The best gift you give is neglect.

Laurel Bliss


Steve

---

Ally Parker


Philip "Lip" Gallagher

Laurel was exhausted after a night of listening to her parents argue, and practically stumbled into the Gallagher house where they were gathered at the table having breakfast. She was relieved at least that since her fathers anger had been directed at her mother last night, he had left her alone. She knew it sounded awful, but her mother could handle her own. And besides, she still had a bruised arm from the other night when she hadn't been so lucky. "Hey Gallagher's!" she said with fake cheer, announcing her presence. She walked over to the table, messing Lips hair before grabbing a bite of Ian's toast and taking the seat beside him. She never actually ate any of the Gallagher's food, cause she knew they had barely enough to go around for themselves, but she enjoyed messing with Ian. "So what are you all up too?" she asked, with her mouth full.

xx

Lip had just smoked a joint in his room with Ian and wasn't exactly focused on his surroundings when Laurel came in. He took a last sip of his orange juice and stood up. "I was just actually just heading out, gotta get to work" he said with a smile and a wave in the general direction of the table, before kissing Liam on the head and unceremoniously walking outside. He was meeting Kevin in the ice cream truck so they could get an early start on the day. "Hey Kev," he said as he got into the truck, where Kevin already was, counting the bills from the register.

@ foREVerYours.

Steve crawled out of bed, pulling on his boxers and pants before walking down stairs to see all of the Gallegher children, besides Fiona, in the kitchen, "Mornin' everyone," he walked past the table to the kitchen and to the kitchen to get himself some breakfast. After spending most of the night arguing with Fiona and ending up in her bed, he was exhausted and confused. Seeing the door open and Laurel walk in, he waved, "Hey Laurel."

---

Kev had been waiting for Lip when he finally climbed in the truck, "Hey," he finished counting the cash before putting some of it back in the register, "Let's get this thing to the park." He put the truck in drive and headed to the spot to park.
X
Ally watched as the truck pulled up and parked, seeing kids flocking to it, she waited a bit before walking up. Standing in the line for a minute, she got to the window and handed the kid her money, "Two joints," once she got them, she smiled, "Thanks, maybe we could meet up when your done here and share one, if you're interested, meet me over by the baseball diamond." She walked away, going to sit in the shade from one of the trees.

@ Fiona Gallagher.

@ foREVerYours.
Laurel couldn't help but blush when she saw Steve. She knew it was wrong, but since the moment she met Fiona's boyfriend she had a big crush on him. "Hey Steve, how's it going?" she asked, running a hand through her hair. Ian gave her the side eye, he knew that her messing with her hair was a nervous habit. She kicked him under the table, causing him to let out a loud groan of pain. "What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his leg. "Sorry, my foot slipped," she replied.

xx

Lip finished with a customer and smiled despite himself when a beautiful blonde girl walked up the van and ordered two joints. He got them for her and handed them over. He stuttered, trying to form a reply when she invited him to share them with her. She walked away before he could reply. "I'll be there!" he yelled awkwardly at her retreating back. "Wow," he whispered under his breath. "Cute girl," Kev said beside him. He paused for a second before adding. "But get back to work, we have money to make." Lip couldn't wait for his shift to end. After a couple more hours Kev decided to cut him a break and let him leave early.

@ Fiona Gallagher.
Steve shrugged as he drank his orange juice, "Been better," he heard movement upstairs, "Maybe I should head outside before Fiona gets up, she wasn't too happy with me last night." He grabbed his toast and his glass before walking out to the back porch. Ian looked at Laurel, "Better go outside, make sure he's going to be alright," he teased.

---

Ally was relaxed under the tree next to the baseball diamond when Lip was done. A small smile formed on her lips as she saw him walking towards her, "And here I thought you wouldn't show up," she smiled at him, "I'm Ally, by the way." She took out a joint and lit it, taking a hit before handing it to him, "And I've heard your one of the Gallegher's, Lip right?"

@ foREVerYours.
Laurel frowned as Steve talked about Fiona. She understood that Fiona had issues letting guys get close to her, but Steve didn't deserve to be treated this way. It seemed like he was always upset about something Fiona did or said. Laurel nudged Ian in the shoulder. "You know what smartass, I think I will," she said, heading out the back door to the porch. She took a seat beside Steve, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it before offering the pack to him. "You look like you could use one." She paused for a moment, biting her bottom lip and mulling over how to say what she wanted to say. "So, I don't mean to be noisy, but what happened last night between you and Fiona that's got you so upset?" she asked, figuring just throwing it out there was the best course of action.

xx

Lip tried not to look to excited when he saw the girl waiting for him in the baseball diamond. Part of him worried that she wouldn't actually be there, he tried to tell himself that he didn't really care, but the girl intrigued him. She had something about her. "Hi Ally," he said with a grin, taking the joint from her hand and taking a hit off of it. "That would be me," he answered, offering the joint back to her. "Not that I'm not flattered that you know who I am, but how exactly do you know who I am?" he asked, curious. He knew that most people around here knew his family, they didn't exactly keep to themselves, but he couldn't recall seeing this girl before. And he was sure he would remember her if he had.

@ Fiona Gallagher.
Steve watched as the door opened and Laurel walked out, when she offered him a cigarette, he took one and lit it, "You know how Fiona is, one minute she's in love, the next she hates me, but I think she really means it this time." He ran a hand through his hair, "I don't think I can really fix it this time."

---

Ally laughed softly, taking the joint and taking a hit, "I just moved here, three houses to the left of yours." She laid back in the grass before handing the joint back to Lip, "I heard about the Gallegher's and heard about you, from Laurel."

@ foREVerYours.
Laurel nodded in understanding. She knew exactly how Fiona was, because she fell into this same pattern every time. Before she thought about what she was doing she put her hand on his knee, to comfort him. She contemplated what to say. She didn't want to lie to him, but she also didn't think telling him that he may be right was very tactful. "I'm sorry Steve," she said with a sigh, moving her hand away so he wouldn't get uncomfortable. "You know, if you ever need to talk about things, I'm here." She took a long drag on her cigarette and drummed her other hand against her knee.

xx

Lip was surprised he hadn't heard that there were new people in the neighborhood, he had been a little distracted though lately ever since him and Karen. "Oh really? That's great. It'll nice to have someone else around my age in the neighborhood." He took the joint and inhaled deeply, he was starting to feel the effect of the weed. "Good stuff," he said, handing the joint back to Ally. "You know Laurel? Do I even want to know what she's told you about us?" he laughed.

@ Fiona Gallagher.
Steve wasn't quite sure how to react to Laurel's hand on his knee, he decided to ignore it and take a hit from his cigarette, "I mean, it's not like I expected this to last forever, but I didn't expect it to come back and bite me in the ass right away." Hearing that she'd be there, he smiled, "Thanks Laurel, means a lot knowing I have someone to talk to."

---

Ally nodded, "Yup, my dad's never home though so I usually have the house to myself, which is why I end up out here." She laughed, looking up at the sky, "Oh I'm sure it's what I would have heard from anyone else, this crazy big family basically raising themselves, she actually told me that you'd be out here with that truck and I just couldn't resist, I had to meet you."

@ foREVerYours.
Laurel nodded, "It's no problem at all. You know I consider you a friend, right Steve? Even if you and Fiona don't work out." She felt her face heat up, and knew it was bright red. She took in a deep breath and then continued, "God, I feel like a traitor for saying this, but Fiona's never really been a relationship person. I mean, we all have our baggage around here, but Fiona... well she's been through a lot. Opening up to people isn't really easy for her."

xx

Lip chuckled. "Ya know, I'm kind of jealous. There's always somebody home at my house. It's almost impossible to get the place to myself," he shrugged, laying back onto the grass. He smirked listening to her description of his family. "Yeah, that's pretty much our story. I'm glad you came by the truck today though. Ya know, if you ever get lonely at your house, you can always visit the Gallagher house."

@ Fiona Gallagher.
Steve smiled at her, "Well I'm glad to know I have a friend," he laughed softly, "Oh I know, I figured that much out about Fiona when all this started." He looked around, "I just know that when she finally gets up and realizes I'm here, she's going to continue the fight we were having last night and I'd really rather not have that happen."

---

Ally laughed, "Thanks, if you ever want peace and quiet, you're welcome to stop by my place." The thought of being in a house with the Galleghers was actually really appealing to her, especially to be surrounded by kids. "I'm glad I decided to stop by the truck too, I mean I got some pretty great weed and I met a pretty awesome guy," she smiled over at him.