New Gallagher

Chapter 1

Meeting the Gallaghers

I know, three stories in one day. Well, I got a lot of free time right now. At least for a week.

My name is Maxine 'Max' Margret Gallagher. Yeah, I know it's a big name, especially for a dirty street kid. I was only ten years old, but you grow up fast in places where I grew up. I lived in New York, the Big Apple. I didn't see much of what everyone comes to New York for. I mostly stay in Brooklyn, though it's a easy train ride to the other burrows. My mom was always in and out, sleeping with whoever and usually whenever. Either in our hotel rooms or outside, in a bar, wherever. I tried not to know, but she wasn't very quiet about it, let me tell you that.

Well, right now I was in our motel room. It stunk, the sheets were dirty and so was the shower. But, it was famillar. My mom was gone for the past couple of days. It's normal, she usually comes back. She may be a crappy person and a worse mom, but she's still here. So, that's got to count for something I guess. I climbed on a cabinet and reached inside, but made a face when it was empty. "Damn, I'd even take'a can of spinich at this point."

My stomach growled. "Shit. When will she come back?" I didn't want to leave just in case the hotel manager saw me, then mom wouldn't know I'm here. I rubbed my stomach. I did that sometimes, talked out loud so the quiet wasn't so weird. I sat on one of the beds, swinging my feet.

Any day now.

It's been a couple days, making it five days since I saw Mom. I was getting a bit worried. She wouldn't leave me here...would she? No! She never did. I had to sneak out at night and steal some food from the local gas station which was open 24 hours, but I think they were getting suspicious of me. The room was kept empty, I just hope they didn't rent it to someone else. If she didn't come home soon, I would have to see Ricky for a messanger job. It was a simple thing. We get paid cash for giving messages to people between not so legal types of people. After all, whose gonna think kids are involved doing this. It's not dangerous unless you stick your nose where it doesn't belong.

I heard a knock on the door and stiffened, quietly picking up a chair and grunted as quiet as I could, setting it down and climbing on top. I squinted in the peep hole and saw a couple of people who made me feel fear. First, was the manager, who has a key. A police officer and a lady in a suit. I gulped, realizing I recongnized the woman. It was the social worker I got sent to when me and Ma got seperated. I got down and hopped on the bed, fiddling with the window that let outside. I got on my tip toes, biting a curse as I sliced my finger on the latch. I sucked it in my mouth, but relieved to see it open. I did the same with the other latch, having another cut. I pushed open the door and crawled out, wincing at the drop. I jumped down and cried out as I was caught.

I snapped. "Let go!" I squirmed wildly in place, fighting.

I heard a grunt. "Calm down, kid."

I heard footsteps and fought harder against the arms around my stomach.

"Maxine!" I glanced up to see the social worker, Beth and another cop, the manager nowhere to be seen. "It's okay."

I kicked my leg back, feeling the cop shift me. "Fuck off! Leave me alone!"

Beth said, as I slowed down, getting tired. "This is for your own good. Your mother isn't safe to live with."

I turned my head and glared at her furiously. "Screw you, bitch!"

I was scowling, sitting in the famillar office. My hand was handcuffed to the chair, after I tried to escape two other times. Next to me was the police officer that caught me. They were going to send me to a foster home. It's not the first time I've been there.

"Max." I glanced at the cop, he sucked, but at least he called me by my nickname. I looked up and saw my social worker coming, her heels clicking on the tile floor. She had a file in her hands. "Maxine, I have some good news for you-"

I cut her off. "Where's my mom!?"

She said slowly. "We don't know, but we found out you have other family...in Chicago."

I scowled. "Are you kidding me?! I can't leave, what about when she comes back?!"

She sighed. "Maxine, you know you can't stay with her even if she did. She can't watch you or take care of you."

I jumped up. "Yes, she will."

I was tugged back down into my seat by the cop. ¨Kid, just sit down.¨

The social worker put her hands up in a calming down motion.

I scowled as I sat with her, no matter how much I argued or tried to run, they always caught me. I just leaned against the train seat and crossed my arms, glaring ahead. I was worried. "Lady, my mom still isn't gonna know I'm gone."

She tried to smile. "Maxine, I told you my name is Beth and someone will tell your mother what happened."

I threw my hands up. "I don't know these people."

"You will." The train stopped. "Don't try to run."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not stupid, I won't." I didn't know the area, that would be dumb.

I followed her into a rented car. "Where the fuck did you get this from?"

I sat in the back because she wouldn't let me sit in the front. I was 'too' young. I watched as the nicer houses changed into more shabby ones. I kicked her chair.

"Maxine, stop and watch your language."

I scowled deeply. "I don't want to go, I don't know these people." We stopped in front of a small shabby looking house, with things all over the yard. I smirked at Beth's look of distaste. I've been in worse houses than this.

"Lets go." I followed her, she was wearing her stupid little pencil skirt and fancy shirt. She walked around all the stuff on the ground and up the steps. I followed behind, my backpack on my shoulder. She knocked on the door and I shifted on my feet nervously. The door opened and a woman was there. She looked older than me, but wasn't old. She had dark hair and had a laundry basket in one arm. She looked at Beth.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Frank Gallagher."

The lady snorted. "This is his daughter, Fiona, what is it?"

I looked over at her. So, this was my...sister.

Beth said. "I need to talk to your father, this is about his child, Maxine Gallagher."

Fiona's eyes widened. "His what!?" She looked over at me while I awkwardly stood there. She looked over my face and she must have seen something because she called. "Frank!"

"Hold on, hold on!" This older man stumbled to the door. I could see my features in his face. He was a drunk. I've seen enough of them to notice the look. "Who the hell is that?"

Fiona sent him a look. "Aparently, your kid?"

He scratched his head. "You sure?"

Beth held out a folder and said. "Maxine Gallagher is to be placed with her family or she's going to Foster Care. Her mother, Margret Cambell is unable to care for her."

Frank gave a slow grin. "Ah...Mary, when I tell you that woman can-"

Fiona snapped. "Frank!" She looked over at me and sighed. "Yeah, that's fine. Frank sign whatever."

Looking at Beth, I figured she would see the obvious pushing. She nodded and handed Frank a paper and pen, back stiff. "We'll be back in 2 weeks." She looked down at me as I stared at her in disbelief. "If you need help, call me."

She was gone and Frank, my father, disappeared. Fiona looked at me again. "Well, you look enough like him. C'mon." I shuffled after her, silent. Frank went over to a woman about his age. A bunch of kids were in the living room. A boy older than me with curly blond hair and blue eyes looked over. "Who the hell is that?"

Fiona sent him a look. "Lip, calm down." Lip? What kind of name is that?

Frank waved a hand. "It's my kid, apparently, another Gallagher. Those irish genes at work."

A red haired boy that looked close to Lip's age and Lip said. "What?!" There was a younger boy and girl too. They were close in age and a couple of years younger than me. Maybe about 5 or 6.

The woman, who was blond cried out. "Frank! How could you do this to me?!"

He raised his hands, his eyes wide. "Woah, woah, Mon, hold on. Look, everyone makes mistakes."

I jerked back, trying not to flinch. I could see Lip and the redhead staring at me, though Lip's was more of a glare. Fiona said. "Jesus, Dad. What the hell?"

Frank shrugged and I wished I was anywhere else, but here. Fiona rolled her eyes. "Shut the hell up. Look, this is Lip, Ian, Carl and Debbie. Our mom, Monica. Guys, this is our sister, Maxine."

I said, staring at Frank and still feeling hurt, but not wanting it to show on my face. "Uh, Max is fine."

Fiona, looking to be serious. "Okay, you can room with Debbie and I'll-"

Lip snapped. "Fiona, are you serious?! You just going to let her stay here?"

Fiona snapped back. "And what do you want to do? Especially when they come back in 2 weeks. And she's a Gallagher anyway, she's staying here."

Lip sighed. "Fine, whatever."

Monica was staring at me. She got up, leaving. Frank darting after her.

I stood around, looking at Debbie's room. She followed after me, smiling. "It's cool to have my another sister." From what they told me she was 8, with Carl being 7. Lip was 15 and Ian 14. Fiona was the one who watched them, being 19. At least that is what Debbie told me as we went to her room. I don't think the parents did much. Monica wasn't even my mom.

I nodded with her, even if I was worried about being around Lip. Debbie grabbed her hand. "We don't have a bed, but we'll get you one soon."

I nodded. "It's okay, I've slept on the floor before."

3rd Point of View

Carl was playing outside while Lip, Ian and Fiona sitting in the living room. Lip said. "Fiona, you can't be serious?"

Fiona was sending him a look. "Lip, where do you expect her to go? She's fucking ten."

Ian said. "Maybe we should let her stay, Fi's right, she's just a kid."

"Fiona, you want to deal with another mouth to feed?"

Fiona sighed. "We'll figure it out. She's family. And don't tell me you don't see the family resemblance. And who in their right mind would list Frank as the father if he wasn't?"

Lip scowled, because he couldn't deny that. "Okay, whatever. Now, we have to worry about a new kid whenever Frank fucks someone."

Ian shrugged. "He never goes anywhere, but the Alibi. I doubt that's gonna happen."

Fiona ran a hand down her face, knowing she had another sibling to deal with. "Let me go check on her. Lip, don't be a dick. She's just a kid."

"I know, I won't."

Max Point of View

"Max?"

I turned to see Fiona coming over. "Everything okay, uh, Fiona?"

"Yeah, was just checking up on you."

Debbie beamed. "She likes it, but she said she's okay with sleeping on the floor. Can't we get her a bed, please? I don't like sleeping on the floor. I don't think Max will either."

Fiona raised her hands. "Woah, slow down Debs, she's not sleeping on the floor."

I shrugged. "I don't mind, I've slept on worse floors before."

Fiona's face was blank and I wondered if I said something wrong. "That's not happening. I might know someone with a air mattress. But, you can sleep on the couch until then, okay?"

I stared at her, surprised. She's nice. "Oh, okay. Thanks."

Fiona looked around. "Just relax for now, later this week I'll sign you up for school."

I wrinkled my nose. I opened my mouth and she shook her head. "Nope, nuh-uh, you're goin'." She went downstairs and I stared after her.

I said. "Fiona seems nice." Most people wouldn't be okay with some kid staying with them.

Debbie grinned at me, pulling me in her room and toward her dolls. "Fiona's the best. Play with me." Not wanting to get on anyone's bad side, I agreed.

Was this my new life?

If it got too bad, I could always run away.