I promise
"She's the kind of girl who would rather be magical to you than belong to you"
July
•1907•
Mariana's POV
"Where are you?" He shouted
"We'll find you! You fucking slut!" The other chimed in
I held my breath, clutching the sheets in my hands tightly
"You really think you can hide?" The first guy laughed again.
"You're at a dead end you stupid whore" he laughed further
He was right. There was no way out
Hiding here, behind a post, there was no realistic way I would make it out of this alleyway.
"Oi" I heard a voice bellow
I breathed in, feeling safe enough to make a noise as Arthur's voice filled the alleyway once again
"You lost?" He asked, before I heard a scream
I peeked out, watching on as Tommy and Arthur proceeded to beat the two men to the floor.
One eventually ran off, clutching at his eyes as the other lay unconscious beneath Tommy's hands
"Come out" Arthur ordered
I didn't move
"Mariana" Tommy warned
I sighed, making myself known.
"What?" I asked, bored
"What do you mean 'what', you can't steal off people like the Carter's Mar, you'll get yourself killed" Tommy said
"It was only some sheets" I said, stepping over the unconscious man as I headed out into the street, stuffing the sheets into my bag.
"It doesn't matter what it is, stop being reckless" Arthur said, catching up to me as he pulled a handkerchief out to wipe his knuckles
"What's the fun in that?" I grinned, walking backwards so I could see them both.
"Your mums been asking for you" Tommy said after a moment
"Ah shit" I remembered, setting off in a sprint for the house
"Yeah you're welcome" Arthur shouted after me
I was suppose to go with her to the doctors today.
Mariana's Outfit
I got back to watery lane, leaving Tommy and Arthur behind as I rushed into the house
"I'm here" I shouted out, hanging my bag and coat up
"So am I, after going to the doctors without you" she called back.
I sighed
"I'm sorry, I forgot" I said, leaning against the doorframe
"It's alright, David took me" she said, nodding over to him before she continued cooking.
"Why are you home?" I asked, looking at David.
He was sat sulking at the dining table
"He got sent home. For fighting" she said angrily.
"Again?" I asked
"Again" she confirmed, shooting him a look.
He peeked up at me quickly but I didn't miss the black eye he was sporting
"It's the last thing I need right now" she said, cradling her bump in her free hand
She was right. She didn't need David acting up at school on top of everything else.
Especially with a dickhead like Kinney around
God knows why mum gave an idiot like him a chance. Or why she got pregnant by him
I just hoped the baby took after mum more than him.
•
"What do you think?" John asked, proudly showing off the brown pony as it stood in Charlie's yard
"I think that you need to work on your skills Johnny boy" I said.
It was a fine beast. But a small one
He won't get much for it
"Fuck off, took me all day to get him" he huffed
"I'm sure it did" I said, wandering back down to the fire pit where everyone sat.
"Thanks" I said, taking the drink from Arthur's outstretched hand, taking my seat beside Tommy
"Heard you got into a bit of trouble down on Florence street today" Freddie laughed.
"No, I got into a minor... business disagreement" I said
"Meaning?" He asked
"Meaning, I wanted their business, and they wanted to kill me" I said simply, taking a swig of the vodka.
He chuckled, throwing more wood onto the fire
"Well, I was more fortunate today. Take a look at this" he said, pulling a watch from his pocket.
"Jesus Freddie, where did you get this from?" I asked, examining it
"Some sorry looking fella down the track" he grinned
"Should get a pretty penny or two don't you think?"
"More than two" I chuckled, handing it back.
"Fucking hell chuck some more on that Fred, it's freezing" Arthur complained, as he sat chatting to Charlie
"Yeah, it is" I agreed.
"Here" Tommy said simply, shrugging his jacket off and holding it out for me.
"Thanks" I said, pulling it on
Freddie smiled, raising his eyebrows at me
I shot him a look, he was forever teasing.
•
"We really have to get a racket going you know? We'd rake it in on the streets" I said, looking up at the stars
"You're aware my family own a betting shop yeah? You want us to go out of business?" Tommy chuckled, taking the bottle from me for a swig.
The party had died down as we now sat in the back alley of the house. Drinking.
"No. I just want a bit of the business for ourselves, think of how many kids are wanting to bet but can't cause they aren't old enough, we'd make loads Tommy" I thought out loud
He was content in stealing horses with John.
Pickpocketing like Freddie.
I wanted something solid. Something that'd make us a lot of money.
"You have a point. For once" he commented, smirking as I looked at him
"Idiot" I mumbled, standing up
"Well, goodnight" I said
"You're going to bed already?" He laughed.
"Busy day tomorrow" I said simply
"And here I was thinking I'd actually get some time with my best friend" he sighed dramatically
"Freddie is your best friend, go knock on his door if you're so short of company" I teased.
"Not his company I want" he said
"Oh Thomas you smooth talker" I said, feigning a swoon.
"Come on" he urged. I rolled my eyes
"Fine" I said, sitting back down
"What's your big plan then? Pickpocket for the rest of your life, save up to buy a new toy?" I asked
"No, I plan to build a business" he said
"You're 17 Tommy" I laughed
"You run around telling everyone you'll put a curse on them if they cross you, what business are you going to run?" I asked, amused
"I don't know yet, but whatever it is. It will be big, and it'll be commanding" he said.
"Right, the oh great Thomas Shelby" I joked
"Call me when you're king yeah?" I smiled
"Politicians have more influence than kings these days Mar" he said.
"So what? You'll be an MP. Now that'd be a fucking sight" I laughed.
Tommy was a dreamer, and that would be his downfall in my opinion
It was better to be realistic, aim for what you had the resources to achieve.
"I don't know" he sighed
"I just want something... bigger. Better. I'm going to change the world, I promise you that" he said
"Charming" I said
"You know I don't mean you" he said
"Oh yeah? I'm that great hey?" I asked, nudging his shoulder.
"Yeah... you are" he said, I looked at him, my laughter dying down as he stared at me so... seriously.
"Mar" he said
"Yes?" I asked, not realising how close he had gotten.
I could feel his breath against mine. His eyes glancing downwards, before they stared into mine once more
"Mar I-"
"Tommy" Martha's voice rang out, breaking us apart quickly.
I looked down, that was... awkward.
The back door swung open and Martha stood there, adjusting her eyes in the darkness
"Tom come on it's late" she said
"Coming mum" he said, she disappeared back inside.
"Well I'll uh... I'll see you tomorrow" I said simply, getting up and heading for the back gate.
"Yeah I'll-" I didn't hear the end of his sentence as I shut the gate, rushing next door to go inside
Tommy's POV
"Tomorrow..." I sighed
"Thanks" I said to mum, heading inside
"What?" She asked
"I nearly... we nearly..." I faltered
"It doesn't matter" I said.
"Right well will you help me with this?" She asked, picking up piles of clothes to take upstairs
"Yeah, I guess" I said
•
I thought we were going to...
Fuck. Why won't she get out of my head?
"Get off me you mad bitch!" I heard dad shout downstairs
Great. He's fucked again
I moved to get up, until my door creaked open slightly
"It's alright, I'm going" Arthur spoke out in the darkness
"You sure?" I asked, mum didn't need the hassle off dad.
Especially when she was so close to giving birth.
I laid back down. Staring at the ceiling as I listened to Arthur and dad argue
Fucking drunk idiot.
Mariana's POV
Was he going to... kiss me?
Was he just drunk?
"Night darling" mum smiled from the door
"Night" I smiled back
Tommy and me. We were friends
Best friends. He wouldn't...
He shouldn't...
Did he want to?
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