After Dunkirk [Discontinued]

Fourteen ~ Future

"Tommy, wait up!" I call out while jogging down the sidewalk with Georgina trailing behind.

He doesn't stop or even acknowledge me, so I pick up my pace. As soon as I'm close enough, I reach out and grab him by the shoulder to turn him around.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I ask out of breath and he shakes his head. "What the hell happened back there?"

"Never mind, it's nothing," he looks away, wiping his tears on his sleeve.

"It's not nothing, mate."

"Yeah, it's not nothing," Georgina breathlessly says, no doubt from catching up to us. "C'mon, Tom Tom. Tell us what happened?"

"Alright, fine," Tommy sighs, "but not here, just in case someone overhears."

"Okay. Hey I know! Let's go to the treehouse," Georgina eagerly says and Tommy nods.

"Good idea, Georgie," he smiles and looks over at me. "Dad, Virgil and I built it."

I nod in understanding that it has special meaning and Tommy leads the way with Georgina's arm linked through his.

Even though I don't know the details, I assume that what happened back at the soda shop has something to do with him and Jimmy.

Oh shit. Did Jimmy break up with him? But he was crying too. Did someone catch them snogging? I told him to be more careful and lock the damn door. Ugh, I need answers. How far is this treehouse?

"That's our uncle's clock repair shop," Georgina says, breaking the silence and I look across the street to where she's pointing. "Maybe Uncle Irwin can give you a job there like he did for Tommy."

"That would be great," I honestly reply. "Only if Tommy doesn't mind, of course."

"Course I don't mind," he says with a pat to my shoulder. "And that was another great idea, Georgie," he compliments and pulls her into a side hug. "You're just full of good ideas, aren't you?"

Even though he's smiling, I can see the hurt in his eyes, that he's trying to put on a brave face for his sister and it makes me respect the bloke even more.

"The treehouse is just down this path," Georgina takes off to lead the way and Tommy and I follow behind.

The crackling of the leaves beneath our feet and the sound of gentle rushing water nearby make for a calming atmosphere and I can easily tell why they chose this spot for their treehouse.

"C'mon, slow pokes!"

Tommy and I smile at each other and start running down the small embankment in an unofficial competition. My eyes widen at the large wooden structure nestled in the big tree and as I slow my gait, I watch Georgina pull down the rope ladder.

"Lemme go up first so I can help you," Tommy offers, earning a scoff from Georgina, but she moves so he can climb. "C'mon, Al. Follow me."

I glance at Georgina, who's nervously fiddling with her dress and I nod with an awkward smile, grabbing onto the rope ladder. As I climb, the damp material makes me doubt that it will hold my weight, but I'm already half-way up and it hasn't given out.

"Gimme your hand, mate," Tommy reaches down and I oblige his offer so he can help me up. "Bloody hell, you've gained weight. I think it's my mum's cooking."

"Shut up, you wanker," I shoot back, pushing myself up to stand and I realize that he was just teasing. "M'sorry."

"S'okay," he shrugs a shoulder and leans over the edge of the treehouse. "Alright, Georgie, you can do it. Just don't look down."

While Tommy helps his sister, I take a look around and I'm rather impressed with the little set up they have going here. A small wooden table with matching chairs take up most of the space, but there's also room for a pallet of blankets for comfortable seating and a few lanterns.

"There we are," Tommy says and I turn to watch him help her stand up. "That wasn't that difficult, was it?"

"Not really," she replies, smoothing out her dress. "Now that we're here; what happened at the diner?"

"Alright, I'll tell you both," he sighs. "We might as well sit down and get comfortable."

Once we're sat on the pallet of blankets, Tommy exhales a heavy breath and closes his eyes.

"Jimmy called it quits."

"I knew it!" I blurt out, earning shocked looks from both of them. "Oh, m'sorry. It's just, I guessed. Go on."

"Anyways," he rolls his eyes and Georgina comforts his shoulder, "he told me that his parents found out about us, and they threatened to stop funding his uni education."

Georgina gasps, "They can't do that."

"They can and they would, believe me. I've met them," Tommy scoffs. "He's going to follow his father's and grandfather's footsteps and be a surgeon. That's an extra eight years of schooling, for Christ's sake. There's no way he can make enough at the diner to pay for it all. It makes sense. I don't blame him. It just hurts like mad."

"That's rubbish," Georgina huffs. "He broke your heart all because of money."

"No, it's okay, Georgie. I understand now. It was just a shock, seeing how he proposed not even a week ago, but I get it. He has to think of his future. Well fuck, I thought I was his future."

I don't know which is worse; Jimmy dumping him after proposing or seeing Tommy cry. Christ, this is horrible. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way. Nobody should be put in the position of choosing between love and money.

"Don't cry, Tom Tom. He's not worth crying over. Y'know something, I never liked him and his beady little eyes anyway."

"Thank you, Georgina," he smiles and pinches her cheek, earning a swat to his hand. "I'll be fine. I just need some time."

"I saw him," I quietly say and they both look at me with interest. "When you came to get me and Georgina, I noticed him in the corner of the diner. He looked heartbroken."

His face scrunches up like he's going to cry again and he lays his head on Georgina's shoulder. While she comforts him, I awkwardly look away to give them privacy and the situation makes me think of my darling.

Our parents weren't accepting of our relationship because of the difference in our skin color, which is no different than two people of the same gender not being allowed to love. It's preposterous.

"It'll be dark soon," Tommy sniffs, startling me out of my thoughts. "We should start heading back home. I'll go down the ladder first so I can help you, Georgie, and Alex," he says in a stern tone, "you'll go last. Understand?"

I glance over at Georgina's dress and nervously gulp, fitting my eyes to Tommy.

"Y-yeah, I understand."***

A/N: 😜 I just loved awkward situations when I was a teenager. Didn't you?

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