1913

"COME on 'Saiah, maths ain't that hard, even I could do it and I didn't know my dividing from my multiplying,"

"What's that?" he groaned, dropping his pencil and pouting his lips, which Eden thought was adorable, but she couldn't say it aloud otherwise he would whine and cry about being treated like a child. Brat. "Those ain't real words."

"They are, trust me and you'll learn 'em soon. Don't worry kid, just remember we have to get this homework sheet done, I don't want your teacher actin' up."

"'Cause she's a... what d'you call it, a b-bitch?"

Her eyes widened at the curse, "Isaiah."

"You say it and so does Finn," he quickly explained, patting the table.

"Neither of you lot are supposed to say it. You're kids!"

"I'm almost six," he said cheekily as if it meant anything.

She pinched his cheeks, "Still a baby to me."

"I am not a baby, Dad said I'm a big boy," he spoke grumpily, "I can count to fifty y'know?"

Knocking at the front door caught their attention.

Eden frowned because she knew her parents had a key, same with her uncle Jeremiah and he didn't stop preaching until he 'put the fear of god into small heath', even though she couldn't tell if he believed the words he spoke. Whoever was rapidly knocking slightly worried her.

"How about, you stay here and count to fifty like a big boy and then we can stop for a bit," she hushed him before he could clap excitedly, "I'll throw in some sweets if you can keep quiet and finish one of these sums alright?"

Isaiah nodded happily and started counting, holding his hands up to help him, not wanting to ruin his chances of getting some sweets along with his Friday night chips that his dad brought home with him.

Eden cautiously approached the front door, all while wishing she brought a knife from the kitchen or a nursing needle from the nursing course she was taking (following in her mother's footsteps she was).

If she had a religious bone in her body she would've prayed, but there was no God in Small Heath, only devils existed 'round here.

And that was who was on the other side of the door.

Thomas bloody Shelby.

Stood there leant against the archway of the door without uttering a single word.

Tilting her head upwards, Eden met his impenetrable gaze.

During their school years, not one word was exchanged between them, well being in different years groups would do that and the fact he never seemed to stray far from his two best friends Greta and Freddie, just like Lorenzo and Dorris never strayed from her. Not one word and yet she usually talked to his brother John, with him being in the same year as her.

Eden didn't know what to do other than glance behind her, hoping not to see Isaiah making his way around the corner but luckily all she could faintly hear was him struggling to count. When she turned back she gulped at the sight of Tommy. Eyes as piercing as snow, not even the peaky hat could protect her from his stare. With his fairly chapped lips and a jaw that could slice its way through the thickest bread one could buy at the local bakery, she took a step back, swiftly raking her gaze down his slightly worn suit and dress shoes that must've been polished this morning.

Tommy was frustratingly handsome and to him, she was infuriatingly beautiful.

He was there for a reason, though he'd never uttered a word to the girl he'd grown up with he knew there was more than what met the eye. He knew her closest friends, which sibling of his she spoke to, her parents' profession and what she might do with her future. He knew she would come to the door cautiously considering the rough street they lived on. He knew her short hair would be styled back in a bun which unintentionally insinuated her flawless features. And he knew she would be wearing an ankle-length skirt and a loose-fitting blouse similar to his aunt. Why? He just knew.

They never spoke a word to each other.

Not one word until now.

"You lost?" she asked, leaning forward and glancing around the noisy street.

And what he was about to say next, she could never have predicted.

"Come to my uncle's yard, John told me you know where it is," he replied shortly, taking her back.

She blinked at him, ignoring how his gruff voice made her feel, "Hello Tommy, nice to see you too."

He continued, unaffected by her sarcasm, "Just come."

Her grip on the door tighten, "And why would I listen to you?"

He shrugged, "Well, As your future husband, I want to show you things that no one else will."

A laugh of disbelief escaped her lips and yet she didn't smile, much to his chagrin.

"And what things are they Mr Shelby?" her grip on the door loosened slightly, which he took note of.

"Anything you ask, meet me at my uncle's yard and don't be late."

"And what if I am?" she dared to ask, rolling her shoulders back and insinuating her neck. A bear neck, like always. He assumed that a cross would cover it, but even when they were all forced to go to church as kids she never wore one. "What will you do huh?"

His tongue swiped over his teeth before answering, "Then I'll just have to wait for you then eh?"

She wanted to smile at his answers, they were all so...charming, but why would she believe the ladykiller of small heath? Just as she went to reply, she was interrupted.

"Edie!" Isaiah's little voice boomed through the little space, making her sigh and Tommy raise a brow and cocked his head to the side, letting his eyes dart around the small foyer of the narrow home. Cleaner than my house that's for fucking sure. It looked cosy and warm, filled with pictures, hanging from the walls and cluttered on the small table near where shoes laid, "Counted to a fifty, I did."

"Then finish the sum!" her voice pulled him from his thoughts and a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.

Hearing Isaiah's huff and groan, Eden exhaled and turned back to a rather amused Tommy.

"What?" she questioned, finally dropping her hand from the door.

"Nothing," he paused, "I don't remember you being so good at maths at school."

Her brows pinched together, "You didn't speak to me at school so how would you know that?"

"Finn tells me things," he recalled all the times his littlest brother would run home after being babysat by Eden and gush over every little thing she did, "You help him with readin' and writin' like Isaiah back there."

"Two little shits that drive me off the bend," she blurted out, then went to correct herself remembering who she was speaking to, "shit- I mean-" he swiftly cut her off.

"Thick as thieves those two," he said, amused by her cursing, "Our Finn is head-case and despite Jeremiah stalking through town and trying to fill it with hope and all the godly advice in the bloody world, Isaiah is just like my brother."

She hummed and then changed the conversation.

"Am I even your type? Because the women I've seen you with are the same colour as my palm if that."

"So you watch me," he noted rather smugly, though his face didn't show it, his eyes beamed slightly.

"Easy, I notice things."

"As do I," he retorted, "You're wrong, about the women you see me with," she raised a questioning brow, urging him to go on, "I don't have a type, you can say there's a pattern —"

"And you wanna break it with me? No chance."

She didn't want to be the first black woman he bedded, even though she highly doubted she would be. Well, that and she didn't want to give in to the small-town gangster.

"Haven't you heard? Life is full of chances," he jested.

"Cute."

"And you should take one on me."

Rolling her eyes, "Since I watch you..." her tone turned mocking, "I could've sworn you have a woman, at least that's what the streets are saying."

"The streets of Small Heath are full of lies," he spoke, pulling out a cigarette tin, growing slightly irritated from all her assumptions and questions. He didn't think it would be easy to get someone like Eden Dawkins, he liked a challenge, but she was fucking stubborn. Like trying to force the wrong bullet into a barrel, it won't fucking go. "And fuckin' smoke," he added, pulling out a lighter.

Not being able to help herself her gaze dropped to his lips just as the cigarette swiped against them before he lit it. He took a drag and turned his head as the smoke escaped.

A sly smirk appeared on his face after noting her stare.

"What?"

"Nothing," she quickly cleared her throat and ignored the beam in his icy eyes, "it's just that you contribute to the latter well enough," she uttered, quickly nodding to his cigarette. Fuck I need one.

"Yeah, the factories help me out a bit."

She almost smiled.

"I suppose, but I'm just remembering what I was told... you know about you being taken."

"By who?"

"Whom," she corrected.

"Fine, whom?"

"The eyes of small Heath." Her eyes, but she wouldn't admit that.

"Alright. You think if I had a woman I would look at you, be on your doorstep?" he asked after taking another drag, even offering her a hit, but she refused, despite needing a release of her own.

"I hope not. Or I would let her know that her man's a dog," she said, holding back a smile.

He made a noise, "A horse is more fitting."

"Ah yes, your family loves to ride," she quickly added, "John's on four feet more than he's on two."

"It's in the blood. Gypsy blood," he informed, waiting to see how she would react to his background.

It wasn't a secret where his family came from, most people were disgusted by them, many hid it well, whilst the others got a beating if they opened their gobs.

He was glad when he didn't catch any indifference in her demeanour. She didn't care or didn't see any faults in it. He supposed that she couldn't, being black and all, but if you weren't pure-blooded you would get put into the same boat as everyone else or the bottom of the barrel. And that's where one would find people like them; Watery Lane.

"I'm scared of horses," she admitted.

He squinted, "What has a horse ever done to you, Eh?"

"Mum doesn't like 'em, so I guess she passed that on to me."

"Suppose I have to change that," I will change that.

"Not without asking that girl of yours," she finally smiled at her own joke and so did he.

He playfully rolled his eyes, "I'm available, not with anyone and those who say they're with me are lying alright."

"Alright. Because I don't like cheaters. I despise the lot of 'em, just like those toffs despise us."

"It's a good thing I'm not one then ain't it?"

Finally giving in, she shrugged, "I guess you're right."

"And what about you," he turned it on her, "I heard I weren't the only lad in knockin' at your door."

She hummed, folding her arms, "There's a long list."

Narrowing his eyes, he didn't know whether or not she was playing with him, "How long?"

"No need to bawl and shout. According to the eyes of Small Heath, it goes from here to bloody Black Country. But all you need to know is that you could be at the end..." she trailed off.

"Last darlin', last."

"Oh really?"

"Changretta won't storm your mind when you next see me I promise you that."

She laughed, "Changretta, which one? Just like you Shelbys, there's many."

"You know which one, I don't have to spell it out for you," he took his last drag and let the cigarette drop before stomping it out.

"You might, I'm a woman y'see, I don't always get things straight away, have to get a man to dumb things down f'me."

He almost smiled again at her teasing, but all joy faded as he spoke.

"Luca," he pronounced as clear as day, with his jaw tightening ever so slightly. That bloody jawline. He knew she was heavily involved with the Changrettas, her closest friend was Lorenzo for Christ's sake and she even talked to the Angel also. But Luca... he and Luca never got along. not during school or out of it. Shelby's and Changretta's... like water and oil. Them being Italian meant they were also the bottom of the barrel, but that didn't mean they had to get along. "That Changretta."

She began to grin and even though he wanted to enjoy her expression, he took a mental picture and decided to save it for later.

"Ah, so the eyes of Small Heath have told you about me and him is that right?"

"Yeah, these bloody eyes seem to know all."

She hummed, "Bloody nosey."

"Too right," he agreed.

"So confident, where has this man been for the last couple of years? Pestering other doorsteps and desecrating other homes," she motioned to the used cigarette, which made him quickly kick it away.

"Making sure he was the right man for you," he spoke not taking his eyes off of her which made her cave and look away, much to his amusement because he caught the light blush kissing her caramel skin.

"You've got the charm," she annoyedly admitted, "it's all in the eyes."

He huffed out a chuckle, "Don't stare for too long, yours will get stuck."

Feigning offence, "And then I won't take you up on that offer, oh no."

Checking his watch, he tsked and ignored her quip. He shot her one last look and then spun on his heel, before shouting, "I'll see you at Charlie's yard Eden!"

"No, you won't!"

"Don't dress up for me!"

"Wasn't gonna!"

And with that, she slammed the door shut with the biggest smile on her face.

"Edie!" Isaiah yelled, "I'm done!"

"Sure you are little man!"

"Can we get sweets now?" he eagerly asked after she entered the kitchen and saw the biggest drawings all over his homework, making her curse.

"You ain't done. Your dad will be on my arse if he sees this."

"He won't. Just like I won't tell him about Tommy comin' over."

His cheeky grin widened at the glare he received.

"Fine," she gave in, "but don't tell your dad."

"Promise."

"Alright get your coat," she huffed as he ran away, "little shit."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

darlingmurdock for the cover and check out their amazing work.

what do you think so far?