HARD TIMES ━ lip gallagher²

07 | bust a nut

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"I'M STRANGELY CRAVING SUISHI," Amara mused, flopping into the arm chair as Silvia flipped through channels on the TV, stopping abruptly to look at her as if she'd grown three heads. Amara crossed her legs and glanced at her. "What?"

Her face had grown in disgust. "You hate seafood. I hate seafood. Why the hell would you mention that abomination?"

Amara rolled her eyes. "I know, that's why I said strangely."

"Your phone is blowing up," Margot announced, coming into the room with the device in her hands. Amara took it from her and read that they were from Lip.

"What're you all dressed up for?" Silvia asked, gesturing to their mother's fancy attire.

"Job interview," she clarified. "Wish me luck."

Amara stood to go into the hall once the door closed. "Jim's whore house, you got the ho we've got the dough. How can I help you?"

"Very funny," came his flat response. "Listen- uh, there's no easy way to say this but... Youens died."

Amara straightened. "Shit. Are you serious?"

"Yeah," she heard him swallow. "I'm borrowing Fi's car to ride up to his house. You know, go through his stuff. I'm sure his family doesn't want any of it. Can you come?"

"Can you have me back by six? I have a writer meeting tonight."

"Yeah, sure, no problem."

"Then yes."

Amara climbed into the passenger seat once he arrived, and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek as she shut the door after her. She reached to squeeze his hand. "You ready?"

Lip shook himself from his thoughts. "Yeah. Just hard to wrap my head around."

She frowned. "I'm sure." Lip took a moment before putting the vehicle back into drive, and they were off. She cocked her head quizzically at him. "Can I play Taylor Swift?"

It was the closest thing she saw to a smile form on his lips all day so far. "If you must."

☆

The ride seemed like it lasted hours until they finally pulled up to a suburban neighborhood, and Lip parked the car in front of the house. She followed silently after him, standing back as he jiggled the key in the lock until it finally opened. When they stepped inside, there was already a girl sitting on the floor, surrounded by a bunch of paper work.

"Jesus, you startled me," she said. Amara wrapped her arm around Lip's bicep and pressed closer to him. "I didn't think anybody else had keys. I'm sorry, who are you?"

"I'm Lip," he introduced, a little warily, and he glanced to her. "This is Amara. Who are you?"

"I'm Tabitha, his daughter. I—um, are you students?"

"No, I was. She's just here for me. I was helping him after the accident."

"Accident?" Tabitha repeated in confusion. "I thought he was arrested for a DUI. You know what? It's okay. I don't want to know," she sighed. "Jesus Christ, this week. You—you do know he's dead, right?"

Amara gently squeezed his arm when he nodded. "What happened?"

"He had a seizure. Alcohol withdrawal. Hit his head."

"Jesus," Lip murmured, shifting on his feet. He dropped her arm, but moved to grab her hand instead as Amara glanced around the house.

"Yeah," Tabitha sighed again. "There's a memorial service tomorrow, and the students are welcome to say a few words if you like."

"Oh, no. No one told me."

"The school said they sent out an email. I- I'm sorry, who are you again?"

"I picked up your Dad... from jail, after the DUI. I bought him groceries. I-"

"Did he pay you?"

"No," Lip blinked. "He didn't pay me. He covered the cost of my rehab. And he got me an internship. He tried to convince me to finish school. Revoke my expulsion. He listened to me he... Listened to me about everything."

"Well, I'm glad you were so well-parented by my dad," she remarked.

Amara winced. "Yikes."

"Look, I have this covered. You can leave your key on the way out. Thanks."

Lip nodded. "Yeah, sure."

He dropped the keys on the coffee table, and then tugged her arm to pull her out of the house. Amara stopped him once they were on the porch. "You okay?"

"To be honest I'm not sure."

She swallowed and reached up to softly cup his cheek. "That's okay. Wanna go grab a burger or something?"

Lip ran a hand through his hair. "I think the only sort of fast food restaurant they have up here is McDonald's."

"They make killer nuggets," she offered, nudging his shoulder. "Come on, I'm starving. I'll even be the generous person I am and pay."

☆

"This barbecue sauce makes me want to bust a nut," Amara said, kicking her feet up onto the dash as Lip took a sip from his soda, only to choke on it with a laugh.

"God, you're so weird."

She flipped out her middle finger and resumed eating. "Hey, do you want my fries?"

He furrowed his brows but took them anyway. "Since when do you not want your fries?"

"The thought of eating them kinda makes me want to projectile vomit, and I'd really rather avoid that."

"Exactly what I want to hear when I'm scarfing down a burger."

"I know that's why I said it," she retorted, grinning at him. He rolled his eyes and turned to look out the window. "How are you feeling?"

He shrugged and faced her again. "I mean, I'll miss him. He was a prick, I wish things ended differently between us but... I don't know. He was really the only sort of father figure I had."

She grabbed his hand from over the console to interlock their fingers. "This totally sucks. You goin' tomorrow then?"

"Thinking about it," he pursed his lips. "I want to write a speech. Have no idea what to say."

"You're in the presence of a genius writer."

Lip peered around her. "Who?"

She flung a fry at his cheek. "Asshole."

He chucked it back at her. "Yeah, says you gigantic bitch."

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