We Meet Again (Thomas Shelby)

Chapter Three: A Familiar Face

3'rd Person's POV:
The poor girl struggled to keep up with Polly's fast pace, nearly tripping over her skirt every five minutes. "Would you like me to slow down?" Polly asked, but the way she said it almost sounded sarcastic. Sorina made the assumption that it's how she always sounds, though. "Um..a bit...please?" Polly looked the girl over before nodding her head, slowing down slightly. "Where are you staying?"

"The bed and breakfast on Main street." She responded quietly, noticing that people were steering clear out of their way. She also noticed the small looks she was getting from the strangers, almost questioning and nervous. Was Polly known around here? "Ignore the stares." Polly ordered, clearly noticing the girl's discomfort. "I'm sorry I'm just...confused."

"About what?" Sorina looked up at the woman. "Why everyone is looking at you as if you scare them?" Polly pulled out a cigarette and placed it between her lips, lighting it easily. "It's because I do." Sorina's eyebrows went up in surprise. 'Well, at least she's honest.' She thought to herself, nodding silently to herself. "Okay." Was all she said as they continued down the road. The rest of the way was silent apart from the noises of the busy men and women on the streets. "We're here." Polly told her, opening the door to a pub called 'the Garrison'. Sorina hesitated, getting Polly to give her a pointed look as she held open the door. "Are you coming in?" Sorina quickly nodded her head and walked inside. It smelled of cigarette smoke and alcohol, and it was a strong scent. Her nose crinkled slightly, clearing her throat slightly as she looked at Polly nervously. There were only eleven men inside, which surprised her considering the time. 'This had to be a slow day.' She thought. 'Or the people in my town are just drunks.' She nodded her head slightly to the side, raising an eyebrow at the thought. It was more than likely true, she had to be honest. "Wait by the bar, dear. I'll be back." Sorina nodded her head before walking over to the bar. "What can I get you, miss?" The man behind the bar asked as he dried a glass. "Oh, just a water please." She smiled at him. He nodded, smiling back at her as he got her the drink. She pulled out a coin to pay, but he stopped her. "On the house." She gave him a confused look. "May I ask why?"

"You came here with Polly, yes?" She nodded her head slightly. "You're with them, then?"

"Them?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side. He gave her the same confused look. "Are you new in town?" She nodded her head. Realization spread across his face before he nodded slightly. "That's why." He said, more to himself than her. She went to say something, but stopped when she heard the door to the back room open up, Polly's voice catching her attention. Sorina knew Polly would've had someone with her. After all, they came here because she specifically wanted her to meet someone. However, as she turned and looked, she would have never guessed that the person would've been Thomas Shelby.

Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of him. He looked different now that she saw him out of uniform. He wore a nice suit, which fit him well. His hair was shaved on the sides, the top part being longer than the rest. As soon as his eyes fell on her, he stopped in his tracks. Polly looked between them with a confused look on her face. "Mr. Shelby." Sorina said with surprise, looking between the two people before giving a small smile. "It's lovely to see you again. Pleasant surprise."

"Indeed." He agreed, but his agreement didn't match the tone of voice. "You moved to Birmingham?" She nodded slightly. "Thought it would be a good change...I had no idea I would be seeing you here."

"You two know each other?" Polly asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes." Was all Thomas said as he refused to take his eyes off of the Romanian girl in front of him. Sorina began to feel slightly nervous as she looked around, noticing that people had begun to stop and stare at the situation. "Well, um..." Her voice got quiet for a moment before she quickly stood up. "I must be off. Job hunting and such-"

"You're not-"

"That's alright, Pol." Thomas interrupted his aunt, taking a breath of smoke from his cigarette he forgot he was holding. "Let her go. I'm sure she's busy." Sorina nodded her head before smiling at Polly. "It was lovely seeing you again, Polly." She bowed her head slightly before heading towards the door. As her hand hovered over the handle, she stopped and turned, making eye contact with Thomas again. "It was good seeing you." She smiled. "I'm glad you're okay." She finished before opening the door and walking out, heading towards the bed and breakfast.

'That's enough exploring for one day.' She thought to herself. "I saw Thomas Shelby. He's here! And he's alive, oh thank you God. I knew he'd make it.' She smiled at her thought before ducking her head as a couple stared at her with confused looks. 'I guess people aren't used to seeing smiley faces anymore.' She thought to herself before opening the door, seeing the two older landlords in the dining room. "Oh, Sorina dear! How'd it go?" Lilith asked as she picked up her tea cup. Sorina cleared her throat slightly, nodding her head. "It wen't...fine. I got a good look around, saw the church. I didn't find a job, though. Nobody was hiring apparently." William looked at Lilith. "Like I said, the G-" His wife gave him the nastiest look, getting him to stop while he was ahead. "No, it's okay um...I saw the Garrison." They both looked at her, Lilith having a slight panicked look. "And I saw someone I knew."

"Oh yeah?" William turned in his seat, getting more interested in the conversation. "Who might that be?" He questioned. Sorina had a moment of silence as she thought back to the time where she had last seen that man.

The day she was transferred to a different camp.

That day she will never forget.

"Thomas Shelby." Lilith gave a quiet intake of breath as she looked at her husband, clearly upset. "How do you know him, love?" William questioned, lacing his fingers together and resting them on the top of the table. "I was a nurse in his camp for awhile...during the war." William looked between the two women before giving her a confused look. "You were a nurse?" She nodded. "Yes, sir." Her voice came out quiet. "I'm just glad he's okay." She gave a small smile before motioning towards the stairs. "I'll probably read for awhile in my room. Unless you need anything?" They both shook their heads. "We're fine, dear." Sorina smiled slightly before nodding her head. "Well, if you need anything I'm just upstairs." They nodded their heads again. Sorina bowed her head before turning around and heading up the stairs, letting Lilith and William have their talk time. She knew they'd discuss what she'd told them, and she didn't mind. She trusted them. They were good people, and if they had an opinion they should be able to express it together. She just didn't want to hear it with her own ears.

As she walked into her room, she pressed her back against the door with a sigh. 'Well, today was a surprise.'

Meanwhile, back at the Garrison, Polly and Thomas were having a conversation about the new girl. "So you know her, yes?" Polly asked, sitting across from her nephew with a cigarette in her hand. "Yes, Pol." He said blankly, not wanting to elaborate further. But Polly would not be denied. "Care to go further?" Thomas sighed in irritation, flicking the ashes from his cigarette into the ashtray. "There isn't much to say. The girl was the most educated in her field so she became a travelling nurse. She was put in our camp for awhile and then was shipped off two months later." He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "And now she's back. Coincidence?" Polly asked sarcastically. "I think so, yes. She seemed genuinely shocked to see me."

"As did you when you saw her sitting at the bar." Thomas looked at his aunt, but didn't say anything. "You tell me somethin'." Polly leaned in closer. "She's not dangerous, Pol." She shook her head. "That's not what I was going to say." He tilted his head to the side slightly as he gave her a slightly confused look. "Then what?"

"I spoke to her in the Church, she seems like a good girl. Innocent even. If you think so too...keep her away from this business. Don't get her involved in anythin'. Understood?" Thomas watched her for a moment, noticing the strict look on her face. She wanted him to know that she meant business. "She is." Thomas muttered. "I understand." She watched to see if she could catch him in a lie, but when she saw he was telling the truth, she nodded her head back. "Good." Was all she said before walking out of the back room, heading out of the Garrison all together.

Thomas leaned his back against the seat, his mind slipping instantly to the young nurse he thought he'd never see again. He assumed she would have just been another soul he met during the war, nothing particular. Now that she's here...he was curious.

She looked better than she did in her nurse's outfit. She wasn't covered in blood or pale from lack of sleep. She looked better, healthier. He huffed to himself, finishing off his whiskey before heading to the betting shop.