Sinbound

(13) Her Birthday

"Come on, drink up!" Arthur exclaims, shoving another glass in front of his sister.

"Happily," Alex responds.

"I'm so confused," Lewis says.

"We're a traditional family," Arthur states, "you've got to do a shot for each year you've been alive. It's responsible because kids drink less. They've been alive less."

"On a random Monday?" Lewis asks.

"Not random, it's her birthday, she's an old woman, 24 whole years old," Arthur says.

"I'm glad it's not 24 half years," Bentley remarks.

"How did I not know it was your birthday?" Lewis questions.

"You're not an integral part of my life," Alex responds.

"You wound me," Lewis gasps, "I'll get you a present tomorrow."

"Get or steal?" Tommy replies.

"Getting is getting," Lewis shrugs.

There was a knock at the window to the snug and Tommy stands to open it, revealing Amari's worried face.

"What's happening?"

"There's a group of guys in the corner hassling Mel, Finn and Danté," Amari states.

"Who the fuck is Danté?" Arthur responds.

"Her brother you buffoon," Polly says.

"Someone's hassling Mel?" Bentley queries and she nods.

Alex pulls herself from her seat using the table, stumbling slightly as she heads for the door, Bentley and Tommy behind her.

"Come on, love, don't be such a prude," a man chuckles, backing Mel up against a wall, a hand raising to cup her jaw.

Bentley grips the back of the man's shirt, pulling him away from Melanie, "want to repeat that?"

"You two, fuck off," Alex states, to the other men stood around, as Bentley slams the guy against the wall, whilst Mel rushes over to Alex, hugging her.

"Mel, will you take Danté and Finn into the snug for me?" Alex asks, "he won't want you to see this."

Mel nods, reaching out for Danté and Finn who clutch onto her hands, following her lead towards the private room.

"She's gone, Bentley," Tommy states, and the man finally unleashes his anger, striking the man hard over and over again.

"Nobody touches my fucking sister, nobody calls my sister a fucking prude," Bentley states, flashing his switchblade in-front of the man's face.

"We're in the pub," Tommy reminds him.

"Don't think you've got an escape, I'm letting you go for now, but expect to see me again soon," Bentley says, throwing the man to the floor, and kicking him in the ribs.

When they walk back into the snug, Amari was in their with Danté, introducing him to everybody, turning to the three entrants.

"That's Bentley, Melanie's Brother," Amari says, "and they're Finns siblings, Tommy and Alex."

"Alex?" Danté repeats, almost as if he was checking he'd heard right, his eyes scanning up and down the woman who was closing the door.