𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗 ~

❥ pt. 15

"i invited mick and charlie, hope you don't mind." keith beamed, coming back from the restroom and slipping into the opposite side of the booth.

"not brian?" rory quickly shuddered before she could stop herself. thankfully, julian didn't even look up from his drawing with the restaurant crayons.

keith shook his head, which eased her worries immensely. the last thing in the world she wanted was to see him again. "when are you guys leaving for london?" rory coughed, changing the subject. she was good at that, she was a journalist after all.

"two days." there was a lot to be done in two days, and the funny thing was rory had no idea what was to do, but it put a weight on her like an overdue assignment might. except, this weight was a grown man by the name of brian jones, and it was overdue by three years.

rory hummed and sipped her tea, a moment of reflection before charlie and mick loudly made their entrance.

"go home girls, i already signed enough!" mick hollered, signing one last autograph before attempting to close the door on the mob.

slightly miffed and clothes in a disarray, charlie and mick came bounding over and did a double take after they saw rory, but she was more than welcome. they just didn't think she would want anything to do with them, considering..

"hello guys." she greeted them as they sat down, over the shouts of julian over-the-moon to see his 'best friend' mick.

"afternoon." charlie nodded, while mick and julian conversed the deep and complex theories and facts behind what's more effective, purple or red crayon.

the adults continued to talk, enjoying their lunch and julian enjoying his chicken fingers and fries (best thing to get, i will take no complaints).

"here you guys are!" bill exclaimed loudly, coming to join their party. rory didn't mind, they would just need to get a bigger table, "we went to the wrong place!"

rory didn't even have time to correct bill's use of 'we', as he turned out to be grammatically correct. brian strolled in behind him, fixing his hair in the reflection of the glass windows, before choking on the cigarette he was carrying after catching a glimpse of rory.

"afternoon, bill." rory muttered coldly, staring daggers at mick, keith and charlie.

"hullo rory." he smiled as the waiter prepared them a bigger table, smiling like he hadn't possibly caused havoc to an one who hadn't suspected it.

there was a tension in the group, and bill seemed oblivious. especially when there was only three available seats all next to each other, and bill sat so the only two left were right next to each other.

their luck was humorous at this point.

both of them were equally as stubborn, and both determined to look like they weren't at all bothered. they both sat down with huge, unnaturally big smiles, movements tight, forced and rigid.

their food arrived soon after ordering, and as brian was reaching for the salt, his soda fell off and spilt.. all over rory.

gasping, the rest of the table widened their eyes then avoided contact. "shit-" brian began, then felt the gaze of the youngest member at the table, and did his best to cover his tracks, "shoot!"

"no," rory gaped angrily, "you were right the first time! shit!"

julian let out a loud gasp of his own, small hands covering his mouth before he turned to mick, "my mummy said a bad word!" mick humoured him, quietly, to keep the peace but it was fruitless; rory had already stomped towards the bathroom.

"good going brian!" keith snapped, rolling his eyes, leaving brian scrambling for an answer. clearly it was an accident! did he really think he meant to do such a thing, which only pushed him further away from victoria?

"daddy?" the quiet voice disturbed his angered thoughts; brian looked beside him, where julian had gotten up and was standing beside him, placing his hand on brian's shoulder. it felt foreign being there, but brian swallowed this fear; obviously, he hadn't been touched by a child in such a way, let alone his own child, before.

"yes, julian?"

"i've got to go potty."

dammit.