☆

"SOMEONE BOUGHT THE CHECK cashing place on Wentworth," Fiona announced, reading her phone in disbelief as she walked towards the table. Amara didn't look up from the housing website she was on, but Lip did. "A hundred and forty grand."

"Great. Another artisanal pickle shop on the way," Lip mused sarcastically.

Amara scrunched up her nose. "Who even likes pickles?"

"Normal people," he kicked her leg from under the table. "You're just picky."

"Morning, Chief," Fiona saluted when Carl hopped down the steps and walked into the kitchen. Amara kicked his leg back without lifting her head.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Would you like toast, or do you only eat maize?" Fiona teased.

Carl rolled his eyes. "Laugh all you want, but it got me a scholarship into military school."

"Does this mean we get a discount at the Indian casino?"

"Hey, can you hand me the cereal, Marches Without Foreskin?" Lip chimed in.

Amara snorted into her palm as Fiona let out a chuckle. "When do you go?"

"Couple of days," Carl shrugged.

Fiona grunted. "I'm losing my best dishwasher."

"Second best," Lip corrected, and the brunette scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Not even close. Well, there's no chance you're leaving without a Gallagher good-bye party."

Carl bit into an apple, and the entire room fell silent in shock. "What?"

"You just...ate healthy food," Amara stated, eyeing him. "Are you feeling alright?"

He just shrugged. "Gotta get in shape for school."

Lip shook his head. "Carl's got a scholarship and I'm washing dishes. The world is upside down."

Amara stood and dropped her plate in the sink. "Speaking of upside down, I've gotta get to work and save drowning children."

Liam perked from his seat and jumped down with a grin. "Pool!"

☆

Amara had barely sat down on the couch before Ian and Lip came back from the dinner party Debbie had hosted at Sierra's, and both boys nodded their heads in acknowledgement as Liam rushed up the steps to his room. Amara moved the laptop off her legs and raised a brow. "How was dinner?"

Ian scoffed while Lip ran a hand through his hair. "I think we should tell Fi at the same time as you."

Amara furrowed her brows. "That doesn't sound good."

Both boys suddenly reached over the couch to pull her up by her arms. She let out a yelp of surprise and tried to wiggle out of their grips, scowling as they laughed. Amara fell back into Lip's chest, still holding onto Ian's hands as her feet finally reached the floor.

With her heart racing in her chest because of the abrupt contact with Lip, she stepped forward to glare at them. "There was no need for that."

"Yes there was," Ian argued.

"We needed to get you off the couch," Lip finished.

"I could've done it myself-"

"Time to go," Ian announced, dragging her up the steps with Lip trailing behind them. Amara followed and allowed him to pull her, coming to a stop outside of Fiona's room.

Lip knocked on the door, and pushed it open. "Yo," he declared their arrival. It was then she saw the air conditioner stationed right next to Fiona's bed, and Amara had to hold back from grinning. "Hey, uh, Liam's in bed."

"Yeah, Liam is in bed."

"He's in bed."

Fiona stared blankly at the three of them as they continued to look at her, then back down the hall. Ian nodded his head. "Yeah."

"Yup."

Fiona snorted. "Jesus, just come on in. Close the door. Don't let the AC out."

"All right, pop quiz," Lip stated once they all settled onto Fiona's bed. "What's the most Debbie thing Debbie could possibly do?"

Fiona stiffened. "Pregnant?"

"Nope."

Amara shrugged as the boys glanced to her. "Uh, fighting a stranger with her baby in her arms?"

"Good one," Ian said. "No."

Fiona pursed her lips. "Joined the Army using Lip's name?"

Ian chuckled. "Very funny. Try again."

Fiona and Amara shared a look. "Engaged?"

Ian pointed a finger. "Ding ding ding."

Amara's expression flickered in disbelief. "Jesus. Yay for the newly engaged."

Fiona sighed. "Well, I may have been stupid, but at least I was in love."

"And of age," Lip added.

"Too bad I missed the shit show."

"Yeah," Amara agreed. "Would've loved to seen that."

Ian kicked her leg. "I'm sensing sarcasm."

She nudged his leg back. "You're sensing correctly."

Lip offered them a spliff he'd pulled from his pocket. Ian shook his head. "Nah, I've got work in the morning."

"I need it," Lip muttered, lighting it. "Long day."

"Sharesies," Amara demanded, holding out her hand. Lip gave it to her before turning to look up at the ceiling. "Some kid pissed on me at work today."

Fiona laughed loudly. "No way."

"Like intentional?"

Amara shook her head and handed the joint to Fiona. "Fuck, I don't know. He was like four? I think he was just excited. He was asking me where the ice cream stand was and then he just...peed. It was so gross."

Ian cackled. "You're sure it wasn't water running down his legs?"

"Nope. Definitely yellow."

"Did it smell like piss?"

"Did you drink it?"

"Ew!" Fiona yelled out, pushing Lip away as he laughed. "That's disgusting."

"Why would you even ask that?" Amara snickered, hitting his head with a pillow. "Do you know what piss tastes like?"

"Why the fuck would I know what piss tastes like?"

"You asked!"

Lip gave her a look. "Holy shit. You've tasted piss."

Amara shook her head in disgust. "No!"

"Yes you have!"

"I can't believe we're having this discussion right now."

"Just answer the question."

"Why would I drink a random kid's pee?!"

"I don't mean from him! I mean like..."

Amara rolled her eyes and smacked him with the pillow again. "You're nasty."

"I'm making out with a guy with a vagina," Ian announced abruptly, leaning onto his elbow. The three others shared a confused look. "Yeah, he's trans."

"Oh," Lip blew smoke and offered the joint back to Amara, who took it.

"Taking testosterone apparently gives you a giant clit."

Amara rolled her eyes. "As if you men don't have enough testosterone already. Why haven't we met him? What's his name?"

"Trevor," Ian answered, watching Amara give the spliff back to Lip.

"I'm confused," Lip admitted. "Does he have a vagina or no?"

"No, he does. He just doesn't call it that. He calls the whole situation his junk."

"How do you have sex with the junk?" Fiona wondered, tilting her head curiously.

"I don't know," Ian shrugged. "I'm trying to wrap my head around it. I'm really into him."

"Just not so into her?" Lip asked, and Amara roughly kicked her foot in his direction with a frown.

"He's a fucking him, all right?" Ian snapped. "Not a her."

"Jesus," Lip held up his hands. "Sure you don't want a hit?"

"Would you ever pick someone up while doing a load of laundry?" Fiona questioned, and Amara glanced to her. "The laundromat across the street from Patsy's is getting sold."

"The one with the cats?"

"Mm-hmm. I'm just waiting for the bank to approve the loan. Place is getting a makeover. It's gonna be a real scene."

"Who the fuck wants to hang out at a laundromat?" Lip scowled.

Fiona lifted a shoulder into a shrug. "I dunno. Everyone's washing their underwear. What could be sexier than that? DJ. BYOB. They're gonna stay open late. Gay night every Thursday. Hot girls. Plenty of hot guys."

Lip lifted his head. "Actually, it does sound pretty cool."

Fiona smiled. Amara got the gist that there was more to why she was asking, but didn't comment on it as the eldest Gallagher nodded to herself. "Yeah. I think so, too."

☆

a/n

wanted to beat tf out of lip in the last scene