She stared up at the ceiling, not entirely sure if she wanted to roll over and start her day just yet. Her dyed red hair was matted to the back of her neck, memories of the night before rushing at her a mile a minute. When she heard a thud and a screech, she decided it was time to start the morning hustle after all.
"Tess, Cody, up! We're already late," she called down the hall to the pair of foster siblings her father had taken in shortly after she returned to Chicago three years prior. He had only taken them in for the money the state was paying for their upkeep. "Skip, Jake, TJ, let's go!" She called in the other direction, waking up her three biological brothers. She was the youngest of her siblings, but she was the only responsible one.
Skip and TJ were twins, a year older than she was, while Jake was the oldest of their father's children. He was 25 yet acted like he was 18 most of the time.
"Jake left for work," TJ informed her as he pushed past her to use the bathroom. "Apparently some sorry sap was stupid enough to hire him."
"I give it a week," she shrugged.
"Harleigh, I had a project I need to work on with Carl Gallagher after school," Tess informed her. "Can I go?"
"You'll have to let me call Fiona and make sure, but otherwise, sure," she nodded. "Cody up?"
"He's complaining his head hurts again," Tess scoffed. Tess was eleven and the older of the two foster kids. Cody was 8 and super smart, but he often took the brunt of the abuse Harleigh's father dished out, especially if she wasn't home to take it herself. The older boys could do no wrong and Tess was too easy to tattle so her father often left the younger girl alone.
"Did Monty hurt him?" Harleigh asked, concerned.
"No. He didn't come home last night," Tess shrugged. "Can we take the car?"
Harleigh thought about borrowing her father's old, beaten up Chevy van but decided against it. The damn thing barely ran and she definitely didn't feel like having it break down on her way to work that afternoon. Again. The damn thing was always breaking down.
"Not today, sunshine," she scoffed. "I work tonight and don't need the gas guzzler dying halfway there."
"Shit," Tess grumbled. She hated taking the bus. "Are you still working at Kash and Grab?" she asked, intrigued by the job Harleigh had managed to score thanks to Ian, Carl's older brother. Even though she worked at the local diner most nights, she didn't hesitate the take the job when Ian told her it was hers if she wanted it. It definitely helped that Lip, Ian's older brother, had vouched for her. He convinced Ian to ask for the job for her.
"For now," she shrugged. She needed two jobs to keep the shitty, leaking roof over their heads. "I'll be there till 8, then the diner till midnight tonight. Think you can make sure Cody eats something for dinner other than left over cereal?"
"Sure," Tess nodded. Despite her problems, she was a decent enough kid.
"Good morning Reid family!" an unwelcomed voice chimed from downstairs. Harleigh groaned and made her way into Cody's room, gently nudging him awake.
"Up and at 'em Cody, the beast returned, might wanna make a break for it," she said softly. She shoved open his bedroom window and slid the ladder into place. "Bus today, Tess is already on her way downstairs."
"Why's he so mad at me all the time?" Cody asked, pulling on a pair of clean jeans. "I didn't do nothing."
"He's a mad person," Harleigh said lightly. "Your sister has to head to the Gallagher's after school, you can drop by Kash and Grab if you don't want to come right home."
"I guess," he sighed. "I hate it here."
"Me too, kiddo, trust me," she sighed. "Now c'mon, before he remembers we're here."
Harleigh helped him get his legs out the window and watched as he made his way down. Once his feet hit the ground, he took off running towards the bus stop and Harleigh made a mental note to check in with the sibling's social worker that afternoon. She wanted them placed somewhere else. Her house was no place for a pair of broken kids to be.
"Harleigh, my favorite child, what is your plan for today?" her father's voice rang out. "I hope you have my money."
"I already paid the rent, Monty," she said as she made her way back to her room, throwing on a pair of ripped, stained jeans and yesterday's shirt. She pulled her hair in a messy bun and grabbed her bag. "Electric's paid up for this month too." She added as she pushed past her father, who smelled of booze and pot.
Monty grumbled something under his breath before catching her wrist in his hand.
"Not that money, you stupid bitch," he growled, throwing her against the wall. "Rumor has it you're making the big bucks around here now. I owe Kev a bit for my tab. Guess who's pocket it's coming outta," he seethed.
"Not a chance, Monty," she growled. "Let. Me. Go."
Monty hated his daughter. He always had. Instead of releasing her arm, he threw her against the wall, his fingers snaking up her shirt.
"You could always pay me another way," he hissed in her ear.
Harleigh tensed. She knew what came next. She was strong, but her father had a hundred pounds on her and he was even more vicious when he was drunk. He grabbed her by her throat and pushed her towards his room. She cried out and tried to fight against his grip, but it was futile.
Twenty minutes later, she found herself nursing a busted lip and a bruised neck as she made her way towards the high school. She grabbed her books from her locker and shuddered. She was late for Chemistry. Again.
"Late as usual, Miss Reid," Mr. Grimly noted as she made her way to the only vacant seat left. It just happened to be next to Phillip Gallagher, or Lip as he went by. They had always been pretty close friends, having grown up together in the same neighborhood and attended the same elementary school. After she came back three years ago, their childhood friendship picked right back up. They had kept in touch the six years she was away. She threw a small nod in his direction before glaring at their teacher again.
"You know, public transportation and all," she shrugged. The teacher let the matter drop, but kept an eye on her as he handed out the graded tests from the day before.
When he reached her desk, she tensed. He threw down the paper, his stance clearly disappointed.
"Another F Harleigh. I don't even know why you show up anymore," he told her, his tone bitter. "Maybe you should start copying off Mr. Gallagher's tests, maybe then you'll actually get a question right."
"Fuck this," she said, shoving the paper back at him. She grabbed her bag and stormed out the classroom, not caring that he threatened to fail her the entire semester. She was already failing it, all on her own. This was already her second time in junior classes.
She made her way to the old girl's bathroom that was now only used for smoking, sex and skipping class. Thankful it was abandoned, she pulled out a cigarette and hoisted herself onto the ledge. She found herself lost in thought when the door suddenly swung open.
"He's pissed you dipped," Lip said, coming up beside her, a cigarette between his lips. "Spent the whole class making an example out of you."
"What's new," she shrugged. Lip studied her for a moment, taking in the busted lip and exhausted expression she wore. He had, on a number of occasions, told her she could crash at his house if things got bad with her dad. They had grown up together until she moved away when she was ten. They'd kept in touch, but it wasn't the same, at least not for him. When she came back, she seemed to keep her distance, but he had a feeling that had more to do with her family than her not wanting to be around. They were still close, but she didn't come around nearly as much as she used to. Fiona even liked her, said she was a good influence on him.
"What?" She asked, catching him staring.
"Monty?" he asked, motioning towards her face.
"Per usual," she shrugged. "No big deal."
"He's a piece of shit," Lip scoffed. He pulled a joint out of his bag. After lighting it and taking a hit, he offered it to Harleigh, who didn't hesitate. "Worst part is, he's using those kids to milk the system."
"Tess has a project with Carl later, right?" Lip asked, giving her a look. She nodded and passed the joint back to him.
"If it's okay," she shrugged.
"Of course," Lip nodded. "You know, our couch is open if you need it," he added.
"Yeah, because I want to go back to that," she sighed. "Couch surfing and all."
Lip didn't know what she was talking about, but Harleigh had spent the better part of last year hoping from one couch to another. That was part of the reason she never showed up at school, her father had kicked her out and told her he'd kill her if she came back. Then, naturally, he came crawling back to her, begging for her help.
The buzz of her phone jerked her from her thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and groaned. It was her father.
"What do you want?" she growled.
"Where's your mom staying?" he asked, his tone eager, hungry.
"Not telling you," she replied.
"C'mon, the old broad sent you back to me like you were garbage, don't you wanna see me make her pay?" he pleaded.
"No, Monty, I don't. Mom sent me back because TJ was in jail and someone had to make sure the lights stayed on. Besides, mom doesn't have any money, you know that," she said carefully.
"Fuck you."
She sighed as he hung up, half tempted to throw her phone at the wall. She knew where her mother was staying, she'd stayed with her a handful of times in recent months. Her mother was just as bad as her father, always strung out and drunk, never really caring about any of her four children, much less her youngest. Harleigh was used to it; she was the black sheep. The only one who tried to keep on the straight and narrow while the others all had records longer than Frank Gallagher's.
"If I send Tess's brother over with her, think Fiona will mind?" she finally asked Lip, who was lost in his own thoughts, watching every move she made. He couldn't help but note how amazing she looked, despite the tired, disheveled look she wore almost every time he saw her. Normally, he'd try to get in her pants and cross her off his sexual conquest bucket list, but there was something different about her. Something he couldn't quite place. Despite nearly a twelve year friendship, they'd never fooled around once. They'd always just been friends.
"Uh, earth to Lip? Where'd you go?" She chided, nudging him with her foot.
"Huh?" he blinked. He felt heat rise to his cheeks. Harleigh laughed slightly before repeating her question. "No, that'll be fine. He's safe there."
"Thanks," she nodded, grabbing her bag. "I have to check in on my mom. Mind turning this in to Ms. Tomson? I actually stand a chance at passing her class if I keep up on the essays," she added, referring to their English class. Lip nodded as he took the paper from her. He made a mental note to double check it before he handed it in for her. She could use all the help she could get.
Without another word, Harleigh rushed off, making her way outside, into the cool, autumn breeze. She headed towards the L train, knowing exactly where she would find her mother at such an odd time of day.
Lip was halfway home from school when the phone that he and the rest of the family shared started vibrating. He recognized Harleigh's number and picked up.
"Hey," he said, confused as to why she was calling. He heard hushed tones in the background.
"Are you home?" she asked. Her voice sounded strained.
"Almost, what's up?" he asked, taking a drag from the cigarette he held between his lips.
"I…I need a favor…" she said, her voice cracking.
Lips thoughts went back to the busted lip she wore that morning.
"What did he do?" he growled, his entire body tensing.
"It's my mom, Lip," she said. He could hear shaking in her voice. "She's…she's…" she couldn't get the words out. Finally, she continued. "She's dead…"
Lip felt like he got kicked in the gut. Harleigh's mother was no better than his own, but he had met her a handful of times and she was always kind to him and his siblings. She wasn't nearly as awful as Harleigh's father and she at least tried to make her presence known in her kids life. That was more than he could say about Monica. He knew Harleigh had tried to keep a relationship with her mother, that was why she went to New York all those years ago. She wanted to save her.
"Where are you?" Lip asked, his voice cracking.
"I'm a block from Kash and Grab…I need to find Ian and have him cover my shift," she said. He could tell she was crying. "I can't…" a sob cut her off.
"I'll come to you. I'll tell Ian. Stay put," Lip instructed. He didn't know why, but in that moment, all he wanted to do was make her feel safe. He never felt protective over people outside of his family, especially not girls he had fantasized about, but something about the fiery red-head made him see her differently. Like family but not family. Something more. He didn't have any close friends, not really anyway, she was the closest he had to that. He knew she needed him and he intended to be there for whatever it was she needed him to be. He swore under his breath as he took off running in the direction of the corner store. He didn't know what he was going to do or say, but he knew he had to do something.
A/N - I've been out of writing for quite some time, and decided to try out a totally new series as my first fic since ending my hiatus Reviews and favorites keep me motivated, so let me know what you think! I promise, as the story grows, more and more will make sense! This is taking place around season 1/2 right now and will gradually build into the later seasons!