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Rowan.
I awoke to an extremely loud argument that involved almost all the Shelby's except Ada. I soon discovered this when I wandered down the stairs and a whiskey bottle was thrown directly at me. Arthur thought I was an intruder apparently though I think I'm difficult not to recognise. "Arthur apologise to 'er." Tommy said, tapping his foot impatiently. "Tommy it was a mistake." "It's fine honestly I-..."
"APOLOGISE NOW!" He yelled, in that dark tone that made me step back and fall against the wall. I covered my ears and sobbed; loud noises had a certain effect on me. I could only hear my heartbeat as I pushed harder against my ears. My tears spilling as I nearly fell to my knees and everything suddenly came back... and with the reminder of Tommy's questioning last night made my visions all the more graphic.
"Rowan... Rowan? Rowan it's okay." A female voice muttered and it was suddenly all silent, my hands removing from my ears and a ringing proceeding to take over. It was Polly knelt before me talking and shushing me kindly. She pulled me into an embrace and Tommy stood behind her with a worried expression.
"I didn't mean to yell... Rowan. I'm sorry." Everyone looked at him in shock, why? Because he apologised? "Tommy? I think it's best you get out. We need some time alone. And maybe some tea." She smiled warmly and it's like for a second she was my mother, her kind eyes but wild smile. "As soon as I know she's alright-..." "Tommy, get out." Arthur had already left and (with a little persuading) Tommy did soon after. This left me and Polly to our talk.
"What was that about then? The reaction to the yelling?" She said, in her Birmingham accent that seemed less strong than Tommy's in her feminine voice. "... I just don't like them. I get hypersensitive at times. I don't like certain textures... like velvet... what monster invented velvet I mean..." I laughed and she didn't believe a word of it. "Okay... yes I am hypersensitive but the noise is because I used to live in a very... argumentative house. My parents used to argue a lot and I would cover my ears like that. I don't like yelling, that's all." She leaned back with her tea cup and saucer, still unsatisfied but not pressurising me at all for a more detailed answer. I sat perched on the sofa, teacup in hand and unable to drink the contents because it was too hot and I didn't like more than a splash of milk. And no sugar. Never ever sugar.
"Where are your parents now?" "They passed away about 4 years ago." She nodded and I suddenly thought about something I usually contemplated a lot of thought on. "It's going to be my birthday really soon." I had once again thought out loud, though this time it was demoted to a incoherent whisper.
"Then we must have a party, since you're our friend now." Friend? Woah. I have a friend. She's a girl too. "Well, I don't know about party but I suppose a little occasion to dress up wouldn't be completely distasteful." She watched me articulate my words and seemed rather taken aback for some reason. "I'm so used to everyone 'round 'ere speaking like they've never read a book in their life. Most of 'em probably 'aven't." I chuckled, but the idea of so many being uneducated was rather melancholic in reality. "I had always heard of my eloquence as a speaker and writer, but I could never publicly speak because my face would get so hot I'd start to sweat. It's a really awful sight to be presented with if I'm showing true principle." She smiled and I laughed a little.
"I've never had a lady friend, what's it like? What do we talk about? I don't like clothes nor talking about... you know... sex. What do we talk about?" She chuckled and shrugged. "We can talk about anything you'd like to love. Anything you'd like." "Tommy... how long has it been since Grace left?" She placed the cup down and palpably became less approachable in her bearing. "About 10 months now. It's been difficult for Tommy and as good of a liar as he is, it's hard not to see. The excessive drinking, visiting Lizzie bloody Stark every week for some sort of comfort. I'm surprised she hasn't been visited this week so far... though I think I know why that is." She looked me up and down, I frowned. "I hope you're not implying that Tommy and I are... intimate." I whispered the last word and it made me feel rather strange. I had never been in an intimate relationship, though I had longed for one it seemed for as long as time began. "Well, Tommy don't apologise... to 'ear 'im say sorry is the largest anomaly I've ever 'eard from 'im. He likes ya' and... he smiles. He seemed genuinely happy this mornin' before we told 'im the news." "What's happened?"
"John's got in a bit of trouble is all. Although there's never a time when 'e's out of it, it seems." She laughed but there was worry behind it, something seemed off. Like this 'trouble' was a little more serious then he had experienced before. But it wasn't my business, and I needed to try and not disrupt too many events as I already had.
"Rowan? Can we talk?" Tommy stood behind us, giving me a fright and spilling hot tea on my silk nightgown. It was now a lot sheerer from the spillage and I really wanted to cry now. I've ruined Ada's clothes. "Can you tell Ada I'm sorry." I said to Polly and she smiled before wavering me off to follow Tommy.
"Here." he passed me his jacket and I wrapped it around myself, it covering the stain and he proceeded to walk up the stairs to presumably his office. "We need to talk."
