Calm before the storm

Ada's party

Catherine was too busy packing her over night bag to notice that her father had crept into the room behind her, "I was thinkin'" Catherine put her hand to her chest and spun round shocked by her father's unexpected voice, "Bloody hell, what are you doing sneaking around like that?" her father chuckled "What have a told you Cat you should always be listening," Catherine smiled as she continued to put Ada's shoes into her bag, "As I was saying, I was thinking that I could give you some money for your birthday so you could buy yourself something" he scratched the back of his head as Catherine looked at him, "That's fine, I best be off I'm gonna go with Polly to get Ada's birthday cake." picking her bag up she made her way down the stairs of her small house, "Alright, enjoy yourself. I'll see you tomorrow petal" "Okay, I'll be back before lunch tomorrow."

Polly and Catherine made there way to the bakery, "You really should have let me leave this bag at the house first, my shoulders killin' me" Catherine complained as she trailed behind Polly. Polly chuckled "And you think Ada Shelby wouldn't look through your stuff to find her present," Catherine chuckled "I didn't think of that, she was always the sneaky one" Making their way into the bakery, Polly was immediately served despite the huge crowd of people waiting to get some bread. Catherine shook her head as she waited by the door, "bloody Shelby's" she mumbled before exiting the bakery with Polly in tow. "So I hear Ada has invited a lot of boys to this party" Polly smirked as Catherine looked stunned "Why has she gone and done that, God sake," Polly chuckled "God has got nothing to do with it."

Catherine made her way into the Shelby household alone as Polly made her way down to the pub to ensure that everything was organised for the party. Catherine hadn't seen John or Tommy since the fight but she hoped and prayed that it wouldn't be brought up because she really couldn't be bothered with any drama today. "Hello darling" Arthur was sat at the table smoking alone, "Hello Arthur, you the only one here?" Arthur smiled "Nah, Johnny Boy is upstairs. He wants to impress the ladies tonight so he's taking his time getting ready" Catherine chuckled, Arthur then shouted so John could hear "Not that anything will be able to fix that ugly mug of his" "Shut the fuck up Arthur!" Catherine covered her mouth as she burst into a fit of giggles, Arthur chuckled as he watched the young girl. Just as she had sat on the seat at the table opposite Arthur, Ada burst into the room "Come on Catherine, we have to start getting ready the party starts in an hour," Catherine shot Arthur an uneasy look as Ada pulled her through the kitchen door, "Good luck Catherine, you'll bloody need it."

The girls spent the next hour rushing around Ada's small bedroom helping eachother with makeup and fixing their dresses so they hugged their forms perfectly. John made his way to Ada's bedroom door and began banging "hurry the fuck up, your going to be late" Ada screamed and grabbed her coat "Lets go Catherine" "Ada wait, I want to give you the present first." Catherine smiled as Ada spun around with a wide smile, "Okay, what is it?" Catherine pulled the box from her bag and handed it to Ada, excitedly watching for her best friends reaction. Ada squealed in delight, "Catherine, they're amazing! Oh my god!" she hugged Catherine as they both laughed "I thought you'd like them," Catherine smiled "Like them, I love them." The girls were interrupted by an impatient John knocking on the door again, "alright, alright we're coming" Ada shouted at her older brother. Ada took Catherine's hand in hers as they made there way to the party. "John I think this is the cleanest I've ever seen you," John made a face as Ada laughed, "She's right John, who are you trying to impress" Ada laughed as she walked ahead of him with Catherine missing the red blush creep up John's cheeks as he watched Catherine giggle and smile with a huge grin plastered on his face John rushed to catch up with the girls.