Rae was bored. Extremely bored. She had tried everything, she had tried studying, had tried building a house of cards - which fell down by a breeze Linda created when she opened the door to ask Rae what she wanted for tea - she had even tried rearranging the posters on her walls. But nothing was filling the ever expanding boredom hole. Chloe was having a meal with her uncle who was visiting, so she was out of the question, Archie was with Finn, Johnny was with Brogan, Nancy and Emma were on some stupid, fucking, girly holiday, Tash was working a shift, Izzy was in her mum's and Al... No fucking way.
She could always ring her old mate Liam who was back from Uni for the weekend, but wouldn't that be a bit awkward? She hadn't exactly been the bestest of mates with him over the past year. See, Liam was a second year when Rae started aka he finished when she was going into second year and as he went to Salford Uni - there was nothing but a phone keeping them in contact. So, there was no chance she could... Could she? No. She couldn't. As nice as it would be to have a catch up, it'd be just weird.
She decided to go for a walk. Maybe she'd bump into Liam on her travels, or maybe her walk would go completely undisturb. She was happy with either.
She slipped on her shoes and jacket, taking her headphones and Walkman in case she bumped into the Twat Brigade and needed to block all insults out. She never told her mum where she was going, no point as Linda was having an after work nap - she'd been working on lates and bit anyone's head off if they disturbed her sleep.
Music on, jacket zipped up and Rae was content. Believe it or not, Rae loved walking. She loved how walking was a cure for many things, it cured heartache, cleared your mind - it even sometimes would help Rae recover from a cold quicker. It was life's free therapy, yet such a simple task. But, it was actually getting off her arse and out there that stopped Rae.
She left her street and headed for the high street, which was oddly empty. Odd how it was a Wednesday, yet there was barely a soul. Rae thanked all the Gods of the world that there was just her, her headphones and the rubbish that scattered the streets.
And she began to walk once more. Getting lost in the words of Damon Albarn and the thoughts of her own mind.
Finn couldn't concentrate that evening, his mind and footwork all over the place, "Finn! Concentrate, for fuck's sake!" Archie barked in his face, holding up the pads. Once he realised Finn's mind wasn't with it, he lowered his hands and shook his head, "C'mon, let's take a break and then do another 1,2 on the pads and then a few on the bag, yeh?" It was a Wednesday, meaning Finn had work and then with the gym to do boxing with Archie after. Well after dealing with dickhead customers all day, he needed some kind of release. Finn stared, hard, at Archie for a moment before silently unstrapping his boxing gloves and slipping him off. He joined Archie on the bench and threw his gloves down beside him, although his little silent tantrum didn't go unnoticed; Archie left it be - Finn had a temper at the best of the times and Archie decided being in a gym with boxing equipment wasn't the place to spark that infamous temper.
"So, wha's wrong?" Finn frowned at this, looking at Archie after a good ten minutes of ridiculously painful silence - If Finn frowned any harder then his eyebrows would knit together. Finn's frown softened and he cocked an eyebrow, "Wha'?" Archie gave him a look, once realising Finn was beyond clueless Archie gave an eyeroll, "Y'know exactly wha', don't give me that dumb bullshit, Finn," Finn took a moment, itching to spill all about last night... Could he tell Archie? Or, would that be breaking a slight part of the pact; the whole 'Not allowed to speak of business' Part? No, it wouldn't be breaking it - only bending it. Finn needed to tell Archie, before he split at the seems with all the information he was holding.
He didn't speak, didn't spill everything in one go. Instead he lifted from the seat slightly and pulled out a buldging envelope before settling back down on the bench and passing it over to Archie without so much as a glance. Archie looked at the stuffed parcel in his hands before up at Finn, who was back up and heading towards one of the punch bags - but Archie didn't call after him.
Finn gave the punchbag digs so hard that it was swinging left, right and centre. Although his muscles and hands ached he continued. Sweat glistened off his shoulders and forehead, his scowl growing more deep with each punch. Each time his fist would collide with the leather bag last night would flicker in his mind and cause his fist to smack the bag harder and harder.
Finn hadn't sure he had heard right... Al was here, just to... Apologise? No. He wouldn't have the nerve, would he? Then again, this was Al - Al never gave a fuck about anyone but himself and if apologising to Finn got him nothing but a dig and off the hook then Al would sit there and take the swing to his jaw. Finn scoffed, his frown softening but the fire and hatred in his eyes blazing, "Y' wanna apologise?" Al nodded, taking a swig of his drink but avoiding all eye contact, "Yep." A silence overcame them both before Finn shrugged, eyes widening, "Tha's it? Well, y've said it now. So, fuck off", Al slowly landed his gaze onto Finn, a smile slowly creeping in and that familiar devious twinkle was brimming his eyes, "Always so impaitent", "S'tha' s'posed t' mean?" Finn asked, his tone harsh and defensive. Al scoffed a laugh, teasing, "Now, now, Finnley. No need to be so touchy-" "Cut the bullshit and get on with it", Only Rae was allowed to call Finn 'Finnley' Add that, with Al's cocky and undermining tone - Safe to say Al was grinding on Finn's gears.
Finn felt that familiar twitch of annoyance in his fingers. What was Al up to? Why was he here? Finn could see straight through the apologetic bullshit. Was Al forgetting how long Finn had known him? Rae may had been a fool for the crocodile smile and tears, but a fool was something Finn would never be. But, Finn was willing to have let Al say the apology and send him on his way; all because of the pact. The pact that was never spoken about since made. The pact that made the boys a bond of brothers. And no matter how much Finn wanted to grass on Al, no matter how much it physically pained Finn to keep it schtum - he had to. A pact was a promise that you were never allowed to break. But Finn knew that a sorry and closure wasn't what Al was there for, no he knew by that worried glisten that would flicker in Al's eyes every time the pair would share a glance that Al was about to lay something big on the table.
And he did, quite literally. Finn watched as Al lifted slightly out of his seat as he pulled something out of his back pocket before repositioning and settling himself back into the armchair, chucking a buldging envelope upon the coffee table; sending it sliding to in front of Finn. Finn glanced from the envelope to Al with a curious frown, he picked up the envelope before quipping, "Wha's this?" "Open it", Al spoke after Finn had examined and frowned it for long enough to know it wasn't anything harmful. But Finn couldn't be too careful, he chucked it back onto the table, "Tell me wha' it is first", "Oh, Finn, always so stubborn", Al's sarcastic tone made Finn's fingers twitch once more. Finn had to admit, he wasn't sure whether his fingers were twitching with anger or because they were eager to rip open that mysterious little parcel.
Finn could feel something tugging and struggling, open it one part of his mind argued. Don't, it's what he wants the other and good part retaliated. He licked his lips and pulled his gaze from the envelope, reaverting it onto Al. Al looked excited, somewhat, a look Finn had only ever saw within his mother when she would eagerly watch him open his presents on birthdays and Christmas mornings. It still hurt to think about his mum.
The small and good part to his brain screamed at him not to open it, but he had to and the moment he got it open; he cocked an eyebrow... Plane tickets were the first thing he pulled out, along with flight details and then money... A wad of it. What the hell was Al playing at?
"I've got a proposition for y', Finn. I 'and myself in, if y' take the money and leave Stamford. For good", Finn snapped his gaze up from the items in his hands and into the eyes of Al - who didn't seem to blink. It unnerved Finn slightly. Finn stared back, just as hard, but only for a moment before tutting and chucking the blood money and tickets back onto the table, "Wha' is this 'The Godfather?' Wha' y' gonna do if I don't do wha' y' say, ay? Crash me daughter's wedding?" Finn mocked, holding back a laugh at how clever he felt for his comeback. Al showed no signs of amusement, in fact something flickered in Al's eyes. Something that Finn couldn't quite put his finger on...
"I put y' in a grave next to Chop", Al's choice of words and tone was as cold as a sudden blast of icy wind. Something that raised all hairs on the back of Finn's neck.
Finn rested his forehead against the bag, the leather material cool against his reddening forehead. The words repeated within his mind and turned his stomach. Like Finn said, what was this; The Godfather? Who did Al think he was, thinking he could pay Finn to just fuck off? All this just so Al could have Rae... It was pathetic. Finn felt too 'West Side Story' But the temptation to take that money and start over somewhere new was strong.
The chance to leave Stamford and the country all together appealed to Finn, the chance to leave all the bullshit behind... Maybe Finn could leave. Not for good, just for a year or two. Maybe he could leave, get his life sorted and then come back. But would a year or so be too long? What if he did leave, then return and everyone had moved on? Well, of course everyone would move on. They wouldn't wait around for Finn forever.
"Finn", Finn looked up to see Archie before him, eyes timid and the envelope in his hands, "Please tell me y' not actually gonna go," Finn stared for a moment. He said nothing, what could he say? What exactly could he answer to that? Finn stepped from behind the bag, snatched the envelope from Archie before turning and heading for the changing rooms.
Archie stood, dumbfounded, for a moment before he recollected himself and called out, "Finn!? For fuck's sake... FINN! Y' can't leave!" Archie tutted, why did Finn think he was being all mysterious and cool? To be honest, he just looked like a grumpy dickhead who just came on his period.