn't afford a flat of her own right now as her income was getting smaller thanks to who she was giving it to. This was it really, Chesney had no room even if he wanted to. Not to mention how he was getting evicted soon anyway.
"They have nowhere else to go. Look, you'll like them when you get to know them. Me and Les go years back. We use to live together and we had no problem, ask Chesney or Fiz if you don't believe me" Kirk protested.
"We only have one spare bedroom. What about Peanut?"
"Peanut can stay in with us. Les will take the couch and Leanne will take the spare bed. I told Les yes now anyway so I can't go back on it. It's not going to be forever...Leanne won't let that happen. She likes her home comforts"
"I like my home comforts too!"
"Good job you're not going anywhere then"
"Oh wow. Great, Kirk. Just great...I can't wait to share my house with an ex-tramp and a snobby cow"
"I reckon you're going to eat your words later. Honestly, you'll love it. We will have a great time. I'll see ya later anyway, I gotta go and see if they are ready yet" Kirk told her before walking towards 'Victoria Court'.
Beth still with a massive scow on her face as she watched him walk to the flats. She wasn't the only one unhappy however. Leanne was equally aghast by her father's suggestion but still, Nick made his feelings clear and vice versa. Leanne stood with her arms crossed and her suitcase packed along with another bag for her laptop and journal. Kirk gave them the thumbs up as if they were good to go but Leanne had a right face on her still.
"Did your missus agree then?" Les asked.
"Oh yeah. She's fine with you two coming...She said one of you can have the spare room and one of you can have the couch. Just don't mind the dog stuff in the spare room" Kirk answered.
"That's disgusting" Leanne chimed in.
"What?" Kirk questioned in his usual gormless tone of voice.
"That I got to stay in your dog's manky room. I want an air freshener if that's alright"
"Oh yeah. I'll get you one from Dev's...Come on then, it might not be as bad as when you think. Anyway, you did grow up with Les. You must be use to a bit of clutter by now" Kirk pointed out as they began walking towards the flat.
Beth could hardly hide her annoyance as she watched them come closer. Leanne dragging her suitcase across the cobbles in an equally sour mood. Kirk looked confused as he quietly asked Les..."I thought you said this group was meant to make you positive. She should be happy"
"That's to come apparently" Les quietly answered back.
He briefly spotted Joel (walking with Dee-Dee and Bethany Platt) on his way to the pub across the road. He paused and shouted over..."Oi! Lawyer boy, come and have a proper pop at me now I'm not working!"
This made Leanne, Kirk and Beth pause in surprise. Joel looked over and shook his head, feeling Dee-Dee grab onto his arm. She kept telling him not to let him to get to him again. Bethany looked confused but amused nonetheless.
"You're not worth the energy!" Joel shouted back before getting told to move on. Dee-Dee gently pulling towards him the pub, telling Bethany it's a long story before they entered the pub.
"Posh prat, he was gunning for me last night" Les insisted while following them into the flat and going upstairs.
Leanne was too busy feeling dreadful to care right now. She pulled her suitcase up the small staircase. She did use to live here actually with Danny Baldwin but it's been so long and the flat had changed. The decor was so not what she was into but it had to be enough for now.
"Alright, princess. Good enough for you?" Beth asked with sarcasm.
"I use to live here, Beth. So don't come at me like that just because I don't like the smell of dog" Leanne responded back.
"It don't smell that bad! Just put an air freshener in!"
"I am, Beth. Kirk's gonna get me one"
"Well don't expect room service, alright?"
Les and Kirk looked at each other as they could sense this may be a long night.
...
TBC