1955 S Trumball Ave

Chapt. 4

                                               "The world is weird. Let's keep it that way"
                                                                            -Warren Ellis
After I finally woke up fully and made sure I helped Fiona get the kids off to school, I sat down at the table while she was washing dishes.

"So.... how was it? Growing up here?" I asked while playing with a dirty fork. She looked up and made a weird face at me, almost as if I was insulting here.

"It wasn't the heaven I'm sure your used to." She said softly. I almost took it the wrong way but decided she was right. I grew up completely different than they did...and in a very privileged family that worked hard but still it was exactly heaven compared to their hell.

"I just want to know more about you guys. We're family... we need to get to know each other more." I said confidently.

"Well. Mom and dad got drunk and high whenever, wherever, and however they could. I had to drop out of school just to take care of everyone. I was in track, you know? I could have made it doing something.. a dr, a lawyer....hell even a fuckin' business owner if I wanted. But no.. someone had to make sure those kids were good since Frank and Monica wouldn't and unfortunately I was the one stuck doing it. Monica's always been in and out of our lives.. always. hasn't stuck around for more than two weeks to a month at a time then she disappears and re appears when ever she thinks shes ready to be a mom or when she needs money again."

I just looked at her silently and nodded. How dare I grow up with everything I ever dreamed of while she struggled to even take care of the siblings we share? I felt so guilty...

"I'm sorry, Fiona. I wish I could have helped.." I said quietly. I didn't know what to do. Fi brought a hand up to her eye and wiped a tear and smiled.

"It's not your fault. And you're here helping us now. That's better than nothing. It just frustrates me because if I would have known that you were even alive I would have fought just to have you around" She smiled looking at me and I nodded.

"I know." I grabbed Liam and decided to take him and Fiona to the mall..treat them to lunch.

----

We settled in to our seats on the pier and Fi began to eat and I just sat there quietly holding Liam, taking in the air around me and the setting. Florida was nice all year round don't get me wrong but it was nothing compared to here.

"What do you do exactly?" Fiona asked, and i looked over at her.

"What do you mean?" I looked at her puzzled.

"You're not a drug dealer or a car thief are you? We already got to deal with Steve being the family car thief and I'm not to keen on drugs being around the kids." She asked, chewing her salad and staring at me. I was kind of embarrassed of what I do, but at the same time it allowed us the ability to buy the things we wanted without worry and within reason.

"You know that club downtown?" I asked looking at Liam and smiling at him.

"The strip club? Yeah why?"

"I dance there. Waitress or bar tend when they need someone to." I smiled, bouncing Liam on my leg as i spoke. I loved this little kid, he's such a happy baby.

"Dahlia really? A stripper?" She asked. She didn't sound disappointed but I'm sure she wasn't happy either.

"I mean. I've always been accustomed to pole dancing. I did it back home for fun. It's actually a great form of exercise. But when I got up here I figured I might as well put my talents to work so I could help out with everything at home and still be able to save up for when I want to get my own place" I said placing Liam in his kiddie seat finally taking a sip of the water I ordered.
 
Fiona nodded and smiled. I silently praised who ever was listening that she wasn't upset.
Then my phone started going off, and when I looked at who was calling I got kind of surprised.

"What, Milkovich?" I asked, staring at the passing by yachts and little fishermen boats.

"Well fuck you to Gallagher. I was going to see what you were doing." I heard Mickey's deep voice on the other end and smiled. He pissed me off a lot, but he was nice to have around.

"I'll have you know, Milkhalo, I'm having lunch with my sister and my baby brother. I'm not terrorizing the city of Chicago, something you should figure out how to do" I said, giggling as I went. Mickey HATED when ever people called him by his real name but for some reason he let me slide with it every time I called him that.

"Gallagher, You're lucky."

"How so?" I asked attempting to push his buttons.

"Meet me at the park at 7." He spoke and then the line when dead.

"ok..." I said out loud.

"What did Mickey want?" Fi looked at me, the interest apparent in her face.

"Mickey's fucking weird, first of all. I don't know what he wanted in all honesty but I guess he want's to meet me at the park at 7?"

"Ya know, that boy has a hard on for you kid." I heard a familiar voice say and I turned to look who it was and was greeted by a happy and smiling Veronica.

"How do You figure?" I asked.

"Well, for starters he stopped fucking that Angie girl every guy has damn near fucked on the south side. " Fi said and then Veronica continued.

"And he also asked Ian and Kev if they knew what kind of flowers and shit you liked."

"Mickey Milkovich is not the cutsey flowers and date type of guy. He probably wants something." I spoke trying to dismiss the whole conversation.

"Or someone."

"Veronica!"

"What? It's true Fi! You know as well as I do that that boy has no emotions and what emotions he does have is usually used with his dick or is behind his anger when he's beating the shit out of someone" I sighed.

Fucking Mikhalo Milkovich.

~~

Around 6:00 pm, I started getting ready. In all honesty I should be headed to work now but I was going to have to be a little late. Although in my head I knew that Mickey probably just needed me to run a gram or two of coke to one of the girls at work, the butterflies in my stomach were dancing around and saying that it was because he actually wanted to see me.  Mickey's never seen me dance before at work, and in all honesty I would genuinely be mortified if he had.

"Who are you getting pretty for Dahlia?" Debbie asked, popping her head into the room.

"I gotta get ready for work, but I'm meeting Mickey before Debs. " I continued flat ironing my hair as I talked, trying to not be rude but also get this shit done seeing as I didn't have a hell of a lot of time.

"I wish I had someone to get pretty for... everyone just looks at me like trash." Debbie spoke staring at me intently.

"Debbie you're still a kid. You don't need to look pretty for anyone yet" I said, looking at her mid blend of my eye shadow.  She nodded and walked off, i just sighed. Poor thing was trying to grow up to fast. When I was satisfied with how I looked I put on my coat and grabbed my work bag and purse went down stairs to find Fi.

"Fi? I need the keys I'm headed to work." She tossed them to me without a care in the world and I smiled. FI does so much for this family and barely gets a thank you... i hope she knows how much everyone appreciates it.

After I got into the car and started it my phone went off, signaling to me someone had texted me. Knowing who it was I just ignored it and headed to the park, excited as can be to see what he wanted.



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So how is everyone liking this series? Honestly I feel like a shit writer and if you feel the same let me know! id like to improve!!

But on a positive note were starting to see a little bit of the Mickey and Dahlia relationship! I'm excited for you guys to see it unfold!