you// c.g.

4

"Where's Mickey?" Lex asked, finally finding herself at the Gallagher house.

"Home." I told her, looking over at her.

"Okay, well I'm gonna go check up on him and get him to go with Fiona and everyone for Ian's sentencing."

"Aren't we going?" I questioned her.

"No, we have our own things to handle when I get back."

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After an hour and a half of waiting, skipping school, Alexia returned with Mickey.

"Hey," I smiled lightly. Mickey's eyes were red and his skin paler than usual. He slightly returned the smile and headed into the kitchen for a beer while he waited.

"Okay, c'mon." She insisted, " We gotta go."

As her and I entered the house I could already smell the alcohol. Then I looked over to the couch. There he laid, an empty can in his hand and dozens of cigarettes in the ash tray.

"Why are we here?" I whispered turning to her, knowing if we woke him up while he was hammered we would be getting a beat down.

"Look at his knuckles," She gulped, nodding her head over to him. As I followed her gaze I saw the dried blood and cuts on his knuckles. "I found blood on the floor in the kitchen, and all of our money's gone."

"What? What do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking as I did so.

"What I mean is he got home while mom was snooping through our things and.."

"She got beat." I sighed and she nodded.

"I cleaned the blood up, it wasn't much so she should be fine but our money that we saved, it's all gone."

"Why didn't you call?" I questioned, looking up at her.

"Because.. I-I spazzed out... I freaked out, okay? There was blood, our things were everywhere and all of the money we'd been saving to get the fuck out of this shit hole was gone! And he was home, I-I was worried he'd w-wake up a-an-" She choked on her words and I pulled her outside, so she wouldn't wake him up.

"It's okay, nothing happened, right?" I asked and she nodded, fiddling with her hands. It was something that ran in the family, whenever we were scared or nervous we cracked and played with our hands or we tapped on our collarbone or we bounced or legs. We fidgeted a lot.

"We're fine, alright? From now on we keep the money at.." I began to think. We couldn't keep it at the Gallagher's knowing if Frank was desperate enough or if Monica had returned, they could find it. "Maybe at V and Kev's? I'll sneak it in and if we need it I'll go and get it. If I hide it good enough they won't find it and we'll be cool, alright?"

She nodded nervously. Sometimes I felt like I was taking care of us, but I knew ultimately she was.

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"Hey?" Alexia greeted, answering her phone. "Well, I guess that's good.. Yeah.. I'm sorry Fi.. alright... okay.. see ya."

"How is he?" I asked eagerly, wanting to know how Ian was.

"He's fine, for now. He's gonna be in there for a little while at least." I nodded, trying to reassure myself he would be okay. He would.

"Uhm, tomorrow.. can we visit Carl?" I asked, "I've been asking everyone to go but no one's had time or they had stuff to do.. And I called and I need someone 16 or older and-"

"Yeah, I'll take ya to go see your little boyfriend." She smirked, knowing how much it bothered me when they said that. "I was waiting to see how long it was gonna take you to ask."

"Shut up." I said, punching her shoulder.

"Awe! Look at you blush!"

"I'm not fucking blushing." I retorted, a sour look on my face.

"Whatever shithead, go to bed." She said, ruffling my hair and pushing me off the couch.

"You're laying on my bed." I told her, pointing to the Gallagher's sofa.

"Go sleep in Carl's bed, he won't be using it," She smiled, "and I'm sue he wouldn't mind either."

"Shut the fuck up!" I groaned climbing the stairs.

"Night, biotch. Love ya!"

I just rolled my eyes and continued up the stairs. As I entered the boy's room I started stripping down. I didn't feel like digging for my missing clothes so I simply threw on Carl's sweatshirt that reached down to my middle thigh. I threw my hair in a bun and climbed into his bed. It was nice, laying in there again. His pillow smelt like him and it made me feel close to him. I turned on my back and stared at the ceiling. With everything going on, I had totally forgotten about him. And I felt guilty. He was my best friend.

Thinking about him, I started feeling really nervous to see him tomorrow. I didn't know why, he was my best friend, it wasn't like I had never seen him before. The only thing different this time was the fact we'd be in a small room together.

I began fidgeting with my hands, what was I gonna say? Oh my god, why are you freaking out over this. I just had to be cool about it. And that would be easy, he's my best friend is all. I'll be fine, he'll be fine. But why the fuck was I geeking out about this? If Carl could see me now..

He'd probably laugh and tease me. And he'd never let me live it down that I was nervous to see him and I was worrying about what I'd say to him. He'd probably add in some flirty comments while he was at it. He could be such a fucking flirt.

I fell asleep with him on my mind, thinking about all of the good times we had. I was gonna miss him this year, and I don't know what I'm gonna do without him for a whole year.