A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

Meeting in the halls of juvie.

Carl Gallagher sauntered down the stark white hallways of the juvenile detention center, his baggy jeans hanging low and his oversized hoodie draped over his lanky frame. At 15, he'd been through more than most kids his age. Serving time for selling drugs wasn't a picnic, but Carl had a way of making the best out of bad situations. He flashed a lopsided grin at a guard as he rounded a corner, bumping into someone smaller and slender.

"Watch it," the girl muttered, barely looking up. She was petite, with dark brown hair cascading around her face, her eyes sharp and uninterested.

"Hey, my bad," Carl said, stepping back with a smirk. "Didn't see you there. You new here or somethin'?"

The girl glanced up, her expression icy. "Does it matter?"

"Guess not. I'm Carl, by the way."

"Areum," she replied curtly before walking past him without another word.

Carl watched her go, intrigued. She was different from the other girls he'd met—quiet, intimidating, and clearly uninterested in making friends. But something about her piqued his curiosity. He liked a challenge.

Days turned into weeks, and Carl found himself running into Areum more often. She always seemed to be reading or sitting alone during recreation time, and despite his best efforts, she remained aloof. Carl's usual charm and humor didn't seem to work on her, but he wasn't about to give up.

One afternoon, Carl saw Areum sitting under a tree in the yard, a book in her hands. He strolled over, plopping down next to her without an invitation.

"Whatcha reading?" he asked, trying to peek at the cover.

Areum sighed and closed her book. "Why do you care?"

"Just makin' conversation," Carl said, leaning back on his elbows. "This place gets boring, you know? Thought we could hang out or somethin'."

"I don't need friends," Areum said bluntly. "Especially not ones who think they're charming."

Carl chuckled. "You got me pegged, huh? Look, Areum, we're both stuck here. No harm in getting to know each other, right?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you so persistent?"

Carl shrugged. "Guess I'm just fascinated by you. You don't seem to care what anyone thinks, and I kinda like that."

Areum stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. But I'm not interested in your games, Carl."

"No games, promise," Carl said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Just wanna be friends."

Areum shook her head, her expression unchanged. "We'll see about that."

Over the next few weeks, Carl continued his attempts to befriend Areum. He would sit next to her during meals, try to strike up conversations, and even attempted to make her laugh. But Areum remained steadfast in her disinterest.

One day, while they were sitting in the yard, Carl turned to her with a serious expression. "Why do you always act like you don't care about anything?"

Areum looked away, her gaze distant. "Because caring hurts. When you care, you give people the power to hurt you."

Carl nodded slowly. "I get that. But sometimes, letting people in ain't so bad."

Areum glanced at him, her eyes narrowing. "I don't need your life lessons, Carl. Just leave me alone."

Carl was taken aback by her harsh tone but recovered quickly, flashing his usual grin. "Alright, alright. I'll back off. But just so you know, I'm not giving up that easy."

Areum rolled her eyes. "Do whatever you want, just don't expect me to care."

As Carl walked away, he couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and determination. Areum was a tough nut to crack, but he wasn't one to back down from a challenge.