TNN: A Collection Of Short Stories

what do you think your doing? (mialotte)

An: thank you all so much for your support in the last chapter.
But I cannot tell you how many times I had to rewrite this chapter, just to still not be happy with it 😭 😭
There's like a bit of "Dom Mia" and a bit of a spat between the two. I had so many ideas for this chapter that it got complicated quite quickly. It was also just very therapeutic as I have been quite pissed off the last couple of days😭😭
Enjoy??

Charlotte's pov:
"What do you mean your leaving again?" I practically yell. It's early in the morning and we're both just sat in the kitchen having some coffee.
"Sweetheart it's only going to be a few days, I'm only heading to a nursery for some observations of their staff, and im not leaving for another week" She tells me as she reaches for my hand. I pull it away from her and avert my gaze. I suppose I'm a little clingy with Mia right now, but we've spent so much time together over the last few months. Plus, my daughters are with their father for the rest of the week, and I don't do well on my own.

We stay silent until we're at work.

We both start our shifts. I'm in the baby room and Mia's just flicking between all the rooms today.

A certain parent comes in for drop off. This parent really grates me, forgetting to pack spare clothes, changing the routine really often, and just their whole demeanour. I run through the usual drop off questions before accepting the baby and realising she's hot to the touch.
"Just a minute," I say to the parent before taking the baby's temperature. Yep. She has a fever.
"Sorry, she can't be here today," I say, explaining that she has a temperature.
The parent has a real go at me, telling me I always have a bone to pick and how there's 'always something wrong' with the child. I find this really grating. She eventually finishes her rant and tells me she's going to speak to Marjorie.

I rub my temples, turn around, and see Mia standing there.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" She asks.
"I don't need your help," I snap. She turns around to leave.

"Well done, Charlotte, you've done it this time," I mutter to myself. I'm so annoyed with myself, the way I handled that parent, the way I spoke to Mia.

I carry on with the rest of my shift, barely talking to anyone. The end of my shift rolls around quickly. Not telling Mia that I've left. She's probably holed up in the office, filling out paperwork or something. Without thinking, I leave the nursery. not a word to anyone.

i walk down the street towards the local bar. My brain is not my own, and i cant see past the upset and distress that i am feeling. I sit down at the bar and order a gin and tonic. i check my phone and see that Mia has messaged me, i don't answer.

I was at the bar for a couple of hours, i drank a lot more than i intended to, danced a lot more than i intended to. i quickly glanced at my phone in my intoxicated state.

14 missed calls, 9 new messages

i shrug it off, without care. I just hated how I acted today. i go back to my drink. it's been nearly three hours when I heard someone behind me.

"What do you think your doing?" She says it sternly, and my heart drops.

Mias POV:

I am so angry right now. shes here at a bar drinking on a wednesday night. this is so not her. Usually, I'm not bothered by her going out after work, but I am bothered when she doesn't say where shes going and when she refuses to answer her phone.

"Mia, im so-" she starts, slurring a little bit.

"Save it," i say coldly, before grabbing her wrist, not rough enough to mark, but rough enough where she can feel it, and pulling her out of the bar and putting her in my car. I drive us back to mine.