Halfway There // Liam O'donovan

32

_ESTATE_
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EVIE'S POV
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I decided to take Liam down to my old home. The jolly council estate. Where the paint was peeling and bricks were crumbling. The place that we had all those protests and riots but the council never listened. Furthermore, the council have been saying they were gonna do it up for years but they're too broke.

"This is it." I told Liam, "It's pretty shit, but it's home." I told him, smiling. He looked around at everything.

"It looks cool." He said.

"Come on." I said and lead the way. There were some youngins playing basketball.

"Hey, Evie!" One of the boys called at me and he waved, it was Anton. When he was younger I taught him how to ball and now he's 13, it seems strange.

"Wassup Ant!" I called at him, smiling.

"Who's that?" Liam asked me.

"Oh, that's Anton, we used to ball together." I explained, smiling.

We walked down the path and made to go up the stairs when two girls stopped us. I recognised them as Lia and Becca. They didn't recognise me though.

"Woah, woah, woah, where you man from?" Lia asked us.

"Oh er-" Liam began but I cut him off.

"Round here, init." I told her.

"How come I never seen you round our ends before then?" Lia asked.

"Your ends?" I asked and laughed, "Funny." Nearly half the estate knows who my family was, obviously not except for these two. I don't mean to sound weird and arrogant but my dad was kinda feared around here. He still is. And me being his daughter gives me power.

"Yeah," Lia said, "You gotta problem with that?" she asked me and pushed me. I didn't retaliate but noticed Liam go tense. I glanced at him as if to say 'don't worry'.

Then Becca realised, "Lia, man, leave her. That's El's sister." Lia looked confused. "MV's daughter. She rolls with Kyron."

Lia stepped back, "Oh." She said, "My bad, my bad. We cool?" She held out her fist. I glanced at it then kept my glare on her. "Alright then. You man have a good day." The two walked away.

"That was fun." I told Liam and we went up the stairs.

"Who were they?" Liam asked me, still confused.

"Lia and Becca. They think they run this area but they roll with Jayden and nobody gives two shits about that crew. They're all pussies." I explained.

"Who's Jayden?"

"This guy who thinks he's a big shot gang member but he doesn't shift no food."

"Right, and who's Kyron?" Liam asked me.

I quickly changed the subject, "My flats along here." I said and lead him along the deck. "Hey auntie." I said, nodding at aunty Hattie who was sweeping the spot in front of her door.  She smiled at me. She made the best rice and peas on the block.