The Gypsy Prince of Small Heath

Evylynn's POV:

I watched as Gus's eyes follow Haddy out to the balcony. He looked around the room quickly after as if to see if anyone had seen him looking. I avoided eye contact by looking at Theo. I felt my annoyance rise slightly for a moment before becoming full-fledged frustration when he excused himself and then leisurely made his way across the room toward the balcony door. My frustration ebbed when Theo kissed my temple and murmured," She's safe with him." I knew that. I knew she was safe with him. He wouldn't hurt her, but she wasn't safe from the people that hated him. Nothing would come of it I was sure, but you could never be too safe. She was my baby cousin and if something happened to her, I would be directly responsible as I'd drug her head first into this life of mine, this life of ours. Should I have kept my distance?

Hadleigh's POV:

I sighed as the cool air hit my skin, bringing up goosebumps on my bare arms. What was I thinking? I didn't belong here. I didn't really belong anywhere. At least not anywhere that I had found thus far. I looked out at the long driveway, contemplating what to do next. I should go home I thought just as the door to the balcony opened. I turned expecting Evylynn but found the nameless man from the last time I stood on this balcony. I stiffened slightly, Theodore's family were dangerous men. I knew that much from the reputation they held around town. There wasn't a soul that didn't know their reputation and predisposition for violence. Their family had been running the streets of Small Heath since before I was born. He flicked open a matchbook and struck a match, which caused his eyes to light up just briefly as he inhaled deeply from his cigarette. He blew out the match with full lips. I studied him for a moment, he was truly beautiful. He knew it too as he stood there proud and tall. He didn't speak, but Evylynn had told me that he was a man of few words. Where were my manners? I was standing here ogling the poor man and I hadn't even introduced myself yet.

"Hello, my name is Hadleigh, Hadleigh Taylor," I spoke. My voice was quiet and almost trembling. His eyebrows raised up and he smirked.

"I know who you are." He responded in a tone that wasn't rude, but as if he was just stating a fact. When he didn't immediately introduce himself, I asked, "Are you Augustus?" His brows raised again.

"Evylynn didn't tell you who I was?"

"She described you but I haven't seen you until now," I said, feeling stupid for my question. I could feel my face burning, thankfully it was fairly dark out here. He just nodded, walking to the edge of the balcony and leaning down onto his elbows. He was looking out at the drive, his face a mask, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. It didn't feel awkard being out here with him though, it was almost peaceful.

"I struggle with large groups of people," I murmured joining him at the railing but staying a few feet away. He nodded, as if understanding, but didn't speak. So I stood there with him, the man Ev joked was the Gypsy Prince of Small Heath. I didn't speak, but I had a feeling that was ok with him as we stood there in the quiet on the edge of the sounds from the ballroom. I looked out at where he was staring and there was nothing. He must be deep in his thoughts, I thought as we stood there. The longer we stood there the colder I got though. I shivered fractionally hoping he didn't notice but his hawk eyes flitted to me.

"You're cold." He stated.

"I'll be ok. I'm not ready to rejoin the party." I whispered back turning back to look down the drive. He was moving beside me but I didn't look, he drew closer and wrapped me in his jacket. I turned to look at him, but he avoided eye contact.

"Thank you," I said, he just nodded in response. It felt nice not having to say anything. I slid my arms into the sleeves of his jacket. It smelled of smoke and his cologne. I inhaled the scent from the collar deeply. I wanted to know more about this man, I thought, shocked at myself. I couldn't think of anything to say as I glanced at him through the corner of my eyes. His dark hair was shown in the light that was filtering through a crack in the curtain that covered the window on the door.

Agustus's POV:

I was oddly comfortable with her. She seemed to be ok with the quiet. The quiet had long ago become my sanctuary. I stared out into the darkness, at ease for the first time this night. There were too many people here, and my family was too rambunctious. The family through a party every year around this time, to distract me from my sorrow. I only attended because they genuinely tried to help. I knew Evylynn had seen me come out here, and had felt her eyes follow me, but she had stayed by Theodore's side. I hadn't yet decided if she was good for him. A woman was a distraction, especially a woman like Evylynn, who voiced her opinions and held firm to them. He seemed happy though which is what I supposed mattered. Marjorie was coming around, but I doubted she'd ever truly let him go. Not after what she had been through with losing him to his father. I watched Hadleigh as she inhaled deeply from the collar. I felt a small smile on my face, shocking me to the point that it disappeared as quickly as it came. Why was I smiling, she was just a silly woman. I knew everything about her and her family. It was something I looked into when Evylynn joined the picture. I turned when the door opened behind me. We'd been out here for several minutes in the quiet. Ev poked her head out as I turned to look over my shoulder.

"They're getting ready to toast, I didn't know if the two of you wanted to join." She said.

"I'll stay here."

"Me too, thank you," Hadleigh said surprising me, and Evylynn too based on the face she made, but she nodded and turned back into the house.

I don't know how long we stood there in the dark content with the quiet.