Our Love- Peaky Blinders- Complete

Slipping Up

Monday

Rose pov

You come to appreciate the small things in life only when it's too late. Having the freedom to hug other women without being judged was something I never thought about. Since I was arrested, I can't even bare the thought of hugging another woman outside the home. But not just gia. Any women. Friends, family. I can't help but think 'what if someone gets the wrong idea'.

Gia came over to my house in the morning. Tommy wanted to speak with us before school but he wasn't here yet so we went up to my room. I jumped on the bed and just lay, staring up at the ceiling in comfort and safety

"I missed the way the sheets felt against my skin. It was only for 1 day but just the fear that I'd never be in my own bed again. It's wonderful laying my head back again the pillow, swept away into a land of peace and tranquility. Don't you agree?" I asked with a smile on my face looking at gia. She took a seat on my bed and reached out for my hand, our fingers soon linked like i was the lock and she the key

"My pillow brings me anything but peace. Last night.....all I could see was her face, staring up at me. I don't blame myself. I'm fully aware that there is nothing I could've done. Doesn't make the reality of it all any less terrifying. Watching someone die, whether they deserved it or not, well I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy" I gripped her hand tighter and pulled her to lie on my chest. In my flood of happiness from being as free as I can be at this moment, I hadn't recognised that gias prison experience was alot more traumatic than my own. The only thing I was thinking of was the uncomfortable beds, small space and the cold. She saw things unlike anything else and it breaks my heart not knowing how I can help her

Soon enough, Tommy is here and tells us there's a family meeting at the garrison. I have half an hour before I have to set off for school. Definitely going to be late.....yay. We walked to the pub and took our usual seats waiting for someone to start talking. Didn't take a genius to figure out what the main topic of conversation would be

"Thank you for getting us out" gia said looking around at everyone as we held hands beneath the table

"It's the least we can do. After all, was our own blood that put you in there" Tommy remarked coldly

"Thomas" polly warned but it didn't stop him

"Let's not ignore it pol. We all know it was Michael who told the coppers. And he has to pay the price" he didn't stop

"He's my son. He wouldn't do such a thing. Not to his own family" polly yelled, trying her hardest to hold back tears but I could see it becoming increasingly difficult

"Aunt pol, I know you don't want to admit it. But Michael isn't loyal to this family. He's not known us long enough to care if we live or die. Raised by different people" finn said stroking her shoulder, trying to provide some comfort. But she just shrugged him off before storming out in tears. Ada followed on after her and so we sat in silence until Arthur spoke up

"Er...go on girls. You better get going before you're late" we stood up, both too scared to say anything, and left the garrison. We walked to school, shaking from the thought. What if people knew? All it would take is one copper to have a child in our school and everyone could find out. Even worse, what about Mr clarkson!

At school, no one would shut up about poor Mr Clarkson. Some girls spoke of how they were afraid. Frightened that the school safety isn't good enough. They're bitches. A few boys went on about how if they had known, they would've left a long time ago. They're twats

We stayed out of everyone's way. Not wanting to cause a scene and get the focus pinned on ourselves. Ignoring the comments was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I was proud of how well i was doing. All up until last lesson when everything went to shit

"Deaths too good for him. Should've been tortured like Satan will do with him in hell" this one lad, almost twice my height said to his friends. They all laughed along but he was by far the worst. After several comments relating to God's punishments, I lost it. Standing from my desk, I swung my arm back and

THUMP!

Right in the face, I punched him. I tried to jump for him but people were holding me back as tears threatened to fall

"HE DESERVED TO LIVE! HERE YOU ARE, CHATTING ABOUT A RELIGION THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE! WHY WOULD SATAN PUNISH ANYONE FOR GOING AGAINST THE SAME GOD HE DISOBEYED? IF ANYTHING, HE'D PRAISE THEM! AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNEW. I FUCKING KNEW THAT HE WAS GAY! AND I KNEW HOW MUCH OF A GREAT AND BRAVE MAN HE WAS. SO SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH" The whole room had fell silent and I felt I had accomplished something if I finally managed to shut them lot up

"What did you just say?" The teacher asked

"I told him to shut his fucking mouth" I said with a proud smile on my face. Gia came up behind me and whispered to me

"You admitted you knew" I felt my heart jump to my throat. We looked at one another before turning to the rest of the class who were just sat staring at us. I didn't know what I could say. That was it. I had basically signed my death warrant

Gia gripped my arm and pulled me from the classroom. We immediately left the school and went straight back to my house. What the fuck have I just done? And so we sat, with a cup of tea, in silence, waiting for the police to knock on the door