𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔

"You coming tonight?" Maeve asked, sitting in front of Isiah on her bed. He hummed in response, "to where?" He asked, "Micheal's party at the Garrison. It's his eighteenth." Maeve responded.

Isiah thought for a moment. "Maybe," he shrugged. "If i go will you give me a kiss?" Isiah teased, a wide grin on his face.

Maeve snapped her head toward him and almost burst out laughing. "You're funny, hilarious in fact," She said sarcastically, standing and walking to her wardrobe. "Now do what i asked you over for, which one?" She nodded toward the two different dresses.

One black, relatively short. The other a dusty pink colour. Isiah thought for a few moments. "Try them on?"

"Ha, nice try." She scoffed. "Fine," he groaned, throwing his head back, "the black one." He pointed, leaning back against the headboard and sighing. "You're no fun."

"You want to go down that road?" She went serious, raising her eyebrows. "No, i was kidding." He quickly shook his head. "I'm kidding."

"Good. And besides, i don't want Max Montgomery watching through my window again." She reminded him. Isiah stood from the bed and shrugged, "well that's an easy fix, is it not?" He pulled the curtains, making the room dark. The only light being the lamp in the corner.

Isiah couldn't wipe the grin off his face as he tucked Maeve's hair behind her ears. "Nobody can watch if the curtains are closed."

Maeve stared him straight in the eye and grinned. She knew exactly how to have a bit of fun with the situation he was trying to create. Maeve pushed him backward, sending him onto the bed.

Isiah, thinking he was getting was he wanted, moved up the bed and leaned against he frame again.

The Shelby girl straddled him, her hands either side of his face. She began kissing him, slowly moving her waist forward every now and again, feeling him jolt underneath her.

Isiah held her waist firmly as she did so, finding it incredibly unfair what she was doing. He could feel her smirk as they kissed. It was like she knew exactly what she was doing despite her lack of experience.

And what Maeve thought was going to be her teasing him, turned into her remaining in her place, repeating the same action over an over again, feeling Isiah tighten and loosen his grip on her as she did so.

Her heart was racing as Isiah held the back of her neck, bringing her lips as close as possible to him. Maeve finally slowly pushed herself against him one last time, finding the groan that left his mouth hilarious, before getting off of him, leaving him with wide eyes.

"No, you can't do that to me- Maeve!" He complained, grabbing her wrist as she got off the bed. Maeve laughed at him and stood still, "oh but i can."

"But you can't!" Isiah whined, his voice going incredibly hight pitched. "Maeve, please." He begged.

"You're begging me, that's cute." She said, playfully rubbing a hand through his hair, watching the desire grow in his eyes. He pursed his lips into a straight line and threw his legs over the side of the bed, pulling her close. "Maeve Shelby, you cannot expect me to go to your family function after doing such a thing to me." Isiah whispered.

Maeve shrugged, resulting in Isiah lifting her and gently throwing her down to where he'd previously been laying. A laugh fell from her mouth as he did.

Isiah hovered over her, his torso in between her legs. "Watcha gonna do now, Shelby?"

"Absolutely nothing," she shook her head, pulling him in to kiss again. "You're repulsive," she muttered. "Repulsive enough for you to fuck me again?"

"Absolutely."

If Maeve hadn't been so caught up in a moment like that, she'd probably had laughed at him and gagged, almost cringing at his words. But instead she didn't, she played along. Something she never usually did.

As soon as Isiah began unbuttoning his shirt, Maeve grabbed his hands. "Actually.." she stopped him, "i'm not sure i want too."

Despite the inflated and slight embarrassed feeling that filled him, he nodded and removed his hands from his shirt.

"I'm sorry," Maeve apologised, biting the inside of her lip.

Isiah shook his head and sat back, allowing her to sit up. "It's alright, Shelby." He said, running a hand through his hair. "You get ready for Michael's party, i'll meet you there." He said, climbing off the bed.

"You're not gonna walk me?" Maeve asked, somewhat concerned.

Isiah avoided her eyes as he cleared his throat. "Nah..it's alright, you go ahead- that's unless you want me to walk you?" He finally looked at her. Maeve shrugged, "if it's an issue then no."

-

"Right Finn, you've got two choices. Mild or mild?" John asked. Finn laughed, "Mild." The younger boy grinned, shaking his head.

The door opened, Polly and Micheal walking inside. "Here he is, look." Arthur said. They all cheered as he walked in. "Happy Birthday Micheal," Tommy said, shaking the boys hand.

"Eighteen years old. You're a man today." Arthur clapped. "Give him a drink John boy."

"Here you go lad," John passed him a beer.  "And after that, we will go find you a lady of the night?" Arthur joked. "Arthur." Polly scolded.

Maeve ignored everything that was happening around her and tapped her feet on the floor.

"Micheal," Tommy cleared his throat, handing him a box. " What's that?"

He opened the box, looking at the pocket watch. "So you are never late to work." Micheal looked back at him, smiling. "Welcome to the business, Micheal." John said.

Micheal hugged Polly, thanking her. Maeve however, did hear that. She had begged for years to be apart of everything and one day Micheal just turns up and suddenly gets what he wants? Pathetic.

"Come on, let's get him drunk, whiskey." Arthur shouted. "No whiskey, he's got work tomorrow." Tommy stopped, "give him only dark mild"

"A toast, to Micheal,"

"To Micheal."

-

Maeve sat, extremely bored beside Cameron and Kian at a table in the corner.

"You having another?" Cameron asked, lifting up his empty glass. Maeve shook her head, "Maeve Shelby refusing a drink?" He chuckled, "is everything alright?"

"Yeah fine," she gave him a small smile, crossing her arms. "You've not seen Isiah anywhere have you?" She asked.

Cameron looked around before shaking his head, "don't think so, no. Everything okay?" He asked genuinely. Maeve hummed, standing and walking over to the bar.

What she didn't realise was that thet boy she'd taken a seat beside was a not so friendly face. And she only noticed when he turned to face her.

"Hello, Maeve." Max said, throwing back the rest of his whiskey and sliding the glass forward. "How're you doing? How's Isiah?"

"Why are you here?" She asked, looking for John or her Dad.

Max shrugged, "this is a pub, isn't it? Open to everyone." He taunted, looking over his shoulder, "listen- don't think that just cause Isiah is your little lap dog, don't think i'm scared of him. Or you for that matter."

Maeve forced out a laugh and dug her nails into her palms. "You're lucky he didn't kill you."

"Am I?" Max tilted his head, "or are you lucky that I didn't kill you?"

"Be quiet," she scoffed. Max raised his eyebrows, "I don't see Isiah anywhere and I doubt you've got your blade on you.." he said, admiring her dress.

Maeve uncomfortably turned her legs away from him, begging for a Shelby face to appear. She didn't wait for him to say anything else, she got up from her seat and walked off, her eyes widening as Max grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Where ya going, Shelby?"

"I'm going to my dad.." She looked down at his hands. "Max let go of me if I swear i'll kill you." She hissed. Max tightened his grip, a dark shift in his eyes.

"Max i swear." Maeve repeated. Max also noticed a shift in her eyes, shivers climbing up his spine. "Fucking hell, you really are mad in the head aren't you? You're gonna end up like ya dad."

"What? Is that a bad thing, tell me Max. Is that a bad thing?"

Max chuckled, "yeah it's a fucking bad thing. Now fuck off," he shook his head, letting go of her and turning away.

Maeve didn't think before she grabbing him from behind, wrapping her arm around his neck and pulling him backward. Max's eyes widened and he placed his hands on her arms.

"Never talk about me or my family!" She shouted, spinning him round and punching him in the face. People gasped but yet didn't do anything. Maeve threw him to the floor and began punching him in the face.

Over and over and over. Blood covered her knuckles and shouts left Max's mouth.

Cameron watched, unsure if he should drag the girl off or let his brother get what he deserved. "Do you hear me?" She shouted.

"Lad what are you doing? Do something!" Kian shouted at Cameron when they realised that Max had stopped fighting back. "Shit.." Cameron rushed to the snug, banging on the door before opening it. "One of you need to get Maeve, she's beating the shit out of Max!"

"Fucks sake," Arthur jumped from his seat, followed by John. "Maeve, Maeve what're you bloody doing?"

Maeve was out of touch with everything, time moving in slow motion as her fist continuously colliding with the boys face.

Arthur placed his hands underneath Maeve's arms and tried to pull her away. "Maeve, come on." Arthur urged.

John began helping and moved Arthur out of the way, finally pulling Maeve and taking her to the side. Tommy kneeled down beside Max and placed his head above his mouth, seeing if he was still conscious. Tommy slowly looked up at Polly, dread on his face.

"Maeve what've you done?" John whispered, looking over at Max's limp body. Maeve stared with wide eyes, still not understanding what had happened.

"Fucking hell.." Arthur covered his mouth.

Isiah waltzed in, completely unaware of what had happened until Kian walked up to him. "Your birds just almost killed Max- you need to sort her out, look at him," Kian hissed.

Maeve's eyes landed on Isiah and she looked down at her hands slowly. Isiah's eyes were wide and concern was painted over his features.

Maeve looked at John then at Isiah, quickly walking to him with tears in her eyes. "Where were you?" She shouted.

"Everyone out the fucking pub." John pointed to everyone.

"Where the fuck were you?" Maeve bit Isiah's chest, the blood on her fists turning a dark crimson colour. "Maeve what're you talking about?" Isiah grabbed her fists to prevent her hitting him against. "Maeve i'm here-"

"You were supposed to protect me! That's your fucking job!" She sobbed, scratching aggressively at the blood on her hands, begging for it to come off.

"I know and I'm sorry, i got caught up helping my dad- Maeve what the fuck happened?"

"Have i killed him?" Maeve turned around slowly, ripping away from Isiah and walking to Max who lay on the floor, John and Tommy seeing to him. "Have i killed him?" She repeated.

"Maeve, go home." Tommy said, not looking at her.

"Uncle Tom have i killed him?" She croaked, "i didn't mean it- Max!" She said, kneeling down and placing a hand on the boys chest, "Uncle Tom is he dead? Tell me he's not-" she sobbed.

Despite the hatred she had developed toward the Montgomery boy, she didn't want to kill him.

Tommy stood and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. "Uncle Tom.." she repeated, gripping onto the back of his shirt. Tommy held the back of her neck and leaned his chin on her head. "I need help don't I?"

"It's alright, Maeve." He said, hugging her tightly.

Arthur watched from beside Polly, some sort of upset filling him with the fact Tommy was comforting her. They never comforted him.

"You go home, yeah? With Aunt Pol, and you have a bath and go to bed, i'll come see you at some point and we'll talk." Tommy held the girls fafe, wiping her tears with his thumbs.

"Is he dead?" She tried looking over her shoulder but he kept hold of her face. "Go with Aunt Pol, go on."

Polly wrapped her arms around the girl and walked her outside, completely ignoring Isiah who still stood confused. "If i hear any of you bastards mutter a single word about my niece, eh," Tommy pointed at them all, noticing Arthur's absence, "i'll kill you and your mothers."

-

Maeve stared blankly at the wall whilst Polly gently washed her red hair, the warm water relaxing her. "Are you okay, love?"

Maeve said nothing. "We aren't angry, y'know? Everything's going to be alright. We'll make sure of it," Polly pushed the hair from Maeve's face. "Why isn't Tom angry with me? He always gets angry at dad."

Polly felt like she was looking after a small child who'd just awoken from a nightmare. Swallowing hard, she sighed, "you see, Maeve. You've grown up, we all know it. But somewhere deep down in Tommy's cold heart, you're still his little Maeve. The same Maeve that'd follow him around the house when you were five, the same Maeve that'd beg your dad to have sleepovers with him. He loves you very much, so does ya father."

"He doesn't act like it."

"Well, since they came back from the war, everything changed. It's obvious-" Polly began.

"No, not me dad. Tommy. His eyes are cold, he doesn't smile anymore. I just want him back, you know, the Tommy we had before the war?"

"Unfortunately we will never get him back. He left a part of himself in France."

-

Maeve held the white bedsheets up to her chest, laying on Ada's old bed in Polly's house. She heard the door creak open but didn't move.

"You awake?" Tommy asked, standing at the door. Maeve nodded. "Did ya stay up for me?" He questioned, sitting on the end of the bed. She bummed and Tommy sighed, "you shouldn't be doing that, it's late." A small laugh left his mouth.

"Feel like you're five years old again..and i'm telling you off for staying up and waiting for me to come back from the Garrison." He said, trying to make her smile. "Do you remember?"

"I remember." She croaked, staring at the wall.

Tommy placed a hand on her lower leg. "Max is dead, Maeve." He finally said, "he would've survived but the ambulance came too late, said he had a weak heart."

Maeve scoffed, "like the boy that dad killed?" Tommy took a breath. "It's not your fault-"

"Yes it is. It's completely my fault. I let him get to me and it resulted in me taking his life- that makes me a monster, Tommy. I'm a fucking monster who needs help."

Tommy didn't know what to do, afraid of upsetting her. "We're going to set up a fund for his family, his mother. And i'm going to do everything I can so that you are protected."

"The only way i'll ever be protected is when i'm dead. The Shelby name carries a curse, you and I both know that."

"Yes, true or not, you'll be protected. If it means killing anybody who speaks down on your name, i'll do it." He whispered.

"Where's my dad?" She asked. Tommy looked at the door, "he's speaking with the junior peaky boys-"

There was a knock on the door and John appeared, hands in pockets. "Can i come in?" He asked. Maeve suddenly sat up, taking a deep breath. "I'll check on ya in the morning, get some sleep." Tommy said, nodding at John and leaving the room.

"Hey kid," John smiled slightly, sitting when she moved over to make room for him. "Are you okay?"

"I feel horrible," Maeve looked down, playing with her fingers. John placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in, "i've killed someone, John. Like actually killed someone. With my own hands,"

Maeve's hands were red from the violent scratching she'd been doing in attempt to either hurt herself or get rid of anything there.

"I know but-"

"Don't you dare say it was my fault because it was. I continued punching him despite his cries and the blood that poured from his face. It was me, nobody else."

-

Tommy walked into the kitchen, seeing Arthur sat at the table. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Artha.."

"She's finally done it, Tom. She's snapped, killed a boy." Arthur spoke lowly, taking his glass of whiskey and chucking it back. "She's mental- there,  I said it. My daughters gone insane..just like I have. An she didn't fight in a war."

Tommy shook his head. "No..but she's fighting her own war up here, that's where her war is." Tommy tapped his head, "and there's nothing we can do to help. No medicine is going to help Maeve."

"So?" Arthur waited for more. "So we just have to be there for her, help her in whatever way- we will speak to Polly and see what she says. But that girl upstairs, there's no getting better, Arthur."

"Fucking hell.." Arthur's voice was shaky as he held his head in his hands.

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