Middle Child Syndrome- Ian Gallagher

we're not back together

I moved back into my parents' place two days after that night with Ian. Turns out I wasn't the only one in the relationship who fucked an ex. Well, not exactly fucked, but Ryder was going behind my back and talking about getting back together with Emma, which honestly is worse considering how much dirtier she did him than Ian did me. But it helped me to get over it quicker.

As for Ian and I? We fucked still, but it was casual. I had no intention of getting back together, and I think Ian was on the same page. Heavy on THINK.

After work, Ian and I were at his place while he made breakfast for dinner. After he served Debbie's night nurse, Fiona and Lip came, causing her to swiftly move upstairs.

"Is she still scared of me?" Fiona said.

"Well, she did watch you bounce Frank's head down a flight of stairs."

I laughed at the image of that.

"How do you say He had it coming in Nigerian?"

"What are you guys doing up anyway?" Lip said to Ian and I.

I laughed, "Caleb wouldn't stop drunk texting him, so I called him and cursed him out. And Ryder tried to call me, and Ian cursed him out. Who needs therapy when you can do that?"

"Tinder rocks!" Fiona said.

"You're still on Tinder?" I said, "I thought that was a one-time thing."

"Tinder makes it simple, though," Fiona said,  "No confusion, no misguided weddings. Now I just bone and go, so I can save my energy for more important things."

"Like what?" Lip said.

"Like my job."

"Patsy's Pies?" Lip inquired, "You sure you wanna direct all your freed-up energy there?"

"You're one to talk," Fiona shot back, "You spend all day working for free."

"She has a point," Ian said.

"Yeah, well my bullshit internship is gonna turn into a non-bullshit career," Lip said.

We were all silent, knowing exactly what he was implying. 

"What? It's no offense."

"Wow," Fiona smiled sarcastically, "Some taken."

She went upstairs. 

"Kinda harsh," Ian said.

 "Only 'cause it's true."

"You sure? Working for free is called slave labor last time I checked."

"You're a real piece of shit, Lip," I said, "Fiona works her ass off to keep that place running, and so do I. How hard is it to say good job or proud of you, sis?!"

Lip said nothing, making me roll my eyes. 

"Whatever. I'm going to sleep. I gotta get up early tomorrow," I said. 

"I'll walk you out," Ian said.

We were about to walk out when Lip said, "You two back together now?"

I scoffed, "We're not back together."

We walked outside and I noticed Ian looked uneasy, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I was gonna say we're not back together because I didn't wanna get asked so many fuckin' questions, but why did you say no?"

"Because we're not?" I said, "At least I never thought we were back together. And we both just got out of relationships. I don't think getting back together is the best thing right now."