Between the bars | Ian Gallagher

two

I walk into school with my heavy bag on my black, peering through the halls constantly.
I don't want the teachers to notice the bruise on my face, at least before school starts.
The bruise wasn't from last night though, it was from two days ago when I walked in on him drunk another time.
I walk to my locker and my shaking hands frantically try to open it up.
I find the concealer from my locker and close the door, looking down as I make my way to the safety of the bathroom.
I'm turning the corner as I collide with someone, falling to the floor.
I look up immediately and forget all about the bruise to see Ian Gallagher staring down at me.
"I'm so sorry, are you ok?" He asks, helping me up
"I'm fine," I say making my way to the bathroom, I feel a grab at the same arm from last night and scream in pain.
"Wait are you ok, your eye-," he says
"Yeah I'm fine," I snap, but I'm not fine at all and he knows that just as well as I do. I walk to the bathroom, hoping he doesn't tell anyone.

People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
They push and shove
And won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still

________________

It's finally Geography which is the last period of the day. The reason I'm skipping to this bit is because the other details aren't important.
I only care about what's important and I hope you do too.
I walk into the classroom and scan it to find a seat, the only one left is next to Ian.
I sigh, putting my books on the table and ignoring the look he won't stop giving me.
Could it be sympathy? Does he know how I feel too?
Or is it judgement.
I feel his eyes on me, looking up and down.
I turn to look at him and he diverts his attention elsewhere. But what gets me is when I hear.
"Group project," the teacher says, and everyone in the class looks up.
"Now that got your attention, this assessment is worth 100 percent of this terms mark, 25 percent of the end of years. We only have one assignment but I expect you to be thorough, I expect you to be invested in this assignment. You have a month and a half to complete it and I want a 10,000 word report about major landscapes in Illinois. Talk about the nature, the beauty! Everything you see that's so beautiful it makes you hysterical!" I see Ian look at me from the corner of my eye and my face turns as red as a tomato.
"Now I will be choosing your groups. For the sake of you all I'm putting overachievers with overachievers and underachievers with...well underachievers. You can thank me for this later,"
He calls out of a list of names and I hear mine, then Ian's.
"I'll be excited to see what you two bring back to me. You know why I put you together, you're my best students," he smiles, almost forgetting about everyone else he's pissed off in the room.
I turn to face Ian who's already staring back at me.
I give him a small smile and we sit in silence for what seems like forever.
"So... where do you want to go first?" He asks with a grin.