Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

wedding

Life went on. I was doing as well as I could, and I was happy with Ryder. I never had to pay for a single thing, he drove me everywhere, hell, I started to feel like I was a part of the family. 

But with all this time with Ryder, I never saw the Gallaghers and I missed so much. From Fiona almost losing the house, to Debbie having her baby, to Carl leaving the gang and him and Persephone now dating. I hadn't heard much about Ian, though. Or Lip. 

I hoped they were doing ok, though. Especially Ian. 

_________________________________________________

I got my last tip of the night and was about to clock out when Fiona walked over.

"Hey, Athena," she said, "I have some good news."

I cocked my head up.

"Sean and I are getting married!"

"Oh my god, congratulations!" 

"We'd like it if you could come," Fiona said, "Carl's already taking Persephone."

I hesitated. A wedding could be fun, but not if it meant having to see Ian. He probably didn't want to see me either given our last conversation and that I blocked his number.

"Look, I know you and Ian still aren't talking, and I get it. I've had to see my now ex-husband more than I wanted to. But it would really mean a lot if you came. You've been such a good neighbor, and we all miss you."

I sighed, "I'll come. My dad's taking Persephone dress shopping tomorrow, so I'll go with them."

"Great! I'm so excited!" she said, "Bridesmaids are wearing red, so just make sure you don't buy a red dress."

____________________________________________________________________

I threw clothes on and went into Persephone's room. 

"Here," I said, throwing her a box of condoms, "If Carl doesn't wanna wear them, say I don't care and make him. Don't need another pregnant teenager on this block."

"Why not?" she said, "You don't wear 'em."

I scoffed, "Yeah, because I'm almost twenty-one, and I'm on birth control. You are neither of those."

"Don't worry. We used protection."

My eyes widened and I practically ran over to her, "Wait, what?!" 

She smiled and nodded, "Yeah. But it hurt. So bad."

I chuckled, "Yeah. It's gonna hurt for the first few times, and it's gonna be uncomfortable, but don't worry. That's normal."

"ATHENA! PERSEPHONE! CARL'S HERE LET'S GO!" my dad said.

____________________________________________

I picked out a purple dress, and Persephone was still trying stuff on.

"Daddy, what about this one?"

She had a long sleeve lacy dress on.

"That's beautiful, sweetheart."

"I like it!" I said.

"Yeah," Carl said, smiling.

My dad peered over and looked in the mirror. There was one problem. The dress was very revealing in the back.

"No! Absolutely not."

"Daddy, but-

"Not happening!"