Life in a council home, especially am Irish council home, is a rather unfortunate life to have. Everyone who had such knew just as well. Nobody on the Burnage block in Manchester would disagree. Least of all, Noel.

His family was the real classic story. Overworked mother trying to raise all the littluns, run the house and work as many exterior jobs as possible, with an abusive drunk for a husband who lived life at the pub, poker, or working back breaking construction. A very bad union that a 'stronger' woman might leave the moment things go pear shaped. But having a proper family does blur the lines, because then there's a small lot of youngun's to be considered. With nowt else to do besides find some kind of escape, however momentary.

Noel's older brother, Paul- being less than graceful socially, threw himself into working solitary as soon as he could. That, and the drink. Noel himself, was a good deal more properly Anti-social, got really into music, and drugs, and hookups. All the cool, rebellious, bad things that parents hate. His parents hated. His father, hated. So, he got beaten down pretty hard pretty often. More than anyone else. Which in turn only made him want to keep at everything. Funny, how things work like that. Because quite oppositely from both Noel and Paul, was the babe of the family. Liam.

He was a good lad for the most part. Just liked to play his video games and be on his old tablet, watch his cartoons and the like. Made decent marks and never acted up in any incorrigible way. Smart mouthed, a bit. But never enough to get smacked. Though, the lack of any smacking from the old man in his direction was also likely due to him being the youngest, and the prettiest, and being quite prone to illness. Weak shite, Noel had always thought, growing up, even when watching over him. Not in a bad way, necessarily. More.. concerned. Because bad things could happen to a lad with those qualities, Noel knew from experience. From getting teased to jumped to worse. So much worse. Especially because Liam was different, on top of that. Sweet, and pretty. And never ashamed to let his emotions be known. The type to shrug off being called a Nancy for wearing a certain color, or top, or letting the girls in his grade share accessories with him. The type to be the embodiment of boyishness one minute, and some total spring lilac angel baby the next. Comfortable as himself, no matter the moment. He was different, Noel knew from a young age. Could see it in him. Because Noel was different, too. He just hid it better, being older and smarter and used to being ashamed. It was dangerous to be anything else, and Noel knew it but Liam didn't, and probably wouldn't until it was too late. Noel just had to hope for the best.