Alcohol and Cigarettes// Lip Gallagher

One

"Caroline, get up!"
    My eyes forced themselves open and I found my mom standing at the end of my bed, buttoning her uniform for work. I groaned, rubbing my eyes.
    "What time is it?" I squinted at the clock and realized I was about to be late for school.
    "Oh shit," I jumped out of bed and threw on a pair of black skinny jeans and a white t-shirt.
    "You need to take your brother to school, I have to be at work earlier than usual, there's a case we need to get on right away." My mom followed me out of my room and stood in the doorway to the bathroom while I brushed my teeth. She was a forensic scientist, so she had to be at all of the crime scenes to check for finger prints etcetera.
    "Okay, got it. Can I take dad's car?"
    She sighed and I caught the typical eye roll I always got when we talked about dad.
     "Yeah, he won't be up for awhile. He's fucked up again." She checked her wrist watch then kissed my cheek, "gotta go, love you sweetie, have a good day please."
    "No promises!" I hollered back at her as she walked down the hall.
    "Did you eat breakfast?" I asked my brother, Tommy, while I grabbed my dad's car keys off of the kitchen counter.
    "Yeah, I made waffles!" Tommy grinned, slipping his little Mickey Mouse backpack on his back.
    I smiled, "all by yourself?"
    Tommy nodded and followed me out the front door to our dad's new Porsche. I helped him hop into the passengers seat then we left for school.

    "Miss Malcom, you're late."
    I sat down in my seat, ignoring my teachers comment, and rolled my eyes at my partner, Lip Gallagher.
    "Ignore him," Lip whispered, "everything okay?"
    I shrugged, bringing my hand up for my head to rest on, "my dad's fucked like always. Woke up late, had to take Tommy to school."
    "Ahh," Lip nodded, "wanna hang out after school? I got smokes, Fiona bought them for me last night, and weed-"
    I shook my head, "can't. I'm hanging out with Alfie."
    Lip's smile dropped but I pretended not to notice.
   "Right."
    "Karen would probably love to hang out with you. Ask her." I tried to help, but I doubt I did.
    "Yeah, thanks," was all he said before tuning back into the lesson.

    School was finally over for the weekend and I was ready to go home and watch movies with Alfie. I was going to let him ride home with me, but he said he had errands to run and he would be over later.
    "Caroline, wait up!"
    I turned around to see Lip running up to me. I stopped and waited outside the door for him to catch up.
    "What?" I asked as we started walking to my dad's car.
    "It's Friday," Lip started, leaning on the car as I shoved my backpack into the backseat. "You wanna go see a movie later?"
   
    Lip was cute, I've thought so for awhile, but Karen had a thing for him, and she still has a thing for him. The way his hair was just right, and his eyes were so big and blue; even the way he smoked a cigarette was breathtaking. But Karen was my best friend, I couldn't do that to her. Plus, I've been dating Alfie for almost a year now. What kind of girlfriend would I be to go see a movie with another guy?
   
    I shook my head, "my mom wants me home and we're going to have dinner with Alfie and his parents," I made up the first excuse that came to my mind. "I'm sorry, maybe some other time."
    Lip shook his head, "nah, it's cool. I get it. Your so caught up in Alfie that you can't even make time for your friends anymore."
    I shook my head, "no, Lip, that's not it. I've just had these plans for awhile."
    "Yeah," he nodded, "see you around."
     I watched him walk away, a heaviness settling in my chest. I hated to see him like this, but I couldn't do that to Karen or Alfie.
     I got in the car and drove straight home since my mom had texted me saying she picked up Tommy from school. As soon as I got inside I went to my room and kicked my shoes off, getting a movie ready for me and Alfie to watch when he got here.

AN//
First chapter, many more to come✌🏼️
-Sky❤️😊