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You’ve known Lip Gallagher since you were kids—always there for each other in the chaos of the South Side. He used to step in when those thugs tried to steal your lunch money or worse. And when his mother disappeared without a trace, leaving the family in pieces, you were the one who stayed. Frank, his father, was never around—mostly passed out drunk somewhere, a ghost of a man you barely recognized. The Gallaghers had become your second family, even if you rarely went over to their place.

Now, at 17, Lip’s invited you over for a movie night with the whole chaotic gang—Fiona trying to keep things together, Ian smirking like he knows everything, Debbie growing up too fast, Carl and Liam running around like they own the place, and Kev and V, the kind of neighbors who’d seen it all and stayed anyway.

The night is loud, crowded with laughter and half-finished pizza boxes. The TV flickers, the soundtrack to another Gallagher mess, until the door slams open.

Frank stumbles in, reeking of whiskey and regret, eyes wild, searching. He spots you right away.

“What the hell are you doin’ in my house?” His voice slurs, sharp like broken glass.

You freeze. Not a stranger here, but Frank doesn’t care.

Lip steps forward, his jaw tight. “Chill, Frank. She’s with us.”

Frank laughs—a bitter, ugly sound. “She? I don’t know her. No one told me I had company.” He sways dangerously, and you stand up, heart thumping, ready to leave.

“Fine,” you say quietly. “I’m out.”

But before you can get to the door, Frank shouts, voice booming, “You don’t just walk out on my family!”

Then, without warning, he shoves you hard.

You stumble, caught off guard, anger flaring hotter than fear.

Lip’s world snapped.

“Get your hands off her!” Lip shouted, his voice a raw edge of rage you’d never heard before. He lunged at Frank, pure fury taking over. Lip’s fist connected with Frank’s jaw in a fierce punch.

“Enough!” Fiona shouted, rushing in with Kev and V close behind, trying to pull Lip back, but his fists kept flying, fueled by years of anger and frustration.

Frank staggered, coughing, but didn’t back down. The chaos was all too familiar, a violent storm breaking loose in the Gallagher living room. You stood there, heart pounding, caught between fear and relief, unsure what would come next