Never Too Late | Carl Gallagher

chapter 1

I woke up to the ringing of my phone alarm and quickly turned over to shut it off. I groaned as I laid in bed for a few more seconds, until I grudgingly got up. Within a matter of 20 minutes I managed to put on my wash up, put on light makeup, change and do my hair. I let my straight hair down as it continued to flop around as I walked. I entered my kitchen to see my dad was already gone for work, and my mom was about to leave. "Mom, can't I just stay home? I mean isn't my mental health far more important than my education?" The sass was dripping from my lips with every word. "Ha ha ha. Funny. You only have, what, a week left? Now off to school, you don't want to be late again." I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door until I felt a nudge at my legs. I looked down to see my enormous cuddle buddy and friend: Wolf. She was a German Shepherd and an amazing one at that. "Awh bye baby, I'll see you after school." She scared off just about anyone who tried to hurt me, at least, if I hadn't scared them off myself. I walked out the door and down the street.
I lived in a remotely good neighborhood, but it wasn't far from the bad ones either. I had my fair share of drug dealers and psychos on my street, just not as much as others. I reached the school and prepared for the worst. I didn't hate school, I just never had a strong liking for it. I was smart don't get me wrong, I just wasn't fond of the people.

*time jump*

School was boring as always but I managed. I was grabbing my book from my locker and shut it. All of a sudden to my right I see Carl Gallagher. I jumped slightly, confused why he was there. We never talked, nor did we even recognize each others existence. "Uh can I help you?" He seemed displeased that I wasn't more enthusiastic. "I need a favor and I heard you can help me" I began to walk away with him following close behind.
"Depends on the favor."
"I heard that you have a key to the school."
I sighed. It was true, I did have a key. I was payed to tutor kids and I used the math room to do it. For some reason the gave me keys to the whole school. "If I did why would you want it?"
"Cause I need to brake in to the school to grab my phone back."
I stopped and turned around to face him. I was surprised how he said that so nonchalantly. "Why should I help you? This definitely sounds like a 'you problem." "Because I have some bad things on my phone that I don't need the principal seeing."
At this point I was about 4 inches away from him, staring up at him because he was surprisingly much taller than me. He was just staring down at me with begging eyes. "Does my apathetic expression look like I want to help?" I didn't need to get myself into trouble for this. This wasn't my problem and he had ever spoken to me except when he needed me to brake in for him. No way was I going to help him. I began to walk away and he quickly grabbed my hand, not harshly or forceful. More like desperate. "Please. I really don't want to go to jail yet." He stopped being serious for a moment and cracked a smirk, "I'm trying to work on my street cred a little more before I go." He let go of my hand and I crossed my arms. "Do you even know my name?" "Yeah of course I do Bethany." I immediently got ready to walk away but he quickly stopped me.
"Chill i'm joking, I know your name's Ariel."
"Fine. But I'm getting paid." He smiled widely and then quickly stopped. "Wait what? I have to pay you!?" He said it in the most annoyed and bewildered expression ever.
"Yup. I'll meet you at your house at 8 to go." I walked away before he could say anything else.
This was going to be an interesting night.