amaya woke up half an hour later, feeling carl's head resting on top of hers. she was confused. why was she here? where was everyone? how did she end up here? suddenly, it all came flooding back to her. her mom, her cousin, running away. as she lifted her hand up to her cheek, she could feel a scar beginning to form over the graze, confirming that she hadn't simply dreamt the recent events. she jerked her head up, panicking.
"hey, way to wake someone up maya." she rubbed his eyes, yawning. "nice sleep?" he smirked.
"actually it was pretty shit, thanks." she shook her head. "look, carl, i gotta get home. i left my cousin with her, i- i have to leave." she stuttered, standing up and moving to walk past carl's legs. she felt a pair of hands grab onto her hips and pull her back down, so that she was just about sitting on carls lap.
"come on maya, stay." he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. he knew that he had this effect on her and he liked it, despite how much she denied it to him.
"carl, this is serious." she shook her head again.
"i told you already, he's a grown man. he will be fine. and plus, no one's home." he grinned at her.
she rolled her eyes. "carl, that's never gonna happen. i hate you, remember?"
he laughed out loud. "whatever you say, just look at where you're sitting." he gestured to her, still sitting on his lap. she scoffed and wriggled out of his grasp, standing up and walking over to the front door. he ran over to her, stopping her just before she opened it and spinning her around. he put his hands on her shoulders, gripping her tightly.
"maya, i'm not letting you go back there on your own. either i go with you, or you don't go at all." she struggled to release herself from his hold, but he was strong. she eventually gave up.
"carl, this is my mom. i should deal with her on my own." she tilted her head at him, raising her eyebrows. "trust me, daniella litchman is not someone you want to be meeting. she's clinically insane." she whispered the last sentence, as if someone was listening to their conversation.
he leaned in closer to her face. "try monica gallagher, that'll show you insane." he breathed onto her skin, making her face heat up. she turned away from him, avoiding his stare, and he chuckled, amused by her reaction.
"fuck's sake, carl." she huffed, still not looking at the bright eyed boy in front of her. "fine, if it'll make you let me go, then you can come. not sure why you'd want to though." she muttered.
he grinned. "that's what i was hoping to hear." he said, releasing his tight grip on her shoulders before clamping his hand round her wrist. she turned to him, a confused look on her face.
"just making sure you don't run away." he winked. she scoffed, turning around and pushing open the door in front of her. carl breathed out heavily. he had to admit, he was nervous as to what this woman would do when she saw her daughter come home with some random dude following her. he had to brush those thoughts out of his mind, however, and make his way to the litchman house.
"you know, you can let go of me now. you could have ages ago, i'm not gonna go far." amaya rolled her eyes, trying to pull her wrist out of carl's grip. he shook his head.
"nope. i ain't taking any chances." he shrugged. she huffed, failing in her attempts.
"seriously? you're making us look like a couple over here." she muttered.
"is that really a bad thing?" he chuckled.
"shut the fuck up."
a few more moments passed.
"so, you planning on taking those ugly ass cornrows out anytime soon?" she questioned.
"don't know, don't you think they suit me?" he grinned.
"not too sure about that, white boy." she grimaced. he shrugged.
"well, they were cool in juvie. they do sorta itch though." he rubbed his head with his other hand.
"yeah, no shit. how long has it been since you got out?" she asked.
"few months." he replied.
"dude, they're long past their sell by date. take them out." she laughed.
"why, you'll like me better then?" he smirked, looking down at her. she refused to meet his eyes.
"nah, but maybe everyone else will. not sure who is digging the cultural appropriation thing to be honest." she sucked her teeth.
carl shrugged in response.
"well, here we are." amaya gestured to the large, cream coloured house in front of them. carl breathed out heavily.
"you can still back out you know?" amaya turned to face him. "i used to live with her. i know what she's like. you don't." she reminded him.
he looked down at her. "nah, what sorta gentleman would i be if i did that." he raised his eyebrows. she sighed and led him up the stairs onto the porch.
"you really should let go of me now." she tilted her head. carl nodded in agreement and finally released his grip on her wrist.
amaya breathed in and out, and finally opened the door to her home. as soon as she stepped in, she heard joey call out.
"amaya? thank god you're back, i was getting worried." he ran out from the kitchen, giving her a hug.
"here i am." she shrugged. he released her, tilting his head at the boy standing beside her.
"hey, uh," he looked confused.
"carl. gallagher." he held his hand out.
"oh, right, lip's brother?" joey shook his hand.
"yeah." carl nodded, slightly smiling reluctantly.
"oh, cool i-" joey was interrupted by a woman clearing her throat.
"uh hm. not gonna introduce your boyfriend to your momma, are we?" her mother strolled forwards, nearly twisting her ankle multiple times on her stilettos. she held out her hand too. "gabriella litchman. pleased to meet you carl." she slurred in her southern accent.
"he's not my boyfriend." amaya spat at her. carl held back from shaking her hand.
"hm, a stubborn one are we? listen, i don't know what amaya here has told you, but i'm not as bad as you think." he scoffed. "what was that honey?" she raised her eyebrows at him, intimidatingly. his breath hitched in his throat, but he couldn't be scared of her. he was furious with her, after seeing what she had done to amaya.
"i'd rather you didn't call me that, mrs litchman." he stepped closer to her. "and i'd also rather you didn't hit your daughter." he stood at the same height as gabriella, if not an inch or two taller. amaya's mother huffed, surprised by the boy's words.
"and what do you suppose you're gonna do about that, boy." she sucked on her teeth. he breathed heavily, ready to retaliate, but was interrupted by amaya.
"wait, carl, stop. i should talk to my so-called mother in private, first." she touched his shoulder, before stepping into the house, leaving carl by the door with her cousin.
AUTHOR NOTE
okay maybe i got a bit carried away this chapter but I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF LORD I LOVE THEM TOO MUCH and carl just wants to protect her forever and i'm jelly 🫢 guys they're getting closerrrr but y'all are getting more debbie scenes soon dw and THE CORNROWS WILL BE GONE SOON 🥳🥳🥳 anyways love you all and WAIT TILL THE NEXT CHAPTER 🫢 drama
