Another Love

Part 2. Witnessing it all

Carla opened the door to her and Peter's new flat in Victoria Court. They moved as she wanted a bigger place. She needed the space really. Her shoes were filling up the other place.
Carla shoved her keys on the counter and turned to look at Nick, who was just shutting the door behind him. He placed the paperwork onto the table and looked at her shirt again, it was absolutely covered and started to smell of espresso. He laughed once again.
"You're going to pay for this Nicky Tilsley!" Carla laughed and poked his stomach.
"Hey, I'm buying you a cake and coffee remember!" He smiled at her.
"The price of cake and a coffee does not come close to the price of this blouse." She smiled while staring deep into his eyes, letting him know that she was winning this argument and no one else.
"Why how much was it?" Nick wondered.
"Around 100 quid, why?" As Carla told Nick the price his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"A hundred quid?!" He was shocked, but come on, it's not that expensive right? Well, to Carla it's not.
"It's a nice blouse!" She replied while walking into the bedroom. That was the end of that argument. Nick stayed in the living room and sat on the sofa.
"Did you decorate this place yourself?" Nick shouted into the bedroom to make sure Carla could hear.
"Yeah." Carla replied while changing her shirt. She took the coffee blouse off and chucked it somewhere carelessly. That's when she realised, the shirt she wanted to change into was in the living room, where Nick was. The only other shirt that went with the trousers and shoes she was wearing. She was in her bra and there was no way she was putting that coffee blouse back on. Brilliant. She exhaled deeply. "Um, Nick." Carla shouted. "Can you see a grey t-shirt anywhere near you?" She asked awkwardly.
"Um..." He paused while looking around him. "Yes it's here. Do you want me to bring it to you?" He shouted back.
"Yes please! But um... I'm sort of not wearing a top so can you not look?" Carla asked, still as awkward as before. She could hear Nick chuckle as his footsteps came nearer. As he entered the bedroom, he had his hand covering both eyes and the other one holding out the shirt. Carla couldn't help but laugh at how he looked. As he came closer towards her, still covering his eyes, he suddenly tripped on the coffee covered blouse she had chucked on the floor earlier. Carla didn't hesitate to grab him. She was the closest thing he could grab. His hands leant against her waist, trying to keep himself steady again. Carla held his shoulders. After he picked himself up and stood straight once again, he looked down to see him holding Carla close in her bra. They then made awkward eye contact again and that's when they both realised. He suddenly covered his eyes once again as she quickly grabbed the t-shirt and shoved it over her head. Even though she was only wearing a bra, it was still extremely awkward for them both.
Suddenly, they heard the flat door opening. There was a stumble in the living room.
"Hello?" The slurry voice called out. Nick and Carla looked at each other and panicked once they realised it was Peter, and he didn't exactly sound sober.
"Peter?" Carla shouted to let him know she was home. Carla pointed towards the wardrobe door and pushed Nick in that direction. He quickly squeezed himself into the overflowing wardrobe while shutting the door quietly. Nick and Carla weren't getting up to anything they shouldn't be, but they didn't want Peter getting that idea.
Carla walked into the living room to find a drunk Peter holding a bottle of vodka.
"Oh Peter, you haven't." Carla was so disappointed. He was doing so well. "Where have you been?" She asked him.
"I went to the Dog and Gun. They have no idea that I'm an alcoholic do they." He said, not keeping still.
"Why Peter?" Carla begged. Everything was going fine, but now this.
"I'm losing my son, can't you see that?!" Peter raised his voice to a new level.
"Yes, I'm sorry." Carla said, she began to feel uncomfortable. She couldn't believe she felt uncomfortable in front of her own husband in her own home.
"I don't need this, I'm going back out." He said before turning around and opening the door.
"No Peter you've had enough!" Carla said while holding him back to stop him.
"Get off me!" Peter shouted while pushing Carla off him hard enough to make her fall to the ground. After this moment everything went blank in Carla's mind. She'd hit the back of her head hard enough against the table for it to knock her out. Nick noticed how the level of shouting went a whole lot quieter. He got out of the walk-in-wardrobe and rushed out of the bedroom, almost running. He walked into the living room to find Carla lying on the floor. A pool of blood forming underneath her head as she lay there lifelessly. She was still breathing thankfully. Nick felt through his pockets for his phone but remembered he left his at the Bistro, so instead he rummaged through Carla's handbag to grab her phone and he used that instead. He dialled 999 and lifted Carla's head and placed it on his lap. Of course this was covering his suit in Carla's blood, but he didn't give a stuff. He cared deeply for Carla... and only for Carla.