★

WHEN THEY GOT BACK home, Amara was surprised to discover that Frank was in jail (this information was told to her by a very hungover and sad Ian, who refused to leave his bed) and that Mickey had in fact, gone through with the wedding and was officially hitched to a woman. Jimmy was nowhere to be seen, and anytime someone brought up the absent man, Fiona went apeshit and threatened to hit them all with spatulas until they finally learned to stop mentioning him.

Secretly, Amara was disappointed. She really did like Jimmy—she thought he was good for Fiona. Maybe it was because he stayed. And that was the total bare minimum, but around there, it meant a lot. Staying meant you cared—and nobody ever cared enough to stick around. Plus, he always bought her Starbucks in the mornings and she'd one-hundred percent miss that.

To add onto the shock, Gloria had told her that Margot's face popped up over the weekend that they'd been gone. Her mother was currently passed out on the couch, a half-empty bottle of rum sat next to her on the coffee table. Amara had quickly steered her younger sister out the back door in order for her to avoid seeing that mess.

Eventually, everything went back to normal, well as normal as their lives got—and Amara dropped off the rent to the landlord while she was out grocery shopping before catching a bus back home.

She'd been in the middle of shifting the bags onto her opposite arm when something hard shoved into her shoulder, and her gaze snapped up to see a man rushing by her.

"Watch it, slut!"

She narrowed her eyes. "Watch yourself, pig!"

But her confidence slipped away when the man slowly turned to face her. "What'd you say?"

"Oh, what?" She swallowed the bundle of nerves. "Now you're suddenly deaf?"

"You better watch what you say, little bitch, otherwise you'll regret it."

Amara felt her fist collide with his jaw before she realized what she was actually doing, and the random man stumbled backwards, clutching his face. Her eyes widened, completely stunned at herself. The last time she punched someone it didn't go over too well... The thought hit her like a truck, and without giving him a chance to retaliate, she spun on her heel and sprinted the entire way back to her block, finally allowing her legs to slow when she stopped right outside of her house. She glanced behind her, breathing heavily.

She did not want another James situation. That one summer had been hell because of him—she'd spent her days trying to pay the rich asshole money so his father wouldn't sue her. Fuck, she hated the north side. At least this civilian didn't know who she was.

She straightened up, still completely out of breath. "Definitely don't regret that."

"Didn't regret what?" A voice asked, and she whirled to see Fiona standing on the Gallagher's porch with Liam in her hands, smirking slightly at her. "What did you do?"

She shrugged. "Punch some asshole."

Fiona snorted. "Nicely done."

"I try."

★

Lip was graduating. Well, technically getting his diploma, at least. Amara didn't know if it counted as graduating considering they were in the middle of the term, and because he was only going to the guidance office to get it. But her boyfriend seemed to be treating it like any other day, she realized, even though her and Fiona had been encouraging him that this was a big deal.

Amara had punched his arm before going to work her shift at the Alibi, as if that'd somehow change his mind about things, even though she knew it wouldn't.

She'd been busy cleaning out a glass when she heard the familiar voice of Frank Gallagher. "Need a round."

She raised a brow and poured a shot before sliding the cup over to him. "They let you out? Wow."

"Mind your business," he waved her off and downed his drink.

She shared a look with Kate, who was on break and sitting at a barstool a foot away, doing a crossword. puzzle "Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine today?" Amara muttered, before resuming her task, and heading into the back room to grab something.

"And enable your truancy?" She heard Kate ask as she stepped back out to the bar. Amara felt her lips turn up into a smile when she saw Lip standing there. "This place is pathetic enough already."

"Not skipping school," he corrected. "Surprisingly...They let me graduate."

"Good for you," Kate smiled. "This one's on the house."

Lip grinned at her, before his eyes flickered over to Amara, who eagerly bounced over to him. "Let me see it," she demanded. He huffed and rolled his eyes dramatically before pulling a folded up piece of paper from out of his pocket. Amara gently straightened the flaps out and examined it in awe. "You just got ten times sexier."

He snorted and slowly sipped on his drink. "Thanks."

She leaned over the counter to kiss his cheek. "I'm proud of you."

"For what?" Frank asked from four seats over. "Did he get expelled again?"

Amara frowned. "He got his diploma, dipshit."

"Mar," Lip scratched his head. "Don't bother it's-"

"My boy!" Frank bursted out, rushing over to them. Amara blinked in shock, and even Lip seemed taken aback. "Why didn't you say something? We need to celebrate." Frank turned to face the rest of the customers. "Attention, denizens of this dump."

"Frank, you okay?" Tommy asked when the other man clutched his stomach. Amara shifted on her feet in suspicion.

"Better than ever. Because my progeny has joined the ranks of the graduated." The room clapped and cheered. Lip nodded his head, basking in the attention while putting a cigarette to his mouth. "Which makes official something that we've long known. That the Gallaghers are head and shoulders above you shitbirds."

"Seriously, Frank, you look like crap," Tommy pointed out.

"You're one to talk, Tommy," he shot back. "You're one bucket of KFC Extra Crispy away from giving Precious a run for her money."

Tommy stood up and Lip laughed. Amara scowled and whacked his arm. "You know I got a fucking thyroid condition. I could still kick your ass."

"Why don't you put your money where your halitosis-ridden mouth is," Frank challenged.

Amara buried her head in her hands. "Here we go."

Kate put a hand between them. "I'm not mopping up more blood and teeth. Figure out another way to settle your pissing contest."

"Fine! Pissing contest."

"Let's go."

"I didn't mean it literally," Kate shouted, pulling a face of disgust. Amara shook her head and poured herself a shot.

"Push-ups!" Frank went on, and Amara decided to tune him out. But soon, the entire bar was committed to watching this unfold, everyone was placing their bets. Amara stood and watched with Kate from behind the counter, smirking slightly as Lip got put in charge of the money.

They got to thirty-one before the last man standing was Frank, and he stood up to wrap Lip in a hug. Amara, truthfully, thought the entire thing was stupid, but she watched the father and son duo with a full heart, and tossed her thoughts to the side.

Because Lip Gallagher was smiling and that was the only thing that mattered.

★

"Fuck, wait are you supposed to put the butter or cheese in first?"

"You're making it boxed?"

Amara glanced up from the pot of boiling noodles. "I don't know how to cook."

"Well, that much was clear," Gloria stood up slowly. Amara stepped out of the way as her grandmother walked to the stove. "I'll have to teach you."

"Why? Wanna make me a good housewife like you?"

"You're a sarcastic little shit, you know that?"

"Had no idea."

Gloria shook her head, and flicked off the knob and the fire disappeared. "I'll do the rest. I've tried your cooking before...Besides you need to get ready."

Amara glanced down to herself. "Jeans and a ripped up t-shirt aren't party material?"

"Go."

"Fine," she huffed and turned to walk up the stairs. Amara sorted through the clothes she had strung up in her closet—her only somewhat decent clothes were tucked away there, which she wore for special occasions. She hadn't been in her room for five minutes before someone knocked on her door. She glanced up with a skirt still in her hands as Ian made his way inside. "Hey."

He swallowed. "Hey."

"What do you think about this outfit?"

"Very preppy."

"Mm," she made a face. "You're right. Gross."

There was a silence that fell over them. Amara stared at him curiously, sensing that he had something to say. "Mara..."

"Yes?"

"I'm leaving," he said very quietly, and she wouldn't have caught it if he weren't so close.

"W-what?"

"I enlisted in the army. I can't...I can't be here. With him. Watching him with her." She went to open her mouth, but he shook his head. "Don't try to talk me out of it. Just don't. I came here to say goodbye."

She bit her lip, but nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?" He repeated. "That's it?"

"Well you just told me not to talk you out of it," she shrugged, watching him sadly. "But if you need to, do it. I'll miss you everyday you're gone, but I won't stop you."

"Going to Mandy's after this," he mumbled. "Can't leave without telling her, either."

She nodded again. They looked at each other in silence before Amara dropped the clothes in her hands and brought him into a tight hug. "Fuck, Ian. I'm gonna miss you so much."

His hand came to stroke the back of her hair. "I'll miss you too."

She pulled away after a long moment. "Promise you'll call. Or text, or something. I can't live without knowing you're alright."

He squeezed her hand. "I promise, Amara."

★

a/n

aaaaaand onto season four :))