Defeated

Chapter 6

"I'm going to go, she needs me. Seeya in a bit, yeah?"

"Bye, Peter."

"What were you doing? I heard you on the phone." She frowns.

"I know you said you were fine on your own but I panicked and invited Johnny over to look after you." He explains.

"What? For god sake, not only have you gone against what I said but you picked Johnny to come here, the man who worries about every little thing." She snaps.

"I tried Michelle but she was unavailable."

"I said I didn't need anyone."

"Well I beg to differ. I told him to treat you like normal." He says.

"Oh and you really think he'll stick by that? I don't need the stress, Peter."

The buzzer rings.

"That'll be him. It'll be okay, I won't be gone for long and you did say you'll go to sleep." He rubs her leg before leaving to answer the door to Johnny.

"Alright?" Johnny smiles.

"Look, she's in a mood because I told her you were coming-..."

"But-..."

"Just let her do her own thing and she'll call if she needs you. I know you mean well but try not to stress her out, ey?" Peter interrupts, making sure his point has been understood.

"Okay." Johnny nods.

"Right, Bye then. Bye Carla!" He shouts, but gets no reply.

Later that day, Johnny is sat in the living area bored out of this mind. He hasn't heard a word out of Carla since his arrival and was quite concerned, he didn't know whether to go in and check on her.

He stayed put for another 10 minutes before finally deciding to knock on the door of the bedroom to see if she was okay.

"Car?" He whispers, opening the door.

"Mm." She croaks.

"I just wanted to check you were okay. Do you want anything?"

"No." She mutters, pulling the duvet up further.

"How you feeling?"

"Like death." She groans.

"I wish there was something I could do. I just feel so helpless, like the worst father in the world." He goes on.

"Look, if you're going to carry on feeling sorry for yourself then can you please do it elsewhere because I don't want to hear it." She moans.

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself-..."

"Please, Johnny. I just want to be alone." She whispers.

All Carla wanted was Peter; everyone else, especially Johnny, was just annoying her at this moment in time.

"I understand." He nods, walking over to the door. "I love you."

Silence.

The next day, Carla was feeling a little stronger. Peter was back taking care of her and she'd already had words with him over the Johnny situation.

"Right, what movie are we watching?" He asks, Carla curled into his side as they flick through films.

"Nothing too sad, we've got enough of that going on in our lives." She chuckles.

"A comedy?"

"Definitely not. Can't be dealing with people trying so hard to be funny...and failing." She rolls her eyes.

"What then? Action?"

"All the quick movements will hurt my eyes, it feels like I've got a migraine or something." She squirms.

"I know what you're like, you're a secret romantic kinda girl." He smiles. "So we'll put on romance."

"Mmm." Her eyes glint with content.

Just before the film they've chosen is about to start, Carla grabs hold of his arm tightly.

"What's up? You alright?" His eyes go wide in concern.

"We haven't got popcorn!"

"Oh my god. I thought you were hurt or something!"

"You will be...if you don't go get me popcorn." She smirks.

"Ugh, Okay then. Don't start without me. I'll be back in a minute."

"Actually, do you want me to come with you?" She questions.

"Why? I'm only going to the corner shop, love."

"It might be good to get some fresh air and leave these four walls, even if it is for a short amount of time."

"I agree. Come on then, we won't be out long."

The couple make a slow walk to Dev's shop, buying some popcorn and a few other essentials and then leaving to go back home.

"Carla! Peter!" A voice shouts, coming from the Rovers.

"Oh, Hey. Sorry we can't stop, we have a film waiting for us back home." Peter replies.

"Right. How're you?" Johnny asks, walking over to the pair followed by Kate.

"Fine." She nods.

"I'm sorry if I annoyed you yesterday, Carla. It was all a weird situation." Johnny sighs.

"Weird? Being in your daughters home is weird, is it?" Carla frowns.

"Well no. I mean, with you...being ill and that."

"Dad?" Kate taps his arm.

"I didn't mean it like that." He groans.

"Great." Carla smiles, sarcastically.

"What I'm trying to say is, I don't know how to act around you. I feel like I'm always in the firing line of your abuse, I know what you're going through is really tough but you make it so hard for me to know how to be, it makes me feel so useless. Does that make sense, love?"

"What are you saying? Johnny, this isn't about you," Peter shakes his head in frustration.

"Dad, you're digging yourself into a deep whole here. Just stop." Kate mumbles.

"I'm sorry. None of that has come out right. I'll just leave you guys alone for now."

"Car?" Peter turns his head, watching as his lover turns to a horrible shade of grey and as she closes her eyes in distress. "What's wrong?"

Suddenly, Carla's legs give away. The arm that was crossed in Peters, now laying on the cold concrete where her body now is. Her eyes flutter shut as the three others watch in horror.

"Carla!" Peter shouts, kneeling down to try and wake his unconscious other. "No, no, no."