Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

not-birthday party

"Athena, can you come over here?" Mandy asked me, "I need help figuring out which size is better."

I was at Hot Topic with Lip, Ian, and Mandy, who I just met a week ago, but I was already getting close to her. She scared the hell out of me at first, though. 

"Ok," I said, walking over to her, "So, do you wanna go for a slutty or baggy look?"

"Slutty."

"Ok, then small," I said as Ian walked downstairs.

Mandy peered over my shoulder and smirked.

"What?"

"Ian's got a thing for you, girl," she said.

I shook my head and scoffed, "Yeah, right."

"Ever since you moved in, it's been Athena this, Athena that," Mandy said, "I'm telling you, you've got him obsessed."

I chuckled, refusing to believe her, "How's it going with Lip?"

She looked at me, a tad stunned.

"Oh, come on. Don't think I haven't noticed," I said.

"Don't know what he sees in Karen Jackson," Mandy said, "She's like a way less cute version of you."

I raised an eyebrow. I wasn't sure if that was a compliment, but I'd take it. 

"Ok," Ian said, returning, "Ready to leave whenever you guys are."

"You found your panties?" Mandy said. 

"How'd you know?" Ian said sarcastically, making us all laugh as we walked downstairs where Lip was. 

"Do you think it's possible to be named Jody and not be a douchebag?"

"Ever think about calling him Choady?" Mandy said.

"Tool hijacked my sex buddy."

"Get a new one, then," I said, making Ian laugh. 

"More than a sex buddy, though."

"No, that was just my brain doing all the thinking while my ass was doing all the talking," Lip said, "Wanna come on the ice cream truck later?"

"Can't. Volunteering at the VA later."

"Waste of time," Mandy said.

"Gonna look good on my West Point application," Ian said.

"At this point, just figure out how to work the system," I said.

"America's a meritocracy."

"They don't make bootstraps. How the hell are you supposed to pull yourself up by 'em, dumbass?" Mandy said. I laughed as we left Hot Topic. 

_____________________________________________________

The boys' room was messier than usual, so I decided to clean it because the mess made me stressed. 

"Do you guys think you could hang out here Saturday night?" Fiona said, "Deb's sleepover. Help fill out the guest list."

Persephone mentioned something to me about it. 

"Sure," Ian and I said.

"Yeah, I'll bring some strippers and a hookah pipe," Lip said.

Fiona gave him a look.

"I'm kidding!"

Fiona left the room as I pulled out a dusty pair of underwear from under the bed and immediately dropped it.

"You guys make Troy look like a neat freak sometimes. You know that?"

"Sorry, that's probably Carl's fault," Ian said.