𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

Maeve sat at the end of Max's bed, turning her head at the sudden commotion outside. She pulled back the curtain and watched as a black car drove down the road, people throwing glass bottles and stones at the car.

"Go away!" They shouted. She caught a quick glance of what looked like an older man with grey hair. Trouble was coming, she could feel it.

She could hear it. Maeve felt it coming, a vision..something. A sign. But she refused to let it play out and forced her eyes closed.

Something Maeve began getting during the war was some sort of visions or a voice talking to her, as if it was warning her about the future. It was Gypsy stuff of course, but she didn't know that.

"What ya looking at?" Max asked, looking up from his school book. She turned her head and shook it, "nothing of your concern," she lay forward on her stomach and placed her head in her hands.

Max hummed and looked out of his open bedroom door and out into the hallway at Cameron who had appeared, a brown haired girl at his side.

"You going to introduce us Cameron?" Max asked, looking back at his book, showing he took no interest whatsoever. Maeve felt a sharp pain in her chest and her heart dropped at the sight. She stared down at the grey bedsheets, unsure what to do.

Cameron scoffed, "no you're alright," He said, placing a hand on the girls back and leading her to his bedroom. Max sighed and kicked the door closed with his foot. "Swear I saw her hanging round the brothel, probably a whore," he spoke quietly, waiting for a small smile to reappear on her face.

But it didn't, instead it was replaced with a frown as she kept thinking about the fact the boy she's fancied for almost years had brought a girl home. And the girl wasn't her.

"Ay, Shelby. You gonna look at me or what?" Max frowned, placing his book face down onto the bed. She took a deep breath and looked at him. "Why so moody? You've got a face like a smacked arse."

"Thanks Max, that's nice. Really nice." She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "There's a new copper in town. Heard he's came from Belfast, trying to clean up the city or something." Maeve finally told him.

Max moved further down the bed and lay next to her, also staring up at the cracks in the ceiling. "Who're they after? Is it you lot?"

"No, don't think so. Heard they're trying to stop the communists or something." She said, counting the cracks. Max hummed looking at her from the side for a few seconds, admiring the way she looked.

"Stop staring, Max. It's weird," she tormented, keeping her eyes on the ceiling. Max cleared his throat and looked away, "sorry," he apologised.

A laugh fell from Maeve's lips and she shook her head, "i'm kidding," Maeve said, sitting up and using her elbow to support her body. Max turned his head again and smiled slightly, "oh..right."

"You're such an awkward lad, Max." Maeve teased, pulling his hair gently. He shot up, gasping and shoving her hand away. He reached for her red hair and tugged on it.

Maeve slapped his hand away, "dickhead." She insulted. Max grinned proudly and went to do it again but she grabbed his hand, pushing it away. "No chance, Montgomery."

He sighed and dropped his hand, sitting up against the headboard. "How's ya dad been recently?"

"Why're you always on about my fucking dad?" Maeve asked, raising her eyebrows. All Max could do was shrug. "He's an interesting fella, love 'avin a conversation with him down at the gym. Mad bastard but interesting-"

Maeve's palm collided with his chest, "what 'av i said about calling him a mad bastard!?" She scolded, genuinely annoyed.

He winced in realisation. "Right..sorry Maeve." He apologised, both of them turning their head again when Cameron stormed down the hall. "All right big foot, what do you want?" Maeve teased.

"Yeah, fuck off will ya Shelby?" Cameron replied in a serious tone. All she did was laugh but his face dropped, "i'm being serious, fuck off. Ain't it time you get home?"

Max looked between them in shock. "Do you want a smack?" Maeve sat up straight. Cameron looked her up and down, "Cameron i swear to god, i've got a razor blade in my pocket-"

"Okay, yeah all right." Max stood, grabbing her coat from the floor and placing a hand on Cameron's chest, "go on, Cam. Go shag that girl or something just leave Maeve alone."

"I came 'ere to talk to you about something,"

"Don't care, i'm taking Maeve home." Max shook his head, helping the Shelby girl to her feet. Cameron rolled his eyes and tapped the wood with his knuckle, "Cameron go." Max said before he could wind her up even further.

"Yeah fuck off." She hissed as he turned  back toward his bedroom. He looked over his shoulder and opened his mouth but Max pointed at him, "I said don't."

Cameron put his hands up in defence and stumbled back into his bedroom.

"What's his issue?" Maeve asked, reaching for the scarf that Polly had knitted her and placing it over her shoulders.

"Probably something to do with your uncles. He's always like that after being out with them." He said, turning the light off and making his way down stairs.

"Oi, don't be putting this shit on them. It ain't their fault your brother is an absolute prick." She huffed, stepping outside. "Maeve," Max warned, tilting his head.

"Right..sorry."

Every time that Maeve was annoyed, she found it difficult not to take it out on the people around her. But Max was always there to stop her before she lashed out on the wrong people.

Once again, they had arrived at the Shelby home a lot quicker than intended.

"Goodnight, Shelby." He grinned, shoving her gently. Maeve rolled her eyes and reached for the door handle, "goodnight Max."

He waited until she was safely inside before he left. Maeve left her shoes beside the door and walked into the living room, knowing someone was awake due to the dim lights.

"Who was that?" Arthur asked, sat beside the window. "Evening," Maeve sighed, taking off her coat and sitting down. Arthur looked over to her. "It was Max Montgomery," she finally answered.

His lips parted as he realised that he did in fact recognise the boy. "Ah, yeah i remember him. How's their mum?"

"She's all right, the bakery is still open. Cameron is turning into a right prick though," she repeated the same words from earlier. "Yeah well, any issues and you just tell me an ya uncles an we'll cut 'im a smile."

"No thanks, dad." She laughed, standing up and sitting on the couch beside the window ledge where he sat. Maeve leaned into him slightly, thinking of something to say. "That new copper is here," she whispered.

"Oh yeah, how d'ya know?"

"Saw him whilst I was at Max's..well i'm assuming it was him because everyone was telling him to fuck off."

"If Aunt Pol heard the way you were speaking she'd smack you round the back of the head," Arthur scolded, draping his arm around her shoulders. Maeve smiled slightly, "well you're not Aunt Pol, you're my dad."

"Even still, ya only fourteen so watch your language."

"Fifteen soon," she reminded him. "Yeah yeah, i know." He huffed, staring out of the gap in the curtains. "And this new copper, i want you to stay far away from him. He has no business being around my daughter, eh?"

"Sure," Maeve agreed, leaning her head onto his shoulder.

-

"Harry, will you help me with this crossword?" Maeve asked, sitting upon one of the stools at the Garrison bar. Harry stopped and placed the broom against the wall and peered over her shoulder. "Sorry kid, not got a clue."

Maeve bit her lip and tapped her pencil onto the metal surface. The door opened but she ignored it. "I'm here about the job as a barmaid."

"Are you mad?"

Maeve finally looked up and nearly gasped at the sight of a blonde women stood before them. "Am i what?" She asked. "Do you know about this place?" Harry questioned.

"I saw it in an advertisement." She spoke, accent thick. "Jobs been filled," Harry lied. The woman looked at Maeve for a moment, "It was in yesterdays paper."

"Believe me, love, i'm doing you a favour."

"I'm not asking for a favour, i'm asking for employment." The woman fired back. Harry sighed, "you're too..nice."

"How would you know."

"You're too pretty." Maeve defended, "they'd have you up against a wall. Trust me, it's best you turn around and go home." Harry nodded but the woman was having none of it. "I have experience. And references."

Harry took the paper from her hand, "what part of Ireland are you from?"

"Galway. I worked in Dublin."

"My mother was from Galway. You're too pretty-" The blonde shook her head quickly and took off her hat, "watch..and listen." She picked up the bucket from the floor.

Maeve watched in confusion as she began singing, a cringed expression taking over her face. Maeve's hand covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh. Harry looked at her with confused eyes. "I'm gonna go," Maeve whispered, pointing at the door and leaving quickly.

"What the fuck.." she muttered, shoving the crossword sheet into her pocket and making her way back home.

-

"What the fuck!" Arthur shouted as he was pulled from his seat in the cinema room, "who the fuck are you- i'm Arthur fuckin Shelby!" He argued as they dragged him away.

But they didn't listen and the next he knew, he was in a room being beaten to bits, his blood dripping down his own face. And once he was shoved down into a wooden chair, he could hardly see.

"Arthur Shelby, lead pack dog of the Peaky Blinders.."

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