25th May, 2014. The day before Peter and Tina were going to run away together.
"Carla? Hey, what's up?" Michelle questions, highly concerned.
She'd been working at the bar in the Rovers alongside Tina and Steve when Carla came in. The pale complexion, red watery eyes and her shaking frame gave an obvious message that something was really wrong.
"Car? Has something happened?"
Michelle walks over to her best friend, who stands still at the door. Her eyes are so wide and her body looks paralysed in shock, or is it fear? She wondered whether something might be wrong with the baby. Carla already had a scare once and Michelle knew that she was more sensitive at the moment.
However, Carla wasn't saying a word. She couldn't.
Back behind the bar, Tina watches on in horror. She was ready to make an escape if needs be but she wanted to be sure whether Carla's state was linked to their secret affair. Peter swore he wasn't going to tell her, they were going to move away very soon.
Steve caught on to Tina's shifty movements, he glared at her and prayed this wasn't anything to do with her. He sighed; wondering if he should go over and help but decided against it.
"Carla. Speak to me." Michelle says more forcefully. She held onto her arm and gently shook her.
"It's...it's Peter." Carla's weak voice stutters.
"What about Peter?" She frowns.
"I-..." a sob escapes Carla's lips, not being able to keep her emotions under control with the shock revelation she was about to say. "I can't do this. No, no..."
"Darlin' you need to tell me what's happened. Is Peter okay?"
"Do you want to go out in the back instead? People are watching." Steve pipes up.
"We will in a sec, Steve." Michelle replies. "Carla, do you want me to go to the flat?"
"Chelle..." Carla cries. "I...I was in the bath which he made me after work a-and I stayed in their for an hour or so and then I-I came out afterwards and..."
Michelle narrowed her eyes. A bath? What's that got to do with anything? She looked and saw Carla wearing joggers and a vest top, this told her Carla had clearly gotten ready for bed so she needed Carla to go on with the story. What the hell happened next?
"And?"
"He...he was laying on the sofa...on his back." She chokes on a violent sob.
"Ugh, I need to sit down." She takes a deep breath and shakily holds onto Michelle.
Steve moves a stool over to Carla where she sits, a hand to her mouth also.
"He was grey in the face...sick everywhere...I-I didn't know what to do."
Michelle, Steve's and Tina's eyes widen in shock.
Tina walks over to them, "where is he now?"
"I left him in the flat." Carla sniffs.
"Right, lets go." Michelle orders, the four of them leaving the pub in a hurry.
The door of the flat was open ajar, Carla and Michelle walk in first followed by the other two.
As soon as the pregnant brunette spots him, she turns around and gags.
"Oh...no, no, no."
"Someone call an ambulance, now!" Michelle shouts. "Steve, help me move him onto his side."
