Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

west point

"Pregnant?" my mom said.

"Yep," I replied, pouring coffee into my mug. 

"You all acted like it was such a big surprise," Troy said, "Karen Jackson lets everyone raw dog her."

"She let you raw dog her?" I said, sipping my coffee. 

"Hey!" My dad said as Troy flipped me off. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Troy hooked up with Karen. He already got a blow job from Mandy a weekend ago. 

"Athena, I need you to help chop the veggies for my pasta salad before lunch," my mom said.

"Why? What's today?" 

"Town barbecue," my dad said, "You coming with us?"

I shrugged, "I'll see if Lip and Ian are going."

"Lip, the one who got this girl pregnant?" My dad said.

"Ian doubts it's even Lip's," I said.

"Oh, his brother doubts it, so it must not be his."

"Dad!"

"Seth, stop," my mom said, "Honey, they're welcome to come with us. Where's Persephone?"

"Across the street with Debbie," I said. 

____________________________________________________________________

My mom and I were in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and working on the salad when she asked me a question.

"So, this Ian boy you've been hanging out with, he's cute, isn't he?" 

I smiled, "Yeah. A little."

Ian and I were friends. Friends who occasionally make out and sleep in the same bed. I didn't even know what we were, but I was enjoying it and was happy. And I trusted that I was the only person he was seeing.

"I'm sorry your father gives you such a hard time about those boys," my mom said, "As long as you're staying out of trouble and keeping safe. You are remembering to use condoms, right?"

"Mom, I'm not having sex with Ian!" I said, a little too loud. 

It was always weird talking about sex with my mom. Of course, I always used condoms. I hadn't been on the pill for four months, and you can't trust guys when they say they're clean. 

"Ok," she said, "Ok. Just- know if anything does come up, I'll help you, ok? No matter what."

I nodded and put all the celery in a bowl. 

My mom always meant well, even if she wasn't always the most stable mother on earth. I know she loved her kids fiercely. 

________________________________________________________________________

I'd just pulled the pasta salad out of the fridge to taste when someone knocked on the door. I opened it. Ian was at the door, his shirt and hair wet. 

"What happened to you?!" I said.

"Lip," Ian said, "Asshole got into West Point."

Ian went on a rant about how he was three times as athletic and built as Lip, and how the only reason Lip got in was because of his GPA. 

"Tensions rose, and I told him to go back to his whore who can't be sure if her kid is his son or brother, and then we got into a huge fight."

"Why are you wet?"

"We uh threw each other into the bath."

I sighed and hugged him. But this time, I didn't let go.

"What's this for?"

I pulled away, "Just- do me a favor. Don't think about it anymore until we at least graduate high school. West Point's- far. And they take you to dangerous places, like Afghanistan."

"Aw, are you worried about me?" Ian said, looking down at me.

Ian was 6'0", and I was just about 5'0", so it was a considerable height difference, but I liked taller guys. 

I got on my tippy toes and kissed him.

"Is that a crime?" I said.

"Not at all," he said, kissing me. 

We started making out, breaking away when we heard footsteps come downstairs.

"Oh, hi, Ian!" my mom said, "Didn't hear you come in."

"I just got here a few minutes ago, Mrs. Johnson," Ian said politely.

"Please, call me Liz!"

"Ian looked like he was about to say something to my dad, only to be rudely cut off.

"It's Mr. Johnson to you, Gallagher," my dad said, "Athena, are you coming with us?"

I looked at Ian who shook his head, "I think I'm gonna stay here. But you guys have fun!"

"OK, we'll see you later!" my mom said.

"I know exactly how much liquor is in each of our bottles, so don't even think about it," My dad said before they both left. 

I sighed and got myself a glass of water before sitting on the couch.

"Your dad hates me, doesn't he?"

"He hates every dude I talk to. Trust me, you're not special," I said jokingly.

Ian chuckled. I grabbed the remote and turned on a random channel and leaned on him as he put his arm around my waist. I decided to ask a question that could change things depending on the answer.

"You're not seeing anyone else, are you?"

"Nope," Ian said, "Are you?"

I was so relieved to hear that.

"Nope, and I don't plan on it," I said, "Just let me know if you do though, ok?"

"Actually," Ian said, "I was gonna ask you to be my girlfriend."

Ian's replies caught me heavily off-guard, but in the best way. I lowered my expectations so low that I was pleasantly surprised.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, I will be your girlfriend," I said. 

He smiled, and we started making out.