Trouble // Carl Gallagher

chapter fourteen

I took a deep breath and sat up. Today was the talent show. No going back now. Debbie and I are going shopping in fifteen minutes. Oh, fuck. I slept in. I jumped up, put on a tshirt, shorts and slipped on some sandals and ran across the street. I knocked rapidly in the door, hoping Debbie would answer. As I hoped she did, she was already ready. She smiled at me. "Are you ready?" She said.

We got to the shops downtown and we go into one. I looked around for a few minutes and found nothing. I lost hope.  "Mel, oh my god I found something." I turned to see her holding up a dark grey top with a floral skirt. My eyes lit up.  "Debbie, you're a lifesaver." I smile at her before rushing to the dressing rooms. I slid my pants off and quickly changed. I look at myself in the mirror for the second time today. I sighed in relief. I finally found an outfit for today.
I walked out to show Debbie. She looked me up and down. She nodded. "You look beautiful, Mel." She hugged me.

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I walked into the school with my bag, I'm staying at Debbie's house after the show. I went to the bathroom and changed into my outfit. I quickly did my makeup and brushed my hair. I walked out and saw Carl. He was really dressed up. He was wearing a black button-up with black skinny jeans and converse. He looked sexy as hell. I could just take him right there. He looked me up and down. "Baby girl you look gorgeous." He got closer to me, smiling. "You look hot too, Carl." I smiled. He kissed me quickly. I smiled as I pulled back. "Are you nervous?" I asked him. He nodded. "A little. I go on in five minutes. I smiled at him. "You'll do good. I promise." I said to him. A teacher walked towards us. "Gallagher, you're on after this act. Wagner, you can come, considering you're on in ten." I nodded. I looked over at Debbie, who was sitting with the whole family in the front row. I gulped before following Carl backstage. I looked around and saw a bunch of people warming up, fixing their outfits, and more. The act onstage finished and walked off. "Break a leg." I said. Carl smiled. "No, don't actually break a leg." I laughed. "And up next is the musical styling of Carl Gallagher." The host spoke. "That's my que." He said before kissing my cheek. He walked onstage and I walked out into the crowd and say next to Lip. Carl reached the mic. "Um, hi." He waved. "My name is Carl. And I'm gonna be singing." He shot me a smile. I gave him a thumbs up. The music started and he started to sing. I've never heard him sing, but it was amazing. He sounded professional. I looked over at Lip, seeing Ashley next to him. Imagine that. Ashley's with Lip. "Did you know he could sing?" I asked Lip. He shook his head. I looked back up to Carl on stage, my smile growing bigger once he looked at me. Even though he's my boyfriend, I still get butterflies every time he smiles at me. "Run baby run, don't ever look back." He sang, looking at me, reaching for my hand. I reached up to touch his hand. He sang the next line and smiled. He winked and walked to the other side of the stage. I smiled to myself. Damn, he's mine. All mine. I thought, sitting back. As he was about to finish his song I saw a teacher out of the corner of my eye. "Ms. Wagner! You're next!" She spoke. I looked at her weird. "I thought there was someone before me?" I asked her, following her backstage. "Well, she got sick. She's in the nurses office. So, that means you're next." My eyes widened. She handed me a guitar. "Good luck." I gulped. I heard the crowd cheer for Carl. He walked offstage, seeing me. "You ready, baby?" He asked me. I gulped again. "Yes." I said with confidence. He kissed me hard. I smiled and pulled back. "You'll do great." He I stepped towards the stage, seeing all the people out there.  "Ms. Wagner, you're up." The teacher said. "I gotta go." I stepped towards the stage again. He held out his hand. "I'll be out there." He smiled and walked off. I walked onstage and saw Carl shuffle into the back. "Hey guys." I said into the mic. I heard the Gallaghers cheer. I smiled. "My name is Mel. And I will be singing." I sat down on the stool behind me and started strumming on the guitar. "You don't want me, no. You don't need me." I sang. I smiled at I saw Carl smiling and leaning against the pillar in the back. I looked next to him and saw Bonnie and Caden. Ugh, why are they here? "Like I want you, oh, like I need you." I looked at Debbie, bobbing her head along to the music. I glanced back at Carl, hoping that he knew this next line was directed towards him. "And I want you in my life. And I need you in my life." I strummed along on my guitar. He winked at me. I looked down at my guitar. "You can't see me, no. Like I see you." I sang, closing my eyes. "I can't have you, like you have me." I smiled, my eyes still closed.  "And I-" I looked out to Carl, hoping that he'd look back. But he wasn't. He was kissing Holly. I knew it was her, because she pulled back and flipped me off. "...want you in my li-" I stopped playing my guitar. All eyes were on me now. "I'm sorry. I can't do this." I set the guitar down and ran offstage.

Carl's p.o.v

"What the fuck, Holly?" I pushed her off of me. "I told you to stop. You basically mouth raped me." She laughed. "I have a girlfriend that I love." I looked over and saw her run past us. "Not anymore." She laughed. I pushed her off of me. "Leave me alone, bitch." I started to walk away. I heard her scream. I got confused and turned around. She was in the ground. I looked up and saw Caden's fists clenched. "Go get Mel. I'll handle this." I nod at him and ran out the doors.

Melody's p.o.v

I couldn't believe what I just saw. I though holly had learned her lesson with fucking with me. Apparently not. "Baby." I heard Carl say. He ran up to me. I turned to him with tears in my eyes. "What." I say trying to hold back more tears. "Baby, it's not what you think." He assured me. "Oh really? Because it looked like you were making out with a bitch you claimed you "hate"." I folded my arms. "She came onto me. I tried to push her off." "Save it Carl." I snapped before running back to the Gallagher house.

I ran back to their house in disbelief. How was he going to defend himself with Holly's lipstick smeared all over his face. I got to the house and threw my bag into the couch and rushing upstairs. I got to the closest room, which was Carl's. I slammed the door behind me. I fell to the floor and cried harder then I ever have. I sat up and wiped my tears. I looked at my hand that were smeared with makeup. I gasped for air. The door slammed open and it was Debbie. "Mel," she said kneeling in front of me and hugging me. I cried onto her shirt and gripped on her shoulders. "Tell me what happened." She said. "You don't have to tell me." I nodded. "I'd rather just cry." I sniffed. "That's alright. Let it out, Mel."  She hugged me. I heard someone clear their throat at the doorway. I looked up to see Carl. Debbie got up. "I'll let you guys talk." She left the room. "Baby." I looked up at him through my eyelashes. "Let me explain." I nodded as he sat next to me. "Holly was all over me." He said calmly. Caden busted through the door. "What are you doing here?" I asked him. "I punched holly for being all over Carl." "-What?"

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A/N Cliffhangers yay. ;)