"couldn't even protect yourself, could you? had to string your old boyfriend along, huh?" gabriella swayed from side to side drunkenly, her eyes only half open.
"i told you, he's not my boyfriend." amaya gritted her teeth.
gabriella shrugged, smacking her lips together. "hm, whatever you say. all i know is long distance relationships can be hard." she sneered.
"i'm not going back. i don't fucking care what you say." amaya retaliated. "and have fun trying to sober up anyways, that's the only way social services will let you have me." she raised her eyebrows at the woman squinting in front of her.
"don't think i can't bring you home, baby. i have my ways. you're not staying here, like it or not." she moved in closer. "and to be honest, i'd rather you not."
amaya scoffed. "why do you even want me home anyways? don't act like you love me or something, i think we both know you never have."
gabriella hummed. "hm, suppose you're right. i just need the income, i suppose. child benefit as a single mother isn't too bad, and i need you home to collect it." she whispered, enunciating every syllable.
"i'm not coming with you just so that you can feed off of having me there. i'll call cps."
gabriella let out a loud laugh. "oh, you really think they'll listen to you? poor baby. i guess i failed to educate you on the way the world works. on the south side, they see a mother who is half sober, they don't bat an eye. they'll let you back with me in the drop of a hat. you think they'd rather leave you with old alcoholics anonymous over here?"
"don't talk about joey like that." amaya interrupted.
"huh, funny you acting like you've known him your entire life. you only met because of me, so i have every right to take you again."
"fuck if you do." amaya spat in her mother's face. "i'd rather die than go anywhere with you, whore."
gabriella scoffed, took a step forward, and head butted her daughter in the nose. amaya stumbled back in shock, instantly putting a hand up to her nose, only to find that it was pouring with dark red blood.
"that's what you get, little bitch. who was i to ever call you my daughter." gabriella spat back. "now you're coming with me, and i don't want to hear another word." she grabbed amaya's bloody hand forcefully with her's and dug her nails in, hard, enough to leave red marks on the girl's palm.
"hey, is everything oka-" joey stopped in his tracks, seeing the mess that was his cousin standing in front of him, bloody faced and teary eyed. "what the fuck gabriella?" he yelled, astonished. he clasped onto amaya's arm, pulling her away from her mother's grasp.
"hey, she's coming back with me." gabriella huffed, reaching out to grab amaya again, before being pulled back by her collar.
"i don't think so, dipshit." carl spun her around and punched her in the stomach, making her keel over onto the floor.
"this is none of your business, boy." she gagged, fighting the urge to vomit all over the floor as a result of mild alcohol poisoning and a punch to the gut. she looked up, only for carl's fist to collide with her jaw, causing blood to spew out of her mouth.
"carl!" amaya yelped, lunging forward to grab onto his hand. "stop! please!" she begged him, but he took no notice of her.
"don't fucking touch her again!" he yelled down to the woman who was now face down on the floor, spluttering. he forcefully kicked her in the ribs before amaya finally managed to pull him away.
"carl, look at me. please carl!" she shook his shoulders. he met her eyes, breathing heavily, flickering his gaze between her and her cousin who was standing behind her, stunned.
"jesus. we should probably call an ambulance." joey shook his head in disbelief, quickly running to the phone laying on the coffee table. carl took the opportunity to grab amaya's hand and run out of the door, caught up in the heat of the moment. she had no choice but to go with him, being pulled away by his strength.
they ended up underneath the L bridge again, where they had found themselves less than an hour ago. carl collapsed onto the floor, leaning his head back against the wall. amaya slowly sat down next to him, keeping her distance from the crazed boy.
"sorry." was all he could manage.
"carl. don't apologise." she touched his arm. "the bitch fucking deserved it." she chuckled weakly. he turned to face her, suddenly realising the horrific state that she was in.
"shit, we gotta get you to the house." he shook his head, pulling her up by her arms. she struggled to keep up with him, feeling extremely exhausted and overwhelmed.
by the time they reached the gallagher house, debbie, ian and lip were already there.
"oh hey carl- shit what the fuck? carl what the fuck happened?" debbie ran over to where carl and amaya had stumbled in through the front door. lip and ian looked over from the kitchen.
"fucking hell carl!" lip breathed as he rushed over with a cloth. amaya held it to her nose.
"shit, we gotta get you cleaned up." ian brought her over to the kitchen sink.
"feel like explaining, carl?" debbie shoved his shoulder.
"uh- her- her mom." he managed to stutter.
"her mom what carl?" lip raised his voice. "i thought she was living with her cousin?"
"she came back and- and she wants to take her." carl heaved, slumping down onto a chair by the kitchen counter.
"oh fuck no." debbie shook her head vigorously. "she is not going back to that shithole. you should hear the things she told me happened there." debbie closed her eyes, still holding on to amaya's hand tightly. amaya squeezed her hand in thanks.
ian had managed to mop up most of the blood from amaya's face but bruises had formed on her cheekbones, creating large purple and blue marks.
"fuck. what did her mom do to her." lip exhaled, inspecting the damage done to her face.
"i don't know, but i did worse to her mom." carl stuttered, still in shock.
"oh for fuck's sake carl, you just got released! shit like this can get you longer, you know?!" lip held his head in his hands.
"fuck if i care, you should have seen her! fucking crazy woman, worse than frank and monica combined." carl shook his head.
"jesus." debbie looked at amaya anxiously. "hey, amaya, you can stay here for a few days, until all this gets sorted. you're not going back there. we won't let you." the rest of the people in the kitchen nodded their heads in agreement.
"i- i can't. my cousin." amaya stammered.
"your cousin will be fine." lip reassured her. "he's a strong dude. i should know." lip chuckled. amaya looked confused. "some disagreements a few months ago. don't worry, we're good now." he smiled at her. "point is, he's got fighting in him. he can deal with her. you just need to be safe."
amaya was still unsure. "but- i couldn't stay here. you've got no room, for starters, and what if social services come?" she protested.
"you can sleep in my room." debbie comforted her. "and we've dealt with social services hundreds of times. we can do it again." she hugged amaya tightly. "you'll be safe here." she whispered. amaya hugged her back, so grateful to have her in her life. she didn't what she would have done without her. and carl, of course, but he was, well, carl.
AUTHOR NOTE
may need to sit down for a minute🧍♂️ that was pretty heavy 🫢 but amaya don't know how to feel about carl now 😫 i mean he kinda saved her life but we love an indecisive queen 🤪🤪 and the gallaghers are just my faves i love them all so much and dw guys amaya will meet liam soon i couldn't do a story without him ❤️❤️ and sorry about carl's storyline being totally messed up but THIS IS ABOUT AMAYA NOT HIM jokes i love carl with my whole heart but this is a fanfic so it's not realistic i mean amaya isn't exactly in shameless is she 😙 but i've been talking for too long anyways SHE'S STAYING IN THE GALLAGHERS NOW WOOOOO get ready for next chapter xoxoxoxo
