Halfway There // Liam O'donovan

10

(tw: this chapter contains violence, abuse, alcohol, drugs and swearing)

_3O DAYS_
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EVIE'S POV
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If you asked me if I regret staying with my mum, I'd say yes. The amount of lies she told me is unbelievable. 'I'm clean now' , 'I'm ready to take care of you now' , 'My priorities are in order' and the usual, 'I love you and I want you back'.

It's honestly laughable.

I'd been there for a day and she was already back to dear old mummy. She was smoking, drinking, snorting and had overall slept with three guys while I was staying at the flat. It was horrible. I hadn't eaten properly in two days and she took the little money I had left.

My neighbour, whom I called Auntie Hattie, gave me food sometimes when she had a chance to do any cooking. She used to do it for El and I when we were little but I don't expect her to feed me now that she's grown much older and weaker. Occasionally I would find loose change around the flat, then I would sneak out to the chicken shop and get some chips or something but that was rare. Mum used all her money on drugs.

But today.

Today was the worst.

At the moment, I was strolling down the street market where El, Shamy and Stefan and them lot usually lingered to sell weed. I was looking for one of them. I was wearing a hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, a puffer gilet and sliders. I was trying to keep to myself.

I looked around and saw a boy, who I recognised as Marley, with his friends stood in our usual corner. "Yo," I said, going over to them. The smell of weed was in the air and a boy named Josiah was mucking about on a scooter.

"Wagwan, Evs," Marley greeted me and I slapped his palm, "What you saying? You look rough."

"Nah, it's cool," I grumbled, sniffling my nose and wiping it with the back of my hand, "You seen El?"

"She's with Kyron," Josiah told me, getting off the scooter and then he turned to Marley, "This shit's broken!" He said. Josiah was 23 but acted like a 6 year old.

I laughed as Marley picked up the scooter and dashed it to the side. Josiah continued grumbling under his breath. "Stop whining," Marley snapped and then he turned back to me, still wearing that concerned expression, "Seriously, though, you good? Why do you need El?"

I hesitated which caused this other boy, Elijah, to speak, "Yo, you can tell us whatever," He told me but I was still hesitant, "Fix your posture. Someone bruk up your leg?" He asked, I took note of it and stood up straight.

My leg was damaged because of Mum's last boyfriend, Rob. He fucking hated me, beat me shitless. I could hardly walk, there were bruises on my cheeks, I had a cut lip and my eyes were swollen.

"And your face, what the fuck's happened?" Marley asked, he dropped his spliff on the floor and then pulled my hood down, "Who jumped you? Was it them Eastsiders, again? Cah I swear down it'll be war-" Josiah stopped complaining and turned to get a look.

I shook my head and pulled my hood back up, "Nah, nah, chill, nothing like that," I said, "I gotta get back to the flat, love," I said and I spudded all three boys.

"Oi, wait," Josiah stopped me, "Get some food, yeah? Looking thin," He said and put some money in my palm.

"Thanks," I said and he mumbled a reply.