A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

GET OUT!!

One afternoon, during free time in the gym, Carl found himself wandering into an area he didn't often visit: the locker rooms. He'd heard from some of the other kids that the lockers had been tampered with, and curiosity got the better of him. He wasn't expecting much, just a quick look, and then he'd head back to his usual hangout.

As he pushed open the door, he heard voices and muffled laughter. Curious, he moved closer, the sounds growing louder as he approached the row of lockers. Just as he was about to pull the door open wider, it swung open on its own, revealing a surprising scene.

Areum stood in the middle of the locker room, her back to Carl, in the middle of changing into her gym clothes. Her shirt was pulled halfway over her head, and she was struggling to get it on correctly. A pair of jeans lay crumpled on the floor, and her bra was visible as she twisted awkwardly.

Carl's eyes widened in shock and fascination, and for a split second, he forgot to breathe. She looked... different. He felt heat rush to his cheeks, a combination of embarrassment and something else he couldn't quite name. But before he could process it, his foot caught the edge of a metal bucket, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud clang.

The noise made Areum freeze. She whirled around, her face turning a bright crimson as she realized Carl had seen her. "Shit!" she yelped, quickly yanking her shirt down and grabbing a towel to cover herself. "What the hell are you doing here, Gallagher?"

Carl felt the heat in his face intensify, and he scrambled to avert his gaze. "I—I didn't know anyone was in here! I was just checking—"

"Just get out!" Areum shouted, her voice a mix of embarrassment and anger. "This is so messed up!"

Carl turned on his heel and bolted from the locker room, slamming the door behind him. His heart raced, and his mind was flooded with confusion. As he walked back to the gym, he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind. He had always thought Areum was pretty, but seeing her in such an intimate moment made his thoughts spiral in unexpected directions.

When he finally rejoined his friends, they gave him curious looks. Carl felt his face was still flushed and avoided eye contact, pretending to focus on the basketball game happening in the center of the gym. His mind kept replaying the moment, and he knew he needed to shake it off.

As the day wore on, Carl tried to avoid Areum, knowing she'd probably be doing the same. Their interactions had already been strained, but this was on a whole new level of awkwardness.

Later that evening, while everyone was settling into their respective areas for lights-out, Carl found himself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, still flustered by what had happened. He heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Areum standing at the door of his dorm. Her cheeks were still slightly red, and there was a determined look in her eyes.

"Look," she said, her voice low but firm, "I'm sorry about earlier. It was just—" She sighed, clearly struggling to find the right words. "It was messed up, and I didn't mean to react like that."

Carl shrugged, trying to play it cool despite his racing heart. "It's all good, Areum. I didn't mean to barge in like that. Just didn't know anyone was in there."

"Yeah, well," Areum said, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly, "maybe next time, knock or something. Or better yet, don't come in at all."

"Fair enough," Carl said, chuckling nervously. "I'll keep that in mind."

They stood in silence for a moment, both feeling the weight of the encounter. The awkwardness was palpable, but there was a hint of understanding in Areum's eyes now. Carl could see that the incident, though embarrassing, had somehow bridged a gap between them.

"Goodnight, Gallagher," Areum finally said, her voice softer than usual.

"Yeah, goodnight," Carl replied, watching as she turned and walked away. He couldn't help but steal another glance at her as she left, his mind still buzzing from the unexpected encounter.