oxygen - carl gallagher story {𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮𝓭}

new job

sorry, this took a while to write but y'all will see why

For once, my prayer is answered.

He walks away and I let out the breath I was holding in. That night, it's cold. Like, below freezing and the shivers seem to turn my blood to ice. The blanket and boxes do nothing for insulation, I feel like I might as well just lay in a freezer.

My bones start to shiver so I get up. I have to move around to keep my body alive and functioning.

I walk the streets of the South side during witching hour. It's more than eerie. Nothing can really frighten me after my weeks on the streets - I've seen murder, drugs & rapes. Everything occurs in the alleys of a city. Horrible things.

I find myself walking into the past, the streets around me are those of my true childhood. My first home with both my parents, it's a large place with cold white walls. The garden in pruned to perfection and it just looks wrong.

Then I walk two miles to the house I left months ago. I consider again walking through the doors, just to sleep on a real bed for one night. I walk to the door and see its unlocked. Not unusual, my mom was always open for business.

I hear nothing. The wind blows through the open door, so I shut it and walk up to my room. I avoid the creaks and find my room. It looks exactly as I remember it. Pastel walls, bed unmade and clothes everywhere. She didn't even care that I left.

This was a good sign.

If she didn't realise I had left, she won't realise I'm back. I tiptoe into her room to see her asleep in some tacky lingerie.

I jump in the shower and take the least time possible to avoid being caught. Any chance of my mom stirring and waking up could ruin my chances of success. I jump out and feel clean.

I clear everything off my bed and shut the bedroom door. I'm out completely as soon as my head hits the pillow. In the morning I awake with a start, feeling wierd with such a comfortable setting.

As I go through my closet, everything is too big. I've lost so much weight recently, I'm sad that I lost my ass but it was expected. I find an acceptable outfit and tie it together with a simple belt.

I have an interview today and I am determined to get this job. I look acceptable, I smell acceptable, just got to act it now.
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I walk down the street, watching my feet on the icy roads. It would be a lot easier to take the 'L' but I can't risk getting thrown off on such an important day. I am getting that job.

I throw the door open and the stench of stale alcohol hits me immediately. Not one head turns towards me which isn't surprising because the TV was playing a football match.

I pulled a stool up to the bar and a women with a strong Russian accent asks "What can I get you?" which is wierd because I'm only 17. I push it past and reply.

"A job, please?" I laugh slightly from the awkwardness but her face stays stubborn. I stop laughing and feel plain stupid for asking. She whips her head and shouts "Kevin, Mickey" both names make me jolt in surprise.

(a/n she knew Kevin worked but didn't know where. mickey works at the Kash and Grab but also as a pimp. The storyline of the show didn't really fit in with the story so please just let it be)

Kevin's large frame is recognisable straight away and Mickey's smaller body looks tiny next to him.

"Y/n!!" he says with a huge smile and I'm swept up into his arms. This is easy because I've lost all my weight in the few months on the street. He sets new down and looks at me questioningly.

"Um-- Kev, I really need a job and--" I point at the barmaid "Svetlana" he says.

"--yeah, Svetlana, called you so I'm hoping you can get me one?" I look down. My hopes are high but my expectations are low.

Maybe it's due to the pity or something but he eventually says "Okay" and I smile and hug him.

"Thank you thank you thank you" I say not able to contain myself. I've needed this for so damn long. "When do I start?" I ask after a minute of taking in the fact I finally have a job.

"When can you start?" I just shrug and he asks "now?"

I nod and he tells me to get a cloth and wipe the tables and the bar down. Of course, I do as he says and Mickey walks back upstairs. I was curious as to what he was doing and how I could possibly get a job with him. I brush it off and work my ass off.

It nears closing time and when Kev calls for the last round to be bought, the dread sets in. I have to go back to the house to sleep. I've been considering just grabbing my shit and possibly sleeping somewhere near to the bar, it would make life that tiny bit easier.

"Time to leave" Kev says and I nod, trying to stay completely neutral. He looks confused, most people would be ecstatic that the day is finally over but 'home' is worse than here, but he doesn't say anything.

I walk to the house and push the door open to see my mum on the sofa at it again, so I close it and walk round to my bedroom window. I've climbed out once, so I'm sure I'll be able to climb in.

I get in successfully and smile. The little things are really pushing me to continue living life.

I sleep deeply but for a short amount of time. It's enough for me.

The next day of work is the same - I love being helpful and actually doing a little something with my life. But at the end of the day, Kev gets suspicious about how sad I am when the day ends.

"Y/n, what's up with you. You always seem so happy when you turn up and then sad when it's time to go home? Summat up at home?" I immediately shake my head. My mum isn't doing anything like he assumes and that's what he's talking about.

"No, nothing is wrong at the house" I reply and he nods.

"Wait, the house? Why are you calling it that?" he questions. For someone so uneducated, he is observant. I don't know if this is good or bad.

I tell him the story (an this is a lil recap of everything that happened so you can skip or read?) "Well, you know I was shot and while I was in the coma, Carl realised he lived me and of course, I love him. I was basically living with them but I made it official and left my mum to fend for herself. We were happy for ages and then suddenly, Fiona accused me of stealing their money, which I didn't, obviously, but she refused to listen and kicked me out. So then, I was on the street with just the clothes on my back. I went back and packed my clothes and left. I avoided Carl as much as possible but he soon found me in the park and broke up with me. It was inevitable but it still killed. I was sleeping under the 'L' and became deeply depressed so just had to move to save my life. I've been living in random alleyways. But the I her day I went home to shower so I could come here and get a job. I honestly didn't think you would say yes but I'm so thankful you did. I'll finally have enough money to eat twice a day" I finish with a breath.

There's a look of pity in his eyes and I regret telling him everything. "Okay, I gotta go now. See you tomorrow" I say and walk 'home'. I take the short route home which means passing the Gallagher's house.

"Y/n!" a voice shouts and I flinch. No one in that house wants me near them so I keep walking. It shouts again, closer.

It's Kev.

holy shit, that has to be the longest chapter I've ever written. chapter 20 is coming soon bc it follows onto this perfectly, I just didn't want this to be like 3000 words long 😂❤