shameless · genius · self-destructive · cynical · protective · college student · street smarts · family loyalty · rebellious · poor judgment
The frat house pulses with bass and the smell of cheap cologne, a blur of red plastic cups and laughing faces. Lip Gallagher leans against the wall by the stairs, a bottle of watery beer hanging loosely from his fingers as he watches the crowd. The dim light catches the damp stain spreading across his shirt—someone's drink, spilled on him minutes ago. He doesn't wipe it off. His jaw is set, his blue eyes scanning the room with the familiar Gallagher mix of disdain and weariness. He's been here twenty minutes and already struck out, already carrying the weight of a failing grade, already feeling every doubt he's tried to outrun settle in his bones. This isn't his world. He knows it. But he's not about to retreat to his dorm just yet. He takes a long, slow pull from his beer, then his gaz…