*RAE'S POV*
"Karen, I really have no idea what I'm doing?"
"It's fine! You're fine! Believe in yourself!"

Karen came over so I could get the black dye out of her hair. Her and Lip are all good right now but they aren't together. I don't ask to be honest.

"This stuff smells AWFUL!" I somehow muster through coughing.
"Yeah but hopefully it works!"
"So, how's your meetings going?"

Karen just started going to sex addicts anonymous.

"It's going so good! I feel like I'm really getting my shit together!
"That's good, I'm happy for you!"

We exchange smiles and continue washing out Karen's hair. Takes a couple of tries but it's finally blonde again. I can't believe I got it done.

"Thank god, I thought I'd have to shave my head!"
"Or kill me."
"Never in a million years! What time is it?"
"I don't know like 4?"
"Shit! I gotta go! Meeting in half an hour!"
"Yeah no problem! See you in school tomorrow?"
"Of course!"

With that Karen's left and I'm alone. I flop on my bed and get ready to start studying. Summer vacation is in a little over a month and exams are coming fast.
I've been so stressed lately too with exams and work I've barely been eating. I do that a lot though. I'll bounce back. Once everything is in control again. Then I'll eat the biggest meal and go back to being healthy and everything. I don't think anyone has noticed. At least I hope not.
With that thought there is a loud bang on my door. Which could only mean one thing.

"Hey Rae, what are we doing today?"

Two Gallagher boys come charging in my room and take over as if they call my room their home.

"Don't wait for a response or anything? JUST COME RIGHT ON IN!"
"Yeah no problem! 11 Physics? Easy!" Lip says flopping next to me on my bed grabbing my text book.
"Well as you can see I'm studying tonight."
"No way!' Lip shuts my textbook and throws it on my bed next to me.

"It's Friday! I don't work! You don't work! Let's all do something! It's been a while!"

It really has been a while. I've actually been spending more time with Karen than I have the Gallaghers, believe it or not! And if I'm not with Karen I'm working almost 40 hours a week. We're short staffed still and can't afford to hire anyone right now.

"I don't know, I really need to study, exa-"
"Exams aren't for 3 more weeks! You have PLENTY of time to study! Plus you're good at physics, you don't need to study! LET'S GO!" Lip grabs my hand and pulls me off my bed. I guess I won't be studying tonight.

Before I know it we're out the door and heading to the Gallagher home.
"Gallagher party tonight?" Why else would they drag me out of my house?
"That sounds like a good idea, Rae!"
"I'll get Fiona!" Ian runs into the house while Lip and I are still walking behind him.
"So, Rae? How you been lately? You're a little M.I.A. to say the least."

He gives me a small nudge, now I know why he didn't rush into the house like Ian.
"Yeah, Just working a lot."
"You sure everything's good? You're looking a little...uh... sick lately?"
"What do you mean? I feel fine!"
"You're pretty fucking thin these days, Rae! More than usual! Are you eating?"
"Yeah of course!"
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying!" but I am, I haven't been eating, I mean I've been snacking, sort of, I mean. I haven't had like a full meal in, um, I don't know how long. But that's none of his business.
We stare at each other for a while, neither willing to give in, or willing to be the first to speak. Thankfully Ian comes bursting out the door.

"Fiona says sure! But we gotta go get Kev and V!"
"Sounds good." Lip says without breaking eye contact with me. We head over the Ball residence.
"Everything alright? You two seem tense." Ian inquires.
"Perfectly fine!" I say with a bright smile. No need to ruin the Gallagher party tonight with my "problems" Ian shrugs it off as we head up Kev and V's front steps.
"YO! KEV! IT'S LIP!"
"You could just knock?" I ask.
"These two? They never answer when you kno-"
Before Lip can finish his sentence Kevin swings the door open only wearing a towel and looking incredibly annoyed.
"This better be important Gallagher!"
"Hey, Kev, uh, sorry to interrupt! Fiona told us to come over and tell you to come over tonight!" Ian is so awkward sometimes I die, like it's just Kevin!
"Gallagher party!" I poke my head between the two boys and chime in!
"Alright then! I'll let Veronica know! We'll be over in a bit!"
"See ya Kev!"
The door closes we walk back in silence again.

*FIONA'S POV*

"So we're having a party tonight!" Debbie ask
"I mean, yeah! Just Kev and Veronica and Rae! Not a big party!"
"No Steve?"
She's been asking about Steve a lot latetly but I haven't heard from him in a while, not since he left. He'll be back soon...maybe.
"Finish your homework. Where's Carl?"
"Outback!"
I run out back and see Carl with garden sheers. I didn't think we own garden sheers!
"CARL!"
"WHAT!?"
"Put down the garden sheers and come inside!"
This kid is going to kill me I swear!
"So what about Steve!" I've barely set my foot back in the house!
I hear the front door close and for a split second I think it's Steve. But it's just the boys and Rae. Who isn't looking too good lately. I won't pry though, I already got too many kids to take care of.
"Hey! What did they say!"
"They're coming!"
"Okay, great! Rae your mom came by earlier and dropped off food, while you guys were at school and said she assumed you'd be coming by tonight and you'd eat here!" Thank god for Rae's mom or we'd starve some days I swear!
"Yeah, she left me a note, some times I swear she's psychic!"
Rae sits with Debbie and starts helping her with her homework. She's such a sweet kid. Then I notice Lip sulking in the corner, nothing new, He hasn't been hanging out with Karen a lot lately. She goes to some sort of meetings now and has little time for Lip. Which clearly bothers him. Sometimes he's so transparent. Makes my job so damn easy!
"Lip can you help me clean up the living room? Ian can you set the table for dinner and uh, get Carl in here!"
"No, problem!" Ian rushes to the back door while I take Lip aside in the living room.
"What's up? You don't seem so cheerfull like you were an hour ago?"
"Nothing. Hey, uh, Rae look a little thin to you?"
"I mean she's always been a skinny girl, Lip."
"No, I know, but does she look skinnier to you?"
She does but I don't want him to worry too much so I just reassure him it's nothing and to cheer up for the party tonight.
We clean up the dishes and garbage left by Frank and set for dinner.

*Rae's POV*

"See Debs! You're getting it!"
"Well when you explain it like that it doesn't seem so hard!"

Debbie's so sweet! She makes me wish I had a little sister sometimes, my house can be so lonely!
Ian comes back in with Carl, garden sheers in his hands.
Now Carl, makes me second guess having siblings or even my own children.

"Hey, Carl doing some gardening?"
"You can say that!"
"He was trying to climb the pole outside so he could cut the laundry line! But he was actually going to the power lines!"
"How am I supposed to know the difference!"
"Ones electric, 2 feet higher and not attached to our house stupid!"

Debbie chimes in.
Carl smacks Debbie's arm and a fight breaks out between the two. While I help Ian prepare dinner.
Of course my mom made my favourite, Lasagna, AND enough to feed an army. Just like Lip, she thinks I'm too skinny and is trying to fatten me up. But I'm fine! I don't need to eat right now! I have more important things to do. How am I supposed to not eat in front of 6 people. Especially in front of Lip, who with out a doubt will be watching my every move!
With that last thought my stomach starts growling.

"Hungry?" Ian smirks
"Ha ha little bit!"

Ugh, I'll just take a tiny plate and say I ate before I got here! Eat just a little bit and no one will be the wiser and my stomach will settle. Everything will be fine!
Kevin and Veronica come through the door, with extra glasses and a giant bottle of Vodka!
"Great just in time for dinner!" Kevin says sitting down at the counter where Ian and I are standing.
"Hey, baby how are you?" Veronica says to me as she gives me a small hug.
"Good!"
"Rae, tell your mom that we are more than willing to accept any food she has to offer, this lasagna is fucking amazing!"
"Kevin, wait for everyone else, jesus!" V says she a smirk and a small shake of her head.
"What!?"

Everyone else comes in and settles for dinner! I feel Fiona and Lip catching small glances over at me, I make sure to take a few bites every time they look over my way. So they don't think anything suspicious!
The rest of the night includes loud music, Fiona and Veronica drunk dancing while Lip, Ian and I take turns smacking Carl away from our joint! Eventually everyone left for bed and Frank stumbled in and passed out on the floor.
I didn't want to admit it but I really needed this night. I miss the Gallaghers.