☆

"I MISS CARL," SILVIA announced from her spot at the table as she lazily ate her cereal, and she dropped the spoon back into the bowl with a clang. Amara barely looked up in response from across the kitchen, stood by the counter next to a plate of unseasoned chicken. "When did Fiona say he was getting released again? Debbie is being such a bitch, she's honestly so rude and the whole pregnancy situation is only making it worse."

"Uh-huh," Amara agreed, brows furrowed as she looked towards the older woman in the room. "Well, we don't know if she really is. Fi is taking her to Planned Parenthood today. Did you say barbecue sauce or tarter sauce?"

Gloria shook her head after a moment and walked over to her. "I think I said neither of those. If you put either thing on this chicken you will definitely never be a successful chef."

"I really appreciate the vote of confidence," Amara replied, scowling as her grandmother shooed her aside and went to do it herself. "And yeah, I think Carl is getting out soon."

Silvia grinned from her chair. "Good. I just want my best friend back. Well I want both of them back, but Debbie seems way too far gone for that."

"That boy might not be the same person he was before he got into that hellhole," Gloria told her, smacking the chicken, and Amara scrunched her nose with a wince.

Silvia tilted her head to the side curiously. "How do you mean?"

"Juvie changes people, Via," Amara said, beckoning her over. "And if you hurry up I'll give you a ride to school."

Silvia stood and dumped her plate into the sink. "Any food in the trunk I can steal?"

"Nah, haven't picked anything up yet. Besides, my next client seems like the type of folk that'd count the exact amount of food they ordered, and how much of it was delivered."

Silvia rolled her eyes and bent down to grab her bag. "I hate people like that. Don't they know that I'm a growing teenage girl thats poor? Have some respect."

Amara snorted and shook her head. "Could you go a little faster? I was going to take you to Dunkin but since you're being such a slowpoke..."

Silvia perked up and darted towards the door. "Nope! I'm ready."

They walked towards the door, and Amara pulled it open, stopping short once she saw a familiar face standing on the opposite side of it, just getting ready to knock. Amara's jaw dropped and she grinned. "Oh my God."

"Way to spoil your own surprise," Payton said, rolling her eyes as Amara leaped forward to wrap her into a tight hug. When they pulls apart, Payton eyed her, and flicked a strand of her recently cut hair, which fell above her shoulders. "I dig this new style."

"Curtesy of her three am breakdown over her ex-boyfriend," Silvia stated, smirking, and holding out her hand as Amara pressed a palm to her eyes.

"You must be Silvia."

"Guilty," came her sister's reply, and Amara smacked the back of her head. She heaved a dramatic sigh. "Fine. I'll be in the car. It was nice meeting you."

"You too," Payton waved her goodbye as Silvia disappeared behind the vehicle's tinted windows. The brunette wasted no time turning back to Amara with that gossip face she knew and loved. "You and Lip broke up?"

"Yeah," Amara nodded, shrugging. "Almost a month ago. Claimed he was too busy and thought it was unfair, load of bullshit if you ask me. Probably did so he could leave just like ..."

"Just like what?"

"Nothing," the lie tasted foul in her mouth but she wasnt ready to say it yet. Just like everyone else. "Just wish he'd tell me what I did wrong."

"Probably nothing," Payton said, frowning. "Guys are dicks."

"Yeah, that's true," she nodded. "So what are you here for? And are you staying in town long?"

Payton shook her head as they began to make their way down the steps. "Not sure, actually. Kitchen caught fire at school, burning a lot of the dorms, including mine. So it's temporarily closed until they fix it. And I knew it would be a waste if I blew back to London so I figured I'd take up the offer my girlfriend gave me and stay with her family."

Amara smirked at her. "Girlfriend, huh?"

Payton's face flushed, and she smiled shyly. "Shut up."

"Is it Logan?"

"Please," she scoffed. "Logan never felt the same way I did. Kinda fair, on her part. I kept trying to act like I was straight. What a fucking lie."

Amara snorted and glanced back to her. "That her car then?"

"Yeah. Her family lives up about three hours away from you, but we had to drive through Chicago to get there. And I figured, hey, what the hell? Let's visit my favorite bitch."

"I'm glad you did," Amara said, holding up the friendship bracelet strapped to her wrist. "But actually, I'm sexy."

"Ha-ha."

"I have really missed you. Both of you, actually. Logan sends me pictures of the scenery but that's about it."

Payton snickered. "I get a 'hello' text once a month, so there's that."

"It's good that she's branching out," Amara bit her lip. "Still miss her, though."

"Yeah," Payton glanced around before turning to her. "Well, I've got to go. Sorry this reunion was so short. We should definitely plan a get together soon."

"Oh, definitely," Amara nodded as they embraced each other again. "Drive safe!" She called, but Payton only flipped out her middle finger, making her throw her head back and laugh. Maybe some things didn't change, after all.

☆

"Can you bring this carton of eggs to the Gallagher's?" Amara asked the next morning as she stuffed the rest of the groceries into their respective places. Silvia sleepily wiped her eyes as she came down the stairs. "They were eight dollars for two, so I bought them some. I have to take a shower."

"No can do."

"What?" Amara furrowed her brows and glanced over her shoulder. "Why not?"

"Carl's back."

"I thought that was exactly what you wanted."

"It was," she shrugged, grabbing a waffle from the freezer. "Until I went to go see him and he completely blew me off and acted like I didn't exist. Now I'm back to having zero friends."

Amara sighed. "I'll bring them, then. Maybe you could join a club? You like drawing. Don't they have like some sort of art program at the high school? They did when I graduated."

Silvia straightened a bit. "Yeah, they do, actually. I might join."

She smiled and ruffled her hair, much to her protest, and grabbed the dozen eggs before starting towards the door. "I'll be back in time to take you to school."

"Hey," Ian greeted as she stepped in through the back door, nodding his head as he drank from his coffee mug.

"Hi," she returned the smile and placed the eggs into the fridge. "Brought you these."

"Thank-"

"Fiona!" A voice shouted from the living room, and Amara peered around the wall to catch Carl's eyes. She hadn't seen him since he'd gotten out from juvie, since she'd been working when Fiona planned the welcome home party. Amara wasn't even sure if she would go, anyway, she was sure Lip would've been there, and she was doing all she could to avoid running into him. But the boy standing in the living room was not what she'd been expecting. Carl's hair was pulled into tight braids, and his jeans were sagged. It was definitely a new look.

"Fiona!" Carl yelled again, before realizing she was standing there, and his mouth turned up into a smirk. "Hey, Amara."

She crossed her arms and leaned against the frame next to Ian, noting the two random people stood by the door. "Hey. Dick move you pulled on my sister. Wanna explain that to me?"

He shrugged. "I have no interest in Silvia, but you on the other hand..."

"Knock it off, Carl," Ian narrowed his eyes. "She's too hot for you."

Amara chuckled as Carl scoffed and looked back to the stairs. "Fiona!"

"What?!" Fiona demanded, coming into sight. "Stop yelling! Can I help you?" She questioned at the two random strangers.

"Are you Fiona?" The woman asked.

"Yep."

"We're Derek's parents," she introduced, but Fiona didn't react. Amara recognized the name from Silvia's continuous rants about Debbie and how she had a boyfriend—and connected the dots. "Debbie's friend Derek? We'd like to talk to you about the baby."

If Amara had a drink, she would've spat it out. Luckily, Ian did the job for her, and choked on his coffee. From as far as she knew, Debbie had told Fiona that she wasn't pregnant. Had she lied? Well, obviously she must've lied. Why else would these people be here?

Right on cue, Debbie walked into the living room, looking panicked, still holding her toothbrush. "What baby?" Fiona wondered, shaking her head.

"Derek and Debbie's baby."

Fiona's gaze was murderous as she glanced back to Debbie, who flashed her a nervous smile. Amara knew her eyes went wide as she shared a look with Ian.

Carl looked around in amazement. "Holy shit, what else did I miss?"

☆