𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐
𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞

Finn sat staring at the betting book blankly and leaned against his fist. "Oi." John kicked his chair, causing him to sit up quickly. "The fuck you doin' eh? You're supposed to be working." He said.

Finn cleared his throat and blinked hard. "Sorry— I.. yeah." He stuttered, looking at the page properly and taking his pencil from the table.

John looked at him funny and crossed his arms, leaning against the table. "Who's upset you?" John asked, half joking. Finn shook his head. "No one." He lied. John stifled a laugh. "I've known you all of your life— I can tell when you're lying, mate." He said.

The younger Shelby boy ran a hand over his mouth and shook his head again. "Nah— I'm not telling you. I'm fucking embarrassed."

John raised a brow. "What girl did you fuck?"

"No girl!" Finn snapped, lowering his voice quickly and looking around to see if anyone had heard. "There was no girl. That's the point." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

John hummed. "Go on then. What is it that's bothering you so much that you can't work?"

"Aurora.." Finn whispered.

"What? I didn't quite hear ya." John leaned forward. Finn muttered a few things to himself angrily. "Aurora." He repeated. John's eyes filled with realisation and he leaned back. "Why? What's she done?"

"I tried to kiss her— well, kind of." Finn winced. "I was drunk and she just looked so.." he paused, "beautiful."

John bit back his laughter and grabbed Finn's shoulder, shaking him lightly. "Oh, Finn boy. You'll get over it. How about we get you a whore for after work?"

"No." He refused quickly. "I don't want a whore, John."

"Alright." John put his hands up in defence. "I was only messing. But seriously, it'll be fine. Aurora won't mention it, i'm sure. Well— that's if she even remembers it."

Finn sighed. "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm so fucking stupid."

"Not really." John shrugged. "Youse both want to fuck each other— I see it in your eyes." He teased. "It's unbearable to watch, actually. Seeing you both look at each other the way you do. Just get with her at this point, mate."

"It isn't that easy."

"Why not? Just ask her." John urged. "That's easy for you to say!" Finn snapped. "You have girls on their knees just for a moment of your time. No one ever looks my way. And— and it's not like I want them to, really. I just want Rory to look at me."

"And she does." John whispered. "I see it. We all see it."

Finn shrunk in his seat.

"Right— after work, you can come with me and Arthur to the Garrison. I'll get you a drink or two, yeah? Lighten up, soldier." John squeezed his shoulder.

-

Aurora had stayed in bed most of the day until Tommy appeared at her door with his arms crossed. She faced the wall. "You plan on getting up any time soon?" He asked.

Rory said nothing.

"Rora." Tommy tried, sitting on the edge of the bed. She sniffed and he placed a hand over the blanket where her leg was. "I'm fine, Tom." She whispered, still not looking at him.

"I'm worried about you, kid." Tommy admitted. Aurora closed her eyes. "And I will have this conversation with you over and over again until you feel okay. Do you understand? Rory—" he paused. "You're like a daughter to me. You always have been."

Aurora slowly met his eyes. "Really?"

Tommy nodded. "Really." He whispered. "And I just want ya to be alright, kid." He said. "So if there's anything I can do, tell me." He nodded at her. "I'd buy you the fucking moon and the stars if it meant you felt happy again."

Rory felt her eyes burn and her lip tremble. "Stop it, Tom." She pressed her palms to her eyes.

"Eh— you're alright." He smiled slightly. "You know, after the war, Arthur spent a lot of time inside. Didn't leave the house. But after a while, he was out everyday.. going to pubs, the gym. He got better."

"But he isn't better anymore."

"No, not as much anymore. But he'll get there." Tommy said. "Do you want to know why?" She nodded. "Because he's got his family behind him. And so do you. We're all here."

"I don't want pity." She muttered.

"I'm not giving you pity." Tommy shrugged. "If i'm honest, I think what you're doing and getting up to is stupid for someone your age. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to help you." He nodded. "You just need to let me help you."

Aurora stared at the ceiling.

"And the first step to getting better, Rory— is stop doing the cocaine. It'll ruin you." He pointed a finger at her. "The next time I find that you're doing that shit, I'll cut whoever it is that gave it to you. Do you hear me? I'll cut them."

"And then what?"

"Then you'll focus on drinking less. But only after you've stopped the drugs. One step at a time— we don't need to rush." Tommy explained.

"And how do I drink less? Everywhere I turn, one of you is filling up another glass with whiskey." She sat up.

"Then i'll lock up the whiskey." He smirked jokingly. "We will figure it out. I'll figure it out. For you." He nodded. Aurora smiled slightly. "Okay.." she whispered. "Thank you, Tommy."

He nodded. "Of course."

-

Aurora sat alone by the cut, her knees up to her chest as she stared at the murky water. There was a russel in the leaves beside her and she looked to her left to see Alfie stood with a wonky smile on his lips.

He held his jacket in his hand before dropping it at her feet. "It's cold today."

"What're you doing here?" She sighed, leaning her head against the cobble walk behind her. "Well— I was just going on a walk but then I saw you so thought i'd stay for a bit."

"You didn't ask me."

"I didn't think I had to." He retorted. "We're friends, aren't we?" Alfie smirked lightly, poking her side playfully. Aurora grinned and slapped his hand away. "Sure." She teased. "You seen Finn today?" She asked, feeling bad about the way she had rejected him the night before.

Alfie took out a cigarette and pack of matches. "Nah, not today." He told her. "Why?"

"Just wondering." She said. "Not seen him in the house— well not when I left anyway." She told him.

Alfie offered her the lit cigarette and she accepted, taking a drag. "Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you weren't.. i don't know— you?" She stared forward. Alfie raised a brow.

"Er.. sure."

She said nothing else which left him feeling confused. "I might go to London." She said randomly. "See Ada and the baby." She added.

"That'd be nice, Rory." He nodded.

"Not sure how i'd get there but.." She breathed. "I'll figure it out."

"Would you go by yourself?" Alfie asked. Aurora shrugged. "Might take Finn with me. I don't think he likes Small Heath very much."

"Who does?" Alfie scoffed. Aurora chuckled. "No, Finn hates it. More than I do— i think." She said. "Small Heath feels so lonely lately. It's like i'm a fucking ghost wandering through the smoke. I hate it."

Alfie listened.

"A ghost who's still living." She said.

Alfie placed a hand on her knee. "Well, just wait for the summer to roll around. It'll be great. Me, you and the lads— we can go to that lake and swim or something. I don't know. The smoke disappears when the summer comes."

"The smoke never disappears, Alfie. You'll realise that one day." She said quietly.

-

Aurora held the phone to her ear anxiously and stared at the closed door, praying nobody came in. "Hello?" Ada's voice asked from the other end. "Ada, it's me." Rory spoke.

"Rory— how are you?" She asked happily.

"I'm good, yeah." She breathed. "Listen, I was wondering if I could ask you something." Aurora admitted. "Of course." Ada hummed. Rory bit the inside of her cheek. "Would I be able to stay with you? Please?"

"You'd come to London?"

"Yeah. I'm just so sick and tired, Ada. I need to get away." She complained. "I want to see Karl, too. He's the only thing i've got left of Freddie."

Ada tutted. "Have you spoke to Tommy? Or Aunt Pol?"

"No, but I will. I swear." She said.

"Well if they're okay with it, you're more than welcome to stay with me, Aurora. We have plenty of room in this house." She chuckled.

The door opened and Aurora was met with the face of Finn who had wide eyes at the site of her. "I'll speak to you later, Ada." She said. Finn frowned and watched her out the phone down. "Ada? What were you talking to Ada for?"

Aurora played with her hands. "I'm leaving— i'm going to London."

"What?" Finn's face fell and he dropped his hands to his side. "For how long?" He asked. Aurora shrugged. "I'm not sure." She admitted. "Does Polly know?" Finn's heart picked up. Rory shook her head. "Not yet.."

Finn looked at her sadly.

Aurora walked to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "London is the place to be right now, Finn. I need to get away from Small Heath— I have nothing here."

"You have me..." he offered, his voice trembling slightly. He didn't want her to go.

Rory looked at his lips then at his eyes and back at his lips. A silence fell over them and after a few seconds, Aurora stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Finn's eyes were wide before he closed them, practically melting into her touch.

When pulling back, Rory looked him in the eye. "Come with me?" She whispered. "Ada wouldn't mind. I know she wouldn't."

Finn's eyes darted across her face. She stepped back and looked at her feet. "I need a break from this city— even if it's just for a little while, Finn. So come with me or don't but i'm going either way."

Finn nodded slowly. "I'll come with you.."

That night, Finn spoke with Aunt Pol about going to London. And straight away, she said "Absolutely not." Finn huffed and shook his head. "I can be of help there, Pol!" He argued.

"To bloody who?" Polly asked.

"To Rory— and for Tommy. I'm sure he can find me something to do!" He said. Polly scoffed. "Rory." She mumbled. "I love that girl but she is a mess, Finn. You do not need to be around that." She said.

Aurora had her ear up to the door and the moment she heard Polly's comment, she stepped away.

"Don't say that, Polly." Finn whispered. "She's trying her best."

Polly just shook her head and lifted the newspaper she had previously been reading. "You're not going. I won't allow it."

"She needs me!" Finn retorted.

"If that girl asked for the world you'd bloody give it to her! You can't just go to London because she asked you to. She won't be alone if she goes. She will have Ada and Karl."

Aurora shook her head and stormed out of the house, going straight to the one place she knew everyone was. The Marquis. When she got inside, Isiah sat with Micheal, Harvey, Mikey and Alfie around a table.

Isiah stood. "What're you doing here?" He smiled, hugging her quickly before examining her face to ensure she was okay.

"I'm leaving." She swallowed. All the boys looked up from the table. "I'm going to London— to live with Ada for a while. I don't know how long. I could be back next week, next month— I don't know. I asked Finn to come with me but Polly is saying no." She dug her nails into her palms.

Isiah frowned. "You're coming back though, yeah?"

She nodded quickly. "I can't stay away from you all forever." She smiled slightly. "I love you all too much." She said.

Isiah hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. "I'd come with you, Rory, but my dad needs me here." He said. She shook her head. "It's okay, Siah."

"I love you though, don't forget it." Isiah whispered. "Give us a call when you can." He said. Aurora nodded and looked at them all. "I just wanted to let you know instead of... you know, disappearing."

If Aurora Thorne was one thing, it wasn't a coward. She wasn't going to pick up and leave without a warning. She wasn't going to leave her loved ones in the dark.

They all gave her a brief goodbye but when she left the pub, Alfie had followed her out. "Rory, wait." He grabbed her arm and she spun around. "I'll come with you— I have family in London who I can stay with."

"Alfie— you don't have to do that."

"I know we used to hate each other or something like that but I don't want you feeling alone. I know you'll have Ada and the baby but... you'll need a friend too. And if Finn can't go, I will." He said. "Even if he can go, so will I."

Aurora smiled slightly and nodded. "I'll let you know?"

He nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Alfie."