Love Thy Neighbour *editing*

"He's a Gallagher through and through."

I honestly thought that Niall was about to start something there and then. His jaw was clenched and he had balled his fists up, ready to swing a well aimed punch. Declan got to his feet behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. Niall shrugged him off, his face fuming.

"Don't tell me that living here's removed all your senses, boy," his dad muttered venomously. Gone was the perverted prick that had found it funny to grope me. Now, there was just this malicious gangster-type person standing in my living room. I gripped Niall's arm and looked up at him, shaking my head as discreetly as I could manage. His face softened somewhat but there was still a look of foreboding in his eyes; this was in no way over, not by a longshot.

Niall, still glaring at his dad, sat down on the floor by the window, leaning against the radiator. I was about to do the same when Auntie Francis got to her feet.

"You can have my seat, Evie," she said, gesturing for me to sit down. What was this? Auntie Francis actually thinking of someone else for a change? I took the offered seat; my feet were killing me. Okay, so they were celebrating the fact that the Gallagher patriarch had come over to Scotland, but why was this being celebrated in my living room?

"We're going," Declan announced, pulling Auntie Francis close to him. His dad sneered at them both.

"Well you two seemed to have done alright for yourselves," he said. He was looking from me to Auntie Francis. I could actually feel him undressing me with his eyes and I had to look away, staring out of the window. I refused to look at anyone. What the fuck had my mum let into our house? It was alright for her; she was drinking again with Pam, apparently oblivious to what was going on in front of her.

"Actually, I think we'll come with you," Niall growled, getting to his feet once more. I was more than happy to leave; his dad gave me the bloody creeps. Just as Niall was about to follow Declan and Auntie Francis, his dad grabbed onto his forearm and pulled Niall's ear to his mouth, whispering something inaudible to everyone but him. When Niall drew away, his eyes were blazing. I thought that they were going to have another stand off but Niall put out his hand for mine and I took it, not meeting his dad's gaze.

Niall pulled me in front of him, and we walked out of the living room and towards the front door. What the hell was going on? I tried to speak but Niall shot me a warning look and I kept my trap shut. We went out into the night and I shivered. Niall was about to pull off his jumper but I just shook my head, sitting down on the step.

"What's going on, Niall?" I asked quietly. He took a moment to answer, leaning his head against the door. When he did it, it made him look like a kid no older than Tommy's age.

"I think he's back for good," he murmured to the sky. "She's giving him another bloody chance." Another chance? What was that supposed to mean? I didn't want to pry though; I had a vague feeling that Niall probably didn't want to discuss this with me.

"Why do you hate him so much?"

He peered at me through one eye, biting his lip. Then he leaned forward, so that his face was close to mine.

"My da' is shite," he growled. "He's walked out on us more times than I can count. He's just trouble; my mum's the only one who can't admit it."

That surprised me. Pam seemed like the sort of woman who knew when to kick someone to the curb. The thought of her letting someone who had evidently caused her and her family so much pain was incomprehensible.

I took Niall's hand, stroking the back of it. I had no idea where Declan and Auntie Francis had gone; probably upstairs to consummate their not-so official relationship. I just hoped that they kept the noise down; there were little kids up there.