*RAES POV*

Karen and I are walking home from school, She's coming over to my place to hangout. It's still kind of weird that we've become friends but I geniunely like Karen. She's not such a bitch like everyone thinks. From our conversations I've come to the conclusion she's incredibly sensitive, like me. The only thing is she talks about Lip a lot. I don't know if it's my forementioned over sensitivity or what but sometimes I wonder if the only reason she spends her free time with me is to dig for dirt.

"So, have you heard from Lip, lately?" See what I mean?

"Not since he went to get DNA test with Ian. He told me he'd call and let me know what was going on but I figured with Monica back he's probably insanely busy not going insane."

"I get that. Is she really as bad as he says?"

"To be honest. I feel bad for Monica sometimes. I mean, she sucks for leaving but at the same time imagine if you were married to fucking Frank? Plus the bipolar doesn't help...or her denial of being bipolar."

We walk into my house and go into my living room, once again my mom is at work.

"You're dad left right? Would you forgive him if he came back?"

I'm a little taken back by how blunt this question is, and for the first time in my life I realise I have no idea how to answer this question. Theres one part of me that says 'no, not at all' BUT another part of me says 'yes, he's my dad! He MUST have good reason!' I feel pathetic.

"You don't have to answer that. That was rude. I'm sorry"

"Oh no,no,no! It's fine, I just, I just don't know!"

We sit quietly for a bit. I get tired of the silence but I still don't want to talk so I get up and get my portable record player my mom bought me for Christmas. I grab one of my vinyls (HUMBUG- ARCTIC MONKEYS) for us to listen to.

"All dad's suck! But this album is great!"

I'm trying to lighten the mood but I end up sounding like a stupid fucking t-shirt.
Karen gives me a big smile and we listen to records for a while and get high.
"Do you think Monica will leave again?"
"Definitely. And without Liam, she was born with the ability to have children, not with the ability to raise them."
"Didn't you say you feel bad for her?"
"Yes, SOMETIMES."
"I get it! I get it!" Karen throws her hands in the air as to say 'I surrender'
"Karen can I ask you something?"
"About my mom?"
"Yeeeah.."
"She's an agoraphobic and she's also a misophobia, afraid of dirt or being contaminated by dirt. She has extreme anxiety and she's on a drawer full of medication, she's better than Martha Stewart when it comes to cooking and crafts and that shit. She's pretty much the perfect mom except she doesn't leave the house."
"Yeah, Lip told me she was nice. Is it hard?"
"What hard?"
"Helping your mom out? Y'know since she doesn't leave the house?"
"Yeah, it can be. It's harder when my piece of shit father is around. He's always making jabs about her and laughs when she says she's going to leave the house AND to top it all off he won't stop talking about some purity ball he wants me to go to. Y'know I go and become a born again virgin?"
"What do you get out of it?"
"I don't know he says I can have the car. Which is fucking great but I don't want to go to a purity ba-"

Before Karen finishes her thought Lip walks through the front door. He looks over at us completely confused.

"Didn't think I'd ever see you two hanging out!"
"Our shitty dads brought us together. Come! Join! We're trying to find a place that does dad refunds, and last time I checked you were viable in this situation!"
"Fuck off!" Lip says with a small laugh and throwing a piece of paper at my head.
"What's this?" Karen ask as she unravels the paper.
"DNA test. Ian's."
"HOLY SHIT!"
"What?"

I grab the paper from Karen. It says Ian isn't Franks. I'm surprised but at the same time, it makes sense. He looks nothing like Frank. I mean NOTHING. I also noticed they never had much of a connection. Not that the Gallaghers have much connection to Frank that wasn't just him being their father, they barely even make eye contact when they are near eachother. I've hardly heard the two say anything to eachother in the years I've been friends him. I hope he's okay! Ian's more sensitive than Karen and I combined.

"Yeah, it's why I've been M.I.A. trying to find out who's Ian's dad."
"It said it was a family member on there does Frank got any brother?"
"Yeah, I heard Frank mutter about them once or twice."
"Yeah, we had to go see Grammy to see if they're easy to find."
"And?" Karen asks.
I can't stop reading that little paper.
"Yeah, we talked to one yesterday, Looked exactly like Frank and threaten to shoot us. Don't think he's the one. Tomorrow we're going to see the other, fingers crossed!"
"Fingers crossed for what?" I've broken my attention from the results and now Lip has my full attention.
"Fingers crossed he's not Franks!"
"Why? What if his real dad wants him to go live with him and you never get to see him again?!"
"You're being dramatic Rae!"
"Am I? Why do you want to know who Ian's dad is so bad? Is Ian this excited?"
"No! He's not!"

Lip's temper is rising and I know why. It's about him, he wishes he wasn't Franks, more so than the other kids, I think it's because he's afraid of becoming Frank. Right now I feel bad for Karen who's just a bystander right now. Usually when Lip and I get into it. We get INTO it.

"You know why he doesn't care Lip? Because he knows he's not going to end up like Frank! Just because you're his son doesn't mean you'll end up like him! You are your own person and so is Ian!"

Before Lip can respond my mom walks in with groceries. Surprise to me (and my pot on the table which is now being shoved down Karen's bra) Lip leaves before we can say anything else to him. Karen helps me and my mom bring in groceries.

"Do you want to stay for dinner sweetheart?"
"Oh! No! My mom probably has a big meal planned! Thank you though!"
My mom smiles and goes back to what she's doing. While her back is turned Karen gives me back my pot and I quickly stuff it into my bra before she leaves I walk her out the front door.
"Sorry about earlier."
"It's okay, you were right, Lip has more daddy issues than us."
"I wouldn't go that far!"
We share a small laugh and go about our ways.
I need to talk to Ian.