Halfway There // Liam O'donovan

07

(oof i think im releasing chapters too quick idc ima keep doing it tho)

_SECRETS_
•••
LIAM'S POV
•••

"FRANK! LIAM! EVIE! Get out here now!" Mike yelled over the sound of Johnny hoovering

I groaned and Evie sucked her teeth, we left my bedroom and were stood facing Mike wearing cow-print rubber gloves and Johnny hoovering.

"I hear you're subcontracting again," Mike said to us once we'd come out. Johnny switched the hoover off. "What's the going rate this time?"

"Two giant packets of Gummy Worms!" Johnny said nasally as he was pinching his nose.

I held my hands up in defence, "It's a fair market rate." I said.

"Yeah, two," Frank backed me up.

"Come on Mike, even you wouldn't turn that down." Evie added.

Mike shook his head then Gina arrived. "Er, had anyone discovered where that nasty smell is coming from?" she asked.

"It's definitely not the bathrooms." Mike said.

"Take a whiff outside Gus's bedroom, it's enough to melt your nose." Tee said.

"Right, come on," Gina said and ushered Tee and Carmen away.

"Come on you lot," Mike said to Frank, Evie and I before we could retreat back into my bedroom. We reluctantly followed. As we neared, the smell got increasingly worse.

"It's been worse since Wednesday, when it got sunny." said Tee.

"Well, Gus is back from his dad's tomorrow so it must be sorted by then," Mike said, screwing up his nose.

When we went inside the room, not even the cotton we had shoved up our nose could prevent the smell. It reeked. Mike reached over to open a window while the rest of us were coughing and spluttering at the smell. Gina bent down and pulled out maggot- infested trays of old food from under Gus's bed. "How did this happen!" she almost shouted.

"Somebody's been letting Gus eat in his room," Mike said before ushering us all out.

"Tracy Beaker," Gina said knowingly.

•••

"Alright, kids," Mike said, bringing Frank, Evie and I back into Gus's room. "Your mission is to seek and destroy." he said and slapped cleaning equipment in our hands.

"But why us?" Frank asked.

"It's about time you three did some work." Mike said.

"But my trainers will crease." Evie complained, "These were expensive," She was wearing white cement Jordan 3s. This didn't bother Mike.

"Listen, you know what Gus is like- if we touch his stuff he'll freak!" I argued.

"Exactly." Frank said.

"Right well what you do is make sure you put everything back where you found it." Gina said.

"Good idea," Mike said, "See you later guys." he said and the two care workers left the room.