perceived » [carl gallagher]

math || chapter 1

And before I knew it, summer was over.

-=+=-
Natalia's  P.O.V.

Wednesday 5th September (A/N: yeah idk why they start school on a Wednesday either, lmao)

Another school year tumbled down. I knew this one wasn't going to be very different from the other. And the one before that. And I was fine with it. I would be still failing classes, still with my same old friends, still paying bills. Not that i had a problem with it.

It was still the same old Chicago.

Whilst I was getting dressed and straightening up my hair, I heard a thud that supposedly came from downstairs. I was quite used to this. It could possibly be a hobo, the woman from the council or, something just simply fell down. I chuckled at the thought of something actually just falling over in this house. I placed down my straighteners onto my desk and hopped down the stairs. The stench of alcohol infused my nostrils as I came to the corner and found, of course, my father. Sitting there on the couch with his Tequila, with his mud covered shoes up on the coffee table. I cleared my voice and rolled my eyes, typical.

His head turned and he was now facing me.

"Sweetie!", he said as he struggled to get himself back up, knocking down a few glasses. He giggled lightly but I knew it was for show. To show he was 'sober' and 'normal'.

He gripped onto the walls for guidance as he made his way towards me. At this point, it was honestly normal. And so I took a step back and spun around to the kitchen, before he could throw an excuse at me and attempt to say sorry. I swiftly took out a chipped bowl out of the top cupboard, following with grabbing milk out of the fridge and finally cereal from the counter. All whilst he gazed at me.

"Do you think you could make me some too?" He said raising a brow.

I stared at him, scooping up my cereal into my mouth. He continued to gaze at me but this time i could see he was getting pissed off.

"I am your father and yo-"

"Yes and that means you have been making your own cereal for the past 40 years." I protest whilst not breaking eye contact.

"Come on.." he muttered and started to lean against the kitchen counter.

I could have made him cereal. I could have. I had 20 minutes before school. I could have ran him a warm bath and at least smiled at him. That's what any other child would do. But once you get screwed over by your own fucking father to the point where you can't even remember the last time you saw him sober, you start so realize that there is no reason to keep trying. I loved him. I did love him and he was still my dad. He's still here..from time to time. But is he here because of me? Or because of his own goodwill.

I finished my cereal and placed it in the sink. The same sink that i will have to clear out at the end of the day. I made my way to the door and grabbed my bag from the floor.

"Natalia", he burst out.

And before walking out the door, i turned around and said "Fuck you, dad" and finished off with a sarcastic smile.

-=+=-

Knowing that I was on time for school this time was relieving. I usually went over to Debbie's and the Gallagher's, are...well...let's just say they're pretty troublesome. Occasionally, what would happen is Carl would be of course late, Debbie would also be doing nothing's but yapping on about how sweet Derek is or how foul Matt is. Frank would obviously be passed out on the floor somewhere. Liam would be crawling around and Fiona already at Patsy's Pies.

This time i had to walk alone because Debs had to go to the clinic. She doesn't like it when people worry about her but I definitely think something is up and I'm slightly worried. I trust Debbie to be safe but she has been acting strange recently.

As I walked through the main entrance of school, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

"Natalia. This is a letter informing you about your extra-curricular math appointments. Open it" the lady who worked at the office nagged. Before I could check if she had the right person or at least asked her to explain to me, she was scurrying back to the inside of her workroom. I stood there for a while until the bell rang and I focused back on the letter. I knew that I wasn't the best student and that I sure as hell wasn't good at most subjects, but out of every dumb fuck in here? Me?

After bumping into people and stumbling across the hallway, blurting out a few 'sorries' and receiving a few 'watch where you're going-s' I got to the outside of my class. My History class. History Period 1 on Wednesday. But when i opened the letter i read out to myself in a mumble "You shall be participating in extra math lessons on Monday Period 5, Wednesday Period 1, and Friday Period 3. You must show up" I let out a huff when i found out that I came all this way to History only to find out I have to make my way back to the main hallway.

Finally, I got to classroom 12. I made my way in, making sure i don't make any eye contact with the people in there.

"You're late Natalia", said a familiar voice.

I looked back and recognized the teachers face, Mr. Jackman.

"Sorry sir" I let out a gentle apology. Okay. At least the teacher is cool. Maybe this won't be as bad as i thought.

Just as soon as i sat down at the back of the class in the corner, of course, a student walked in, slamming the door shut.

Shit.

He ignored the voices behind him, welcoming him and also Mr. Jackman scolding him. He sat down at the back of the class. At the desk to my left.

"Hey girl", he snickered, taking his jacket off.

"Wasn't expecting you here, Gallagher."

=>-=-<=

(A/N: LMAO! It's 01:26 A.M. currently and I'm here. I know that the last part was FUCKING CRINGY BUT WHAT CAN I SAY...i didn't know how to end it off. Also this was a lot longer than i was planning it to be lol..hopefully the second chapter will be up soon. If this book gets some support then I will be updating quite occasionally but if not then it will be a 'fun' thing for me to do. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed lol -cyberflirting)