𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖
𝐀𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞

Aurora stood with her hands clasped in front of her. The wind whistled between her ears as she glanced over at Ada who stood sadly, her son Karl in her arms.

Rory remained with a neutral expression on her face.

Tommy stepped forward. "I promised my friend Freddie Thorne that i'd say a few words over his grave should he pass before me. I made him this promise before he became my brother in law, when we were in France, fighting for the king."

Aurora looked up to Isiah who stood beside her when he should have been with the rest of the Shelby family and gave her a reassuring nod.

"Amen." Arthur spoke up.

"And in the end it wasn't war that took Freddie. Pestilence took him. Freddie passed on his soul and his spirit into a new generation before he was cruelly taken." Tommy continued.

Rory decided to drown out the rest of Thomas' speech because she found it funny how, at a funeral, anything that the person has ever done wrong in their years of living seems to be forgotten. They're made out to be some sort of saint. When sometimes they aren't.

Like Freddie, for example: yes he could be kind and loving. But those who didn't see the other side of him were lucky. Those who didn't see him drunk out of his mind or angry to the point his face was red and his veins were about to pop out of his head — were extremely lucky.

No, no only Aurora saw that side of him. Because all Freddie saw in his little sister was his mother. And he resented her massively for that.

Aurora felt an arm snake around her shoulders. It was Isiah. He pulled her in slightly and sighed. Tommy had walked off with Ada. Karl was pinching flowers from a grave.

"You alright?" Isiah asked, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. She shrugged. Isiah took a drag from the cigarette before placing it between Rory's fingers. "Stupid question — sorry." He muttered quickly. She shook her head. "I'm as good as i can be." She said.

"Well that's good then— i suppose?" Isiah questioned his words and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Listen, how about we go out to the Marquis of Lorne for a few drinks? I'll pay."

"When do you not pay?" Aurora asked, trying to lighten the mood slightly. Isiah let out a breathy laugh and shook her shoulders. "There she is." He joked. Usually, Isiah would've followed that sentence with 'there she is, my little sister,' but given the circumstances he thought it was completely inappropriate.

A car pulled up, catching their attention. Arthur stormed over and Aurora squinted, trying to make out what was being said. But whatever it was, it wasn't good.

"Can I stay with you tonight, Siah?" Aurora asked quietly as she stared off into the field. Isiah looked down at her for a moment before nodded. "Course. You're always welcome. My dad loves ya."

Isiah could tell that she was upset by the whole thing. Who wouldn't be? Her brother had just passed away and she didn't get the chance to say goodbye. Was Freddie a good brother? No. But did that take away the fact he was still her brother? Also no.

Rory linked her arm around Isiah's whilst they walked to the car. "It'll be alright, Rory. It always is." He whispered to her. But she said nothing. She didn't want to say anything.

-

Aurora stayed close behind Isiah as he opened the door to the betting den. It was fairly busy for a Wednesday afternoon. "Gentlemen," Isiah greeted, his Birmingham accent thick.

"John," Isiah smiled when the Shelby boy patted his back. "How're the books, Isiah?" John asked him, a toothpick balancing between his teeth.

"They're looking good as always, John." Isiah assured him. John nodded proudly and gave Aurora a half smile before walking off into the office.

Isiah leaned over the table to glance at the betting book for a moment.

"How do you work here?" Aurora scowled, looking around at the large amounts of men rushing about the room. Isiah sighed. "You get used to it."

Isiah placed a hand on her upper back and led her to the chalk board at the back of the room where it was slightly quieter. He pulled a chair over and nodded for her to sit.

"Finny boy!" Isiah greeted loudly, pulling a boy into a hug. The boy had a wide smile on his face whilst hugging Isiah. "How come you weren't at Freddie's funeral?"

"Aunt Pol said I had to stay here and watch the shop until you all came back. Have you heard what happened to the Garrison?" Finn huffed, looking at Rory for a moment but not long enough to even register she was sat there.

"No what's happened?"

"Some bastards have blew it up. Can you believe it? They've blown up our bloody pub! Arthur ain't happy at all." Finn chuckled.

"Finn, get in here!" John called out from the office. Finn sighed and moved around Isiah to go to his brother. "Hold the phone." John instructed.

John walked back through the office just as their Aunt made an entrance.

"Polly. Did he say who did it?" John asked. Polly opened the cash register. "He's gone to the Black Lion." She said plainly.

They continued talking as they walked through the den toward the living room. "Hello love," Polly greeted Aurora gently with a soft smile.

Before Rory could even reply, John had closed the green doors that separated the house from the den. "So why did you bring me here?" She asked Isiah, placing her feet upon the table and rocking her chair back and forth.

Isiah shoved her feet to the floor and shook his head. "You ain't in school now, Rory. Behave." He scolded.

"Sorry dad." She scoffed, crossing her arms.

"And i've brought you here cause you hardly go to school anymore so you at least need to work." Isiah told her, shoving a piece of chalk into her hand.

She gave him a strange look. "And since when did you give a flying fuck about school? You dropped out. You left me in that god awful place."

"I left because I work and i'd gotten into one too many fights."

"So if I get into a fight can I drop out?" Rory suggested. Isiah groaned. "No, Rory, if you get into a fight they'll probably kick you out. The only reason they didn't kick me out was cause I am a Blinder."

"No, Rory." She mimicked him in a whiny voice.

Isiah gently smacked her arm. Which resulted in Rory's foot flying full force into his leg and causing him to double over, groaning in pain.

"Aurora you bastard!" Isiah shouted, holding his knee. The den fell silent for a moment but quickly livened up again. "I think it's broken— you've broken my leg!" Isiah panted.

"Don't be so dramatic. You look like a fool." Aurora snorted.

Finn exited the office and froze, confusion painted across his features. "What's up with him?" Finn asked the girl. Aurora stood and crossed her arms whilst standing next to him.

"Everything." She grinned. Finn chuckled at her comment and watched in amusement as Isiah continued whining about the so called injury for a few moments.

"Isiah are you going to stop acting like a child so we can go get drinks or am I going to have to go with—" Aurora paused, looking at Finn and pretending that she didn't know his name or who he was.

"Aurora." He said seriously, not finding her joke funny.

"Right, sorry. Or am I going to have to go with Finn?" She finished her sentence.

"Finn was coming with us anyway." Isiah said as he held onto the chair in pain. "But I want an apology or i'm not buying you anything." He pointed a finger at her.

Aurora dropped her shoulders and shook her head. "I don't apologise. I never apologise." She refused.

"Then no drinks for you." Isiah threatened.

Finn watched the two in amusement whilst they argued about Aurora apologising. Finn didn't exactly know what they were arguing about. All he knew was that she it would either end in tears or Isiah bleeding somehow.

-

Aurora pushed open the door to the Marquis, adrenaline filling her automatically. Finn and Isiah trailed close behind her and they approached the bar, all three of them taking a seat on the wooden stools.

"What you having, Thorne?" Isiah asked the girl. She looked up, thinking. "Whiskey."

"Typical." Isiah chuckled. He knocked his knuckles onto the bar. "Three whiskeys." He asked, sliding money onto the counter.

"Is she eighteen?" The barman nodded to Aurora whilst he cleaned a glass.

"No but neither is he." Isiah nodded to Finn. The barman looked at the Shelby boy. "Well he's a Shelby. She ain't. I don't recall there ever being a Shelby who was so tan. Is she from here?" He asked.

Isiah raised his eyebrows.

"Excuse me?" Aurora asked, tilting her head to the side. "And what the fuck does that mean?"

"She's with us. So get the three whiskeys or say goodbye to your fucking pub." Finn interrupted before it could escalate.

Aurora breathed through her nose and dug her nails into her palms. That was another thing she hated about looking like her mother: she had inherited her mother's beautiful golden skin. Which was amazing until people asked if she was a foreigner. Which she wasn't.

"I hate people like that y'know." Finn shook his head in disgust. "Never know when to shut their mouths."

Isiah and Aurora nodded in agreement.

Finn was yet to figure out how she was actually feeling considering she'd just buried her brother. Even though Isiah had just referred to her as Thorne, Finn knew she didn't see herself as one.

"Well if it ain't Isiah Jesus." A familiar voice spoke from behind them. They all looked over their shoulder at the boy with white blonde hair. Charlie Owen.

Isiah greeted the boy and it didn't take long before Charlie looked over to Aurora.

"Can I help you?" She frowned when realising how long he'd been looking at her. Before he could continue, Isiah just pulled him back by his sleeve to prevent any unnecessary problems between the two.

Once the drinks had been placed before them, it was only seconds before Aurora threw back the whole glass of whiskey, wincing as the amber liquid travelled down her throat.

"Jesus." Finn winced. "Is she alright?" Charlie whispered to Isiah.

"Mate, she's just buried her brother and you're asking if she's alright?" Isiah frowned. Charlie thought for a moment. Buried her brother? That's when it clicked.

"She's Freddie Thorne's sister? The girl that you call your sister?" He whisper-shouted.

"I can hear you." Aurora chimed in, swiping Finn's drink and chugging it. They ignored her. Isiah looked at the Owen boy in disbelief.

"Yes Charlie. That's the girl who i've called my little sister for the past two years. And the reason you never had a face to the name was because she never leaves the house unless it's to be with me or go to school."

"She's not how I imagined." Charlie hummed. Finn looked at Aurora, suddenly extremely confused when he realised his drink had disappeared.

"Sorry." Aurora quickly apologised.

"I thought you didn't apologise." Isiah reminded her. Aurora looked at him. "I don't apologise to you, Siah." She clarified, the alcohol already being too much for her. It must have been a strong batch.

Isiah threw his arms up dramatically and shook his head. "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. You need to slow down— not having you throwing up all over the place tonight."

"I'll be fine."

"Leave her be." Finn defended. "Worst case scenario, she comes back to Aunt Pol's and stays on the couch. Polly will look after her."

"Make that both of us." Isiah said.

-

The sky was pitch black and the cobble was turning frosty, making it almost impossible for drunk Aurora to walk across.

As expected, her foot slid ever so slightly which made her grab onto Finn to prevent falling backward. He grabbed her arm quickly and winced.

"Jesus fucking christ." Isiah caught up to them, pinching his nose at the headache that was brewing. Aurora gripped onto Finn's sleeve like her life depended on it.

"We can go back to Polly's— there's no way you'll both make it back to your house in one piece." Finn said.

Aurora felt like time was moving in slow motion but eventually they got back to Polly's home on Watery Lane and Finn let them inside.

"Aunt Polly!?" Finn asked, helping the pair into the living room where the fire was still burning. Polly had been sat on the couch with a cup of tea.

"And what time d'ya bloody call this? I thought you'd died!" Polly scolded, practically jumping from her seat to help the girl sit down. "Oh Aurora." Polly fussed over the girl.

"Finn go and get some blankets from upstairs." She instructed. "Isiah what on earth were you thinking letting her drink?" Polly scolded the boy. Isiah stood guiltily by the door with his hands in his pockets.

Once Finn returned, Polly began scolding him too.

"What did you think was going to happen? Her brothers died and she's fifteen. Those two things don't mix well with alcohol. I thought you'd have known better." Polly pointed a finger at him.

Aurora stared into the fire and forced her eyes closed when she felt tears gather. She hated being emotional after drinking.

"Do you think Freddie still loved me? You know, after he left to be with Ada?"

The three turned to look at her. Polly quickly sat beside her. "Of course he still loved you. What are you talking about?" Polly consoled her.

"I don't think he did love me, Polly. Cause if he did, he wouldn't have left me like mum and dad did." She whispered, digging her nails into her palms.

"Oh, love." Polly tutted.

"I want Freddie." Aurora croaked, her voice breaking. Polly looked at the two boys, silently telling them to leave the room.

Isiah went upstairs but Finn sat at the bottom of the stairs, listening like he had all those years ago when Aurora had sat crying over the same thing.

Aurora sounded like a child as she sobbed for her older brother. "I need Freddie, Polly. Why did he leave me?" Aurora sobbed into the older woman's arms.

Polly rubbed her back and hushed her. "Freddie loved you, he did. He just didn't know how to show it." Polly stroked the girls hair. "And you'll be better soon, I promise you that. Grief is a horrible thing but you cannot let it take over your life."

"But it's Freddie. My Freddie is gone." Aurora argued, feeling a slight aggression gather inside her but knowing she couldn't lash out on the Shelby woman.

"He's still here. He's always going to be with you." Polly assured her. "But you cannot let this destroy you."

Aurora sniffed, wiping under her eyes. "Is John here?" She asked, feeling that nobody else would be able to give her comfort other than him. Polly pursed her lips together and hummed. "I'll send one of the boys after him."

Polly sat and consoled Rory for no more than ten minutes before she finally fell asleep. But she didn't fall asleep without making Polly promise to send John in to check on her. Finn stood to his feet when his Aunt left the room.

"Is she okay?"

"Her brothers dead, Finn. You put the pieces together." Polly said bluntly, moving around him to go up the stairs.

Finn peered into the room and looked at her as she slept, her face stained from tears. He felt awful. He didn't know how he'd feel if one of his brothers died. It'd destroy him. But Aurora had no other family.

Finn pursed his lips into a straight line and closed the door over before going up the stairs.

There was always something about her that intrigued him. And Finn was kept awake that night, thinking about her.

Little did he know this wouldn't be the only time he'd be kept awake by the thought of her.