South Side Academia

A/N - Hi everyone! Sorry for the small mistakes in any of my chapters, I will try to edit them better.

Also yes! For those of you who have figured it out - This is a story based on Sasha Alexander's role in Shameless. I loved her performance, so I'm putting my own extended twist on this story.

This story is fully #CalzonaEndgame, so don't worry. It won't end how it ended in Shameless.

I'm trying to add more of a backstory so this all starts to make sense, please be patient with the process :)

Happy Reading!

Chapter 3: Financial Aid

Arizona's POV:

Shit, I knew it was going to rain. Of course, my rain jacket barely holds up as I can feel how soaked my clothes are.

Entering my apartment building at 5346 Olive Dr, in the Southside part of Manhattan, NY. I have to make sure to secure both safety locks on our front door. Not the biggest, most spacious, or safest area.. But it's enough for Tim and I to have a proper mailing address.

"Hey, you're home pretty late." Tim looked up from the couch in the living room - more like a small 4x4 box.

"Yeah, got caught up." I yawn. Fucking the elective teacher really does take the energy out of you.

"Someone's been calling the landline the whole day" Tim continues. "Something about financial aid?" he brings his own smoke towards his lips, inhaling the smoke slowly.

"Fuck.. Right. I owe my tuition." I sigh. Who the hell thought college would be a good idea anyways? Not fucking me, that's for sure.

Tim and I, we were raised on the Southside. Meaning - well, that we are destined for fucking disaster. Don't ask me who made that sick rule, if you find out send that sick fuck my way. I couldn't say the amount of times I've had to outrun the cops because of living in the ghetto.

Our father, Daniel Robbins. Was known for being a great soldier in the army. He was strong, brave.. Didn't fear anything. Until he was passionately released after a huge bombing disaster in Iraq, where he was the only survivor of his troop. I was 8. That's when the nightmares started.

It was PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Nightmares, sleep walking, emotional outbursts, financial disruptions.. It all happened from a young age. My morning routines usually consisted of dragging my drunken father to bed from the middle of the kitchen floor, while my mother was too high from who knows what, to comprehend what was really happening.

My mother, Barbara. I used to call her "Momma". That stopped when I was 10, once she decided to choose drugs over her family. I don't know what happened to her, it was almost like a switch. Tim told me it was Borderline Personality Disorder, so we just always supported how we could. Even if she could never support us. That's how family works.

While growing up, Tim was and is still my only best friend. When I was 11 and Tim 13, he taught me a lot of my street smarts. From hustling pharmacies, fighting with the other kids, stealing groceries for dinner, we did what he what to in order to survive and earn respect. It really wasn't that bad, it's not like we were the only kids in the Southside struggling.

I was ready to accept my life, having to maybe steal and lie to make any type of money.

But then I took my SAT test? Yeah, apparently people care about that.

I scored in the 99th percentile, which is apparently great. Next thing I knew I was being offered all these university offers. My highschool guidance counsellor whom I barely knew was trying to tell me that my life was going to change? What the hell does that mean? No one's life just changes like that.

I was able to use some of my acceptance money from NYU School of Medicine to buy Tim and I this shitty apartment, somewhere away from all the chaos at home. I didn't know I still had to pay the tuition..

"You don't happen to have $8000 by tomorrow, do you.." I sigh, plopping myself beside Tim on the couch with defeat.

"Sorry sis, most I could get you right now is maybe $350." He shrugs, handing me a cigarette and lighting it for me.

Groaning, I know I'm screwed. Every time something happens that seems remotely beneficial for me, it all goes to shit. I feel guilty not being able to support my family. Support Tim. I'm 21 years old and I feel like every minute of my life has been absolutely useless.

"Thanks Tim.." I say sincerely, inhaling the smoke. I know, I'm becoming a doctor and I'm already choosing to kill my body from the inside out. But hey, at least it's not fucking crack. One more smoke won't make a difference anyways.

Interrupting my thoughts is the ringing of our landline again, looking over at Tim I groan. "Might as well get this over with."

I get up and answer the phone, "Hello?"

"Hello, may I speak to Ms. Arizona Robbins please? This is Peter calling from Financial Aid." The man on the other line says stoically.

"Speaking.." I continue. Knowing what he is going to say next.

"Ms. Robbins.. I've been trying to get a hold of you. I wanted to inform you of an update about your Financial plan here at the University." He continues, I can hear the typing from his computer on the other end.

"Yeah, yeah I know." I sigh. "Look, Peter.. I'm sorry, I can't get $8000 for you by tomorrow." I say matter of factly.

"I know, Arizona. In fact we all know that you personally have not submitted any payments to this school." He states. "However, I notice over the past summer you had an internship here, correct?"

"Uh.. yeah? And?" I ask. Over the summer I worked under Dr. Pernell, Health Sciences Innovative Researcher. I did a lot of work for him, but it's not like it was anything too difficult. I curated study after study, performing labs, composing data, creating concrete research from absolutely nothing. It felt fucking amazing. Being able to create something.

"And well, our faculty has noticed the amount of new data you configured to support much research here." After not getting an answer from the blonde, Peter continues, "I'm saying, Arizona.. We're giving you another chance here. The Provost and Faculty of the University have decided to allow you to pay your tuition in increments, but we need you to make a payment of $500 by tomorrow to start things off." He finished.

"500 dollars by tomorrow? Are you fucking kidding me?" I say. Crap. How the hell am I supposed to get that?

"This is your chance, Ms. Robbins. It's the best I could get you in such short notice." Peter spoke. "I'll see you tomorrow at 8am with your payment." He finishes and hangs up.

Not being able to resist slamming the phone down on the receiver, I look at Tim, "How the fuck am I supposed to get $500 by tomorrow morning?" I sigh.

Taking out a wad of cash and handing it to me, Tim looks at me, "Here, take this. You need it more than I do right now. It's the $350." He doesn't hesitate.

"Tim.. where did you get this?" I question him, even though I don't want to know the answer.

"Don't worry about it, Arizona. I earned it, it's mine. Now it's yours. You need to stay in school ok? It's your only way out of this fucking mess." He stands and puts his jacket on. "C'mon, let's go see if we can get you more."

Rolling my eyes, I look him over. Never did I ever think Tim would be committing crimes to get by. I hate to think about all the possible things he does while I'm not with him. One week he will be dealing weapons, another week he's a part of a gang. But, they respect him on the streets. I think that's all that matters. Here, now, respect from others is everything.

So, I put the bills in my back pocket and follow Tim out of our apartment. For most, leaving a Southside apartment at night should be completely off limits - but Tim and I couldn't be phased.

People know us around here, well mostly Tim. However, no one tries to ever mess with me, unless they wanna hear it from Timothy and his crew.

Following my brother down the lightless roads, we eventually reach our old neighbourhood in the Southside.

I can't help but notice another woman walking down the road. What the hell is that lady doing all by herself? I ask myself.

"Hey! Hey, Lady" Tim shouts, also seeing the woman. As we get closer, we can finally see the features on the woman's face.

"Barbara?" I scoff, not the person I really needed to see right now.

Smiling widely, Barbara lifts her head up from her phone and sees the two people approaching her. "My children! Oh my children have come to see me!" She sings.

"What are you doing out here, Barbara?" Tim asks. "You should be inside.. It's dark out." He says as if it's the most obvious thing.

Coming between Tim and I, Barbara wraps her arms around our shoulders. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is my two angels are here now." She kisses our cheeks. She reeks of alcohol.

"Listen, Barbara." I sigh, removing her arm from around my shoulder. "We need to get you home, ok? You can't be out here." I continue.

"Fuck, Arizona. Why do you always have to be up my ass?" Barbara rolls her eyes. "I'm just having fun, you should try it sometime." She scoffs.

If Barbara wasn't my mother, I would've swung on her for that.

"C'mon, mom.." Is all I say, while taking her hand and leading her towards our old family home.

"What are you guys doing here, anyways? I haven't seen you both for a few days!" Barbara asked as she entered her run down home.

"It's been a couple months, Barbara.." Tim muttered, he hated seeing our mother like this. She refuses to acknowledge her illness, along with any rehab or counselling.

"It's fine, Tim." I sigh. "We don't have time for this. I need to figure out how I'm getting another $150 by tomorrow morning." I finished.

"Well, Arizona. Why don't you ask your father? I'm sure he has some money hanging around here." Barbara smiles while pouring herself a glass of wine.

"He's here?" I ask, not really wanting to see my father right now.

"Of course! He's upstairs, where he always is." Barbara shrugged. "Just don't startle him, he swings if scared."

Taking a breath, I look to Tim signalling that I'll be right back. Walking up the creaky staircase, the memories of me being pushed down these stairs by my father pops in my head. Yeah, great times.

Knocking on the door that I assume was still my parent's room, I open the door slowly as I don't get a response to enter. Not sure what to really expect, I roll my eyes as I see my father sleeping in bed with a bottle of Jack Daniels in his right hand. How the hell is he affording Jack Daniels?

Choosing to ignore the sleeping man in front of me, I can't help but notice his wallet beside him. Couldn't hurt to check.

And if by some grace of God, there were two bills with Benjamin Franklin on the faces. Fuck, this can't be happening right now. I can't help but smile from my excitement.

Of course I didn't hesitate in taking the money. What the fuck do I owe to Daniel Robbins? Nothing. That son of a bitch made my life a living hell, the least he could do is spare me two-hundred bucks. I'll get it back to him eventually. He probably won't even notice..

Leaving Daniel's room swiftly, I head back downstairs. "Well, we should get going Tim. C'mon, I'm really tired." I groan, waiting by the front door.

"You take care of yourself, mom.." Timothy patted Barbara on the thigh. Giving her one last look before following me out the door.

Walking back down the way too familiar streets, Tim sees me smiling. "What's got you all happy, sis?"

Reaching in my pocket, I pull out the money I just took. "This, my dearest brother, is the ticket to becoming rich and smart." I wink.

"Hey, you're the smartest person I know." He smiles, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close.

"Don't you ever forget it." I chuckle.