Halfway There // Liam O'donovan

30

_DAD_
•••
EVIE'S POV
•••

Today was a big day. My dad was finally getting out of prison. I had begged Amira to go pick him up like we did with El (who had got out of prison a couple months ago, I went to pick her up with Mike and El's girlfriend) but Amira said no. I was pretty annoyed at that as I hadn't seen my dad in 6 years. But she'd sorted it for Dad to come to elm tree for a visit. So El was going to get him, they were going to hang out for a while then Dad was coming here.

Dad was getting out of the prison at 11:30. Gus told me it took two hours to get from Walgreen prison down to Jesmond. So I wouldn't see my dad until 1/2 o'clock? Depends on traffic. I don't know where he was going to stay but I think he's going to crash with my Uncle Amz.

He's not really my uncle and his full name is Amado. But him and my dad have been friends since primary school so I grew up with him and have always called him Uncle Amz.

I ate breakfast, got dressed then joined the others in the living room. I occupied myself by playing pool with Liam, Rick and Johnny.

"So are you going to live with your dad?" Tee asked me.

I looked up, "Nah, I don't think so, not yet."

"Yet?" Liam raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, if social says it's alright and he says it's alright then, yeah, I'll probably to and stay with him."

"Oh, we're gonna miss you, Evie." Carmen said.

"Thanks but I'm not leaving yet." I said, smiling at the girl.

"Yeah, but still." Carmen said and returned to the TV. I smiled at her again.

"Are you gonna be alright with it if I leave?" I asked Liam, who seemed to be frowning a little, in a quiet voice.

"Yeah, yeah, I mean it's your dad, right? You gotta be with him." Liam said, smiling and pecking my cheek.

"So where has your dad been all this time?" Rick asked me.

"My dad's been in prison." I told him.

"My folks are locked up too." Rick said, "They were con artists."

"I don't relate, my dad was gang banger." I said. "I went to juvie for something similar, actually."

"You went to juvie?" Rick asked.

"Oh, you didn't know?" I asked him, half the house knew about my criminal record by now. Rick shook his head. "Yeah, I was banged up for county lines."

"How long?"

"Uh- a few months, maybe a year? I forgot, It was when I was 13."

"13? Wow."

"Eh." I said and shrugged.

•••

Around an hour or two later, the doorbell rang. I dropped the pool-stick and quickly left the living room. Before Mike could answer the door, I ran ahead and opened it. I grinned widely when I saw him standing there.