𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗
𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬

Aurora smiled when seeing Finn and Charlotte stood outside the school gates. Alfie was at Rory's side whilst they walked and he raised an arm to wave at the pair. "What're you doing here?" Aurora asked as the four began walking.

"Thought i'd come meet you since Tommy doesn't have me working this afternoon. Saw Lottie on the way down so we walked together," he said, slinging an arm over Rory's shoulders. She looked up at him and shielded her eyes from the sun. "He doesn't even live down here anymore and he still runs the place," she scoffed.

"It's Tommy's world and we're just living in it." Alfie joined in jokingly.

Aurora stifled a laugh and dug into her pockets for her cigarettes. "Do you have a lighter?" She asked. Finn shook his head and she looked toward Alfie who already had one in his hand ready to give to her. "What?" She asked when Finn looked at her funny. "Tommy said no cocaine and not so much whiskey— he didn't say anything about cigarettes." She said as she balanced it between her lips to light it.

Finn said nothing more and let her get on with it.

As a cloud of smoke left her mouth, she ran her thumb over her bottom lip. "Are we still going to the Golden Bells tonight?" She asked.

Charlotte, who was holding onto Alfie's arm, nodded, "I think so. Mikey was speaking about it this morning." She said. Aurora looked to Finn. "You going to join us?" Aurora asked. Finn shrugged. "Probably."

Alfie moved his arm to wrap it around Charlotte, pulling her close and making her laugh. "Right— we'll see youse later," he waved them off as he pulled the blonde girl the opposite way. She smiled up at him and Aurora couldn't help but smile at the interaction.

"Alfie and Charlotte— who would've known." Finn chuckled as they walked toward Watery Lane.

Aurora hummed in agreement and threw her cigarette to the floor. "Do you reckon Isiah will meet us tonight? Feels like ages since we seen him." Finn said as he opened up the door.

Aurora placed her bag down and slipped off her shoes. "Hopefully." She sighed. "His dads had him working like mad recently. The last time I saw him was Tommy's wedding." She said, watching Finn close the door.

They weaved their way through the busy betting den and sat upon on the couch in the living room. She threw her legs over his and let out a sigh.

"Are you getting sick of school now?" He joked.

"Nope." She answered quickly, "i've only got a few months left— and then i'll have done it. Just like I said I was going to." She said proudly, looking up at the ceiling. Finn rested his hand on her knee. "I'm sure everybody will be proud of you— they already are." He said softly.

Aurora could feel herself smiling further and she shook her head. "I wonder what Freddie would say if he saw me now."

Finn thought for a moment. "He'd probably think 'what the fuck' and be happy that his little sister made a better life at seventeen than he had at twenty five."

Aurora laughed. "Probably."

-

Aurora came down the stairs to a practically empty house. John sat at the table with a betting book, catching up on things he'd missed, and Polly stood making tea. "Where have you been all day?" John asked.

She shrugged. "School— upstairs." She stated.

"Oh— Rory, love, will you do me a favour and get some of those candles from the box beside the fire." Polly asked, glancing over her shoulder. Aurora replied with a simple nod and kneeled beside the fireplace to get the box.

When opening it, her eyebrows knitted together. There were candles, yes, but there were also other things. Pictures, letters. She looked at Polly and John to make sure they weren't watching her before taking out the candles from the top. Her hand skimmed over the photographs and she picked one out.

Her heart stopped. It was as if everything had frozen.

It couldn't be... surely. No.. no it wasn't—

It was her mother. Aurora's mother. Her beautiful eyes stared into Aurora's and her smile was soft and gentle. The picture wasn't in colour. Aurora was sure it was her mother. She looked back at Polly. Still wasn't watching. Aurora carefully slipped the photograph into her pocket.

"Have you found them?" Polly asked.

Aurora jumped. "Yeah— yeah, hold on." She closed the box over and pushed it back against the wall. Aurora grabbed the candles from the floor and placed them on to table.

John looked at her weirdly when noticing her shift in attitude. "You alright, Angel?" He asked.

She hummed and spun on her heels. "I'm going out with Finn and all them— i'll be back later." She said, closing the door and not allowing them to even wish her a goodbye. Aurora pulled the photograph back from her pocket as she stepped out onto Watery Lane.

She held it up to the light coming from one of the street lamps and squinted slightly.

It was her mum. But— why did Polly have it? Why did she have it and not Aurora?

With a frustrated sigh, Aurora put it back in her pocket and continued to walk toward the Golden Bells. When pushing open the door, she was met with all the faces of her friends.

"Aurora," Charlotte waved over. Aurora smiled slightly and took a seat beside Finn. "Sorry i'm late— Polly needed me for something." She lied slightly. Finn raised a brow and looked at her carefully. "What's up?" He asked.

"Nothing." She replied quickly.

He pursed his lips together and turned away to talk to Harvey.

She tapped her fingers on the table and thoughts rushed through her mind. Her head began hurting, a pain shooting throughout it. Aurora squeezed her eyes closed and bit down on the inside of her cheek.

"Rory?" Charlotte asked.

The boys turned to look at her.

"Rory, are you okay?" Isiah asked. She opened her eyes and noticed them all staring. Her face grew a light shade of pink and she pushed away from the table. "Sorry," she apologised quickly as she left the pub. Aurora began walking, taking sharp breaths.

Finn looked around the table and winced. "I'll be back in a minute," he said, putting his drink down and following after her.

Rory had stopped at the end of the road, looking around frantically. And suddenly it was as if she didn't know where she was. Her mind was all over the place. And she didn't know why.

It was Finn grabbing her by the arm that made her snap back into reality. She gasped for breath and he held her shoulders.

"Woah— it's only me." He assured. She looked at him with wide eyes. "What happened— you ran off." He told her. Aurora gripped his arms and took a deep breath. She was breathing perfectly fine. Which was a surprise. "I don't know.." Aurora whispered, looking around again.

"Do you want to go back?" Finn asked.

Aurora shook her head. "You go back, you were having a good time. I'll go back to the house." She said.

"Are you sure? I can come with you, I don't mind." Finn offered. Aurora was quick to refuse. "No, no. You were excited for tonight. Just go back, it's fine." She said as she began walking away.

Finn remained where he was and watched her, confusion filling him. He didn't get it. What had happened for her to have such a reaction.

He hesitantly turned and went back toward the pub.

Aurora continued toward Watery Lane quickly. The light was on in the betting den so she slipped through the front door and into the living room. Nobody was there, thankfully. She eyed up the same box from earlier and bit down on her lip. Aurora carefully walked over to it, sure to not make too much noise.

She kneeled and took the box from the floor before practically running up the stairs.

She needed to know if there was anything more about her mother in there. She wanted to know about the woman she longed to know about.

When placing it upon her bed, she crossed her legs and her fingers gripped at the edges of the box. Aurora pulled the lid from the top and stared down at the old letters. Some looking rather recent compared to others. She picked up the one that sat atop them all.

The writing was neat.

Her eyes scanned over the words. Her lips parted...

Dear Polly,
          I hope my Aurora is keeping well. I believe she is approaching her eighteenth birthday if my memory is correct. I like to think that she has grown into a rather fine young lady. I was saddened to hear of the passing of Freddie and hope it did not take too much of a toll on Aurora. I hear of the Shelby name more often these days. I do not doubt that you have all been looking after her, especially in Freddie's absence. One day, I hope to return.. if Birmingham will have me again. I long to see my not-so-little girl and see what she has grown to be.
Thank you again, Polly, for looking after her.

Aurora felt her stomach turn and her heart pound heavily. She was talking about Aurora. It was from her mother. It was definitely from her mother. She brought her fingers up to her lips and picked up another letter.

Dear Aurora,
          You'd love Italy. You should be fifteen now. I hate to have missed it.. as well as all your other birthday's. I hope that you can find it in you to not hate me for leaving. One day, I wish to bring you to Italy. It's beautiful. I'm writing to inform you of my recent marriage. Though i'm sure you do not care too much about what occurs in my life. I do not blame you for that. Nevertheless, you deserve to know. He's an Italian man, comes from a good family. I can't wait for you to meet him.

Aurora shook her head. Her mother was delusional, completely delusional. Meet him? Meet him? Was she completely and utterly fucked in the head? Aurora began asking herself a variety of questions. She could not in fact find it within herself to forgive her mother for leaving her and Freddie. What mother leaves behind their children?

Aurora wouldn't do that. No, she wouldn't. Not to her children.

Rory stared down at the paper in her hands, an anger filling up inside her. She suddenly kicked the box to the floor with a frustrated shout and pressed her palms to her eyes. "Bastard— fucking bastard!" She hissed to herself. "God help whoever the man was that married her." She insulted.

Aurora could hear footsteps approaching up the stairs and she scurried to clean up the mess and push the box under her bed.

"Rory— what was that noise?" Tommy asked from outside. Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Tom?" She asked. The door opened. "What're you doing here? You have that big fancy house now." She scoffed, sitting back on the bed.

Tommy examined the room from where he was stood and then looked at her. "Is everything okay?" He asked.

She pursed her lips together and nodded. "Yeah fine."

"Where's Finn?" Tommy leaned against the doorframe. Aurora shrugged. "Why are you asking me?" She retorted. "Because that boy is usually attached to your side." He chuckled. Aurora held back her laugh and crossed her legs. "But seriously— what are you doing back?"

"Business, Rory." He said. "And family." Tommy said with a tut.

"That's a surprise— you don't seem to like any of them." She teased. Tommy pointed a finger at her, "they don't seem to like me." He corrected her. "And yet you come from your big fuck off house to see them." She grinned.

Tommy nodded once. "I do."

"Wow, you really are a family man." She said sarcastically with a hand on her heart. Tommy grinned and shook his head. "You should come down to Arrow House— Charles was asking after you the other night."

"He was?"

Tommy nodded. "He was." He confirmed.

"Is it Charles that wants to see me or is it you?" Aurora tilted her head. Tommy thought for a moment. "Well— I wouldn't object to a visit from you." He said.

Tommy would've explained how she was like his first child, his daughter. So to see her was like routine until he moved to Arrow House. But he'd be talking for hours if he said that.

Aurora would always be like his daughter. No matter how old she got or how their relationship changed. It was Aurora and Tommy. It was always going to be that way.