"Ada, your brothers are going to murder us." I laughed, twirling around in the midnight blue dress. It was short, above the knees and the shortest dress I owned. It wasn't particularly low cut but the thin material hugged my newly developed curves well. Ada was wearing a similar dress but in a dark red. "That's because they're boring, Eves. We are Shelby women and no man can tell us what to do." she replied confidently. "After last night, I am pretty sure they are fully set to murder us already." I laughed, admiring the dress in the mirror.
John hadn't come to see me, like he had promised but Ada had soon distracted me with getting ready for the party. I tried not to overthink it. He must have just been busy in the shop, I told myself as I brushed out my curls once more. They sat at the bottom of my ribcage and framed my pale face. My green eyes were framed with a hint of mascara and I had a peachy balm on my lips and cheeks. "You look the perfect combination of innocent and grown up." Ada told me, coming up behind me and smiling at me in the mirror.
I smiled back at her before going over to my bed and pulling on some heels. "Ada, what do you do if an older guy is interested in you?" I asked, trying to act casual as I asked the question. "Hope your big brothers don't find out." she laughed, touching up her make up at the dressing table. I rolled my eyes at her. "No, seriously." I told her, standing and smoothing my dress. She eyed me in the mirror. "How old is this older guy?" she asked, suspicious. "Older than you, younger than Arthur." I volunteered, not wanting to give her imagination an exact age. "So he's between 18 and 24?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "Exactly." I told her. "Closer to 18 or 24?" she asked. "Ada! I am not telling you anything else!" I told her, laughing as I pulled out our nice coats from the wardrobe.
"Well, my advice would be to just be yourself. He already likes you so you're clearly doing something right. Let him come to you and be confident." she told me as I pulled on my coat. "Thanks, Ads." I smiled, doing up the buttons. "Is he coming tonight?" she asked, pulling her own coat on. "He will be there, yes." I told her, fighting a smile. "Well, when he sees you looking like that he's not going to know what hit him." she laughed, nudging her shoulder into mine and making me laugh. I rolled my eyes at her antics as Arthur shouted up the stairs . "Hurry up, girls! Or I'm going without ya." he told us. We both laughed at this before heading to the door.
We walked arm in arm to the Garrison, Ada and I either side of Arthur. We made small talk as we walked but Ada and I could tell Arthur wasn't particularly interested. He pushed the door to the Garrison open and held it for us. We both smiled our thanks to him as Tommy came over to join us. "Hello, girls." Tommy greeted us as Arthur helped Ada out of her coat and Tommy helped me out of mine. Both their eyebrows shot up when they saw our outfits and Ada and I stifled a laugh. "No drinking tonight and both of you stay where we can see you." Arthur told us sternly before wandering off. Ada saw one of her friends and left me alone with Tommy.
"That is quite a dress." Tommy commented as I turned to him and we moved out of the way of the door. "Ada thought I'd want to wear something special for my birthday." I told him, tucking a curl behind my ear. "Well, it is certainly something special." he laughed, reaching into his inside jacket pocket. "I got you a present." he told me, handing me a long thin box. I frowned up at him as I took it from him, recognising the jewellery box. "Tommy, you didn't have to do this." I told him, gently opening the box to reveal a slim silver bracelet. "It's from the jewelers by the book shop. Uncle Charlie said he's seen you looking in the window a few times." he told me, sounding nervous. "Tommy, I love it. Will you put it on?" I asked, looking up at him and holding out the open box. "Of course." he grinned, gently taking the delicate bracelet from the box and fastening it to my right wrist. I admired it in the light for a few moments. "Thank you so much." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. He quickly wrapped his arms around my waist, squeezing me gently. "Happy birthday, Eves." he whispered in my ear before releasing me.
"Let's go get you a drink." Tommy smiled, taking the box from me and placing it back in his jacket before gesturing towards the bar. "But Arthur said no drinking." I reminded him. "I'm sure one won't hurt." he laughed, putting a hand on my back and guiding me towards the bar. I gave him a smile. "I knew there was a reason I liked you." I laughed as we got to the bar. "Miss Evelyn." a serious voice said. "Harry, I am so sorry about last night. Ada and I shouldn't have taken those bottles. We will replace them." I told the barman, hoping he'd accept my apology. I looked at him with wide eyes. "It's alright, consider them a birthday present." he told me after a few moments. I gave him a bright smile as Tommy chuckled beside me. "Thanks, Harry." I gushed, smiling sweetly.
"Two whiskeys, please." Tommy ordered, a smile in his voice and Harry went to make the drinks immediately. "What are you grinning about?" I laughed, nudging him slightly as I looked up at him. "You. You really don't know the effect you have on people." he laughed before Harry placed the glasses on the bar. "Thank you." Tommy told him before picking up a glass. "Happy birthday, Evelyn. Don't ever change." he added, looking at me intensely as I picked up my glass and clinked it into his. I took a sip of the amber liquid, looking up at the Shelby over the top of my glass.
"Evie! Come here!" a voice called and I looked behind me to see Ada gesturing for me to join her and the group she was with. "I better go." I smiled, turning back to Tommy. "Of course, your people await." he smiled and I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "See you later, Tommy." I laughed before turning and going over to Ada.
She was with a group of people I recognised. Percy and George were brothers, George was Ada's age and Percy a few years older. Rosie was in Adas year and her boyfriend Jimmy was good friends with Percy. I sat at the table, between Percy and George, and was greeted with a round of happy birthdays. I thanked everyone before joining in with the conversation about the latest film that was showing at the picture house and sipping my drink. I caught Tommy watching me a few times, he smiled at me everytime our eyes met before going back to his conversation. He was keeping an eye on me.
Ada, Rosie and I were in the middle of planning a shopping trip when John came in. My heart dropped as I realised he was being closely followed by Lizzie Stark. "What do you think, Evie?" Rosie asked me and I drew my eyes back to the group. "About what?" I asked, confused. "Some friends are playing at the Marquis in a few nights. Fancy it?" George asked, looking annoyed at having to repeat himself. "Yeah, sure. Sounds great." I smiled before finishing my drink. My eyes followed John and Lizzie as they walked through the pub, his arm going around her waist as they laughed. I felt sick.
I grabbed the drink beside me and downed it. "Evie!" Percy laughed, frowning at his new lack of drink. "Sorry, Percy. Ada and I are on a ban. You couldn't be a love and get me a rum?" I asked, leaning in closer to him and hoping nobody else on the table heard my request. He looked into my eyes for a few moments before rolling his eyes. "Alright, as it is your birthday." he laughed. "You're a sweetheart." I grinned, leaning in and kissing his cheek. I smiled up at him as he left the table and I turned back to the group to find Ada watching me with a raised eyebrow. She thought I was talking about Percy earlier. I gave her a smile before turning to talk to Jimmy and Rosie. No point in correcting her now.
Percy came back quickly, placing the glass in front of me and smiling. I mouthed a quick thank you before taking a large gulp of the drink. John and Lizzie were laughing at the bar, standing closely to each other and he still had his arm around her. I quickly finished that drink.
Over the next hour, Percy managed to keep supplying me with drinks and the group had dispersed so it was just me and him sitting in the booth. His arm was casually slung behind me and our knees were touching. We were making small talk, chatting about various things and he kept cracking jokes that were making me laugh. I was slowly beginning to forget about John and Lizzie and Tommy's watchful gaze. I don't know if it was the influence of the alcohol making us forget our surroundings but we were leaning into each other. My eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips and back. His hand went to my knee and my breathing hitched. His face was just inches from mine and I could feel his breath on my lips when he was pulled from me.
"Get your fucking hands off her." John shouted, pulling Percy to his feet and shoving him into the wall. "What the fuck are you doing?!" I shouted, standing and pushing John but having no effect on him. "What do ya fuckin' think you're doin, eh?" John shouted in Percy's face, holding him by his shirt. "Will you fucking stop it, John." I shouted, still trying to get John off him. "Hey, hey, hey. What's going on here?" Arthur's voice came from behind me. "John is being a fucking arse." I said, turning to Arthur. "Evelyn is being a fucking whore." John countered behind me.
I turned back to him eyes wide. "What the fuck did you just call me?" I said, incredulous. "You fucking heard." he replied, squaring up to me. "Who the fuck do you think you're squaring up to?" I asked, standing firm. "Right, get out." Arthur said. "Yeah, John. Fuck off." I said, crossing my arms against my chest. "Both of you." Arthur added. "Why me? What have I done?" I asked, turning back around to see Tommy had joined his older brother. "You shouldn't have been drinking anyway, Evelyn. Go home. John, you don't have to go home but go outside and calm down." Tommy told us, agreeing with his brother. His usually warm eyes were harder now. "This is fucking ridiculous. It's my fucking birthday party." I told them, throwing my hands in the air. Neither of them moved. "Bloody fucking Shelbys." I muttered, storming out of the now silent pub.
Only outside did I realise I had forgotten my coat. Not wanting to go back in I turned down the side of the Garrison and carried on walking. "You're going the wrong way!" John called in a singsong voice. "Fuck off." I called back in the same way. "Where are you going, Eve?" he called, I could hear him following. "Away from you." I called back, still walking. "Why are you being like this?" he asked. "You just called me a fucking whore, John. I'm sorry if I don't want to be your best friend right now." I shouted back, stopping and turning to face him. "Oh, come on, Evie. You know I didn't mean that." he countered, walking closer to me. "Well I meant what I said, John. You're a fucking arse. You said all that shit last night but you've barely spoken two words to me today. Tonight I turn around and you're all over Lizzie fucking Stark." I told him, turning and walking away from him again.
"Stop fucking walking away from me, Evie." he shouted, only a few steps behind me. "Why don't you stop fucking following me, John." I countered. "Because I fucking love you, you fucking idiot." he shouted back and I heard his feet stop. I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, silently searching his face in the dimly lit street. "There, you happy? I fucking said it. I.." I cut him off by putting my hand over his mouth. "Don't say it if you don't mean it, John." I told him, looking up at his blue eyes as they bore into me.
He slowly brought his hand up to mine, taking it and moving it away from his face. "I, John Shelby, fucking love you, Evelyn Michaels." he told me. "Really?" I asked, fighting a smile. "I love you. I love you. I fucking love you." he laughed shouting the last one into the sky. I shushed him, laughing as he wrapped his arms around me. "Okay, okay! I get the picture!" I laughed and went up on my tiptoes to kiss him. He gladly closed the distance, pressing his lips to mine.
"Well, at least you're not arguing." A voice said from down the street. We both broke apart and turned to see Ada watching us, a smug look on her face and my coat slung over her arm. "Ada!" I said, pulling from John arms and half running over to my sister. "Ada, I can explain." I told her, glancing back at John who had his hands in his pockets and was looking at the floor. "You can explain why my brother has his tongue down your throat?" She asked, a hint of a smirk in her voice. "Ada!" I laughed, nudging her with my shoulder and feeling the blush creep over my cheeks.
"I'm going to decide whether I feel happy or disgusted." she told me, draping my coat around my shoulders. "You go have fun. I'll tell Tommy and Arthur you went home." she added, kissing my cheek. "Thanks, Ada." I smiled. "Bye, John!" she called over my shoulder before turning and walking back towards the Garrison. I watched her walk away for a moment before I felt hands on my waist. I turned to look up at John. He smiled down at me before pulling me back into him, pressing his lips against mine.