A Year in Juvenile Detention : Carl Gallagher

"You're nothing but a jealous mess."

It had been a few days since Carl and Mia started hanging out more, and Carl was riding high on the excitement of his new interest. Their chemistry was undeniable, and it felt good to be with someone who seemed to understand him, even within the confines of the detention center.

One afternoon, Carl and Mia found themselves alone in the storage room, a secluded spot where they could escape the watchful eyes of the guards and other detainees. The room was cluttered with old equipment and supplies, but it offered the privacy they craved.

Carl was leaning against a stack of boxes, Mia close by, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders. They were in the middle of an intimate moment, their faces inches apart, when the sound of footsteps approached. Carl's heart skipped a beat; they hadn't expected anyone to find them here.

Before they could react, the door to the storage room swung open. It was Alex, one of the other detainees, who had come in searching for a missing basketball. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him.

"Whoa! Sorry!" Alex stammered, quickly backing out of the room. "I didn't mean to interrupt—"

But the damage was done. Alex's surprised expression was enough to confirm what he had seen. He hurried back to the common area, his mind racing. When he saw Areum sitting alone, sketching as usual, he couldn't resist sharing what he had witnessed.

"Hey, Areum," Alex said, his voice low and cautious. "You might wanna know something. I just walked in on Carl and Mia—well, let's just say they were getting pretty cozy in the storage room."

Areum's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing in disbelief and jealousy. "Are you serious?" she demanded, her voice cold.

"Yeah," Alex nodded, looking uncomfortable. "I'm not kidding. They were really into it. Thought you should know."

Areum's face flushed with anger, her hands gripping her sketchbook tightly. "Thanks for the heads up," she said through gritted teeth. She didn't wait for a reply before storming off toward the storage room, her steps heavy with determination.

Carl and Mia were still wrapped up in their moment when the door to the storage room flung open. Areum stood there, her eyes blazing with fury. The sight of her face was enough to make Carl's blood run cold.

"What the hell, Areum?" Carl shouted, pulling away from Mia and quickly straightening himself.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Gallagher?" Areum's voice was sharp, her eyes locked on Carl.

Mia, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, tried to make herself scarce, backing away slowly. "I think I should leave," she said quietly, slipping past Areum.

Carl shot a glare at Areum, his anger flaring up. "Why the hell do you care? This isn't any of your business. I didn't see you rushing to tell me when you and your sketchbook were cozying up."

"Oh, don't even!" Areum snapped. "Don't act like you're so innocent. I don't know what's worse—watching you flaunt your new little fling or you thinking I'm some kind of fool who wouldn't notice."

Carl's face reddened with rage. "You think you can just barge in here and dictate what I do? You've got no right to judge me, Areum. You've always had something to say about me, and now you think you can control my life?"

Areum's eyes flashed dangerously. "I'm not trying to control anything. I'm just sick of your bullshit, Carl. You think you can mess around and not face the consequences?"

Carl took a step toward her, his fists clenched. "And what are you gonna do about it? Throw a tantrum? You're nothing but a jealous mess."

"Fuck you, Carl!" Areum shouted, her voice echoing through the storage room. "No games you said! Fuck you, Carl."

Their argument escalated quickly, both of them shouting over each other, their voices echoing off the walls. The commotion attracted the attention of the guards, who quickly intervened to break up the fight.

One of the guards stepped in, his voice authoritative and firm. "Alright, that's enough! Both of you, separate now!"

Carl and Areum glared at each other, their anger palpable as they were pulled apart. Carl was escorted back to the common area, his face still flushed with anger. Areum was led away to a different part of the facility to cool down.

The entire incident left Carl fuming with rage, feeling wronged and misunderstood. Areum, on the other hand, seethed with jealousy and frustration. Neither of them was willing to back down, and the rift between them seemed to grow even deeper.