Today is like every other day, I'm exhausted from work but I need this English credit, so here I am. The only thing keeping me awake right now is Lip who keeps snapping me back into class.
"Fuck off. Stop doing that."
"Doing what?" Lip smirks at me knowing snapping his fingers in my face drives me crazy, especially when I'm this tired.
"I don't have to work tonight you want to do something?" I sigh.
"No I don't think I can, I gotta tutor Karen Jackson in Physics tonight then I gotta watch Debbie and Carl, Fionas going out with V."
"Karen Jackson, huh? I doubt, you'll be doing much studying, considering she's in my physics class and she's doing perfectly fine. I think she wants you, babe!"
"Ha Ha! Well she got a C and needs a B, so I get paid and hopefully laid." Lips says with a hint of sarcasm.

Lip doesn't know but I know he's got a thing for Karen. I catch him staring at her all the time. Lip doesn't realize but I can read him better than anyone else, sometimes I feel like we're the same person,we've been friends since birth practically and have lived 3 houses down from eachother. My mom actually used to take care of his older sister Fiona when their parents went on benders or would fight. You can say we are pretty much family.

After a long pause of silence, I finally break the awkwardness.
"So, if your "tuturing" doesn't take too long, you can just swing by if you want to hang out, I'll probably just be doi-"
"I'm sorry Rachael? was it? do you have something you want to share with the class?" The substitute, whose name I've already forgotten.
"Not at all sir."
Lip chuckles; the bell rings.

The rest of the day is long and I just seem to be getting more and more tired, I haven't talked to Lip much since English ( we have 3 classes together and sit next to eachother in every single one) I definetly hit a sore spot. I doubt he'll be mad much longer after he spends the afternoon at Karen's he'll probably show up at my place to tell me all his gory details. In the mean time I go looking for his brother Ian to see if he needs a ride to work.
"Hey Rae!" Ian beams.
"Hey Ian, seen Lip?"
"Yeah, like 5 minutes ago, he left with Karen Jackson."

I can tell Ian's not much of a fan of hers. To be honest neither am I. I barely know her, She's in one of my classes but she doesnt talk to me really. Occasionally ask me for homework or notes she missed. Last week she asked me if there was anything going on between Lip and I, once I told her no she ran off like a little girl.

"Not a fan of her, Ian?"
"I don't know, she's okay I guess. Did you guys have plans or something?"
"No, just wondering if you guys wanted a ride, you work tonight?"
"Yeah I do! Don't mind giving me a ride? Last night Linda tore me a new asshole for beiing 5 minutes late, gotta be on my best behavior today."
"She sounds like a real ball buster. Why don't you quit and come work with me? Better money and less Linda to yell at you and y'know more me!"
"Y'know I'd love that but I'm pretty..comfortable at the Kash and Grab." Ian laughs to himself I'm not really sure what's so funny but I ignore it as we get in my car to go.

I've always adored Ian, he's the little brother I never had. He has such an endearing face that I couldn't possibly fathom someone wanting to hurt him, then I remember he's just as much as a shit head as Lip.
The car ride is short considering the Kash and Grab is walking distance from our school. I say bye to Ian and head home, almost asleep at the wheel, maybe I'll take a quick nap before I get my school work done.

When I walk into my house I see my mom getting ready in the living room, which means she has to work the late shit tonight; mom's head nurse at the local hospital and works late shifts most of the time.

"Raeanne! I spoke to Fiona and she said she was going out tonight so once you're done all your work can you bring the lasagna I made over for the kids! I told her I'd get you to bring some dinner over!"
"I'm surprised Fi let you make dinner for everyone!"I say sitting on the floor in front of our coffee table to do my work.

"I owe them for helping clean out our attic. Plus it makes the night easier for her! So many kids to take care of, I couldn't even imagine, you were enough for me."

Mom's practically running around while getting ready.

My mom raised me all on her own. My dad left when I was really young, I couldn't tell you anything about him. I used to blame my mom but now I know the truth, all dads suck.

"Okay mom I'll take the food over later."

My mom leaves for work with a kiss to my forehead and she's gone.

I sit down in the living room to do my work; a short story for English, an essay for History and some questions for science. This won't take long and then I can drop the food off at the Gallaghers and finally go to sleep. Thank god I didn't have to work tonight.

I work two jobs, I saved enough to buy a used car and the rest I'm saving for school. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays I work at a small diner close to the El, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I work at a grocery store as a cashier. I rarely get a day off at both jobs.
I can't help but wonder how Lip's "tutoring" is going.
Before I know it I'm drifting off and eventually fall asleep in my living room.