you// c.g.

11

After dinner I rushed up the stairs and into the room I'd be staying in for... however long it would take Alexia to become my legal guardian. Carl and co. had gone through something like this before but it took Fiona awhile before gaining custody. I don't have awhile.

At first I just laid on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, occasionally eavesdropping on Ashlyn's drama convos on the phone next door. But then I remembered my bag and the special surprise Carl had said he left for me.

Carefully I opened the bag, honestly scared of what his surprise could've been. I smelled the bag beforehand too just to make sure he didn't put a piece of shit or something gross in there as some kind of prank... god only knows he would do that to me. After digging through many pieces of clothing- most were mine but I did find a sweatshirt of his and even a pair of his boxers- I found a white box enclosed with a red satin ribbon. My heart began to pang. What is this?

My fingertips grazed over the red ribbon before it slipped from its knot and fell onto the bed cover. I opened the box and in sat a brand new phone. He really goes all the way doesn't he. I gasped seeing as it was the new iPhone 7 plus. I thought I was going to cry.

I opened it and found myself in the contacts list, he had filled it with all of my important contacts which only included the Gallaghers, Alexia, Kev and Vee, and the Milkovichs. Directly I tapped on 'daddy ;)', knowing it was Carl's, and called him.

𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑔𝑔...𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑔𝑔...

"Ah, so I see you found my... surprise." He says flirtatiously as soon as he answered the call. I blushed, why are you blushing Jane?!

"Carl-How did y- When did- Wh-"

"I told you I'd get you a new phone, shortcake." I hated when he called me that.

"Carl! I don't want you to spend your money on me-- I don't even know how you got it in the first place!" I tried to keep my voice down but I was filled with excitement and slight anger with a dash of unexplained feelings.

"Don't worry about it baby, I was just worried you wouldn't find it." He laughed, that god damned laugh. I smiled wide.

"Oh shit, let me call Lex." I remembered, but actually just wanted an excuse to get off the phone with him. I felt really nervous being on the phone with him. Why am I so nervous?

"Alright, bye Janie." He teased and I swore I could see the smirk he was wearing. I pressed the red button and found 'messages' then clicked on 'sugar stick'. I hate Carl, but laughed to myself at the name.

'Hey Lex, Carl left me a little surprise but I just want to let you know I'm ok but I promise you I will end up in a fight with these people's daughter sooner or later, so please hurry with whatever you need to do.'

I didn't get a response from her that night; at least not before the crazies made me go to sleep. What the hell teenager has a fucking bedtime.

When I woke up in the morning- again to Mrs. Frankford frighteningly hovering over my sleeping body. And again I had to force her out of the room to get dressed for the day. I never understood why parents would take the locks off of their kids' doors- did all parents do it because they wanted to be fucking creeps too? I wondered if Ashlyn's didn't have a lock either- or if they really didn't trust me because I'm from the Southside.

I threw on ripped black jeans, Carl's grey hoodie, a stolen Adidas beanie Carl got me for my 13th birthday, and of course my docs.

"I really insist that you wear the outfit I picked out for you." Mrs. Frankford clinged to the idea of me wearing her daughters ugly hand-me-downs.

"Honestly, you look like a bum." Ashlyn retorted. I wanted to strangle this bitch.

"Yeah, no." I replied with a sarcastic smile. Again a plate of eggs and bacon was forced in front of me to eat. The smell made me sick to my stomach.

"Aren't you going to eat?" She smiled that same forced and scary smile I had seen yesterday morning.

"I already told you- I get sick eating in the mornings." I stared down at the food as knots formed in my stomach. She twitched staring me down.

"You girls should get a move on." Mr. Frankford said after a long period of awkward silence and his wife eyeing me down. He stood and moved to his wife, whispering in her ear. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I think she was some kind of extreme control freak with a splash of fucking insanity. I nodded in agreement, completely and obviously uncomfortable, and stood walking to the front door following after Ashlyn.

Today continued just as yesterday, until I remembered Carl's present for me.

'sugar stick'

'im doing everything i can. im going to the courthouse tomorrorw w fi. please try to stay out of trouble a little longer, do the best you can. love u.'
    Read at 10:13 a.m.

'daddy ;)'

hey shortcake

hey carl