Peaky Blinders Imagines

5- One Drink; Michael Gray

Request for @AnnieK400

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I lay in my single bed in my Birmingham apartment, on Valentines day, reminiscing on two months prior when I left my parents in Galway, to come and work in Birmingham. 

"Be safe Tessa, there's far too many bad men over in that Birmingham, it's a bad place, but I know you can take care of yourself. I suppose I'm just acting like a tormented mother." My dear mother said tears filling her hazel eyes.

"No need to worry about me mam, besides I'll write to you every fortnight, I promise."

My father is a passionate race-horse trainer. I've grown up my whole life around horses and, I was presumed to follow in my fathers footsteps. So you can guess when he found out I wanted to move to Birmingham and get involved in Politics, he wasn't very fond of the idea. Eventually he came around to the idea and now here I am, two months in.

I joined the communist party and also work part-time for the local newspaper. I snapped out of my daydream and looked at the clock. Fuck, I thought, if I don't get my shit together I'll be late to the event.

I had arranged to meet up with my now close friend and fellow communist Jessie Eden and my colleague at the newspaper Martha Porter. 

I quickly got dressed up and popped on some red lipstick, it's Valentines day after all. Valentines day was never a big deal back home, so I was surprised when Jessie invited Martha and I to the local dance hall for the occasion. I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door.

 I got to the hall and walked through the grand doors, I glanced around the open hall in search of my friends, until eventually my eyes landed on Jessies unmistakeable hat. I strutted over to the girls and took a seat with them.

"Good evening ladies" I said with a mischievous smirk. In the two months I had been here, I haven't had a chance to properly go out and have a drink, between my work at the party and job at the newspaper I had no time. So to say this was long awaited would be an understatement.

"Well hello there Miss. Oakley, I just adore your lipstick. I do wonder if your lips will be on some lucky man tonight?" Jessie teasingly questioned. 

Martha laughed and nodded "I second that query."

"It depends on the type of men that I stumble upon tonight." I say sarcastically. In all honestly I did not come to the hall tonight to find a man to bed, I came to have a good time with my friends. That was until my eyes landed on a man I didn't quite recognise. He was wearing a slick three piece suit and a peaked cap.

Peaked.

Quickly it clicked in my head. He was a Peaky Blinder. Judging by his attire and the entourage surrounding him he was bound to be apart of the widely feared street gang.

After catching onto my staring, Martha giggled.

"Oh God Tess, please don't tell me your planning on going after a Peaky Blinder on your first night out." She laughed heartily again and seemed genuinely amused by my apparent crush.

Jessie looked at me, "I'll introduce you if you'd like ?" she said, dead seriously. 

"You know what, let's do it, It's fucking Valentines day" I said confidently.

"Oh you can't be serious ?" Martha said now with a glint of fear glistering in her eyes.

"C'mon Martha, Thomas Shelby may be a ruthless, cold blooded killer, but I'm sure they're not all that bad." I stated

"Right you two have fun with the Peaky boys, I'm going to dance." Martha turned away and headed towards a group of nicely dressed women and joined in on their dancing.

Jessie grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the group of Blinders. As soon as the handsome one caught sight of us, he rolled his eyes.

"Jessie Eden, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you on this beautiful night." He said not noticing me.

"Michael. Nice to see you too." Jessie said with a cold smile.

"If you're looking for Tommy, you can go on and leave because he's not here, and I don't know where he is." He said clearly unimpressed seeing Jessie. I didn't know she was so close with the Shelbys. She has spoken about them before, and I've heard of her dealings with Thomas, but she seems a lot closer than I imagined.

"Actually, Michael, contrary to your understanding, I am here to introduce my friend her Miss Tessa Oakley." Jessie said, a little frustrated with Michaels attempt to push her away.

Michaels eyes flicked over to me and our eyes met. For a split second it looked as if he was staring at me. He quickly caught himself before anyone else noticed and gathered himself.

"Is this apart of one of your little schemes, to get an inside glance into our lives, then Jessie ?" Michael asked while pointing his finger at me a swirling his finger around in a circle.

"Actually," I said finally speaking up, " I thought you were an interesting looking group of men, and I've heard quite a bit about your reputation. I suppose you could say I wanted to see if it's all talk or not...." I said confidently, while trying to tread lightly around the group of Blinders.

"Well, fuck me, she speaks !" Michael announces, and the men around him snort.

A scowl creeps onto my face and I realise it was idiotic of me to think I even had a chance with a fucking Peaky Blinder. I turn around and walk away, I get a couple of paces away from the group, when a cold, strong hand grabs a hold of my forearm. I whip around quickly to pull my arm away, until I see Michael standing there, his hand on my arm.

"Look I apologise if, I've pissed you off, I was just tryin' to 'ave a laugh with everyone" Michael explains "Besides Jessie is always coming after us and I wasn't in the mood to 'ave her yappin in my ear all night." He continues.

I stay still with a clear grimace still present on my face. I turned away once more and this time he grabbed my hand, and spun me back around.

"Look let me buy you a drink, just one, and if you still hate me by the time you've drank it you're free to go." He said with a smirk,

"And if I don't still dislike you when i'm done ?" 

"Well then you're welcome to stay for another, and another, and another if you'd like." He laughed.

"I suppose it's Valentines day...... deal." I said.

TO BE CONTINUED

oooh little bit of a cliff-hanger tonight ! I'll be making a part two for this soon :)

-A