Halfway There // Liam O'donovan

14

_MOVING ON_
•••
EVIE'S POV
•••

"Listen up." Tracy said, coming into the living room, we all stopped what we were doing and turned our attention to her, "I've been offered a job in London, as a junior reporter for a newspaper."

"Wow." Carmen grinned.

"So I'm leaving." Tracy said, making Carmen drop the smile.

Leaving? Is she serious? I glanced at Liam who gave me the same puzzled look back. I knew he was hurt just by the words that came from her mouth, she was like his older sister. For me, Tracy was one of the only care workers who had who felt like my friend, somebody I could talk to about anything and not be laughed at or told off.

Tracy seemed to notice the uncomfortable energy in the room, "Look, I've dreamt of this job ever since I lived here." Tracy explained, "I'm sorry, I can't turn it down. It means too much." her voice was thick with guilt.

Sapphire put on a phony smile, "And we don't?" she asked and placed the pool stick down, "Well, that's put us in our place."

"No, I didn't mean it like that." Tracy said, guiltily.

"Don't beat yourself up, Beaker." Sapphire said, "You're just one in a long line of care workers. Easy come, easy go." she walked out of the room, Harry was quick to follow.

"I think this is great." Carmen said, enthusiastically, "You can write about us and make us all famous."

"I don't know about famous, but I would like to write about you." Tracy said, "I want you to tell me what it's like to be in care."

"You already know what it's like to be in a care home." Lily said.

"Yeah, but the editor wants the article to be written from your point of view. It's kind of a test."

I watched as Liam shook his head, "Hold on, hold on. You wanna leave us, but you want our help?" He asked, rhetorically and stood up, "Sorry, Tracy, that sucks." Then he made his way out.

"Liam, please."

"You want out? Fine, go. But you ain't getting my help." He said. I got up and also shoved past Tracy, leaving the room with Liam.

•••

The next morning, tension was high. Everyone was dodging Tracy and we were all pretty unsettled. She'd finally put us all in the kitchen and she was somewhat apologising.

"Look, I know you're all totally hacked off with me." Tracy began, "But we're care kids, we don't get given breaks. So when opportunity comes along we've got to take it. Thats all I'm doing. Don't hate me for it."

"That's not why I hate you, I hate you for conning us." Sapphire said, "Giving it all that, 'I'm there for you', 'We're all care kids together'. You are just using us so you can move on to something better." She shouted.

Tracy didn't retaliate, "Is that what you all think?" she asked.

"You promised me you'd help me get back with Poppy and Rosie." Lily said.

"And you promised me you'd help me get my prison visits approved." I said, adding into the conversation.

"Evie- Lily, I'm sorry." Tracy said, on the verge of tears. Then she left. Whats she crying about?