BEWARE C.G.

17. The Promotion

Bella Leticia Zambada-García was curling her eyelashes in the mirror of her vanity when there was a knock at the door. She switched to the other eye, going downstairs to answer it and was met with her best friend. Carl Francis Gallagher walked in, holding a large backpack and he set it on her couch before gesturing for her to sit beside them. Now that Bella thinks about it, the last time they sat down was when she told him she didn't wanna date him (a stupid move she was beginning to realize) and some part of her hoped that Carl wanted to talk about where they stood as 'friends'.

She's gonna tell him she takes it all back. She's young and dumb and has trust issues that dictate her every move and she really does wanna be with him-drug dealer or not. The Latina sat down beside him, her heart racing when Carl grabbed her hands excitedly. "G Dog gave me a promotion" The Gallagher speaks and the girl internally rolled her eyes, of course that's what this is about.

"What kind of promotion?" She asks, a little iffy about the fact her best friend was moving up in this drug ring.

"I have to take all this shit-" He starts, grabbing the backpack beside him and unzipping it to reveal several bags of powder. "To Flint, Michigan"

Bella reaches in, picking up a bag and inspecting it. "Smack?" She asks and he nods. "You need to be careful Carl" The brunette starts and he groans.

"I'll be fine" The teen reassures, resting his arm on top of the couch behind her. "Nothing I haven't done before"

"Uhh yeah it fucking is!" She exclaims. "This is alot Carl, this isn't just selling it out on the corner and even then you were mostly selling bud. Heroin is a big deal! If you get caught-" Carl puts a finger up to her lip to shush her and she slaps his hand away.

"I'm not gonna get caught princess" He rolls his eyes and scoots closer to her. She turns, her tan face inches away from his and her lips practically begging to be kissed. "I'm gonna make fucking bank" He grins, grabbing her chin softly and then he pecks her lips.

"I hate you" Bella teases and he chuckles, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her head to lean on him.

"You love me" He confidently says, kissing the side of her head. "Oh yeah, speaking of;" Carl says, letting go of her and picking the backpack up again. He begins rummaging through it and takes out a small box. "I got you this"

Bella furrows her eyebrows, and she can't help but remember the time she moved away and Carl (with the help of Debbie) made her an ankle bracelet. It was the only gift she had ever gotten from a boy in her life and she wore it as long as she possibly could until that weak little string they used broke. She took the small box from his hands, and opened it to find a ring. It was silver, with a pearl on it and a little diamond on either side. "Where'd you get this?" She asks in shock.

"Saw it on my way home" Carl shrugs, trying to ignore the fact that during that walk home he also rehearsed how he would give it to her about a hundred times. "It reminded me of you"

She smiles softly, her heart melting at his words. "You don't have to spend your money on me Carl" She starts and he knows where this is going, speaking before she can do so again.

"I'm a baller now babygirl. It's okay" He reassures and she laughs at his words. "Hey, it matches your outfit like perfect" The teen notices, with a proud smile on his face.

"Yea it does" Bella grins and kisses him, holding his face in her hands. And then she pulls apart, looking into his eyes happily. Carl can feel his heart practically beating out his chest and it's like fireworks are exploding inside him once she kisses him again. "I love you" She speaks, tracing circles on his cheek with her thumb.