𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 | 𝐟. 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 ON HOLD

fourteen

♤

It was the day of the fight. Vivian had still to find something suitable to wear.

The girl was currently pacing the bedroom with in her apartment, the apartment Thomas had bought her when she accepted the job at his company.

She browsed her closet, four shirts hung on hangers, their matching skirts folded neatly in a drawer in her dresser.

Scanning the items, she knew none of them would be suitable.

Lifting her coat and wallet, she left the small room, then the apartment. She walked quickly down the stairs, and out onto the road.

Vivian walked from the apartment to Watery Lane, going straight to the Blinders gambling den.

She opened the door, the sound of people placing bets and shouting odds of the races welcomed her as she entered.

Arthur Shelby was stood at a blackboard, white chalk writing scribbled over it, shouting at the men. Michael Gray was sat in his office, speaking quietly on the phone. Vivian waved to him as she passed, earning a smile and a wave from the man.

She passed another office on the way to Lizzie's desk. It was Finn's.

She peeked through the glass on the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of her ex-lover. She did.

The youngest Shelby brother was sat at the wooden desk, his feet propped on it, his peaked hat was laid over his face, covering his beauty.

Vivian knew the boy was asleep, his relaxed state easing her.

Footsteps approached behind the girl, "Vivian? What are you doing here?" The girl turned, seeing a tall, dark haired woman behind her. It was Lizzie, just the person she was looking for.

The two embraced, then the older woman lead the younger to her office, closing the heavy wooden door behind them.

Lizzie went and sat behind her desk, offering the girl a drink, which she declined. Vivian sat in the chair opposite her friend, looking around the room.

"Well, Vi, how have you been?" The woman asked.

She looked to her, "I've been good, Liz."

Lizzie narrowed her eyes at her, "Well, from what I've heard, you've been having some boy trouble." She spoke a smirk working it's way onto her pale lips.

"Fuck sake, Polly." She muttered.

The woman released a laugh, smiling at the girl before her, "All I'm going to say is, be gentle with him, Vi. He may act tough, but deep down he's still a kid. And I know for a fact, distancing yourself from him is your way of saving him from you. But I can tell by the way he looks at you, he is completely in love with you, Viv."

The woman's words hit her, the girl's heart panged, guilt bubbling in her stomach.

She had never meant to hurt him, she had only wanted to protect him from her.

She felt tears beginning to well in her eyes, lifting her hand to wipe them away before they could fall. Before Lizzie could see.

The woman spoke, her voice soft, "Vivian, I know you never wanted to hurt him, but he needs you. He needs someone to love him for who he is." She reached across the table, taking her hand, "Tommy and Arthur, they love him, yeah. But they try to change him, try to make him more like John. But he isn't, he's kind, gentle and careful. He needs someone like you."

This time, Vivian allowed the tears to fall, splashing onto the desk before her.

Lizzie stood from the chair, moving towards the girl, wrapping her in her arms.