𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ʲᵒʰⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

- 𝟎𝟎𝟒

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟎𝟒-
𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟗

Three weeks it had been since John Shelby had taken Valerie Black out to a restaurant. Three weeks since she felt herself being genuinely happy for the first time in what felt like forever.

And since then, John had visited her a handful of times — whenever he could. Sometimes he would indeed go to have sex with her, the others he'd stay and conversation with her before he had to go and work in the betting shop.

Maria was still missing and Valerie had begun to think that it was indeed her who had taken the money. But saying that, a lot of the girls tended to be sly and take things from the others when they weren't in their rooms.

And Valerie didn't believe that Maria would do such a thing.

She sat up against her headboard with her old copy of Little Women in hand. The thin white sheet was tangled with her body as she sat in just her underwear and a shirt. The room was silent and all she could hear was the light chatter from downstairs and the noises of the beds moving across the hall.

It was strange how the world worked. Everybody around her had their own separate lives. And no matter how similar they may be, they were all separate and each and every other person had their own troubles.

And it made Valerie think, deeper than she would have liked to, about how no matter what status you are or how you end up in the situation you end up in, everybody has a story.

But she was quick to force the thoughts out of her head. She hated thinking about things in such depth because everytime it just ended in confusion.

Valerie stared at the money that sat on the edge of her bed that she had given up counting. Sighing, she leaned forward and scooped it toward her. Trying her best, Valerie began counting again.

-

John stood with the betting book in his hand as he read out numbers to young Finn to write on the chalk board. "And then.." He began.

"John boy!" Arthur called out from the office. John discretely rolled his eyes and placed the book down, tapping Finn's shoulder and walking around him. "What d'ya want, Artha?" He asked, chewing on the toothpick that sat between his teeth.

"I heard some of the Blinders talking today when I was down the Garrison." Arthur began with a grunt.

John shrugged.

"They say they seen you with a lady on your arm a few weeks ago." Arthur said in a tormenting tone. John kissed his teeth. "The Blinder boys like to talk, Arthur. You and I both know that." John tried to brush it off.

Arthur grinned. "Who was the girl, John boy?"

John cleared his throat. "It was no one, alright?" John gritted through his teeth, not wanting Arthur in his business. "I didn't think you'd move on from Lizzie, eh?" Arthur pushed.

"Well, I have." John snapped. "And you don't need to know who she bloody is, yeah?"

"Is she another whore?"

"Don't!" John pointed a finger at him, "don't use that word again, do you hear me? She's much more than a whore, Arthur." He spat. Arthur leaned forward in his chair. "So there is a girl?"