Little Shelby Girl

Part 13. Bad at secrets

Vive's POV

God, it's cold outside. I try to close the door behind me without making a sound. I left a note for Polly on the kitchen counter because she's still asleep and I don't want to wake her up. It's the first time I leave the house by myself since... you know. Don't think Tommy would've want me to, but he's not here so I just do what I want.

After their fight yesterday, Tommy left and didn't came back. Polly locked herself in her room. Haven't seen her since. I was so fucking annoyed about the situation that I decided to wake up real early to go to Charlie's yard. Although, my body is still a little weak, I can't spend another day in bed. Drives me crazy.

It has been a long time since I have been with the horses and I really started missing them lately. Also, I just don't want to be at the house right now. I hate the fucking tension and it feels like everyone is walking on eggshells around each other. Fighting over me and who's at fault blah blah blah. I wish we could just move on together.

My legs are still a bit sore from the two hour walk yesterday. Luckily, Charlie lives nearby so I think I can manage that. The streets are still empty and I enjoy the silence and peace.

After a 20 minute walk I arrive at Charlie's. It looks quiet, where would he be?

"Charlie!?" I yell. Searching for him around the stables.

Then I see him in a distance, sitting around a little campfire. He turns around and he seems surprised to see me. He waves, gesturing he wants me to come. As I walk up to the campfire I see he's not alone. Tommy's sitting on the other side of the fire, giving me a strange look. fuck.

"A visit of my favorite girl!" Charlie says throwing his hands in the air. By the look on Tommy's face, he's clearly not so excited to see me.

I try to ignore him at first and I give Charlie a big hug.

"Eh love, how are ya? Feeling better?" He says screening me from head to toe. "You look a lot better since the last time I saw ya."

"I feel better, thanks", I say, walking up to Tommy giving him a hug as well.

I take place between the two of them, trying to pick up some heath from the fire. Charlie starts to ask me questions about the homeschooling with Polly, about the last time I was horse riding with him and so on. During our talks I feel Tommy's staring at me, not paying any attention to the topics me and Charlie talk about.

As I give him a glance back finally, he narrows his eyes.

"Why are you here Viv?" He says, "It's not even 7 a.m, you know I don't want you to walk alone."

I sigh, there it is.

"I'm fine and I just wanted to see the horses and my old, funny uncle" I respond, giving Charlie a wink.

He smiles "you know who did the same thing when she was younger? Your sister. She came here so early it was still dark and I found her sleeping in the stables with the horses. She did that almost every day" Charlie says while lighting his cigaret. "Drove your mother crazy, the girl always left the house without anyone knowing" he laughs.

I chuckle, "well, she won't be able to do that anymore in a few months, unless you have a crib in the stables."

Before I speak the words I already regret it. Fuck I'm the absolute worst in keeping someone else's secrets. Act normal. At first they don't respond to it and there's just an awkward silence between the three of us before Tommy breaks it.

"And why is that eh?" giving me a questioning look.

God I hate myself. "No, nothing." is the best I come up with.

Tommy and Charlie now have eye contact, giving each other a look, making this situation even more awkward.

"Alright, well, let's go home" Tommy stands up, throws his cigaret in the fire and puts on his coat. "Vive, come'on." He demands. "You can see the horses another time. At a normal time, not when everyone's still asleep."

Because of the comment I made about Ada, I decide to just do as he says to avoid further trouble. We say goodbye to Charlie and make our way back to the house. By the speed of his walk I can tell Tommy's angry.

"When were you planning on telling me Ada's having a baby, oi?" He says.

Polly's gonna hate me. I know it's pointless to think of an excuse, since Tommy will find out anyways.

I sigh, "I'm sorry, I wasn't allowed to tell you, Polly wanted to tell you this yesterday but then you two got in a fight and you..."

"How far is she?" He asks. I shake my head, looking up at him "I don't know, but can we walk a little slower please?" I ask since my heart is beating in my throat.

He stops walking, turning his head to the ground and then towards me. I'm panting from the fast pace at which he walked. God, I need to work on my stamina again. 

"You okay?" he asks, putting his hand on my back.

"I'm sorry, I know it's not you I should be mad at."

"You shouldn't be mad at anyone. Aren't you happy you're going to be an uncle? Cause I am." I say.

He sighs, nodding at the ground. "You know who the father is?"

I shake my head. "Polly knows everything, I don't have a clue, didn't even know she had a boyfriend."

He now chuckles a little, "no, me neither."

We continue our walk, this time a lot slower than before. "Can I go to The Garrison to see Arthur?" I ask before we enter the house. The Garrisson is right around the corner and since I don't want to be a part of another fight between him and Pol, I rather just go there. Tommy nods as he enters the house alone.

The Garrisson is still closed. I try to look through the window but I don't see Arthur anywhere. I  knock on the glass of the door. "Arthur? It's me!" I yell. After a few seconds I see him walking up to the door opening it for me.

"Ey, what you doin 'ere so early? Come inside, it's cold." He gestures. The pub looks cleaned up, but the air is still filled with the smell of smoke and alcohol. "Can I help you with something?" He asks.

"I just wanted to see you, I missed you" I say hugging him walking up to a bar chair. He walks behind the bar, grabbing me a glass filling it with water, making himself a glass of whiskey. "Can't I have one too?" I say pointing to his glass.

He chuckles, "Not at my watch love."

The next hour we talk on and on. Him asking me a hundred questions about random stuff, not answering one question I ask him back. At 9 a.m. he opens the door of the bar. Letting in the first people who were already waiting outside.

"Don't you have school?" he asks. "I'm still to weak to go to school." I say, giving him a grin.

"Yea, I can see that" he says sarcastically. We both laugh. I hug him goodbye and make my way to the house.

I open the door and while I'm in the hallway, I hear Tommy and Polly are having a conversation. There's no yelling yet, but I don't want to interrupt them. I slowly walk towards the door, trying to overhear what they're saying.

"You know it's not safe for her to stay there by herself Pol, you need to get her home. Those coppers will use her, you know that, I know that." Tommy's raising his voice.

"I can't force her can I Tom. She doesn't want to come home, alright? We need to arrange protection for her." Polly says.

Why does Tommy want Ada to come home so badly?