The Gallagher Twin || Shameless

3.2

"I think I can see my breath." Ian stated, shivering in the freezing cold Gallagher house.

"We need $587 or they won't turn the gas back on." Fiona announced.

"I think I can cover at least half. Tips were crazy the other night at Danny's." Grace chimed in.

"I'm taking the PSATs for some Polish kid on Ridgedale. He's supposed to give me a hundred bucks." Lip stated.

"I saw online that we could get an extra $200 a month from the state... if we say Carls retarded." Debbie announced.

"He wouldn't have to pretend for that." Grace chuckled.

"I get paid Friday." Ian said.

"I'll figure out the rest." Fiona stated. "School. Let's go. Everyone out." 

"I can loan you the money unless you wanna get it from Tony." Steve suggested.

"Go away, Steve." Grace said, with a piece of toast in her mouth.

"You're still here?" Fiona asked.

"Pay me back or not. Doesn't matter."

"You're gonna be late. Go." Fiona said, pushing the Gallagher kids out the door. "Everyone out. You too. Out." 

***

"Mandy! Mandy, open up!" Grace yelled, knocking on the Milkovich home.

The door was flung open, and Grace was greeted by Mandy, who had a tear stained face.

"Mandy... I'm so, so sorry about Ian..." Grace apologized.

"Just shut the hell up and come inside, it's freezing." Mandy muttered.

"I didn't expect him to react that way." Grace explained, following Mandy to her room.

"It's not your fault. I probably shouldn't have reacted so harshly... I sent Mickey out for him, so it'll be taken care of."

"What do you mean, 'you sent Mickey out for him.'" 

"Like to kill him." Mandy said casually.

"What."

"It's not that big of a deal. He deserves it, does he not?" 

"Well, you didn't send him out with your brothers did you?" Grace scoffed.

"Well, yeah."

"Oh, fuck." Grace mumbled. "I gotta go."

"No, don't go looking for them. They might kill you, and I need you as my best friend."

Grace stood there in awe, before getting up and leaving.

***

Grace swung the Gallagher door open, and was greeted by her twin brother.

"Ian." Grace sighed. "Are you ok? They didn't hurt you did they?" She said, scanning Ian.

"I'm fine... Is he here?" Ian asked, frantically looking around.

"Who, Mickey? Now why the hell would I let him inside?" Grace said.

"Grace... they're coming for me. All of them." 

"Don't you think I know that? Sit down, you need to relax. I'm not letting Mickey anywhere near you." Grace spoke, gesturing to a chair.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. I have to get to work, just stay indoors for a while, or find Lip to be your bodyguard or some shit."

"I can handle myself. And haven't you been working for like the past 5 days?"

"I picked up a couple extra days. It's no big deal, I'm making tons of cash." Grace said, leaving her twin brother.

***

Grace walked into the cozy pizza place, her eyes scanning the familiar surrounding. The place was bustling with activity, customers chatting and laughter echoing. She looked for her two band mates, who always beat her there, but only found Max Milkovich, who was nervously waiting at the side of the stage.

"Hey, is Jonathan in the bathroom?" She asked Max.

"No, he's not here yet. Should we be worried? I mean he's always the first one here. I sent him like a million texts, but no answer." He replied.

"Alright, maybe we should worry... Do you think it's his dad again?" Grace questioned.

"Not sure. can we just tell Danny that Jonathan isn't feeling well, and we can't play without drums." 

Grace nodded, and the two ventured out to find Danny.

Once they located Danny at the cash register up front, they both said in unison, "We can't play tonight."

"And why not?" Danny asked.

"Jonathan is sick, and we can't play without drums." Max stated.

"So? Can you not just play with two guitars?" Danny asked, not looking up from the cash register.

"No, you don't understand-" Grace started.

"No, you said you would play for six days a week, and... it's Thursday. Not Sunday. You play today." Danny said, smiling creepily.

Grace and Max exchanged looks.

"Fine... we'll make it work." Grace sighed, walking back to the stage.

"What are we gonna do?" Max asked.

Graces face lit up with realization. "Wait here. I have an idea." Grace said, frantically walking to the storage room where they keep their extra instruments.

***

The spotlight illuminated the center stage, as the audience's excited chatter filled the dark pizza place. Grace, sat at a piano, and Max sat on a stool, with his iconic deep blue bass guitar. Grace began to play the beginning notes of the song Stay by Rihanna, as they exchanged nervous looks. The pair had never sung onstage with only themselves, and only a piano and bass guitar. 

"All along it was a fever." Grace began, her voice carrying the weight of the songs emotion. "A cold sweat hot headed believer... I threw my hands in the air, I said, show me something... he said if you dare come a little closer... round and around and around and around we go."

Max watched Grace sing her part beautifully, nervously waiting for his turn to sing.

"It's not much of a life you're living... it's not just something you take, it's given." His angelic like voice filled the dark room, taking Grace by surprise, as she had never really heard him sing before.

Grace anxiously waited as the part approached that they had to sing together. She had only sung alone. Never with another person.

"Ooh, the reason I hold on... ooh cause I need this hole gone... funny, you're the broken one. But I'm the only one who needed saving...cause when you never see the light, it's hard to know which one of us is caving." Their voices blended in perfect harmony, creating an enchanting atmosphere that captivated everyone present.

As the end approached, Grace looked into Max's eyes, as he looked back, a slight smile across his face.

Grace finished the song with one last high note and sang, "I want you to stay..." without breaking eye contact with Max.

The crowd erupted in cheers, as the pair stood up, bowed, and walked off.

"Wow. I didn't know you could sing like that." Grace laughed, as they stopped at the side of the stage.

"I didn't either." Max chuckled, walking closer to Grace.

"We should do it again sometime." Grace smiled, their eyes locking together once again.

Max slowly leaned into Grace, only a breath in between them now.

"We should probably go find Jonathan..." Grace said, looking down.

"Right." Max said, scratching the side of his head.

Grace picked up her purse, and coat, and headed out towards the door.

***