you// c.g.

7

As soon as it hit 7 everyone was over the house. V, Kev, the Gallaghers obviously, and Frank even showed up. It was going great we had loud, good music, beer, and weed. And we all were having an amazing fucking time.

"Everybody move out of they way!" Fiona called from the kitchen, Lip shutting off the lights as she did. After a few moments Alexia walked out holding a pan of brownies with lit candles and Fiona hot on her trail.

"Happy birthday Janie and welcome home Carl," She smiled placing it in front of us. An arm snaked its way around my shoulders, making me smile when I saw it was Carl's. "We know you don't like getting sung to so just make a fucking wish you difficult prick."

Immediately everybody erupted into laughter at her words and I leaned over blowing the candles out, everyone cheered. We all clinked drinks and I sat back, watching everyone dig in on Alexia's famous brownies.

"So, why don't we have cake for your birthday?" Kev asked, stuffing his face with a brownie.

"Because she doesn't like cake." Carl answered before I could and I nodded in agreement.

"Why? Cake is amazing!" He said with glee and I could've sworn he was about to moan at Alexia's baking skills.

"Yeah and some people think The Walking Dead's amazing, but not everyone likes it." I shrugged. He stopped talking, not really knowing what to say. But after a few moments he began again.

"So do you like The Walking Dead or.."

"Shut up Kev!" Me and Carl said in unison and he did just that.

Carl and I continued the night talking away and catching up. We didn't even finish a whole beer before things started getting out of control. Fiona and Frank started bickering about something stupid he said, causing Carl to drag me outside. On the way he grabbed a six-pack of beer and shoved something in his pocket before opening the back door.

We cracked open a beer as we sat down in the middle of the grass.

"Sixteen, huh?" He asked, making me laugh as I shoved him.

"Hey you're only what 9 months older than me?" I said, making him chuckle. He threw an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

"I missed you." He sighed.

"Really? I thought your new thug friends would replace me?" I laughed.

"Never," He smiled down at me. "So, what else did I miss?"

"Well, we lost our house to the bank because dad lost his job and wasted whatever money he had left on alcohol and cigs. So, Fiona allowed us to move in, as long as Alexia kept working and helped out around the house." I shrugged.

"So where has everybody been sleeping?" He asked.

"Well, if Fiona was at her boyfriend's Alexia slept in her room but if she was home she slept on the couch. But I've been, uh, sleeping in your room." I said shyly.

"And I hear you've been wearing my clothes to bed too." He smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. Immediately I hoped he couldn't see me blushing out of embarrassment. "Don't worry, I think it's hot,"

"Yeah, obviously you would." I rolled my eyes, taking a swig of my beer.

"Hey, at least now I get to cuddle you without asking." He smiled, looking down at me.

"The Carl Gallagher wanting to cuddle? That's a first." I laughed, taking another chug of my beer.

"Whatever." He shrugged, taking another swig of his beer, "So no Katy?"

"Nope, and I hope I never see her again." I laughed as he mentioned my mom, chugging the final few drops of my beer. Carl reached over and grabbed another one for me, which I gladly took.

"And your dad?"

"On the streets I guess. Sometimes he still shows up at the house yelling that he's gonna kick the crap out of his slutty daughters and wife if they didn't let him in." I sighed.

"Yeah well he's a dick, so lets not ruin the final hour of your birthday and lets drink." He smiled, checking his phone to check the time.

"Sounds like a plan to me."

We spent the next hour seeing who could chug our last two beers the fastest, and smoked a joint or two. We talked about random stuff; about Juvie, about stuff we used to do, and just reminiscing about the past.

After my first yawn, Carl decided it was time we went to bed, also because it was 2am and we still had school the next day.

"C'mon sleepyfuck, I know your ass isn't a lightweight and you can walk inside." He said, hunching over so he could look down at me.

"I know but it would be so much nicer if for my birthday you could carry me to bed." I laughed, not moving from lying down on the grass.

"Well, your birthday ended two hours ago and I already gave you that gorgeous bracelet on your wrist as your birthday present." He smirked, "And I didn't give you birthday punches so.."

"Fuck you Gallagher." I laughed sitting up and grabbing his hand to help me up.

"Alright, now you need to shut the fuck up, any sudden noise could wake these shitheads up." Carl said closing the door behind me quietly.

"I know dickhead, this isn't my first rodeo." I whispered, stepping over Kev who was passed out on the kitchen floor. We walked up the steps quietly and made it into the room, this was the only time you'd catch us silent, for once. If you woke up any of those drunk bastards, they'd wake up the rest thinking they should keep partying til the late am or they'll start a fight. And we've learned from past experiences that those consequences aren't worth pranking or bothering them.

"Hey, what're you doing?" Carl whisper-yelled, not trying to wake Liam who was sleeping a few feet away.

"I'm trying to find pajamas," I informed him, pointing to the trash bag full of clothing that I was digging through.

"Don't, just throw something of mine on." He said, climbing up onto the bed.

"Yeah, you would like that wouldn't you." I retorted.

"No, seriously. You'll wake Liam, he's a light sleeper." He whispered back. I turned around only to find him sitting on the bed, rubbing his eyes. He looked so damn cute.

"Fine." I caved, going through his drawers and picking out a gray long-sleeved shirt of his that reached my mid thigh. I stripped down earning a whistle from Carl but I just flipped him off. I threw the shirt on, fixed my boy shorts and climbed in bed with him.

Suddenly I felt two arms wrap around my waist, widening my eyes.

"Carl," I said, turning in his arms to face him. "What're you doing?"

"I told you, I like to cuddle." He smiled innocently. I turned around again, only allowing him to pull me closer to his chest, "I missed you shortcake."

And in that moment, everything I had buried over the past year came unraveled with just a few words.