from a shelby to a solomons

ten

"He wanted you to walk me to the hospital, John," Charlotte spoke, stomping her feet on the ground.

"He would've told me himself if that's what he wanted, yeah? I'm not fucking walking all the way across town right now," John spoke. He kicked his feet up on the table in front of the chair, taking a puff from his cigarette. 

"John, seriously," Charlotte whined. She kicked John's chair and punched his arm. "I'm not messing around. Tommy told me."

John didn't reply, but just waved her off as if she were a fly buzzing around his face.

"Fine," she spoke. "Then I'll just walk there alone."

John grumbled to himself as Charlotte marched towards the front door. Upon hearing the door slam, John pushed himself out of the chair and jogged out the front door to follow his sister to the hospital.

"Wait the fuck up, yeah?" John mumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Can't let you be wandering these streets alone this late at night."

Charlotte just ignored John and walked a pace in front of him all the way to the hospital. When they got there, she turned to face him. "You can't come in, though."

"Why the fuck not?" He glared at her.

"Stop cursing, John," Charlotte replied. "And it's because Tommy said so. He said to have you walk me here but that I should come in alone."

John eyed her suspiciously. "Are you two planning something that I don't know about?"

"Um, n-no," Charlotte stuttered. When it came to lying, she was either flawless at it, or she made it obvious that she was faking it. 

"Come on, Lottie, stop fucking around. I walked all the way here with you, I'm not leaving you here to sleep in the hospital all night," John spoke, growing agitated. 

"Don't come in, John," Charlotte threatened, walking into the hospital. John was following her in, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it. When they arrived at Tommy's door, Charlotte went in first, but John pushed his way in behind her.

Tommy was lying on his hospital bed in the same position as when they had left him the day before. "I said to come alone, Charlotte," he said gruffly, taking a drag from a cigarette and then coughing.

"He wouldn't let me come in alone," Charlotte mumbled. She was really hoping that this wouldn't make Tommy change his mind. She wanted to go with him to London more than anything, and if John got in the way of that, she would never forgive him.

"John, go home," Tommy said harshly.

"What the fuck, Tom? I walk all the way here at night and now I have to go home? What the fuck are you two up to?" John protested, removing his cap and walking towards where Tommy lay.

"John," Tommy sighed. "I really can't do this right now. Please go, and I'll explain everything in the morning." Charlotte furrowed her eyebrows at Tommy because she thought they were going to London tonight, and they definitely would not be here in the morning. Tommy gave her a hard look in response.

John grumbled to himself and ruffled Charlotte's hair before he left Tommy's hospital room and walked back home to Watery Lane. 

"Right, no time to waste," Tommy said while attempting to lift himself out of his cot. "Let's get a move on."

"Tom, you can't walk right now. Look at you," Charlotte protested, truly concerned for her brother's safety. 

He ignored her protests. "Let's go." Tommy placed his peaky hat on his head and Charlotte helped him into his trench coat. Wordlessly, she followed him out of the back door of the hospital all the way to the yard.