HARD TIMES ━ lip gallagher²

03 | my stalker

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"YOU SEE WHAT FRANK'S," doing down the block?" Veronica asked, stepping into the kitchen as Amara handed her sister a measuring cup, glancing up with furrowed brows. "Come on, we gotta get the Gallagher's and then I'll show you."

Amara nodded and looked to Silvia. "Make sure you don't let that burn, add the rest of the seasoning in like three minutes."

All of the Gallagher's, Amara, Svetlana, and Kevin, followed after Veronica as she led them down the sidewalk. Amara raised a brow once she saw dozens of people lined up outside of one of the recently renovated homes, loading food that the church was supplying for them onto their plates.

Amara shook her head in disbelief as Frank appeared at the top of the steps. "Pile it on, friends. Don't be shy. Get your fill. God does not want you to go out into your busy day of begging without a full belly."

"It's amazing he's willing to provide for a bunch of strangers but not for his real blood," Amara said, sarcasm dripping from her tone as their group stepped closer.

"Wow," Fiona scoffed. "My family is really upping the ante, huh?"

"Tell me about it," Veronica agreed. "I got three kids, a wife, a husband, and a father-in-law with a giant johnson that I've seen twice already."

Fiona and Amara shared perplexed looks over Veronica's head. "What?"

Veronica didn't remove her gaze from the homeless shelter sign in front of them. "We've got a lot to catch up on," she mused.

"What is this?" Svetlana asked, pushing Fiona out of the way to wrap her arm around Veronica's shoulders. The brunette scowled at the back of her head, and Amara pursed her lips before looking away. "Looks like Communist Russia."

"'Gallagher Home for the Homeless?'" Ian read, gesturing to the shitty looking sign that was strung above the door.

"That smells good," Kevin muttered, walking forward until Veronica put a hand out to stop him. Amara ducked her head to hide a snort.

"Frank, you can't have a homeless shelter here," Lip called from next to Amara, and she nearly jumped out of her own skin. That explained the tingling in her stomach, but she didn't know he'd been so close. Their arms brushed as he moved to stand in front of her.

"I beg to differ, neighbor," Frank responded, his hold around some random blonde woman.

"Mama!" Liam yelled, rushing to them. Amara felt her face pull in disgust as he hugged Frank and the unnamed girl.

"Unbelievable," Amara muttered, turning to go home with the others.

"Hey," Lip sidled up to her. "Let me walk you back."

"We live next door to each other," she reminded him, lagging behind the rest of the group. "I think I can make it the ten feet from your house to mine without any help."

"I know you can," he nodded. "Doesn't mean I don't want to spend those extra fifteen seconds with you."

"Well I don't," she rolled her eyes and quickened her pace. Lip jogged to keep up.

"Come on, Amara," he pleaded. "How much longer are you going to keep giving me the cold shoulder?"

"Until I don't feel like doing it anymore?" She quipped. "How's that sound?"

"Pretty shitty. You're as stubborn as they come, at this rate, you'll never let go of the grudge."

"Hmm, sounds like a good plan to me."

"Look, I know I was a shitty boyfriend but I've been a great best friend to you for years."

She didn't answer. Mostly because he was right, the other part was her trying to stop herself from pushing him against a tree and kissing him.

"Whatever," was all she said.

"You got work today? I can swing by and bring you lunch."

"I get free food at the concession stand."

"You want to eat that crap?"

She glared at him, noticing the cheeky smile on his lips and then looked away. Fuck what she would give to taste him again—nope, don't think about it, she scolded. Dumbass. Horny bitch.

"So is that a yes, then? I'll see you later this afternoon?"

"You'll show up anyway even if I say no."

"Amara, I'm never going to stop trying to make this up to you." Her step faltered slightly and she met his gaze, but he was looking past her head. "Who's that on your lawn with your sister?"

Amara followed his line of sight, and made her way towards her house. She heard Lip scurry behind her to catch up. "Is this Alex?" She asked once she was within earshot, looking at the boy stood next to Silvia. He was a couple inches taller than her, with tan skin and dark shaggy hair that fell above his eyebrows.

"Oh, yeah," Silvia smiled. "This is my sister and her uh..."

"My stalker," Amara finished for her, and Lip heaved a sigh. "Hey, did you get Margot up for her appointment?"

"Yeah," Silvia nodded. "The cab just picked her up. What was Frank doing?"

"Same old shit," Lip replied, fixing his hair. "Nothing surprises me with him anymore."

Amara glanced towards their house. "The foods not still in there, is it? You didn't leave it unattended?"

Silvia's eyes widened but she quickly tried to hide it. "Oh, uh, no. Also, I added this new ingredient. You know how you put baking soda in cookies-"

It was the sound of glass shattering that cut off the rest of Silvia's response, and Amara watched in horror as the building before her went up in flames before her eyes. Somebody screamed, but it was barely audible over the sudden gust of heat and air that sent them all flying back.

Lip roughly pulled her out of the way, just barely avoiding the piece of flaming siding that came barreling next to her head, and they both fell onto the sidewalk, him lying on top of her like a human shield. She hadn't even realized she'd been clutching him until he reached down to pick her up.

Amara frantically searched for her sister, and saw Ian helping both her and Alex away from the fire. Lip backed them up a safe distance away, cradling her head as she stared in shock. The entire neighborhood was gathered around now, but she could hardly focus on anything but her crumbling house, and Lip's tightened hold on her as he repeatedly whispered that she was alright, that they weren't in danger.

"Oh my God," was all she managed.

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