Billie Shelby

Part 15

Tommy's eyes locked onto Billie as she stood leant against the cabinet facing the table,that everyone was sat around.
Billie lifted her hand to her face in attempt to wipe away any residue of tears .
Polly noticed this.
"you alright?" She asked nodding her head to Billie,causing everyone to turn and face her.
"Yeah I'm alright Pol" Billie said looking to her auntie forcing a smile.

"Right then Tommy,what's this about?" John asked swiftly changing the subject as he sat up in his chair.
But Tommy was still glaring to his younger sister.

Billie chose to not look to him,even though she could feel his gaze burning her skin.
"Tommy?" Arthur said following his brothers stare.
"what are you staring at Bill for?"
"Are you sure you're alright?" Polly asked again,seeing the colour in billies face turn pale.
Finally Billie raised her head from looking to the floor and faced the room-" Yes Polly. Alright!" She replied ,annoyed.
"Alright alright!" Polly snapped back,knowing her niece was lying.

Before any further questions could be made the double doors separating the betting shop and the shelby's residence swung open and in walked Micheal.
"John I told you to keep that door locked!" Polly stated, looking to her nephew.
" I did!" He responded.
Micheal came and stood next to Billie,whispering to her " are you ok?". Billie responded with a small nod looking to her cousin.

"Micheal" Tommy spoke finally, acknowledging his cousins presence as he lit a cigarette. However he was still looking Billie in the face,waiting for her to face him.

"Micheal what happened to your face?" Polly asked concerned,sitting up in her chair as she noticed the scratch on Micheal cheek.
Immediately Billies eyes once again wondered to the floor,knowing full well it was in fact her that caused the cut on Michaels cheek. She just hoped that boy had enough common sense to not say anything.

" you been fighting,eh Micheal?" Arthur said chuckling,which earned him a stern look from Polly- wiping the grin off his face.

"No Arthur.I just cut myself shaving" he lied.
And Billie breathed a sigh of relief, a little too loud as Tommy noticed.

" well I think someone needs to teach you how to do it" Polly laughed at her son.

Tommy cleared his throat.
"Right anyway before we begin" Tommy started.
" I just wanted to ask to see if anyone knew why the Garrison was shut early today." He asked,already knowing it had something to do with Billie.
He leant forward and tapped his cigarette over the ash tray ,waiting for a response.
Everyone looked confused apart from Micheal and Billie who were both sharing glances to one another.

Billies P.O.V
I watched him lean back in his chair-he knew what he was doing;he was trying to get me to react.
I cleared my throat as I saw Micheal shift in his place next to me.
Tommy raised his cigarette back to his mouth and took a long drag.
" it shut early because I wasn't feeling well and Harry was away and Grace wouldn't of been able to handle it on her own- she hasn't been working at the Garrison long Tom" I replied,hoping to annoy tommy with my good excuse. However he challenged me-
" really cause I heard you kicked all the men out the pub"
"what?" John piped up,annoyed with his sister.
"I..." but before I could finish Micheal interrupted -"i was in the pub Tom,the men were being a handful, fighting, throwing glasses. Billie told them to stop but they didn't listen,so I me and Isiah told them to leave"He lied.
"you what?you idiot!" Arthur added.
Micheal gulped and stepped back slightly unaware of what Tommy had to say, as his facial expression wasn't readable-as normal.
"Looking out for your cousin were you Micheal?" Polly said,proud of her son for his care towards me.

Tommy just breathed out smoke from his cigarette before putting it out and leaning back into his chair.
"Isiah,eh?" He said staring at me,causing my gaze to immediately hit the floor.
There was a pause.

"really Micheal? Because I heard that Billie stood on the bar and threw one of our expensive bottles to the wall?"
"Billie?" Polly questioned me.
I couldn't deal with this. Why couldn't Tommy just stop. Let me be. Little did he know I've dealt with it,it's not his problem anymore.

Micheal looked to me unsure of what to say.
"yes I did Tommy. I'm a Shelby,that's what we do isn't it?" I said to him crossing me arms now staring him in the eye.
I heard John laugh under his breath and saw Arthur smirking.
"God Tommy ,she's definitely your sister" Polly chuckled.
"hmm" was all Tommy said,as he looked to me, unfazed by what I had said.

An awkward silence filled the room- people were beginning to notice the tension between me and tommy.

"Tommy for gods sake why are we here?" Polly pleaded.
He took a swig of his whiskey before beginning to explain about a new copper from Belfast.

During his explanation I began to feel dizzy.