Billie Shelby

Part 22

Billie's small reunion with Katie in Polly's doorway was met with many questions.

"where have you been?

I went to yours but Tommy said you weren't there and then shut the door.

Are you okay?

Do you know why Isiah is being all moody?"

Billie answered every question with a calmed tone,knowing her friend was only worried for her.However Billie didn't tell her the real reason why she hadn't been staying in her own home or why Isiah was being 'moody'. She told her friend that her and Tommy had fallen out which was true but she didn't tell her why or what had happened. She wanted to skip the sympathy part she was bound to be shown and move on,like she had,and how she hoped her family had too.

"Okay Bill. Well Happy Birthday !!!"Katie spoke giving her friend a hug.

"Garrison later?"she asked Billie -"i need to buy you your birthday drink!"she said excitedly.

"yeah alright. 7?" Billie responded.She was happy to go out,she felt she deserved it after her long weekend.

"sounds good birthday girl"katie beemed "see you later,wear something nice!" she laughed as she disappeared from the doorway.

Billie re-entered the room full with her family "Garrison anyone?" she announced with a smile.

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The boys had left Polly's shortly after the cake was eaten and more stories were shared.Everything felt back to normal for Billie.The men all headed to the Garrison whilst Polly ,Ada and Billie all freshened up.

When the ladies met back downstairs at 6:50pm Ada and Polly found themselves staring at Billie.She was wearing a champagne coloured dress with white tassels flowing from the bottom just resting a few cm from her knee.The dress was covering in gems and diamontes and the dress looked all to familiar to Polly.

"I'm sorry ada i would of worn the beautiful dress you bought me but-" -"it's mums" Ada interrupted.

"it is." she validated.

"you look beautiful billie,so grown up" Polly added.

"right.."Billie spoke striking a match and lighting a cigarette,"let's go have some fun!"

The girls arrived in the Garrison to find it packed out with so many familiar faces for Billies birthday.Billies eyes scanned the room,smiling and nodding her head to all the people she recognised before she was pulled in to the shelby's private room by Arthur-"c'mon ,in you come".As she was pulled she spotted Katie sat in a booth,but before she had the chance to join her friend she was infront of an applause from her family.Ada,Polly,Finn,Arthur,John ,who currently sat with Karl occupying his knee , even esme managed to leave the kids with a babysitter for one night to come celebrate,Micheal and Tommy.

"Here you go billie" Tom spoke,handing her a whiskey.She sat her self down next to finn and gave him a playful shove as they both grinned.
"oh and Bill,this is for you.You err...didn't quite manage to open it earlier" Tommy handed her her gift that she had disregarded earlier.She took the box from him whilst looking confused at the weight of it and peeled back the lid.The box revealed a small gun.Billies eyes lit up and she brought them immediately to look at her brother."what?.." she asked,wondering why on earth he'd allowed her to have one. She used a gun before,during practice firing with each of her brother's.The practice only occurred if the inevitable was to happen.But she was never allowed to touch one other wise.

John and Arthur stood proud as they watched their sister pick up the gun with a relaxed nature,she showed no nerves when holding possible death in her young hands.In some ways she showed attributes of Arthur in the way she held and looked at the gun.Like the gun was to be scared of her rather than she be scared of the gun.This scene,eventhough Polly had agreed to it, set a little bit of fear in her.Similarly Micheal saw this gift as a catalyst to a change in Billie,possibly like a symbol of freedom to her,and he had a tiny fear of what that would do to his cousin.