Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

you need to move on

Fiona and I left our houses for work at the same time, so we just walked together. 

"Hey, Thena!" Fiona said, "How we doing today?"

"Good!" I said, "How we doing today, miss assistant manager?"

She sighed, "Welp, I fired my brother yesterday. Or he quit. Don't know which one actually."

"You mean he's gone?" I said before jumping up and down, "Yes, yes, YES! Now I don't have to keep job searching!"

"What?" Fiona said, "You were gonna leave us?"

I stopped smiling and came back to my original energy state, "It's nothing personal, it's just. You know, I didn't want to have to see my ex every day at work. Especially now that Ryder and I are kinda dating. Don't tell Ian, though."

Fiona chuckled, "Checks out. Ryder's been all over you for a while."

I smiled.

"I heard Debbie's pregnant," I said, "She gonna get an abortion?"

Fiona shook her head, "I've been doin' everything I can to convince her to get one, but she won't listen to me."

"What do Derek and his parents say about this?"

"Derek is in Florida," Fiona said, "And he has not contacted Debbie at all, but Debbie is still convinced he loves her and wants to start a family with her."

"Jesus Christ," I said, "See, I'm all for your body, your decision, but fucking hell, she's fifteen!"

"EXACTLY!!" Fiona said, "She has her whole life ahead of her, and I don't want her to miss out on the same opportunities I missed out on. I had to drop out at 16 because Frank and Monica were hooked on oxy."

"She's being a dumb teenager," I said, "I mean, you remember what it was like when you were fifteen, right?"

"All too well," she sighed. 

__________________________________________________________

I clocked in at work and changed, running into Ryder on my way out. 

"Hey," he said, kissing me quickly.

"Hey," I said, "How are you?"

"Good, can't complain," he smiled, "You busy tonight?"

I shook my head, "Nope."

"Great. Because I wanna take you out tonight to see a band. You know, the same we saw a while back before we had to run out."

I laughed, "Oh yeah, Fiona's husband's band. Sure, why not?"

"Perfect," he said before kissing me again. 

"Hey, lovebirds! We got tables!" Fiona said.

"Sorry!" I said, straightening my ponytail. 

"Table fourteen, Athena," she said.

_________________________________________________

After the lunch rush, Ryder and I clocked out and got ready at my place.

"Ok," I said, "Denim or camo jacket?"

"Camo," Ryder said, "Oh, also these silver hoops would look great on you."

I smiled and put them both on.

"Ok, now my platforms," I said, putting them on, "How do I look?"

Ryder got up and put his arms around my waist while I wrapped mine around his neck.