In Another Life ▻ Fiona Gallagher

01. chapter one

A siren rang in the distance as Julian walked his way down the street. It was nothing foreign to hear a sound such as that in the south side, and having grown up straddling the line between the north and south, he was more than used to it. Even after not being in town for several years, nothing had really changed, or at least not enough for it to matter.

With every block, every house was just the same, albeit slightly aged, and every business was still just as worn down. He gradually made his way toward the business side of town, hands shoved in his pockets as he walked, hood pulled up over his head to break the chill of the autumn air.

Julian rounded one last corner, approaching the entrance of a local diner of sorts, Patsy's Pies. They'd always had some of the best pies, along with food that tasted as homemade as restaurant food could. Stepping inside, the male looked around, choosing a table and taking a seat.

After a few moments, a waitress came over to bring him a menu and take his drink order. She informed him that they were in the middle of a shift change, that his server would be with him soon. Julian thanked her and started to look over the menu, though he knew in his mind that he'd undoubtedly order the same burger and fries that he always did.

A few more minutes passed, and soon, he saw a new waitress approaching him. Apart from seeing that a woman in a Patsy's uniform was heading his way, he didn't take notice to much else. He had a full day planned, and he had only wanted to stop for a bite to eat, so that was his focus in that moment.

"Hi, thanks for waiting. What can I get for you?" the brunette asked, and Julian froze.

He would know that voice anywhere. Though it sounded a bit aged, that voice had been burned into his brain from the time he was fifteen, and it was impossible to forget. He should know, after all, he'd definitely tried.

Lowering his menu, he looked up at the female, eyes questioning as he took in the sight of her. It had been over five years since he'd really seen her, and she still looked just as good as he remembered. Life had worn her down, he could tell, but if there was anything that he knew about Fiona Gallagher, it was that life could never keep her down.

"Fiona?" Julian questioned, noting in his mind how stupid it was to question that it could truly be her. Who else would it be?

"Julian! Holy shit, it's been what, years? How are things?" Fiona asked, her head tilting with the question.

The two hadn't parted on bad terms, per se, yet it hadn't been a great way to end things, either. The two had been together when Fiona dropped out of school, and from that point on, they seemed to gradually fall out of touch until eventually, the only time that they spoke was when they'd run into each other in public.

After high school, Julian left Chicago, heading off to college and to begin a life for himself. It wasn't until a day ago that he'd returned, intent on spending some time reminiscing on his past, among other things. He had no idea, however, just how much of his past would come out to play.

"Things are.. things are good," he replied with a little chuckle, eyes roaming over her frame, then back to her face. "I'm back in town for a little while. It seems like the same old neighborhood," he spoke, taking a glance out of the window, then back in her direction.

"It might as well be," Fiona laughed lightly, nodding. "Some things have changed, but it's definitely the same old south side," she shrugged. Shaking her head as she looked him over, she noted all of the small changes about him. He had some facial hair now, when before he'd always kept himself clean shaven for school. It suited him.

Despite any changes, Fiona observed that he definitely still had the same soft eyes. They'd always differed from the persona he put forth to anyone who would accept it — that he was tough, an asshole, someone not to fuck with. While that was true, Fiona had known the other side of him, the side that was warm, that showed he cared, and was fiercely protective of not only himself, but her too.