Shamelessly Devoted [sequel Only You]

South Side

"Hello this is Mrs. Jenkins from Manierre Elementary. Can I please speak with Mrs. Gallagher?" Fred's principal speaks. "This is she, is everything okay?" "Well, there was a little fracas between both Fred and Gabriel with another set of boys. I, as the higher grade principal, decided to call you on behalf of the fifth grade principal as well to inform you." "Okay what happened?" I slightly scoff, "Well, Fred and Gabriel started a physical altercation with two other boys. Fred claims at class switch he saw a boy quote 'messing' with his little brother and he ran over and they shared some words and they started beating the boy up and another boy who came to help." She speaks in such a bullshit posh accent. "Are the boys okay?" "We are going to have to suspend both Fred and Gabriel as the other two boys are in the nurse with gushing noses. Your two are in the office, they have their belongings. Can you or Mr. Gallagher come get them immediately." She sounds disgusted, "I'm on my way." I say before hanging up leaving the house. At least they won.

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"Hi, I'm Sadie Gallagher; Gabriel and Fred's mom." I say at the front desk, she nods and looks over her glasses with disgust, "Any relation to Frank Gallagher?" She asks and I'm taken aback before I nod, "Yes but he's dead so I don't see the issue or how it relates to my kids." I grow defensive in the office. "Now Mrs. Gallagher, no need to get aggressive. It was just a question." She tries to undermine me, "Where are my kids?" I ask, annoyed. "In School Suspension. I will call the director now." She says, picking up the phone. "Mrs. Gallagher!" Mrs. Jenkins calls for me, "Yes?" I ask, "Can I have you step into my office for a moment? Just to discuss the plan." She smiles in my face . "Of course." I keep my composure as I step into her office.

"Now I know their behavior couldn't have been learned by you but does dad show any signs of teaching them violence?" She starts off, "May I ask who is even saying anything about us being from South Side or their deceased grandfather?" "We got an anonymous email about the 'Gallagher' origin." She explains, "That states?" "Oh there's a lot." She basically spits. "So is this meeting to bash my children and their paternal family?" I ask, annoyed. "No, we just would like to boys to be out for three days for fighting but on their return, for everyone's safety, will have them meet with the counselor and their aggression will be monitored. Mrs. Gallagher I know you were an excellent student, great grades, amazing profession. We can't help who we love but we can make sure our children choose excellence." She is so passive aggressive. "Ma'am, their father is a very smart man. You can't chose who your parents are or the enviroment you grow up in. That's why we moved our kids to North Side to ensure their safety and education." "I'm sure that was you not him Mrs. Gallagher." "What?" "Based on profession alone I'm sure that he has no parts in that commute." She says and I roll my eyes, "Can you give me my kids now?" I ask, leaving her office, "Oh and my kids will not be returning to Manierre next year." I explain before slamming her door and walking down the short hallway to see the boys sitting in the office. "Come on." I say, walking in front of both of them.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" I ask them as soon as they close the backseat doors, "Mom," Fred groans, "Mom nothing, wait until your dad gets home so we can all talk." I say, looking at both of them through my rear view mirror. "Kay." He groans and folds his arms, looking out the window; Gabe has his hands in his lap also looking out the window.

"Phone counter, asses upstairs in your rooms until your dad gets home so we can talk." I say as we walk inside, "Dad is home." Lip comes from the backyard, putting his half finished cigarette behind his ear, "Boys sit at the table. Family meeting." I say before Lip gently grabs my face giving me a small peck, "What happened?" "They got suspended for fighting." "They win?" He mutters and I nod, "Yes but that's besides the point." I mutter back, "Right," He says before turning towards the boys, "So what the fuck?" He asks, putting one foot on his chair leaning on his knee; I stand beside him with my arms crossed, "There was a kid in Gabe's face so I went over and asked what the problem was and he called us 'no good South Side Gallagher trash' so I punched him then his brother tried to jump in," "So I punched him." Gabe chimes in. "Who the hell knows we're from South Side?" Lip asks and I roll my eyes, "Names?" I ask the boys, "Blake and Bentley Hayes." Fred answers, "Seventh and Eighth graders." Gabe adds. "Hayes?" I ask and they nod, "Jesus Christ." I chuckle, "Who's that?" "You remember the kid I was with when you were on a date with Sierra?" I mutter and Lip thinks for a moment before smiling, "That fucking prick? You two fucked them up right?" Lip asks the boys and they grow excited; I could see the South Side running through their veins. "Enough." I hold my hands up as they banter about how they beat them up to their father. "You guys aren't in trouble but for the three days you're out you have to read at least three chapters of any book of your choice." I say, Fred throws his head back, "What if I go to Tami's?" "That's your punishment." Lip jokes and I hit his arm gently, "Then that's your choice." I say, handing them their phones back, "Steak for dinner it'll be ready at six, go away until then unless you're sick, dying, broken or bleeding." I say before the two boys run upstairs. "So what was his name?" Lip asks, "Parker." I answer, annoyed. "He tried to give me a therapy session last time we talked in college and I told him to fuck off. Can't believe he's still so bitter he has his kids trained to fuck with mine and now he's getting the school into it." I huff, falling into his chest in defeat, "Want me to show him what real South Side Gallagher trash is?" Lip asks, rubbing my back. "No, that'll make it worse, proving his point." I say, lifting my head to look at him. "You sure?" He smiles, "Shouldn't you be at work?" I roll my eyes, pushing myself off him, grabbing the ingredients I need for dinner. "When you own your own shit you can leave whenever." Lip says, "Wait, you own EdgeXtreme?" I smile wide as he nods, "Holy shit I can't believe you got the promotion!" I say, hugging him, "Old boss retired today and gave me all the rights and ownership of EX." Lip explains as he rocks us back and forth, "I'm so proud of you." I smile and hold his face gently before giving him a kiss, "His son is livid." He chuckles, "Can you go one day without pissing off someone?" I ask, jokingly. "Nah probably not." He says before giving my butt a light squeeze, going back outside to finish his cigarette; he never broke that habit but it's better than drinking. He hasn't drank since the Gallavich wedding.

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"You know their prinical tried to undermine me today?" I say to Lip as he puts the boys' plates on the table, "How?" He asks before calling up to the boys, "Well I guess and assume Parker emailed the school all about the Gallaghers and they're basically repulsed at the fact the boys are Gallaghers and she just was a bitch when we were talking about the boys and their behavior." I say, handing him his plate before sitting down in my unassigned assigned seat. "What behavior? They're better than I ever was." He scoffs, "Gabe! Fred! Let's go!" He calls up again, "Exactly! They've been going there for years and never an issue. Fucking Parker." I scoff before I yell up to the boys, "Dinner!" I say and immediately here their footsteps running downstairs. "Listen the first time someone calls ya." Lip says, flicking Fred's ear and gently poking Gabe's side making them squirm. "Sorry." They say, sitting down and shoveling food into their mouths. "Did either of you read yet?" I ask, expecting them to lie. "Yes momma." Gabe says, keeping his eyes down. "A word." Fred answers, honestly. "Well, even though I'm not mad at you two, you both fought and fighting isn't okay. I need you two to read." I lightly scold. "But Uncle Carl, Franny, and Uncle Mickey say fighting is good." "Uncle Carl and Franny live on South Side and Mickey is Mickey." "Well I want to go to South Side. Nobody will mess with us if we do." Gabe whines, "Who messes with you?" I ask, "It's always the same boys. They have all year." Gabe confesses. "Why didn't you tell me?" Fred grows protective, "Why didn't you tell any of us?" Lip asks and he shrugs, "Because Franny told me I should handle it by myself, South Side style." Gabe says and I throw my head back in annoyance, "Jesus Christ, Franny." I mutter. "No, no South Side shit. Be grateful you two are here and don't have to do South Side shit." Lip says and the boys groan and continue eating silently.

I can't believe these two WANT to go to South Side. Should I let them experience it? Is that a bad idea? They're Gallaghers, they can handle it but they're also North Side raised, I handled it...kinda.