Peaky Blinders Imagines.

•John Shelby•

The sun is beaming from the heavens, sending a breathtaking array of magnolia, satsuma and crimson hues beating down upon you and the park around you. The sky is cloudless: a pale, watery blue expanse of perfect nothingness. The innocent chatter of children fills your ears, as a slight breeze weaves between the ancient trees lining the pathway you and your boyfriend John stroll along.

You've managed to drag him away from the ever growing piles of work that the 'business' is now creating, knowing that a couple of hours together is better than no time at all. On this rare occasion, surprisingly he didn't argue- well considering it's your one year anniversary he should be happy to spend the day with you, instead of cooped up in the betting den, or out paying visits to the many enemies that the Shelby brothers have acquired over the years...

There's a silence between you, not the awkward kind of silence you'd find in the waiting room of a doctors office or when meeting with someone you wish you didn't have to, this silence is comforting met by mutual understanding of one another- almost as if you're speaking without words. Your fingers are intertwined with his, the both of you looking around at the beauty of spring emerging from every corner of the park. You wish you could do this more often... But with you both always busy with either the business or family there's never any time.

"It's such a lovely day!" You exclaim quietly, "not as lovely as you Y/N" John smirks lazily as you visibly cringe, "that was so cheesy! You put cheddar to shame!" You laugh and so does he, you can't deny that despite the cheesiness of his comment those same old butterflies still fluttered in your stomach. You reach a bench sitting down on it together, John removes his hand from yours, instead, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. That comforting silence settles over the both of you once more, you rest your head on his shoulder breathing in the fresh scent of the flowers and emerald grass: if only you could stay like this forever... Minutes pass by without a word being uttered by either of you- that is until a familiar voice calls your name.

"Y/N?! Is that you?" A male voice calls from behind, your head shoots up in recognition of the voice, you turn your head almost quick enough to give yourself whiplash. There he is: Bryce Cook, your childhood best friend (and maybe crush oops...), your eyes widen to the size of golf balls as you leap up from the bench leaving a rather confused and upset John behind. You run up to him as he opens his arms for you, you leap up wrapping your arms and legs around him in a very much missed hug. You burry your head in his muscular neck, breathing in that musky scent he's always had... boy you've missed him! Finally you both pull away, and much to your guilt, completely ignore John- but, come on, you can spend everyday with John, you haven't seen Bryce in years!

"Gosh Y/N I haven't seen you in forever!" He beams at you, and you can't deny the childish grin that spreads across your face; he's incredibly good looking, he always has been cute-however, now he's undeniably HOT, although you know in your heart that you only truly have eyes for John. "I know right! You're looking well Bryce" you grin, he chuckles blushing slightly, "you're looking as beautiful as ever Y/N" he says rubbing the back of his neck. John has been listening in on the whole conversation, watching you both quietly with balled fists and a set jaw, doing everything he can not to pummel this chump into the pavement; but at that comment he can't help the surge of anger that rushes through him. He stands forcefully, walking over to where the both of you are stood talking, wrapping a protective arm firmly around your waist; you look up at John smiling, blissfully unaware of his intentions. "Oh! How silly of me, Bryce this is my boyfriend John, John this is my old friend Bryce" you introduce them both, "Are you calling me old Y/N?" Bryce jokes in a rather flirtatious manner while completely ignoring John which only adds to the burning pit of anger threatening to spill out of John like a volcanic eruption. You laugh at his silliness a slight blush creeping onto your cheeks.

After another few minutes of Bryce flirting way too much, John has finally had enough. "Y/N darling, I think it's about time we get going" he speaks sweetly through gritted teeth, you look up at him a minuscule amount of sadness resting on your features. You don't argue, "Well, it was nice seeing you again Bryce, but we must be off" you smile though it does not reach your eyes like it had before, Bryce simply nods "maybe we could meet for coffee soon, have a proper catch up?" He offers, John's grip on your waist tightens slightly and you finally realise his discomfort, in some ways you feel quite satisfied by his jealousy, after all, he always has an endless stream of girls flirting with him. "Maybe" you state simply, not bothering to let Bryce down gently, you turn away with John, bidding farewell to a piece of your past that you truly don't care to hold onto.

As you and John walk away, John spins you to look at him before leaning down and kissing you with a passion you've never seen before, when you both break away he looks deeply into your eyes "I love you Y/N" he says and you can't help the smirk that creeps onto your lips, "I love you too John... you were so jealous of him" you add shoving him slightly. John scoffs, taking his hand in yours as you continue to walk.

"I was not jealous".