My Year in Chicago - Carl Gallagher

Karma

The moment Ms. Kline announced it, the entire room buzzed with excitement. It was supposed to be just another boring Monday, but everything changed when she said, "In three weeks, we'll be going on a school trip... to Paris!"

My heart skipped a beat. Paris. My home. Well, it used to be my home before everything changed, before my mom died, and before Chicago became my reality. It had been over a year since I'd set foot in France, and hearing that we'd be going back stirred something deep inside me.

The class erupted into chatter, everyone turning to their friends, excitedly planning their adventures. I overheard a few people trying to recall their barely-passed French classes. The idea of some of them wandering around Paris, butchering my native language, made me smile a little.

But then my eyes landed on Carl, sitting a few seats away, his expression stony, completely unfazed by the news. He didn't seem to care about Paris at all. Not that I expected him to, after everything. Lexi was sitting right beside him, her perfectly polished nails tapping away on her phone like she couldn't care less about the trip either.

I glanced over at Tori, who grinned at me. "This is so your thing, Anabelle! You're going to be like our tour guide, right?"

I shrugged, trying to hide how excited I actually was. "I mean, maybe. I'm just glad to go back for a bit. It's been a while."

"Are you kidding? You'll be showing us all the cool spots!" Tori's excitement was contagious, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the idea of being back in Paris—wandering through the narrow streets, visiting places that once felt so familiar.

But then reality hit. Paris was a reminder of everything I'd left behind. My mom, my old life, all the things I hadn't dealt with since we'd moved. It wasn't just some fun trip for me. It was going to be personal.

As the bell rang and everyone scrambled to pack up, I saw Lexi lean into Carl, whispering something that made his face tighten. He mumbled something back, but she was already walking away, her body language screaming disinterest. I was tempted to ignore it, but something about the way Carl looked—his shoulders slumped, his face a mask of frustration—made me pause.

I had to pass him on my way out of class, and even though we hadn't spoken since our fight, I couldn't help but glance in his direction. That's when I overheard Lexi talking to one of her friends near the door.

"Yeah, it's over. He's just too much drama," she said, rolling her eyes. "I don't need that in my life. I'm with Jared now."

My stomach twisted as I caught the words. Jared. The guy she'd been all over at the bleachers. She wasn't even being subtle about it. I didn't know whether to feel vindicated or sad for Carl.

Lexi didn't even bother to lower her voice as she walked past Carl, leaving him sitting there with his head down, gripping the strap of his backpack like he was trying to hold it together. I hated that I still cared, but a part of me felt for him. No one deserved to be humiliated like that, not even Carl.

Tori nudged me as we left the classroom. "Did you hear that? She just dumped him like it was nothing."

"Yeah, I heard," I muttered, glancing back one more time. Carl was still sitting there, looking like someone had punched him in the gut. He wasn't going to show it, but I could tell he was hurt. Lexi had played him, just like I tried to warn him about.

We walked out into the hall, but I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my stomach. The old me would've gone up to Carl and tried to help, but things between us were too messed up now. He wouldn't want my help anyway, not after what he'd said to me.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder how things would go on this trip. Paris was supposed to be an escape for me, a way to reconnect with my old life, but now it felt like there was no escaping the drama back here.

Tori caught my arm as we reached our lockers. "Okay, but Paris! This is going to be so much fun. You and me, exploring the city—ugh, I can't wait!"

I smiled at her, trying to match her enthusiasm, but my mind was already spinning. Carl and Lexi would both be on that trip. I couldn't avoid them forever. And now, with Lexi officially moving on to Jared, Carl was going to be even more unpredictable.

"Yeah, Paris," I said, trying to focus on the good parts. "It'll be... interesting."