BITTER - Michael Gray.

ONE.

♛

Olivia smoothed down the sides of her dress and wiped the slight sweat forming on her hands. She had no real reason to be nervous. And anyway, this was Tommy's wedding day. No one could be angry and cold towards her. Today was a day full of love and happiness. And Alcohol.

Walking up the gravel path, she could take in the enormity of Tommy's new house. There were a few cars parked up near the doors, and she could already hear voices chattering and laughing away. Now or never Liv, she psyched herself up.

As she approached the mansion, it became clear who the two figures outside were. Isaiah and Millie. They were both smoking and laughing together. Millie had always been chasing Isaiah, but he always rebuffed her saying that she wasn't his type. Now both older and wiser, he caved into her ways and actually fell for her. Millie's attention was taken away from the young man infront of her, and instead shifted to the impending figure.

"Bloody hell, Liv!" She chucked her cigarette to the ground and crushed Olivia into her arms, rocking them from side to side and squealing.

"Christ Millie, I went to Australia not the third world." Olivia laughed at her friends actions but gratefully returned the hug. Isaiah notably became awkward, clearing his throat to remind the girls that he was still very much there.

"Hello Olivia." He stuck his hand out for a formal handshake, but instead she hugged him as well, catching all three of them by surprise.

"You were gone for 3 bloody years. What's Australia like?" Millie started her gossiping, and offered Olivia a cigarette and light.

"Hot. All year round really. Compared to here anyway." Liv looked up at the slightly overcasted skies and lit her cigarette.

"Anything interesting happen?" Isaiah helped Millie push the matter.

"My last remaining relative died on me." Liv created awkward tension in the air. Silence hung around, no one knew what to say. "Lighten up the pair of you, I hated her." Millie and Isaiah let out a nervous laugh. The one thing they hadn't missed in her absence was Liv's constant attempts at making situations awkward, just for the fun of it.

"Come in, there is a lot for you to catch up on." Millie placed both her hands on Liv's shoulders.

"Yes I realise that, but what about you two? Looking very cosy as I approached." A mischievous smirk appeared on Olivia's face. The couple suddenly became very flustered and blushes appeared for both parties.

"Well, its only been a few months, but we're trying to make a thing of us." Isaiah was gazing at Millie and she was gazing back at him. Liv pulled them into a hug, trying to escape the chill in the air.

"I'm so happy. It's taken you so long." She mused and kissed them both on the cheek.

"In we go then. Anyone you're scared of seeing?" Isaiah put his arms around me and Millie, an air of arrogance around him.

"It's the Peaky Blinders, so everyone."

♛

The party was well and truly in full swing. Drinks were flowing, cocaine was dusted on some tables and mantle pieces and virtually every face had a smile on it.

"Get that down you, loosen you up a bit." Isaiah handed Olivia a glass of champagne.

"Fuck's sake, I still hate this stuff." She waved it in his face to show her disproval, but he was too busy scanning the crowd. Millie had disappeared to get some snacks, so the alcohol wouldn't be on an empty stomach, hopefully lessening the effects.

"Does anyone recognise me?" Liv shouted to Isiah over the loud music.

"Dunno. You look basically the same, just older." He shrugged and continued to watch over the party.

"Thanks a bloody lot." Liv grumbled and sipped the awful drink.

"Mature. Like cheese. Not old." He turned to face her to be met with her contorted face. "What's wrong?"

"It tastes like shit." Liv moaned.

"But it'll get you shitfaced, which is what we want. So, drink up." He pinched her cheeks and she retorted with a sarcastic smile.

Millie returned with a handful of mini sized meals. Opening her palm, Olivia picked up the one that seemed most edible.

"What is this?" She looked her best friend with a look of despair.

"Not a clue." Millie shrugged. "I saw Polly and Ada over there somewhere so if you want to soften the blow go talk to Ada." She continued to eat the food off her hand like a horse.

"No, not drunk enough yet."

"Well we're eating soon, so I'd hurry up before you get landed next to someone that hasn't spoken to you in 3 years." Isaiah laughed and brushed some crumbs off the corner of Millie's mouth. She giggled and kissed him.

"Well, I'll leave you too it." Liv placed her barely touched glass down and ventured off into the crowd.

She still had everyone wrapped around her finger, unbeknown to her. She took a deep breath and scanned around, before locating her favourite people.

Plastering on a smile, she made a beeline for the real Peaky Blinders.

♛

a/n: new peaky blinders book then eh. it'll probably flop but it's alright. X