Nothing Left To Break

20

The drive is silent. Lani gave up on trying to get his attention a while ago. It has been hours of her looking out the window and thinking of everything. Alfie, her siblings, Ada, Karl, her job, and most importantly, Thomas. Did he still want to be with her?

Lani had picked up on the habit that when he was upset he would go silent. Shut everyone out. Including Lani. And she couldn't bare it. This silence was driving her crazy.

She watched as the country views transformed into the city bustle. They must be getting close. Thank fuck.

They arrived a few minutes later.

A modest house, a terrace house. One of many along a long street. Without saying a word, Thomas turned off the engine and got out of the car. Leaving Lani in the passenger seat, alone and worried. And at this point, a bit angry. This was not how she wanted this to be.

She frustratedly gets out of the car, stumbling slightly as she is still a bit lightheaded. Not only from the fall, she realised that she had not eaten anything today. Not that she had any time to think about it.

It was dark now, she had no idea what time it was. However it was still early enough that sober couples were walking down the street arm in arm, probably on their way to the pictures or the bars.

Without another thought she goes through the door that Thomas had slammed moments ago.

There was a warm atmosphere coming from the interior of the house, opposite of the cold and harsh atmosphere of the car journey.

There was chatter coming from around the corner. She was about to round the corner when she saw Tommy in the other room with a man sat next to him.

"Thomas" she says angrily. He does not turn his head. Not giving her the satisfaction of a reaction. Treating her like a fucking child.

The man next to him does, however. Arthur, Lani remembered. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't really get the chance to. Lani continues into the room and walks in front of Thomas. Who is sat on a small kitchen table with a glass of whiskey. He only got in a second before her, how had he gotten a glass of whiskey that quickly?

"Thomas for fucks sake talk to me" she insists, her hands on her hips as she looks down at him. Pleading with him to look at her.

"Not now" he hisses back. The harsh tone shocking her a bit. He was treating her like scum. Like Alfie does to his workers.

"No. Now. You can't treat me like that, I will not accept it. You can't just not talk to me for hours on end, it's fucking rude" she snaps, snatching the whiskey glass out of his hand and downing it in one go.

"No. I can. I'm angry with you" he states, still not looking at the woman. Instead he gets up and gets another glass, filling it with more whiskey, ignoring that she had taken his. Meanwhile Arthur looks between the two and shows no sign of leaving. This must be entertaining for him.

"You're angry? I'm angry. And you've driven me away from my home so I can't even storm off, because I really don't want to see you right now" she states, going back to her calm manor and staring at him, not that he would look at her.

He doesn't say anything again. Instead he goes to take another sip of his whiskey. Which, once again is snatched out of his hand by Lani. Without averting her gaze she shots it down, slamming it down on the table.

All chatter in the other room had subsided. Obviously whoever is in there was invested in their argument.

"Are you done?" He asks emotionless.

At this, Arthur breathes out heavily and pushes his chair back and mumbles "brave" before leaving the room. Finally.

She doesn't say anything. If she does then she will scream her head off. The cheek of this fucking man. Instead she takes the whiskey bottle from the table and pours herself a glass, leaving the other one empty. She shots down the glass again, before pouring herself another.

"You should slow-" he begins, but is of course cut off.

"Nope. No. Thomas. I will not take this" she whispers. Running her free hand through her hair.

"Then leave. I don't want you here" he shouts. Lying, of course. But he was angry with her. She had put herself in danger. He had let her. He had been stupid. This was all his fault.

"Thoma-" she starts again.

"Fuck" he shouts taking the free glass and throwing it across the room. Making Lani visibly flinch. She hated it. She hated that that had an effect on her. She knew that Thomas had seen it. Because he finally lifts his eyes to hers. She's trying to put on a tough exterior, but Thomas can see the fear in her eyes. No, God please no. She couldn't be afraid of him.

"Thomas. You're being mean" she whispers. Shotting down the rest of the whiskey in her hand and holding the glass in her hand. She didn't want to put it down. From instinct she thought that he would hit her. She knew he wouldn't. But it was a defence mechanism, she had to protect herself.

He doesn't say anything. They both stay in complete silence. Thomas can't believe he did that in front of her. He upset her. He caused that look of fear. Was Alfie right? He was just going to hurt her.

Lani leaves the room and walks into the other. She is greeted with worried faces and a couple of amused ones. Was this a regular occurance? Did he do that a lot? Was she stupid to fall for his tricks?

"I'm sorry to disturb you with all this racket. But can someone tell me how to get to the nearest hotel? Or train station?" She asks, her walls back up as she is not letting any of her emotions show.

"What happened to your face, love?" A woman seated on the couch voices. She looks worried.

"Conflict with an old friend" she forces a slight smile at the concern in her voice. That was the first time that someone had mentioned it.

"Alfie Solomons happened. This is his sister" Thomas's voice sounds from behind her.

Is that was she is to him? Alfie Solomons sister. Is that what she's been reduced to? For gods sake. She thought that Thomas thought differently of her.

"And she's not going to any hotel or fucking train station" he says, putting his hand around her arm, which she quickly slaps away.

"If you touch me again Thomas I will fucking stab you" she says calmly. This shocks their little audience in the living room. And Thomas for that matter.

"Well, you've got yourself a londoner" a man speaks up from the back of the room. John, she recalled.

"Lani, can we talk please" Thomas asks "alone" he presses.

"Oh so now you want to talk?" She asks "when it's on your terms?" She continues and turns to him, pushing him away. "I'll find my own way to a hotel" she snaps. Before turning to leave the house.