Blue eyes and Cigerettes // Lip Gallagher [Completed]

1

It was way too early in the morning and summer had finally hit the South Side of Chicago. On the steps of 2119 North Wallace stood the dangerously smart, incredibly witty and obnoxiously loud eighteen year old Charlie Cavanaugh. She took a deep breath while the taxi driver unloaded her luggage, then nodded and began carrying it to the front door. Nostalgia was hitting her like a truck because this was her second home, she stayed there every summer and this year would be no different. Charlie was used to being passed from state to state. During the school year, she stayed with her mother Lindsay, Lindsays boyfriend Brett and his son Lennon. Apart from a couple of weeks spent with her grandparents, she stayed with her father, Chase, a military officer who was rarely home so she adopted the Gallagher's as her third family. She was practically the seventh sibling and their kindness was not taken for granted, Chase mentored Ian in ROTC and helped them whenever he could. Charlie had just graduated high-school and was eagerly awaiting to go to her dream school, her relationship with her mother was rocky, this was the fourth time Lindsay had kicked her out to live with Chase but she was adamant this time was serious because Charlie was no longer in school. However, Fiona was more than happy to take her in so she wasn't worried.

Once she hauled everything up and opened the door that was never locked, she stepped into the all-too familiar living room. There was someone watching television, she couldn't see who, all she could see was a horror scene that was making her want to throw up that mornings breakfast. "Jesus" she whispered in disgust before walking over to the sofa to try and find the remote to turn it off but instead was greeted by her favourite three year old and youngest Gallagher, Liam, who was watching it with a smile. "Charlie" he shouted through an even bigger smile as she turned it off. "Yeah, it's me" she whispered, he threw himself at her so she picked him up and began pressing kisses all over his face. Greetings like that are what confirmed to her every single time that Chicago was her home. "I missed you too much bud" she whispered as he buried his head in the nape of her neck. She had a special bond with every Gallagher.

"Who are you talking to Bean ? One of the kids up?" a tired Fiona called from the kitchen but was ignored. Charlie had her finger over her own lips to tell him not to spoil the surprise which he understood. As she was ignored, Fiona walked in confused but she went from furrowed eyebrows to a massive smile in milliseconds. "No way" she shouted with her hands over her mouth as Charlie nodded, put Liam down and outstretched her arms for the tightest hug ever. "I have you this summer before you go to school, right ?" she asked hopefully as Charlie shrugged. "If you'll have me" she said timidly as Fiona laughed and hugged her again. "Charlie" Debbie hollered as she ran down the stairs, she was practically sliding down the bannister with excitement. "I told you, I told you she was coming Carl" she kept shouting to the boy who was hot on her heels.

"Hi Debs" she said through as even bigger smile as she let go of Fiona to hug the red-headed girl who'd practically jumped into her arms. "I missed you, so, so, so, so much. I missed your makeup too, but I missed you more" she explained, excitement was laced in her voice and it made Charlie even happier that she was loved enough to be missed that much. She was expecting Carl to give her an awkward side hug since he was in the awkward teenager phase but he didn't, he jumped into her arms the same way as Debbie. "Jesus, you're a whole man now" she said, shocked at how much he'd grown. "How old are you now ?" she asked, trying to do the math but he responded quickly that was "twelve and dateable". "Is that deodorant I smell ? Keep wearing it Mister Gallagher and I'll have to think about it" she joked as Debbie and Fiona laughed but he looked pretty smug about it, he'd been in love with her for as long as he could remember but he had some competition.

"Lip and Ian asleep ?" she asked the boy who looked annoyed that she'd asked about them and not him but nodded so she bounded up the stairs. Growing up, she was always the closest to Lip and Ian. From day one, she thought of Ian as her little brother, she made it her duty to make sure he was safe and away from harm. She was the second person he came out to last year, after Lip of course. She cried a lot, hugged him and told him that he could love whoever he wanted. She vowed that she'd support him until the day she died, she just wanted him to know that it was okay. It was the biggest relief to him.

Meanwhile Charlie and Lip's relationship was very different. They both had brains to spare, they both had too much potential with no real intention of doing much with it and both could be devious little shits when they wanted to be. Growing up Fiona expected a knock on the door from whatever cop was bringing Lip, Charlie and Ian home, even though Charlie didn't live there, she was always brought back there. It was always Lip and mostly Charlie who were the masterminds of whatever they got up to, Ian just always went along with it. She could never consider Lip a brother because they were each others first everything, first kiss, first date, first relationship (they were 15 and it lasted about a month until they realized it just wasn't meant to be) and the pair both lost their virginity to eachother. It would've been weird to call him her brother but the pair were still so close despite all of it . They supported and cared for eachother through everything, it just didn't help that they both had a reputation of being sluts because either way, feelings always came into the equation.

She ripped back the curtains and jumped right onto Ian's stomach. "Wake up" she shouted while hitting  the boy who was groaning in pain but still had his eyes closed with a pillow. "Fuck off Fiona" he mumbled as she scoffed and got off him. "I'm not Fiona" she said with her hands on her hips, she cracked open one eye, it was all he needed, once he saw her he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto the bed. "Charlie" he whispered, it was as if he couldn't believe she was really there. "I missed you" she whispered as he smiled. "I missed you too" he said while resting his head on her shoulder, they stayed like that for awhile. Chase had a rule, you never pull away from a hug first because you never know how much the other person may need it. Once he pulled away, she threw herself back so she was lying next to him. "Lip will be so happy to see you. Are you coming back to work with me and Kash ?" he asked as she smiled. "If there's room for me. My only condition is you two fucking tell me before you bang" she said in disgust, trying to shake the memory of the time she forgot her jacket and went back to the store to see them wearing the wrong shirts and shoes. "He said he'd love to have you back and no promises" he said through an evil laugh as she shook her head and climbed up to see Lip.

She sat bolt upright next to him and shook him awake. "It's summer Fi, let me sleep" he shouted with both of his eyes shut as she smirked. "Ian thought the same thing" she began as Lip immediately smiled and opened his eyes. "Bubs ?" he asked. "Yes" she said back as he hugged her. "I missed you so much" he said while pulling her on top of him as she smiled. "I missed you too Lipstick" she said softly as her smile grew wider so Ian coughed. "I'm really hungry, can we go downstairs and fucking eat please ?" he asked desperately as Charlie jumped off the top bunk to stand next to an already dressed Ian. "How's my dad been to you ?" she asked as Ian nodded. "Really good. He was teaching me how to shoot the other day. He was pretty excited you were coming to Chicago and wished he was actually home to have you there" he said as Charlie frowned. "Yeah ? Well, I'll have to meet up with him then won't I ?" she said while tapping Ian's shoulder as Lip announced he was ready and the trio walked downstairs.

"There's something real refreshing about seeing you three together again. It's like this is the way it's supposed to be" Fiona said while taking a sip of her coffee as Charlie tried to wipe the smile off her face but couldn't so grabbed the box of cereal from the counter, fixing herself a bowl and sat down. The boys shortly followed after her.

"So, I'm guessing you'll be contributing to the squirrel fund" Debbie said seriously, she'd really grown up since Charlie last saw her, in one hand the girl had a cup of coffee just like her sister and the other held a blue pen that was leaning on a notebook. "Of course I will, I'll have my job at the Kash and Grab and hopefully Kev's ice-cream truck" she said while looking to Fiona who nodded. "I don't see why you wouldn't. Kevs been raving about how your smile attracts customers all year" she said while putting a spoon into Liam's cereal bowl and placing it on the table infront of him. Lip had been flushed and fidget the whole time, it was new to her. "I'll go check" he said quickly while picking up a slice of toast as Charlie shook her head. "It's alright lipstick, I'll go myself" she began, just wanting to savour her first couple of hours with the family but before she could protest anymore, he was gone.