𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎
𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬

Tommy walked out onto the field with Aurora trailing behind him. She squinted and hugged her coat to her body. "Why've you brought me here, Tom?" She asked.

Tommy cleared his throat and got out a cigarette to light. She looked at the sun that was starting to set. "Well I thought you were getting to an age where you needed to know how to shoot a gun." He said. Aurora tilted her head. "It can't be hard.." She said.

Tommy smirked. "It's not hard if you know how to shoot properly."

She shrugged and Tommy reached for the gun in his holster to hand to her. "Is there a reason you're teaching me?" Aurora asked and examined the cold metal in her hand. Tommy balanced his cigarette between his lips. "Well you're apart of the family now. And with the name Shelby comes enemies. You'll come to learn that sooner rather than later." He said, standing behind her.

Tommy reached forward and fixed her hand placements. "All you need to do is relax. That gun is apart of your hand. If you can relax, it's an easy job." He explained. "You focus on what it is you're shooting and just.. shoot."

Aurora nodded and held the gun up. Tommy lifted her arms up slightly. She closed one eye and focused on a tree not too far from them. After a few seconds, Rory pulled the trigger and they watched at the bullet flew into the wood.

Tommy hummed in amusement. She lowered the gun and examined it again. "That's fun." She grinned and aimed again, this time shooting a bird that had flown from the tree.

And to Tommy's surprise, she sent it toppling down into the grass.

"Well done kid. It's like holding a gun is natural for you." He praised, taking it from her hands. She shrugged. "I remember finding Arthur's gun once when I was younger." She laughed.

Tommy nodded. "Sounds like him. Always leaving his bloody shit around for other people to get heir hands on."

She nodded and crossed her arms. "I heard the Garrison is reopening tonight. Is that right?" She asked. Tommy nodded and threw his cigarette to the floor. "Indeed— you joining us?"

Aurora scoffed. "Of course."

Tommy tucked his gun away and flung an arm across her shoulder. "I think Ada is coming down too with the baby." He said.

A small smile crept onto Aurora's face but she looked down to hide it. "That's nice." She replied plainly. "How are they both, do you know?" She asked. Tommy looked out at the grass as they walked. "As far as I know.. they're alright."

Rory nodded. "Good. That's good."

-

"I don't want— to go!" Rory fought against John's grip as he pushed her along Watery Lane. John huffed. "You need to go to school, Rory!" He argued. She shook her head and continued fighting.

John grabbed her shoulders and forced her into place. "If you don't go to school, Pol is gonna ground you." John said. "Do you know what that means?" He asked. She stared at him blankly. "No whiskey, no cigarettes.. no Mikey and Harvey. No Isiah."

Aurora rolled her eyes and shoved John's hands away. "Fine!" She gave up, straighten out her clothes.

John nodded in satisfaction and looked at the school. "I'll come get you at three. I promise." He nodded. Aurora's mouth fell open. "Three?!" She squealed. "You're making me do a full day in school. That's a bloody piss take, John." She pointed at him.

"Off you go," he gently shoved her toward the gates. "You're already an hour late." He reminded her.

Rory scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Love you, Angel!" John shouted. "Yeah yeah, love you too." She muttered back. Opening the office doors, Aurora was met with the sour face of Mrs Stevenson who slowly looked up from her desk. "Miss Thorne.." She said slowly. "What a surprise."

"Merry Christmas." Aurora teased.

"In you go. You've got Mr Clarke." She nodded toward the door.

Rory dragged her feet along the corridor and to the one classroom she found bearable to be in. When entering the classroom, a few heads turned. "Miss Thorne!" Mr Clarke said enthusiastically with a genuine smile on his face. "It's good to finally have you back!" He said.

Rory nodded at him. "Can I—"

"Yes please.. just sit where you always sit." He nodded. Rory walked through and sat in the back corner. Alfie Jenkins turned in his seat. "Ello Rory." He said quietly.

"Hi, Alfie." She sighed and leaned against the wall.

"Never thought you'd come back here." He said. Rory shrugged. "John made me." She said. He smirked slightly. "Well i'm glad you're back." He nodded.

"Mr Jenkins—" The teacher interrupted. They both snapped their heads toward him. "If you'd like to speak to Aurora please just take the seat beside her rather than distract everybody else." He pursed his lips together.

Alfie turned slightly red from embarrassment but took the offer and sat beside the girl. It was strange because it was only the year previously that the two hated each other so terrible. And now they were.... friends.

"How's Finn?" Alfie asked.

Rory began drawing on the desk. "He's alright I think.. it's not often we talk anymore." She said. "I'm always out doing other things."

"Like what?"

"Getting off her face on booze at the canal." Elizabeth said from the table in beside them. They both leaned forward to look at her. "Fucking excuse me?" Rory asked. Elizabeth smiled sarcastically at her. "If you've got something to say, Elizabeth." Rory tilted her head. "Fucking say it."

"I'm just saying— it's quite often I hear you're down drinking with Mike and Harvs." She shrugged. "Anyone with common sense would begin to think you were an alcoholic."

Her friend, Charlotte, nudged her side and shook her head. "Stop that, Eliza. That's rude."

Elizabeth shrugged her friends comment off and glared at Aurora. "I'll kill you.." Aurora hissed taunting. "No, actually— i'll send John and Arthur fucking Shelby after your mum and brother. How about that, Elizabeth? Would you like that?" Aurora threatened.

Elizabeth's face dropped.

Alfie grinned and leaned back in his chair. He peered at the work on her table and hummed. "Go on, Lizzie. Get on with your maths." He teased.

Elizabeth grew a crimson red colour and turned away, muttering words to Charlotte but she took no notice, knowing her friend was in the wrong.

"That was good, Thorne." Alfie nodded. "You should do that more often."

-

Finn and Isiah stood training in the gym together. There was a group of boys beside them — a mix of slightly older and slightly younger.

"That's them two that hang about with that girl— what's her name.. Angel?" One said. The other shook his head. "Her names Aurora. John calls her Angel I think." He corrected. The other grunted. Finn recognised the two straight away. Charlie and Henry from school.

"I heard from our Elizabeth that she's an alcoholic now." Henry spoke. Charlie shrugged. "Yeah I heard that too. I heard it on the yard in school last Thursday." He agreed. Finn lowered his fists and looked at Isiah.

"Youse talking about Rory?" He asked them. Isiah began paying attention.

"Yeah— what's it to you?" Henry asked. Finn shrugged. "She's my mate. I live with her." He said. Henry glanced at his friends. "Did you know she was a raging alcoholic then— just like your Arthur she is." Henry chuckled.

Finn's face dropped and he walked to the boy, getting close to him. "Say that again."

"Finn leave it." Isiah attempted.

"She's gone off her head." Henry hissed. "Alcoholic.. at fifteen." He added spitefully.

Finn shoved him back and it was only moments before Henry tried to punch him but Finn grabbed him and began punching him over and over again. The pair ends up rolling about and fighting until Isiah and one of the others pulled them apart.

Finn breathed heavily and scowled. "Keep her name out your fucking mouth! Do you hear me?" Finn shouted and pointed at the boy with the bloodied face.

"Alright Finn—" Isiah pulled him back.

-

Tommy leaned against his desk and looked down at Isiah and Finn. "Talk to me. What happened?" He asked. They kept their heads down shamefully. Isiah waited for Finn to talk but he didn't. "Some boy was taking about Rory. Calling her names. So Finn.."

"I beat the shit out of him." Finn interrupted.

Tommy sighed and crossed his arms.

"They shouldn't be talkin' about her. They don't know half the shit she's been through and they never will. It ain't fair." Finn shrugged.

"What's his name?"

"Dunno." Finn huffed. Tommy tutted. "Well when you do know, tell me and leave the rest to me. Now off you go." Tommy dismissed the pair. Finn was quick to leave and Isiah trailed close behind him.

"What the fuck was that, Finn?" Isiah grabbed his arm and spun him around.

"What- defending Rory?" He asked. "They were taking the piss out of her and i'm not having it. She's done nothing to them. Nothing at all." Finn shook his head. Isiah furrowed his eyebrows at him and noticed the certain look in Finn's eye. "Fucking hell mate. Get yourself together." Isiah scoffed.

-

"I'll see you later then, yeah? I'll be at the Garrison reopening." Alfie called out to Aurora as she walked to meet John at the gates. She gave him a nod and continued walking. "See it wasn't that bad was it?" John asked. Rory glared at him and didn't say anything.

John flung an arm across her shoulder. "Oh cheer up, Angel." John teased. Rory shook her head and tried to bite back her smile.

"Yeah—" John chuckled and poked her side. "Lay off it John." She tried to stay serious. John indeed did stop and looked forward. "You should see the Garrison, y'know. It's bloody amazing." John said.

Rory raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Well I suppose I'll have to wait and see won't I." She said.

John pulled her closer and sighed. "So what's going on with you and that lad then, eh?" John bit down on the toothpick that was balanced between his teeth. Rory laughed. "Who, Alfie?" She scoffed. "He's a friend— well.. if that's what you wanna call it."

"Is he not the boy that got you kicked out of school before?" John recognised the name.

Aurora winced. "Yeah.. yeah that's him. But we're alright now. He ain't such a dick no more." She told him.

-

Rory walked into Finn's bedroom and sat on his bed. He had been sitting on the end of it, doubled over and tying his shoes. He looked at her for a moment slightly confused before going back to tying his shoes.

They both sat in silence for a few moments. "Is everything okay?" Finn finally asked when standing in front of the mirror to look at himself.

Aurora nodded simply and watched as he struggled to do up his tie. She groaned and shook her head. "Here." She offered and he turned to face her. She concentrated and began doing it for him. Finn looked down at her and watched as she did it effortlessly.

"I used to have to help Freddie." She said, finishing it off and patting his chest. Finn turned to look at himself in the mirror again.

"That reminds me.." she disappeared into the hall to retrieve something from her bedroom before returning only seconds later with a silver chain in hand. She held it in front of him and he took it from her.

She spun on her heels and he stood behind her. Finn moved her hair over one shoulder and held the necklace over her chest, bring it around her neck and fiddling with the clasp. He bit down on his tongue whilst doing so and squinted.

"Done." He said. Aurora turned around to face him and looked up at him. She didn't realise how close they had been stood. They were inches apart. Neither of them moved. Neither of them said a word. Finn looked down at her and his eyes flicked between her eyes and her lips.

Aurora's breath hitched and she bit the inside of her cheek. Her eyes darted across his face. Her eyes flickered closed for a mere second.

Finn's hand slowly lifted and was about to brush against her arm when..

Then they heard heavy footsteps followed by, "Finn boy!" John roared.

They pulled away from each other and Aurora had wide eyes. John burst in and looked at the two. "We're going. Are you ready?" He asked the pair. Rory nodded awkwardly and Finn just cleared his throat. "Yeah.. yeah." Finn finally spoke.

John looked at the two weirdly and nodded slowly. "Okay." He said. "Meet us there." John walked out of the room after sensing the weird tension. "They're weird." He whispered to himself.

Rory could feel Finn's eyes on her back and she refused to look at him again. What just happened? Her heart was pounding like crazy. "We should get going then." She said. Her mouth had gone dry and her cheeks had grown red.

Aurora wasted no time to make her way down the stairs before Finn could mention anything about the moment they had just shared. And to her surprise, when she opened the door, a group of Junior Peaky boys stood smoking cigarettes.

The group consisted of Isiah, Alfie, Mikey, Harvey and some actual Peaky lads who Aurora didn't recognise. "Ello, you." Isiah grinned and blew smoke into the air. She smiled and stepped out of the house, stretching her arms out and draping them around the back of his neck when he briefly lifted her from the ground with one arm.

Finn trailed out behind her and greeted some of the boys.

The group began walking toward Garrison Lane until Finn departed from them. "Where you going?" Mikey shouted to him. "To speak to Arthur— i'll catch up." Finn said without looking back at them.

Arthur had taking  turn for the worst after beating a boy to death in the gym. He hadn't left the house in days.

They all walked into the Garrison and Aurora held onto Mikey's arm. Her eyes explore the room and she gasped. "It's amazing." She whispered. Tommy noticed her from the bar and smiled at the look on her face. He hadn't seen her like that since before Freddie died.

"Tom!" She shouted, moving away from the boys to go and say hello to the Shelby man. He finished pouring a drink for someone and slid it to them. "Hello, kid." He nodded to her.

"Is Ada here?" She looked about from where she'd been standing.

"She'll be here soon." Tommy said to her. "John's over there," Tommy nodded toward the table in the corner where John, Esme and Isiah were seated. Aurora nodded. "Alright, Tom. I'll speak to you later." She assured him and made her way over to the table.

-

"Oi!" Tommy's voice rang out as he saw his youngest brother sipping from a whiskey glass. "John, keep him off the whiskey." He took it and drank the rest. Finn threw his arms up in defeat and looked to Aurora. "You're bloody drinkin!"

She shrugged. "I just don't get caught." She smirked.

The door to the Garrison opened and in came Ada with little Karl in her arms. Aurora was quick to jump from her seat and rush over before anybody else could. "Ada!" She said with excitement, hugging the girl tightly. "Oh, Aurora." Ada squeezed her. They pulled away from each other and Aurora looked to her nephew.

"Say hello, Karl." Ada smiled down at her son. Aurora touched the boys hand and smiled at him. There were certain parts of him that looked like Freddie.

"Go on, go to your Auntie Rory." Ada passed him over when seeing Tommy approach. "I'll come see you later, Rory." Ada touched her shoulder before she left.

"Hello, Karl." Aurora held the boy on her hip. Karl said nothing and just looked at her joyfully.

Finn watched from the table as Aurora held the boy and spoke to him as if he were old enough to understand. Polly was right. Having a baby on her hip did seem awfully natural.

As the night went by, Ada eventually got her son back and the Junior Peaky lads had got their own table where Finn had joined them— eventually followed by Aurora. "What's this?" She asked quietly when pulling up a chair in between Finn and Harvey.

"Tokyo." Finn muttered, tapping the small blue bottle onto the back of Harvey's hand.

She watched as the boy lifted it to his nose and snorted it, wiping the excess to the floor.

She raised an eyebrow curiously and watched as some of the other boys did it too. "Have some, Thorne." Harvey encouraged. She bit down on her tongue to think. "You don't have to." Finn whispered to her but she shook her head. "Go on." Aurora placed her fist onto the table with the back of her hand facing up.

Finn looked doubtful and shared a glance with Isiah who too looked the same.

When realising Finn wasn't too sure, one of the other boys took a bottle of the drugs he already had and emptied some onto her hand. "And I just.. sniff it?" She asked, staring at it.

"Yeah." Harvey said.

Aurora placed it up to her nose and sniffed hard, squeezing her eyes closed the moment it entered her body. She held her nose and took a deep breath. Finn winced and his stomach churned.

Aurora let go of her nose and let out a laugh like breath. "Fucking hell." She chuckled and wiped her nose.

"Good ain't it?" Harvey asked with a smile. She nodded quickly. "Amazing." She said, looking around at the faces gathered around the table. "Where's Mikey gone?"

"Gone home. He was supposed to be looking after his sister today so.." Alfie explained.

"His sister?" Aurora frowned. Alfie nodded. "That Charlotte girl in our maths." He explained. She wasn't too sure who he meant but shrugged anyway.

Aurora squinted and held her hand out again. The boy gave her more and Finn grew weary. "Don't give her any more." He pointed to the boy.

Minutes passed and Aurora's eyes became sensitive to the light.

"I— er.. I need a drink.." She stumbled over her words. Finn slid her a glass of water and she stared at it funny. "No, I want whiskey." She scoffed.

"Nah." Isiah shook his head. "Drink the water."

She crossed her arms and refused. "Where's Tommy?" She looked around. Finn grabbed her arm to keep her in her seat. "He'll go mad if he knows you've done Tokyo. Sit down." He forced her down.

Aurora could feel herself getting paranoid. She was frantically looking around and playing with the skin around her nails.

"My head hurts.." she whispered and dropped her head into her hands.

Finn shared a worry glance with one of the other boys and the other boy shrugged. "Shall I take her home?" He mouthed to Isiah. Isiah shrugged and nodded toward Tommy who was bound to ask questions if they left early.

Aurora pressed her palms into her eyes and began rubbing them. "Can I have more?"

Finn shook his head. "No."

She scoffed. "Pfft.. sorry dad." She gritted through her teeth.

Finn shook his head and watched out for any of his brothers who might have caught on to the girls strange behaviour. And funnily enough.. Tommy had.

"Shit.." Finn groaned quietly and braced himself.

"Rory." Tommy spoke with his hands in his pockets. She looked up with wide eyes. Tommy leaned forward slightly and squinted. "What has she taken?" He asked all the boys. They kept quiet. "What the fuck has she taken?" He said sternly.

"T-Tokyo." Finn stuttered. "She only had a bit though, Tom. I swear it."

"Tokyo? Are you fucking mad?" Tommy gently smacked Finn round the back of his head. "Rora," Tommy said softly. She bit down on her lip. "Come on. Let's get you home." He offered her a hand. She hesitantly took it and he placed his jacket over her shoulders. "Never fucking again, Finn. You hear me?" Tommy pointed a finger at him.

Tommy walked the girl out of the pub. "What were you thinking, eh? Cocaine? You're fifteen." Tommy stared.

"They were all doing it." She excused.

"If they all jumped into a fire would you?" He lectured. She shrugged. "Probably." Aurora smirked. Tommy shook his head and kept his hands in his pockets. "It's dangerous stuff, Rora. Not something to be messing around with. Those boys aren't smart, you know that." He said.

"Yeah, Finn can't fucking spell cat." She chuckled.

Tommy smiled slightly and shook his head. "Don't get yourself caught up in that kind of stuff, Rory. It'll ruin your life." Tommy said as they stopped outside the house.

"My life can't get much worse, Tommy."

"It'll get better, kid." Tommy placed a hand on her shoulder. "But don't let me catch you doing that shit again." He said. "Or you'll get more than a bloody grounding from Polly." He threatened.

"Okay.." She sighed and reached for the door handle. "Goodnight, Tom. I love you."

"Love you too, kid." He nodded and let her go inside. He cared about Rory as if she were his own daughter — always had done. And if he could stop her from destroying herself, he would do everything in his power to do so.