Peach Scone(Lip Gallagher)

Chapter 7

A month later;

It's finally time to move into my dorm. Kev helps me move my stuff with his truck.
"You know I'm proud of you" he says
"Everyone's been saying that lately, but thank you"
"And I know Lucy would be proud too"

We soon get to the school and start to unpack my stuff.
"Name?" The old lady at the front desk says
"Skylar Holland"
"Room 356, down the hall to your right"
We make the journey down there and I start to put my sheets on my bed.
Kev helps me put up my string lights and pictures.
I start to decorate my desk. I put a picture of me and Lip in a frame and place it on there.
I then hear the door open
"Hey you must be Skylar! I'm Ashley, your roommate"
"Oh hey, this is my friend Kev." I say, introducing the two
"I like your side of the room. Is this your boyfriend?" She says, pointing to the picture
"Y-Yeah" I reply
"Don't worry,, I won't take him"
"Thanks for the help Kev, I think I'm settled"
"Well then I best be getting. Love ya Sky"
"Love ya Kev" I say hugging him.

After a few hours of silence, Ashley speaks up
"So, tell me about yourself"
"Im from the south side. I lived with my aunt. She passed away last week. I now live with my boyfriend and his family. Um that's about it. Not much more I want to share right now"
"Oh well I grew up on the north side, my best friend, Karen Jackson, and I were inseparable. She moved away with her husband though."
My eyes go wide at that name
Karen motherfucking Jackson
The girl who broke Lip
The girl I had to listen to Lip mourn over for months
I don't say anything
"So what's your boyfriends name?"
"Phillip" I say, not saying his nickname, I couldn't risk it
"Classic." She says
Just then my phone vibrates
It's Lip
"Hey I gotta take this."
I walk outside an answer
"Hey how's it going? Like your roommate?" He asks
"Does the name Ashley ring any bells?"
"Um I think she was Karen's best friend why?"
"She's my fucking roommate! And you're right she was Karen's best friend"
"Shit! Shitty shit" he says
"I know! Fuck me" I say
"I can't I'm at school"
"Phillip!"
"You said it"
"Well I gotta go. I'll be home tomorrow okay?"
"Okay, I'll see you then"
"Okay, bye"
"I love you Sky"
I take a breath
"I love you too Lip"

I'm relieved that she didn't recognize him from the picture.
"So what are you studying?" She asks
"Singing. I'm here to pursue my singing"
"Ohh let me hear"
"You can if you go to the talent show next Monday"
"I'll be there"

The next day, I get up before Ashley.
I write a note saying I went home to visit my friends
I take the L to the Gallagher house and see Lip and Ian sitting on the couch.
"Hey" I say
Lip gets up and hugs me
"I missed you"
"I missed you too, but I saw you two days ago"
"Let's go upstairs and talk"

"So your roommate?"
"Is fucking psycho" I say
"How?"
"She keeps asking me questions. About you, about my life, about my aunt. I'm about to ask for a single room"
"Isn't that more expensive?"
"I got my Aunts life insurance money" I shrug
"She also wants to hear me sing"
"I don't blame her, you sound amazing"
"I told her to come to the talent show Monday"
"But-"
"Chances are you won't run into her. Does she know you?"
"She just knows my name, Lip. She doesn't know my last name I don't think"
"She's Karen's best friend I'm pretty sure she does"
"Just call me Phillip Ronan when she asks about me"
"I was already planning on it."
"Do you know what song you're gonna sing?"
"No idea. I was thinking something by Fall Out Boy But I'm not sure"
"I'm not really into music so I can't help you there love"
"I know" I say, laughing.

Around 3, I walk downstairs to talk to Ian.
"Hey buddy" I say
"Hi Sky, do you like your roommate?"
"Considering the fact that she's friends with Karen Jackson, not so much"
"Jesus" He says
"She keeps asking me weird questions about you guys, Lip, my family, my fucking aunt. It's just creeping me out" I say
"It would me too" He says
"How's Mickey"
"He wants me to move to Mexico with him"
"Do it" I say
"You think I should"
"I know how much that man cares for you, Ian"
"But-"
"When you were gone, he came to my house, bawling his eyes out, holding your military jacket. Sobbing. I took him to my room and let him cry. He didn't leave my bed for 3 days, until I told him we were going to visit you. That's the only thing that got him to get up."
He just looks at me
"That's up to you, but I would do it" I reply
"So if Lip escaped from jail and asked you to move to Mexico with him, you would do it"
"In a heartbeat. But this is about you" I say
"Do you love Mickey" I ask
"Of course- I mean I think I do"
"Then that's your answer." I get up and pay his shoulder
"Think about it" I say, walking out to smoke.
"Hey! When did you get here?" A surprised Fiona asks, walking towards the house
"Around 12" I say
"Sorry I've been at work all day" she says, hugging me
"It's fine, really"
"How was move in day?"
"Eventful. Met my room. She knows Lip."
"Really? How"
"Karen motherfuckin' Jackson"
Her jaw drops
"Seriously?"
"Yep! Apparently her and The devil incarnate were 'inseparable'"
"Does lip know"
"Yeah I told him"
"Well good. Besides that everything go okay?"
"Yeah, just practicing for the talent show Monday"
"Oh that's coming up soon huh?"
"Yeah, and it's free, y'all coming?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world"

Monday night finally rolled around. I was in the lobby of the auditorium, waiting for the Gallaghers
I then spot them, dressed in their nicest clothes
"Hey guys!" I say, hugging all of them
"Oh Hey Mickey" I say, realizing he was there
"Hey" He says
"Lip? Lip Gallagher?" A voice says
"Fucking shit. Not tonight" I say
"Lip? It's me Ashley!"
"Not to be rude but I don't remember you. Karen and I had a thing like 4 years ago, hell I barely remember her" he says
"Oh well I remember you. She loved you! Even when she was with Jody" she says
I take a deep breath and walk away, knowing that it happened years ago I shouldn't be mad.
"Hey, I didn't know he was your boyfriend"
"Well he is okay?"
"Hey Sky" everyone says as the catch up with me
"I gotta go backstage. I saved you guys seats up front. The seats say Gallagher, there's an extra for-"
"Me right?" Ashley says
"No, for Mickey" I say, leading them to their seats and going backstage.

It's about to be my turn and I'm really nervous
"Just act like your singing to me"
Lips words replayed in my head the whole time until I went to stage
"Next to stage; Skylar Holland, singing Heavy by Linkin Park"

"I don't like my mind right now, stacking up problems that are so unnecessary. Wish that I could slow things down, I wanna let go but there's comfort in the panic. And I drive myself crazy thinking everything's about me. Yeah I drive myself crazy cause I can't escape the gravity. I'm holding on, why is everything so heavy? Holding on, so much more than I can carry. I keep dragging around what's bringing me down, if I let go I'd be set free. Holding on, why is everything so heavy? You say that I'm paranoid, but I'm pretty sure the world is out to get me. It's not like I make the choice, to let my mind stay so messy. I know I'm not the center of the universe, but you keep spinning around me just the same. I know I'm not the center of the universe but you keep spinning around me just the same."

I finish the song and walk off stage, earning a round of applause.
"You did amazing babe" Lip says
"Thank you"
We decided to stay for the rest of the show.

After it's over, they all walk me back to my dorm.
"Thank you all for coming, it really meant a lot" I say
"Of course, you're family" Fiona says
I hug all of them, and kiss Lip
"I'll see you guys this weekend, yeah?"
"Of course" they all say
I look over and see Ashley, attempting to flirt with Mickey
"So what's your type"
"Redhead"
"I am downstairs"
"Batshit crazy"
"Check"
"Packin' nine inches" he says, looking at Ian
Ian starts to laugh as Ashley stomps into our dorm.
"That was... interesting" I say
"Well I'll see you guys this weekend! Love you all!" I say

"That was so embarrassing" Ashley says
"I thought you knew that he was gay"
"He's too hot to be gay"
I shrug my shoulders and climb into bed.
"I'm not upset that your dating Lip, just know that Karen's coming back to see her mom, id watch him if I were you"