Chapter 17.
Special thanks to Amelia Mikaelhey, MischeifManaged12144, Guest, MovieLover2019, King and the Lionhearted, scarlettsoldier, witchbaby300, Drinkmetomadness, firefae19, Randichele, boompop69, ks vamp girl, Allisonaubriey, toxic click, damagedgoods2012, mymy15 and Pein's Kid!
Thank you all so much!
Disclaimer: I do not own Shameless.
Daniela stood checking off the list on her clipboard as Ian and Mickey unloaded the truck. She blew out a breath of air to move away a stray hair that had fallen on her face.
Ticking off all of the delivered items, she bid farewell to the delivery man before placing her clipboard down and helping the two boys carry the new stuff to the back.
"I'm gonna have to do inventory today so just put them in ordered piles," said Daniela placing her box of Pringles down beside Ian's. Her friend nodded before opening one of the fridge doors and grabbing out a drink.
"You're paying for that," scolded his friend holding up a finger in warning. He grinned cheekily back, pulling out a few notes and handing them to her. She took them from his hand before moving to the cash register.
Mickey dusted off his hands and leaned beside a magazine rack, pulling one out and flipping casually through it. He glanced up at Ian and nodded his chin.
"You talking to Lip yet?" Asked Mickey, trying to make conversation to fill the awkward silence that usually occurred between the three of them.
Daniela was still adjusting to hanging around the guy and was just thankful for Ian being there. Mickey's thoughts were similar.
The redhead shook his head and scoffed. "No chance of that happening anytime soon."
Daniela smirked feeling the same. She had kept her promise to herself and had stayed far away from Lip; this time making sure to not avoid the rest of the Gallaghers while she did so. Daniela had confided in Ian, explaining what had happened at the barbecue but hadn't gone any further than that.
The bell above the shop door chimed as Karen walked in, all blonde hair and smiles. Daniela pursed her lips at the sight of her.
The blonde moved to the back of the shop where all the 'fresh' produce was kept and chose a few avocados before bagging them and bringing them to the front counter.
Ian stayed silent as did Mickey; the latter not knowing her enough to comfortably start up a conversation.
Daniela served her, weighing the fruits on a scale before recounting the price to Karen. The blonde held out a few bills and smiled.
"Hey Daniela," she began a little nervously. Daniela didn't miss her toying with the ring on her finger. "Jody and I got hitched and my mom wants to have a reception. It's tomorrow afternoon. You should totally come." Karen then turned to Ian. "You're all invited."
Ian raised an eyebrow at her, his face blank.
"Lip too?" Daniela watched as the girl's eyes narrowed slightly before she waved it off with a laugh.
"You're so funny, Ian."
"Yeah, he's a real comedian," drawled Daniela as Karen gave her one final smile and picked up her avocados.
"See you guys later."
Mickey eyed her out the door, the magazine still in hand. He was clearly unimpressed.
Daniela nearly laughed.
/
Fiona had been searching for her brother all morning, eventually managing to find him lounging on the roof of the high school. She figured he would be there as it was an old thinking place for him.
Lip took a puff from his joint, enjoying the high as he listened to the sound of his sister climbing up to meet him. He didn't acknowledge her.
"Oh, Jesus," she mused taking in the view. She had a slight fear of heights. "What's up with you and Ian? Did he say something about Karen?"
Lip kept on with his silence, just staring off across the town. He heard Fiona sigh.
"She's married. Skipping the wedding reception I hope?"
"Wasn't invited," stated Lip bluntly. He noticed with disappointment that his joint was almost finished.
Lip looked to his sister who nodded to herself.
"She's moved on." Lip smirked.
"I hope you see the irony in you giving out relationship advice." Fiona gave him an unimpressed look, clearly not here for his shit.
She tucked her hands in the back of her pockets, taking another long drag of polluted air.
"You know for a second there I thought you might've been doing the same," admitted Fiona quietly. Lip frowned back at her.
"What do you mean?" Fiona rolled her eyes at her brother's obliviousness.
"Daniela?" Lip went quiet again at the mention of her and turned his eyes back to the town.
Fiona noticed.
"What happened with you two?" She asked, her voice heavy with curiosity.
Her brother chewed on the inside of his cheek. Lip had been angry that day at the barbecue. He wasn't even mad at her. It was everybody else yet she had faced the brunt of it all. Lip couldn't ignore the bubble of guilt in his stomach.
He realized he still hadn't answered Fiona's question.
"Nothing," Lip finally said; his response earning a scoff from his sister.
"Look whatever it is, I want you to fix it," ordered Fiona firmly, making her way towards him. "That girl is a blessing in disguise for you." Her brother raked a hand through his hair as she bobbed down beside him, resting a hand on his leg.
"Make things right with them. I can't have you and Ian fighting." Fiona placed a kiss on the top of her brother's head before heading back towards the ladder. "You two are my rocks!"
Lip sat in contemplation. Despite the hilarity in the irony of his sister giving him relationship advice, Lip knew that she was right about this. He would start with Ian first before apologizing to Daniela.
Taking one final drag of his joint, he tossed it down to the pavement.
/
Daniela strolled home, her shift at the K&G done and dusted. Ian still had another half-hour to go. She was in a bit of a rush to get home. She had to get showered and dressed as Simon was taking her out so they could properly catch up.
As she walked past the Gallagher house, she spotted a familiar figure and clenched her eyes shut. Lip noticed her too.
Her pace picked up.
Daniela wasn't sure if he would bother following her but sure enough, any suspicions were answered when she heard the sound of his feet hitting the pavement behind her.
"Daniela!" Called out Lip, gaining on her. The girl sighed as he reached her. "I was calling out to you."
Daniela said nothing, choosing to just stare straight ahead at her mailbox.
Two more houses to go.
Lip sighed in exasperation.
"Hey, I need to talk to you." He didn't reach out to stop her, knowing that it would just make matters worse. He would take the calm approach.
She didn't seem to care.
"What? You just gonna keep giving me the cold shoulder?"
Feeling spiteful, Daniela finally spoke. "Of course not."
One more house.
Lip wanted to tear his hair out. The girl was so damn stubborn. He would like it if it wasn't him she was being stubborn with.
"Can't you just wait so I can talk to you properly?" He sighed, his frustration showing. Daniela thought about backing down but ultimately decided against it.
This was what he wanted. She was simply giving it to him. Maybe she was being a little petty but Daniela couldn't find it in her to care in that moment.
It was a large weight off her shoulders when she reached her front steps. Lip continued to follow her, relentless.
"You not gonna look at me either?" Daniela stopped on the second step. Lip smirked to himself.
Slowly, she rotated around to finally look at him. She was taken back by how genuinely this whole situation was getting to him. Daniela crossed her arms over her chest, waiting patiently for him to say something.
Lip floundered.
He wasn't exactly sure why. Something about her harsh glare drilling into him caused all of his current thoughts to get wiped away.
Daniela's expectant gaze morphed to one of disappointment. With a final sigh, the girl swiveled and headed inside.
/
"Hey," greeted a smiling Simon when Daniela opened the front door. He let out a low whistle at her dress, his eyes appreciating the sight. Daniela felt like squirming under his gaze.
Simon met her eyes again and offered out his elbow for her. She laughed at his chivalry, placing her hand in the crease of his arm.
"Our chariot awaits," he grinned making a grand wave at the car parked alongside the road. Daniela spotted his mother waving at her from the driver's seat and giggled.
His mother greeted her kindly as she hopped in the back beside Simon before taking them to their destination.
Daniela hopped out of the car and stared at where they were. Her smile began to fade.
It was the diner she had brought Lip to.
Simon came up next to her, having finished saying goodbye to his mother. He took in her less than excited expression with a frown.
"Is everything okay?" He asked tenderly, feeling the anxiety creeping up on him. "I just thought- I mean. We both loved this place so much the last time we were here. If you don't want to eat here we can go somewhere else."
Simon continued to stutter and fuss. Daniela shook her head quickly.
"No, no. It's nothing," she said shaking her thoughts away. She grinned at Simon who still looked nervous. "Let's go inside! I've been craving their milkshakes."
Simon's shoulders lifted once again as she grabbed his hand and dragged him in.
No matter how hard she tried to, Daniela couldn't ignore the persistent flashbacks of her and Lip. She didn't know why she was feeling this way. Lip wasn't the first person she had been with here. It was Simon.
So why did it feel so strange to be here eating with him instead of Lip?
It was as she was sharing her dessert with Simon that it all clicked.
She liked him.
Daniela actually liked Lip.
The realization had always been resting under the surface ever since they had first kissed. Now, being back in the diner, it hit her and Daniela wasn't sure how to feel.
She split the bill with Simon- although it was with a lot of insistence on her part.
His mother came back to pick them up and drop her off. Simon walked her to her front door and Daniela didn't miss the breath mint he had quickly popped in his mouth as they got out of the car.
Daniela smiled at him, knowing what he was about to do. Not wanting to lead him on, she held up a hand.
Simon frowned nervously at her.
"Before you do what I think you're about to do, there's something I need to tell you." The boy groaned and slapped his forehead, staring at her in between his fingers.
"You're a lesbian aren't you?" He asked quietly. Daniela laughed loudly and shook her head.
"No, I'm not a lesbian." She paused for a beat. "The thing is, I think I have feelings for someone else," explained Daniela unable to stop fidgeting with her hands.
"Oh," replied Simon, a little put out.
"I just didn't want to lead you on, you know? I really like you, Simon."
"Just not like that?" Daniela shook her head.
"Not like that." Simon pursed his lips and the girl stared in worry.
"Did I just screw our relationship up?" The boy looked back at her with wide eyes.
"No!" He denied firmly. He raked a hand through his hair. "I suppose I was preparing myself for this just in case. But you haven't ruined anything."
Daniela gave him a small, thankful smile and moved forward to hug him, his cologne filling her nose.
"Thank you for being so understanding." The girl pulled back to drop a kiss on his cheek. "I'll text you tomorrow, okay?"
Simon nodded slowly, his cheek burning.
"Okay." Daniela sent him one last smile before closing the door behind her.
As she lay on her bed that night, Daniela pondered over what this new revelation meant for her.
So she had feelings for Lip. Strong feelings, she would say. But then there was the small predicament where he had basically dismissed her from his life.
Adding on from that was the whole Karen situation and Daniela knew there was no way this was going to end well for her.
/
The next day came quickly as Daniela made her way to Karen's house for her wedding reception. She seriously had doubts about going but Ian had roped her into it, enticing her with the prospect of free food.
She couldn't argue with free food and if Frank's stories were any indication, Sheila knew how to cook.
Her sandals click-clacked against the pavement as her light blue sundress shifted gracefully with her movements. Daniela grew closer to the house but stopped when she noticed Lip drinking across the road under the L.
She felt something new shift in her stomach at the sight of him. She had never noticed it before.
Daniela knew he wasn't invited, yet here he was.
Knowing that Lip most likely was planning on gate-crashing, she made her way over. His blue eyes saw her dress first, taking it in before his gaze moved to rest firmly on her face.
He swallowed and took a sip of his beer at the sight of her.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Daniela with narrowed eyes, not wanting him to cause a scene.
"Oh, are we talking again?" Quipped Lip back eyeing her lazily. He took another swig. "Is that what's happening?"
Daniela fought the urge to roll her eyes, instead taking in his disheveled appearance and glassy eyes.
"Are you high?" She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned forward to get a better look. Lip was the one to roll his eyes.
"Why do you care?"
"I don't," she responded easily with a shrug. "I just don't want you to cause a scene that would result in me catching second-hand embarrassment." Lip snorted a laugh and rubbed a thumb over his nose.
"Look if you just came over her to chastise me- don't." He waved his beer bottle to Karen's house, a sarcastic smile on his face. "But please, do enjoy your party."
"I intend to," replied Daniela, turning up her nose. Lip watched her walk away, his eyes glued to her dress.
He still wasn't drunk enough yet.
/
As soon as Daniela stepped into the house, she spotted the Gallagher clan. They were all crowded around in a corner near the bar along with Kev and Veronica.
Ian tossed her a thankful look when he saw her. "I thought you were gonna leave me here to suffer alone," he complained.
"You're the one that said we should come," replied Daniela, the corner of her mouth quirking up.
Ian looked to be regretting that decision as his eyes flicked around the room uncomfortably. It was awkward for him being here in Karen's house.
Daniela empathized with him.
Karen's smiling face along with Jody's casual grin popped up in front of them.
"Hey, Daniela!" She greeted, clearly happy. She tugged on Jody's arm that she was holding to grab her new husband's attention.
"This is Jody," introduced the blonde.
The man nodded in greeting to Daniela who simply returned it before looking back at Karen.
"Congratulations on everything." Her feigned cheer was convincing enough to the couple who thanked her and walked away to greet more of their guests. When they were gone, Daniela gave Ian a drained look.
"I need alcohol." Her friend laughed, grabbing her by the shoulders to guide her over to where the drinks were. The rest of the Gallagher crew greeted her as she made her way over.
As Daniela stood and talked with them she couldn't quite ignore the constant looks Fiona would send her way. The first few times, she had written them off as nothing. However, the more and more it happened, the more and more curious she got.
Fiona stared at her, her expression almost inquisitive.
The woman eventually quit her staring, turning back to Kevin and V. Daniela took a large gulp of her liquor.
Ian and Daniela shuffled around the room, feeling restless. Her eyes moved around the room, surveying everyone. She nearly spat out her drink when she saw a familiar figure walk through the door.
Ian, noticing her shock, looked and rolled his eyes.
"Oh yeah. Forgot to tell you, Steve's back." He was clearly disinterested, opting to go back to his awkward standing around and drinking.
Steve caught a glimpse of Daniela, giving her what he would consider a warm smile. He walked towards her, a beautiful woman on his arm.
"Hey, Daniela," he greeted in a chipper tone. The girl simply raised an eyebrow at him. Ian had already walked off to the others.
"Hello, Jimmy." Daniela smiled back innocently. "How was Brasil?"
The man's positive expression dropped slowly and he swallowed. Brushing it off with a chuckle, he gestured to the woman on his arm.
"This is my wife, Estefania." The beautiful brunette smiled with a short wave before saying something to her husband in Portuguese. Steve nodded along, not understanding what she was saying.
He turned back to Daniela and jerked a thumb in his wife's position, chuckling lightly.
"She doesn't really speak any English," informed Steve before his gaze locked onto Fiona's over her shoulder. Saying a quick goodbye, he pulled Estefania along behind him.
Moving back over to the bar, Daniela grabbed the bottle of Jameson and began pouring herself a glass. She chewed on her lip, becoming startled when a voice called out behind her.
"You!" Daniela turned to see Frank's mother coming towards her. The woman let out a long breath and rested her arms against the counter. Daniela eyed her in shock.
Was everybody making a surprise appearance today?
"Mrs. Gallagher, I didn't know you were out of prison," she said but the woman quickly waved it off.
"Do an old lady a favor and pour me one of those." She pointed to Daniela's glass.
The girl quickly got to it, sliding it over to the old woman who instantly threw it back. Wiping a hand over her mouth, she slid it back to Daniela for a refill.
"Call me, Peggy," she instructed before downing the next one. Daniela nodded numbly, sipping from her own cup.
Peggy took the bottle of Jameson, starting on her third drink. The woman glanced out the corner of her eye at Daniela as she did so. The teen leaned against the counter and groaned to herself at the sight of Lip walking towards them.
"For fuck's sake," mumbled Daniela under her breath. The idiot was bound to stir up some drama with his presence.
Peggy caught on to her annoyance and raised a curious eyebrow at her.
"Trouble in paradise?" She asked, taking another drink. Daniela scoffed, her eyes catching Lip's hazy ones.
"Not with me."
Lip swaggered over with a cocky grin as Daniela continued to stare him down. Looking to Peggy he nodded his head in greeting.
"How's it going, Grams?" He shifted closer to Daniela, leaning across her to pick up the bottle of Irish whiskey. She could smell the alcohol and weed on him; it made her nose crinkle.
"Hey," he said to her; his voice low and slightly husky. Lip's grin grew at the obvious frustration on her face. Peggy eyed the two's interactions silently.
"You 21?" She asked her grandson, breaking the eye contact between the two teens.
"In four years," answered Lip simply, filling up his cup. He took a gulp and looked back to Daniela who's eyes were narrowed.
"What are you doing here?" She spoke through gritted teeth.
"I'm enjoying the party." Lip waved his arms wildly around the room.
Daniela rolled her eyes, walking away to join Ian again. Lip watched her go, his shit-eating grin still plastered on his face. He looked to his grandmother, the woman huffing a laugh at him before asking for another refill.
/
Ian was stood against a wall with Debbie when Daniela reached them. She leaned forward to speak to him in a hushed tone as Sheila began her speech.
"Lip's here," she said. Ian threw his head back with a deep sigh before surveying the crowd to spot him. When he did, he shook his head and turned back Daniela.
"He's a fucking idiot,"
"He's drunk and high," clarified Daniela with another look to Lip. Her friend sucked on his teeth, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Carelessly, he shrugged. "He's not our problem to deal with anymore." Daniela's eyes dropped to the ground. Ian was right.
Erasing Lip from her mind, she tuned back into Sheila's slurred speech. Clearly, the woman was relying on some liquid courage.
"And I know he would be so proud of his grandbaby," spoke Sheila of her late husband. "No matter who the father was... Except Frank, he hated Frank." Everybody in the room shuffled their feet uncomfortably.
"But it couldn't be Frank because there wasn't any penetration! Eddie didn't like being penetrated. He had a funny bump on the side of his penis that he thought was cancer but it was just from me being too rough with him."
Daniela couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her throat. Ian sniggered and elbowed her to be quiet. The two went back and forth, still grinning while Sheila carried on in the background.
"Jesus, is that bitch ever gonna shut up?" The room fell silent at Peggy's question. All eyes turned to her but she didn't care, continuing to drink from her cup.
"And Frank's mother, who we're so honored to have here even though you weren't invited. And not really honored because you're a convicted felon," accused Sheila harshly. Peggy sat back and listened calmly, nodding along.
Daniela watched as Sheila continued to berate the woman for being a 'vicious bitch' and wondering how someone so sweet as Frank came from her womb. She scoffed into her cup at that statement.
The entire time, the man stood rigidly; too scared to say anything against his mother, knowing there would be consequences.
"Shut up you batty bitch!" Yelled Peggy as she rose from her seat.
Sensing that things were escalating quickly, Daniela backed up a few paces to the wall.
The two woman verbally fought it out until Peggy shocked everyone and aimed a gun at Sheila.
Daniela's eyes widened and she watched as Tony quickly jumped in to grab the gun. Peggy was able to pull the trigger, sending a bullet into the smoke alarm on the roof.
Frightened screams rang out around the room as people quickly evacuated. Daniela stayed with a stunned Ian who was simply watching as things were being brought back to control. Eventually, guests took the hint and hurriedly left the party.
The Gallaghers stayed back to help with the clean up, feeling more than a little guilty and responsible for what had happened. Daniela also chose to stay, making her way around the house with a black trash bag to put in all of the used paper plates and cups.
She was clearing the food table when Jody came up beside her to help. She noticed the obvious slump in his shoulders and sad expression.
"Sorry about what happened," grimaced Daniela.
The man looked at her, breaking out of his daze and shrugged. "Wasn't your fault."
"Still, your wedding reception was ruined. Karen must be devastated."
Jody nodded. "She's been sitting outside ever since. I was going to go out and comfort her but a pregnant friend of mine told me that her hormones would be heightened so she would be quicker to snap at me."
Daniela nodded and placed another paper plate into her trash bag."You must be really excited for the baby." Finally, the man's grim expression was replaced with one of joy and excitement.
"Oh yeah," he grinned, his actions becoming quicker at the thought of the baby. "I've been reading all of these books on pregnancy. Karen helps me out with the difficult words that I don't understand."
Daniela smiled at him, glad that he was so eager to become a father with Karen. She also felt bad for him knowing that the baby was definitely not his.
From what she had heard from Lip- which was a lot- Karen had abstained from having sex with Jody because she actually liked him. Daniela also knew that while Karen wasn't sleeping with Jody, she was definitely sleeping with Lip.
The thought caused an angry fire in the pit of her stomach.
She and Jody finished cleaning up the lounge, leaving her to take the trash bag out to the bins.
As she went to open the screen door, Daniela heard the distinct voices of Lip and Karen talking. Knowing better but not being able to resist, she listened in to their conversation.
"I'm the American Dream," spoke Karen with fake enthusiasm, her voice thick with tears.
"You are," nodded Lip before jerking his head. "Except doofus is your husband and that's my baby." That familiar pang hit Daniela again as she leaned against the door.
"So what?" Asked Karen with a sad laugh. "Do you want it on the weekends? You wanna run away together and get a double-wide?" It was silent for a moment and Daniela figured he was shaking his head.
"No," denied Lip before his voice grew hard. "I want you to get an abortion."
Daniela's mouth fell open. The anger she had towards him flaring up once again. She smirked at the satisfying sound of Karen's hand hitting Lip's cheek. The blonde passed her as she headed inside, giving her a silent look.
Daniela moved out to lean against the railing. She watched as a stunned Lip touched his now red cheek.
"You totally deserved that," said Daniela, turning her nose up at him in disgust.
He looked at her in annoyance, still massaging his face. Daniela stood upright before carrying her trash bag down the steps and past Lip to the bin. She felt his eyes burning a whole in her the whole time.
Daniela didn't look back.
Instead, she placed the lid back on the trash can before promptly gliding past him and up the steps.
Until he stopped her.
"You back to ignoring me now?" He called out with a dry laugh. Daniela glared at him over her shoulder.
"I haven't been ignoring you," she lied and Lip picked up on it straightaway, scoffing at her.
"Yeah, that's bull." Daniela sighed and turned fully, resting her hip against the step's railing.
"I don't get it. This is what you wanted isn't it?" She glowered down at Lip. His own gaze dropped to the bottom step as he chewed on his lip.
Daniela nodded and held a finger to her chin. "How did you put it? 'Why don't you just do me a favor and leave me the fuck alone'? Yeah, I think that's what it was."
"Are you done now?" Lip's hollow eyes were back on her. Daniela pursed her lips and turned to head back inside. She heard him mutter a curse before she felt his hand wrap around her wrist. She listened to him sigh and looked over her shoulder again.
"I didn't mean it," he admitted. Daniela raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him. "Okay, maybe I did. But I didn't mean for you to just treat me like I don't exist anymore."
"Look, you didn't want my help. So I'm not going to bother." Daniela shook her head, retracting her wrist from his surprisingly gentle hold.
Lip continued to look at her, searching her face for something before sighing in defeat.
"I'm sorry," he finally said after a few long moments. His voice grew quieter. It was a rare moment when Daniela saw Lip in a vulnerable position. This was one of those times.
"I really need a friend right now." Daniela frowned down at him with a light scoff.
"Yeah well I don't really know if I just want to be friends with you." Her own murmured words caught her off guard and her mind reeled at the possible double meaning.
Lip also held a look of curiosity. He stared at her strangely and climbed another step, the distance between the two shortening.
They stood chest to chest. Daniela's hard gaze had softened by her words as she struggled to maintain eye contact. Lip, on the other hand, couldn't stop looking at her, a light frown marring his features.
His gaze dropped to her neck watching as she gulped nervously. His voice was low and thick when he spoke.
"What then?" Daniela tried to keep her breathing even as his blue eyes hit her hazel ones.
She could tell him, but then there was Karen- pregnant Karen. Daniela knew it wouldn't change anything if she told him.
"Just forget I said anything." Feeling overwhelmed, she quickly walked backward up the steps. She didn't care that she could possibly fall back or trip.
All she cared about was getting away from Lip. He watched her clamber inside, not bothering to stop her this time.
This time he was the one left standing alone.
Ugh, I hope that was okay.
Thank you so much to all the people that continue to read this. I'm surprised that I've even made it this far with the story. Please continue to let me know what you think!
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