07.

X

"There're things we keep hidden from one another. Things we hide from ourselves. Things that are kept hidden from us. And things no one knows. You always learn the damnedest things at the worst possible time."

-JIM BUTCHER, Changes


Everyone of the Gallagher's now had a place to come back to. Their home. All thanks to Carl and his new life style, without his new life choice who knows where each of them would be? Carl knew. Fiona would be off enjoying her new life with Sean, his son, and of course Lil homie Liam would be right with Fiona since he still didn't have much of a say in anything yet. Debbie would probably continue living off of that lady, Erica, and her family to help support his niece or nephew. Lip had his dorm room up at the college so he were good and Ian would probably spend a few nights up there as well or find a new boyfriend to stay with. As for Carl he would continue living in hotel rooms or suites with all the girls that were down to stick around. And Frank...he'd probably find any place to sleep or get over on anyone again. That's all the things that would have happened if they didn't get the house back. If Carl didn't have any money left the Gallagher's wouldn't be together anymore.

Of course it would eventually happen when they all got older, maybe. Some would move out of the house and go on with their lives with whomever else but this was their home. A place where so much history it couldn't just be thrown and taken away from them like this. No not at all. It took for the Gallagher's to be actually evicted for Carl to know that he was not ready to say goodbye to his home. He was also not ready to say goodbye to anyone or anything else. So with the last duffle bag of cash he had, he delivered it all over to Fiona to bring the family back together again or at least somewhat together. It wasn't that hard of a decision to make and this was not something Carl chose to deal with. Although the house started to become empty day after day, Fiona coming and going with Sean, Lip coming home every other weekend, Fiona kicking Debbie out because she got knocked up, Ian only sticking around to nap and eat since Fiona kept nagging him to take his meds, the only ones that were truly left were Carl and Liam.

That's the price you pay when you go through changes.

Things definitely started to change. Carl felt it the next few days waking up not seeing Nick below next to his bed. All that was left was an empty space and his things packed away in a box. Carl didn't like this change because it wasn't the good kind. His friend that he only known for a short period of time was taken away from him due to a choice he made. Carl understood it though but he also knew it wasn't right. Nick didn't have to murder that kid but Nick was forever locked in his tragic memory - of his father taking away his happiness and he wouldn't let anyone do that again, even if it were some kid that happened to be younger than Carl himself. It was fucked up, really fucked up but there was nothing Carl could do. He couldn't fix this and it was killing him everyday waking up to not have Nick beside him. To not talk more about what he wanted to do in the future, do more business with him, or simply just hanging out with the older boy. Carl wished he could have done something to fix this, to fix what Nick had done, to prevent Nick from committing this crime. Carl felt like a part of it was his fault, for not acting sooner - he should have known. Nick was not a bad guy, neither was Carl but they just made bad choices that changed their lives. They were criminals but that doesn't mean they weren't human.

Every night Carl made sure to pour a 40 on his bedroom rug or places where they've hung out to keep Nick's memory alive. He couldn't imagine what he were going through in prison or if he were even alive at this point. Carl knew he would never see him again and he knew how much pain that family were in. He had to do something, not only for Nick but for the family who lost a child. They didn't deserve to lose someone they loved dearly, nobody deserved that. Every night was a constant nightmare for Carl who kept playing that day over in his mind like a broken record there was so much blood. He could barely sleep, this was surely messing him up. So he kept his head low as he roamed the halls of school, dapping everyone of his acquaintances up but not sticking around to hold a conversation. Many people around school wanted Carl to throw a party since he took control over the household he spent his money on. The house was his just as much as it were Fiona's. Although the house really belonged to aunt ginger who was also no longer with them, he had a say in wanting to throw a party.

As the fourteen year old stood in the hallway staring over the banister at the bikes that were chained down outside on the bike rack, he couldn't help but to think about Nick. Even after his fellow homies came by to get the okay for the party he finally agreed to throw. He knew that Nick would want Carl to do whatever he needed to do to go on with his life and if that meant throwing a lit party then he wouldn't turn it down. Maybe it'd help him forget all the things that were bothering him, or maybe not.


Lunch time finally rolled around as Carl made his way out of the building like a lone wolf. He was sure that he didn't want to head home just yet (Especially not that Queenie, Frank's new lover and that racist fuck, Chuckie were back at the crib) so he stuck around heading out to the back of the high school building to the football field where practice took place. In a daze Carl walked by groups of kids as he passed the outside basketball court to the field. He had just finished talking and texting Debbie on how to perform "Lesbian sex" on someone he didn't bother to ask about. He didn't need to know.

Carl shoved his phone back into his jean pocket as he slowly walked on by until a voice called out to him, "You not gonna speak?"

Spinning on his heels he faced no other than Dominique who stood around with her girls, he didn't even notice her standing there. "Oh, hey."

Mumbling he turned to continue walking only to have Dominique run up to him and grip his arm to get Carl's full attention, "Okay, you went from being sprung to being stuck up. You skipping today?"

Blinking Carl glanced away from the pretty girl, "Nah, I've got too much on my mind. Trying to get my head straight."

The two began walking side by side as they passed by the gate, Dominique eyeing and noticing the change in Carl immediately, "Mm. Where's your bodyguard?"

Carl sat down on a near by bench inhaling sharply at how Dominique referred to his friend, "Gone," He answered not meeting her face staring ahead at the field, "Probably for a long time."

Dominique scanned Carl's face as she stood by the bench knowing that the boy probably didn't want to talk about it so instead she asked, "Is it okay if I sit here awhile?"

"Yeah. That'd be okay." Carl replied as he leaned against the bench, lifting his eyes to meet Dom's.

With a smile Dominique pulled off her backpack opening it up to pull out a bag of chips and held it out to the boy, "You hungry?"

Carl offered a small smile to the girl beside him as he placed his hand into the bag. He didn't think much of what was going to happen between the two but all he needed right now was someone to just sit by him in silence and be there.


Having Dom by Carl's side was good enough for the moment but as soon as he arrived to an empty home, his thoughts ate at him again. After school he made it his job to stop by the kid's house to give his family his actual last bit of money in his pocket and crank to the family. He figured the family could sell the rest of the crank to get the rest of the money to pay for the funeral. Not only did the family lose their little boy they didn't have enough funds to bury him. Now Carl knew that must have been brutal. He didn't understand why they didn't take the money but he knew he no longer needed it so he left it on their doorstep with the other cards of condolences, flowers, and candles hoping they would.

The boy sat alone on his couch smoking a blunt as he waited for the hours to pass by until his guests arrived. The blunt was doing just enough to put him at ease until Fiona and Sean entered the home having to ruin it and set him on edge again. The two shared words resulting in Carl leaving the home to roam the streets for awhile until he knew for sure that Fiona would be gone when he got back, making sure to take a red plastic cup and a bottle with him on his way out. He didn't care if Fiona cancelled the party, he knew she would have something to say to that when the guests arrived but he didn't care anymore. He just wanted everything to be normal again.

xxx

Later that night Carl made his way back to his home, entering through the back of the house and shooting up the steps in the kitchen to his bedroom. He didn't know if anyone were home but he noticed the mess that was left from the party in the living room. When he turned his phone back on he noticed multiple texts from Fiona going off on him about the party, how he better figure out his problem before she does it for him, and that she and Sean would be back at the house later to talk. Carl didn't want hear anything Fiona, Sean, or what anyone else had to say to him. All he wanted right now was to hit the sheets and forget about everything for a little while, if his mind would allow him.

He stumbled into his bedroom tossing his phone onto his bed after shoving his bedroom door closed. From the corner of the room he noticed a figure holding onto a pink furry coat, the same coat he was going to give to Dom but she didn't want it.

"Fuck, Ren. What are you doing here?" Carl slurred a bit, now noticing her coat and things on his bed.

Korinna could smell the weed from Carl just from where she stood as she glanced at the boy from over her shoulder, "You said you'd listen to my side of the story. Who does this belong to? I know not Debz 'cause this isn't really her style."

"Now's not really a good time," Carl groaned rubbing his slightly red eyes, "It's not Debbie's I was giving it away to Dominique but she didn't want it."

"Then when is a good time? You've been avoiding me since you stopped by three days ago, I know you're mourning Nick but you can't keep ignoring me." Korinna demanded trying the pink coat on herself, flicking her collarbone length hair over the jacket.

Carl watched Korinna through heavy lidded eyes, she looked great in that jacket better than what he pictured Dom to look like in it. When Carl didn't answer her, Korinna turned to Carl to give him a full view of her in the jacket.

"This Dom chick doesn't know what she's missing. This thing is warm and soft on the inside, she your new girlfriend?" Korinna addressed squeezing the jacket tighter to her frame.

Carl sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, knowing that Korinna would most likely not be leaving until they talked this out. He really didn't feel like having a heart to heart with the girl, he felt physically drained and just wanted to knock out but he knew Korinna would not take no for an answer.

"Is Anwar your boyfriend?" Carl spit out as he took a seat on the edge of his bed.

Korinna scoffed, "He wants to be."

Carl didn't like the sound of that. Some other dude holding the title as Korinna's boyfriend, he knew they had a lot to figure out together but he didn't want to think about her moving on while living it up in Greece.

Korinna moved to stand in front of Carl, her dark eyes watching his face before plucking the green hat from his head to get a good look at his braids. She eyed them with disgust and reached up to touch them, "You need to take these out. If I were here when you got out, I would have made you take them out the second I saw you."

'But you weren't here, that's the problem.' Carl thought but bit on his tongue to stop himself from saying so.

Carl reached up to pull Korinna's wrist from his head, their eyes locking immediately. With Carl's jaw titled back and his eyes low he gave the girl in front of him a lazy smile, "You can't make me do shit."

"Oh, yeah?" Korinna asked with a lifted thick filled eyebrow.

Carl nodded knowing Korinna didn't like someone telling her what she couldn't do. That's when Korinna shoved his hands back to latch onto a braid just for Carl to grab her waist and toss her onto the bed with him now standing holding his hands up to her with a smirk. Korinna brushed her hair back as she laid on her side glaring over at Carl, "They teach you that in Juvie?"

Shrugging Carl muttered, "You learn a few things while you're locked up. Don't want to get raped, ya know."

Korinna pushed herself from the bed while Carl stepped back earning an evil grin from the fifteen year old, "You're gonna take those cornrows out."

"I'll take the rows out the day you stop dying your hair so dark," Carl argued with folded arms.

Korinna's hands flew to her hair running her fingers through it, "I thought you said you liked my hair darker than my natural hair?"

"I did, but it's not you." Carl admitted walking by the mixed cutie to sit back on his bed.

Korinna molded her lips together as she thought this over turning to face Carl whose eyes didn't leave her form. He still couldn't believe that this was real, that Korinna had came back. That she was really standing in front of him right now. As he stared at her he felt like his worries just vanished and he knew this was a feeling he felt before however it was much stronger.

"What're you looking at?" Korinna barked, turning her eyes into slits.

Carl rubbed his face, "I can't look at you?"

"No. Not unless you have something to say."

Carl tilted his head at the girl and finally held his arms out causing her eyes to go wide.

"Come here, Ren." Carl laughed, waving his open hands out to the girl.

Cautiously Korinna moved to stand in front of Carl, emotions running haywire all around the room as just the two stood eyeing each other. Carl's eyes filled with amusement and Korinna's with hesitation.

"Now sit on daddy's lap." Carl teased.

"That's it, I'm leaving. I have one dad and he's an asshole. I don't want to look at you that way plus the daddy kink is weird as hell to me." Korinna started to dismiss herself turning to leave, just before Carl grabbed her wrist and tugged her into his lap.

Korinna let out a small squeal hoping Carl didn't hear but his chuckle told her he did. His arms wrapped tightly around her in a warm bear hug, his cheek pressed against her hair and his chin digging into her shoulder blade. It took a few seconds for Korinna to get comfortable, her wiggling around a bit before sliding down and leaning her head back. Carl had his eyes closed, her aroma filling his nose causing him to squeeze tighter. This felt right to him.

"This is weird." Korinna confessed, not ever imagining this to become of her and Carl.

Carl began to remove his arms, "Oh, sorry."

Korinna quickly knew something was missing and pulled Carl's arms back around her, "No. I like it." She whispered, pressing her nose against his cheek before turning her head again.

Carl didn't bother to hide his big grin as Korinna began to close her own eyes now. The two still had so much to talk about but for right now what mattered was accepting the big change that would become of their relationship, whether it be the good or bad. Right now this little moment was the good and that outweighed the bad for tonight.


A/N: Short little chapter based on Carl. Carl's been dealing with a lot lately (So has Korinna which we will see in the next two chapters - brace yourselves.) and I just thought having a stress free moment between Carl and Korinna would be nice to have for the drama that's going to happen. For the rest of the story I think there's going to be a lot of drama that you guys are seriously going to be ready to throw trash cans at me and ask, "Where's the love at tho?" LOL. Don't worry Carl and Korinna will talk it out.

OKAY SO CARL GOT HIS NASTY ON WITH DOM. Let's have a moment of silence for that, *slams hand on table* NOT ON MY WATCH! We'll just have to see in the next chapter how that's going to play out. Also for tonight's episode it looks like Carl is going to start bonding with Dom's dad and he might have a future in police enforcement huh? Who would have thought? Let me know what you're thinking and what might happen next?

-ALES