Ian Gallagher

"I don't want to go," Ian complained as he started getting dressed, "We've already had one set-to with the Milkoviches this week. Well you did, and I... I have to work."

Lip sat hunched on his top bunk, his legs dangling off the bed. He laughed, "You do not have to work." He put huge inverted commas around the last word. You wanna go get laid. Just say so. I'm not stupid."

Ian raised an eyebrow, questioningly.

Lip jumped down. He smacked Ian on the arm with the back of his hand, "Fuck off." He lit a cigarette and continued, "Anyway it's at Karen's house. What makes you think the Milkoviches will even turn up?"

"Er... because one, they know you're gonna be there and two, Karen's mom never comes out of her room so it's like a free-for-all. Why the hell wouldn't they?" Ian was exasperated at Lip's complete nonchalance.

"I can handle myself, don't worry about it," Lip waved a dismissive hand, "You need to come out anyway – no pun intended there by the way. Fucking Kash is no good for you. He's married for fuck's sake – where is that ever going to go?"

"Maybe he'll leave his wife?" Ian replied, "And I can't help the way I feel."

"Just come tonight. Get you out of this funk you're in." Lip continued, "Plus, he's not leaving his wife anytime soon. You need to move on."

Lip went downstairs leaving Ian still sitting on his bed.

Ian sighed. He'd been with Kash for a long time. It felt like he was in love with him, but he'd never really been in love before, so how could he be sure? But maybe Lip was right. Kash was probably just happy to be getting regular sex – it wasn't like he was going to leave his wife and kids anytime soon. Unrequited love sucked.

Okay, he would go to this party tonight. Karen always had a lot of alcohol. As long as she didn't try to suck him off again they'd be okay. And as long as the Milkoviches didn't crash the party and start brawling with everyone.

Mickey Milkovich

Mickey rolled over onto his stomach. He could hear his father shouting in the far reaches of the house and he shoved the pillow over his head, trying to drown out the noise.

This was nothing new for the Milkovich household. Terry was always barking orders, laying down the law, just generally trying to keep his house in order. For the most part, he left Mickey alone, or at least they kept out of each others' way.

Still, Mickey clenched his eyes shut and tried not to think about what new kind of bullshit was going on with his family right at that moment. Instead he focused on his breathing. In. Out. In. Out. In-

"Get up, ass-face!"

The pillow was whipped away and Mandy dropped down on the edge of his bed with a bounce.

Mickey side-eyed her and turned his face away. "Get the fuck off my bed," He mumbled into the mattress.

She let out a soft chuckle, "Nope. You have to get up. Dad wants to see you."

Mandy started poking his side with her forefinger gently. When there was no response she did it more insistently, building up a rhythm until eventually Mickey just jumped up.

"ALRIGHT. For fuck's sake."

As he whipped past Mandy she reeled back in disgust. "Jesus Mickey, stink much? Take a fucking shower."

He flipped his middle finger at her over his shoulder, "Shut it bitch. Nobody made you my fuckin' nursemaid." But he made for the bathroom anyway because it wasn't worth pissing his dad off.

He heard more voices as he passed his –open – bedroom door. Privacy was starting to sound like a myth in this house. His brothers were in the living room yapping about something excitedly so he took a quick detour to find out what was happening.

"Hey little brother," Colin said when he noticed Mickey. "There's a party at that Jackson woman's house tonight. We going?"

Mickey shrugged, "What are you askin' me for?"

"Yeah, we're going," Iggy piped up. "We'll go get you some pussy. And if we see that Gallagher kid he's gonna wish he'd not been born."

"Which kid?" Mickey knew there were a lot of them, but he hadn't met them all – a perk of not regularly attending high school.

"The eldest one. Lip. Mouthy little fucker." Iggy replied, "I'm tired o'him trying to make me look like an asshole in front of everyone."

Mickey sighed. He was getting a bit tired of this.

"What's up with you?" Iggy prodded him.

"Nothing. I'll go, but I'm not stopping around if there's any trouble." Mickey started back towards the bathroom. Even he could smell the ripe on him now.

"Any idea what dad wants?" he asked his brother before he opened the door to his room.

Colin shrugged, " Something about the spa, I expect, seeing as you ain't been for a while."

They all went to the "spa" but his older brothers went just for extras now. When he first went, his dad had sent him along with his brothers to get some experience. He tried not to go often, but mostly his dad sent him whenever he could and he liked to hear back from them what had gone on too so he couldn't get out if it.

And now he'd heard through his brothers that one of the girls there needed a visa. Mickey was starting to think this was what his dad was after, for Mickey to marry the girl so she could stay in the country. Mickey felt a shudder go through him. The thought really fuckin' terrified him. She wasn't horrible or anything but... let's just say – not his type.

Yeah, he was going to this party. Get blind drunk maybe, and not worry about it until later.

Karen Jackson

Karen scraped her hair back from her face and pulled it into a tie, then she knocked on the door to her mother's bedroom.

"Mom?" She tentatively pushed the door open, and found Sheila lying on her side on the bed, the thin curtains drawn, which did little to block out the light.

At the sound of Karen's voice, Sheila sat up. "Oh hello sweetie." She smiled at her daughter.

"I've brought you some tea and soup. Are you sure you don't want to come down?" Karen asked, hoping her mom would still say no.

"Oh sweetheart, you're so thoughtful!" Sheila's beam at her daughter's kindness was brilliant, "But I'm still kinda tired. I'm going to stay in for tonight."

Karen brought in a tray and sat it down on Sheila's bed. She kissed her mom's forehead and said, "So... is it still okay if I have a few friends over tonight?"

"Of course!" Sheila leaned forward conspiratorially then before adding, "Is it Lip?"

"Mom!" Karen feigned embarrassment and gave her mom a huge grin, but as she turned around the smile dropped from her face.

As she left the room she heard Sheila call, "Have fun!" but she didn't reply. She just shut the door behind her.

Fiona Gallagher

Lip and Ian bounded down the stairs, sounding like a herd of elephants, and Fiona wandered through into the living room before they reached the front door.

"Er... where are you boys going?"

"Party at Karen's," Ian replied, turning to face her. Lip had one hand on the door.

"You gonna take your sister?"

Lip stopped, "Not that kind of party, Fi."

Fiona took a couple of steps towards them, "What the hell kind of party is it then?"

Ian put a placating hand up, "Just... not one for Debs that's all. There's gonna be alcohol."

Fiona looked at Lip, "You expecting trouble?"

"I'm never expecting trouble, but it always seems to find me." Lip quipped, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk.

"It's not funny, Lip. Those Milkovich boys show up, you stay out of their way, okay?" Fiona looked first at one boy, then the other.

Ian reached in and gave her a hug, "You don't need to worry."

"Yeah," Lip added, "You're not our mother."

"I'm the nearest thing you've got," Fiona pointed out.

They grinned at her and left. Fiona stood watching the door for a full minute before she took her phone out.

"Hey, it's me. Could you just swing by the Karen Jackson's house later? Apparently there's a party. I just want to make sure there's no trouble." There was a pause for a response, "Thanks Kev. V at work? Okay, let her know I said hi?"

She hung up the phone and went back into the kitchen.