CHAPTER 18

Tilly sat alone on her bed, the fire burning brightly at the other end of the room. It was Monday night, she hadn't seen Finn since the night before. Her fingers wandered over the small blue sapphire that hung on the necklace she was wearing. The same necklace Finn had gotten her for Christmas.

The warmth that the fire provided filled her with a sense of comfort as she sat with the white sheets pulled up to her body.

She jumped slightly when she heard a quiet tap on her window. She pushed the window up and leaned her head out.

"Isiah fucking Jesus why are you throwing stones at my window?!" She shouted down to him. "Well the doors locked and I didn't feel like shouting," he shrugged.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to come the Garrison,"

The glanced at the clock on the wall, trying to read the time. "Isiah it's like eleven at night."

"Okay, and?" He said, crossing his arms. "And i want to go to sleep," she told him. "Isiah i'm not stupid, i know you're just trying to get me to talk to Finn, aren't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he grinned, rolling back and forth on his heels.

"Yeah fuck off Isiah," Tilly said, sitting back in her bed, about to close the window.

"Matilda wait!" He shouted. She groaned loudly and popped her head back outside. "It's my fault that Finn did the cocaine-"

"That doesn't matter, he still did it. Therefore he has to have a day either side before i'll see him," Tilly shrugged, waiting for him to reply.

"He's sorry y'know"

"Well, he shouldn't of done cocaine, should he." Matilda sighed. Isiah thought of what to say next.

"After you left, Victoria Riley came over to him and tried talking to him."

"Fucking what?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, an i think she's out again tonight-"

"Stay there i'm coming down." She said, quickly slamming the window and picking up her coat.

She rushed down the stairs and joined him outside.

"Don't tell him I told you, he didn't want you to know," Isiah revealed. "Why?" She asked, genuinely curious.

"What am I, his mum?" Isiah scoffed, shoving her slightly.

"Shut up," She hissed, regaining her balance and speeding off toward the Garrison.

They got there quicker than Isiah intended and he trailed behind Matilda, out of breath. She looked around the Garrison for her boyfriend before she spotted him sat with Cameron and Harry. Not Henry, Harry. Harry Woods.

She put on a smile and waltzed over, taking a seat next to Harry.

Finn was shocked by her appearance and just sat there with a blank face. "Ello Harry," she greeted, taking a seat. "Matilda," he nodded.

"How have you been?" She asked, looking between Harry and Cameron.

"Av been good," Cameron said. Harry just shrugged, not sure how he was feeling. Finn stared at his girlfriend as she interacted with the two boys.

"It's Monday," he stated.

All four of them looked at him. "Ya fucking what?" Harry laughed at him. "It's Monday," he repeated, looking straight at Tilly. She nodded. "Well done, it's Monday," she said in a mocking way, "and you still have the rest of tonight so know your place soldier," she tormented, folding her arms.

Finn looked away, his hands on the sides of his chair.

"What's going on?" Cameron asked, completely clueless. Tilly's eyes burned into Finn's head whilst he avoided everyone's eyes.

An awkward tension filled the air as everyone but Finn and Tilly spoke with each other.

"What is with them?" Cameron nudged Isiah, whispering. Isiah sighed, shaking his head. "Tilly has this whole thing against snow and Finn did some the other night, she said something about him not being allowed near her after doing it," he tried his best to explain to Cameron considering Finn had explained the situation terribly.

Of course, Victoria Riley decided to make an appearance at the table that night which completely infuriated Matilda.

"Finn, it's so nice to see you!" She said loudly, standing at the end of the table. He hummed, refusing to look at the blonde girl. "Victoria fuck off," Harry snorted, looking her up and down.

"You Woods brothers really are a piece of work, aren't you?" She mocked, raising her eyebrows

"Yeah, now fuck off." Tilly defended.

Victoria looked over to her and scowled. "Didn't even realise you were here Tilda"

"Don't call me that," an uncomfortable feeling washed over Matilda when Victoria had called her by the name both Janice and her father used to call her.

Victoria sniggered. "Maybe it's not only the Woods brothers who're a piece of work, hm Finn?" She looked down at the boy who still refused to meet her eye.

"Victoria just go away, you're always trying to cause trouble." Cameron shook his head,

"Oh please. Cameron don't act like last year you weren't begging to be in my pants."

"Yeah, last year Victoria." He scoffed, swigging his drink.

"Why are you even here?" Matilda spat, getting annoyed. Victoria looked up as if she was thinking. "Well, to be honest, I only really wanted to say hello to Finn but..you all tried to attack me like wild pack animals. Finn seems to be the only normal one here. Matilda, you're like a fucking dog it's hilarious."

Isiah bit his tongue and the second Victoria insulted Tilly, Finn had pushed his chair away from the table and stood on his feet.

They all looked at him.

"Out," he pointed at the door. "Now."

Victoria stared at him, not moving. "You call her a dog, i'll treat you like one now get out before i get my brother to force you out," he said, getting in her face. He was annoyed, really annoyed.

Harry whistled at Finn's tone and the rest of them just watched. "Fucking get out!" He snapped.

"Finn, all right mate," Cameron stood, placing a hand on Finn's shoulder. "No, fuck off." He hissed, shrugging his hand away.

Victoria had left and Finn stood, angry. He ran a hand over his face and stormed off toward the lavatory.

"You going to do something?" Cameron asked Tilly.

She shrugged, "i'm going home. He can piss off if he thinks acting like that'll get me talking to him again. Yeah he defended me but he needs to calm down." She said bluntly, grabbing her coat and heading for the door.

"They need to sort their shit out." Isiah sighed.

-

Finn walked down Watery Lane in the dark, his heavy jacket draped over his shoulder. He checked his time piece: 1.32 am. Tuesday morning.

Finn found himself walking toward Matilda's house, the alcohol that ran through his body providing a certain sense of confidence. As he stood outside the small house, he was relieved to see the dim lights coming from her bedroom window.

His eyes searched the floor and he kneeled down, picking up a small stone and launching it at the window.

A few seconds passed and the window was slid open.

"Til, thank god you're awake!" He breathed, still slightly tipsy from his consumption of alcohol.

"Finn, what on earth are you doing? It's-"

"Tuesday," he cut her off, "it's Tuesday."

"I was going to say it's one in the morning. But yes, it's Tuesday." She said, raising her eyebrows at his strange behaviour.

"My times up, I can see you now!" He said, excitement lacing his voice.

Tilly rolled her eyes. "I have a door, Finn." She sighed, pointing toward the door in front of him. "Well i'm a respectable young man, i'm not going to just waltz in unannounced am i?" Finn questioned.

"When have you or your family ever cared about being respectable?"

"I am respectable!" He shrieked, throwing his arms up in the air. "Yeah, respectable enough to do fucking cocaine," she retorted, watching his face drop.

"Well, are you going to let me inside or not?"

"Like i said, i've got a door." She repeated. He bit back his grin and twisted the door handle, opening the door and rushing upstairs.

She knew that he'd probably end up at her house before he went home from the Garrison. That's why she left the door unlocked.

She wasn't sure if she actually wanted to see Finn but she'd feel awful if she turned him away.

Finn eagerly entered her room and stood in front of her. She remained sat on her bed as he reached down, his hands cupping either side of her face.

He smirked as he placed his lips onto hers, taking her by surprise.

She touched his chest, pushing him away. Worry filled him as he though he'd done something wrong.

Tilly grabbed his chin, searching his eyes. "I'm sober, I promise. I've not done cocaine." He assured her. She remained skeptical. "Come on, Tilly, you know i'd never lie to you" He urged, his hand on her side.

She took a deep breath and nodded, leaning in to kiss him once more. "Why do you do it?" She asked.

He licked his bottom lip, thinking.

"See, you don't know, do you?" She frowned, dropping her hands from his face. "Tilly please." He begged. "Don't start this again, i'm begging."

Tilly scoffed, taking a step back and walking to her vanity.

"You know i'm sorry, what more do you want me to do? It's been a day, just like you asked, there's nothing else i can do!"

"Don't do cocaine!" Tilly shouted, "that's what you can do," she trailed off, sitting down and unpinning her hair.

"You wanted me to stay away from you, I did. I just want you to be happy."

"So why can't you just stop doing the drugs, Finn?" She looked at him through the mirror, "if you really want me to be happy, stop doing them."

He swallowed hard.

"It's not that easy."

"Then why did you start in the first place?" Her voice cracked as she became upset. "You know what cocaine does to people. Fuck, look at what it did to my mum. Finn, you told me the night you first kissed me that it was you who understood everything about me. You said it was you who understood my problem with cocaine but yet you still do it!" A lump gathered in her throat.

"Tilly i'm sorry-"

"No. No you're not. Just go," she shook her head, staring at herself as her eyes welled with tears.

"What?" His heart pounded.

"Go. Please Finn. Before one of us say something we'll regret."

"Tilly please don't make me walk out that door. I won't be able to sleep if i know i've upset you."

"I'm not upset," Matilda shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes.

"You're not upset?" He asked. Tilly pushed her hair behind her ears.

"What difference would it make if i was? I bet you slept perfectly fine last night and I was definitely upset yesterday," she said angrily.

"I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep."

"Probably because of the cocaine," she taunted. "And didn't I ask you to leave?" She added.

"Tilly." He said sternly.

"Finn."

"Please-"

"Fuck off with please! I've asked you to leave. I don't want to be the reason our relationship ends because if you don't leave right now, it'll probably end tonight." She admitted, digging her nails into her palms.

His eyes fluttered slightly as they glossed over, hurt by her words. "You don't meant that."

"Don't i?" She tilted her head.

He took a deep breath and nodded, tilting his head toward the floor. "See you..in work then." He cleared his throat, walking off toward the door.

Her heart sank the second the door closed behind him. It didn't take long before angry tears had began leaving her eyes.

As Finn walked across to his own home, a few tears left his own eyes. Sad ones, not angry ones. It was strange. Finn Shelby never cried.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗