you// c.g.

13

My hands shook as I turned every which way in the courthouse trying to find my family. Our court hearing was today. I was dressed in a small black pencil skirt and an itchy blouse, as Mrs. Frankford had called it. I hated what I was wearing, but I was so excited to see everyone again.

"Jane!" A loud and familiar voice called. I ran into Alexia's arms, never wanting to let go.

"Please don't let me get separated from you again." I whispered into her ear. She pulled back giving me an odd look before I was ambushed by the Gallaghers.

"Alright, everyone come on its time." Fiona ushered us into the courtroom. It was a small little thing, kind of reminded me the place of Carl's sentencing. Chills shot through me as I sat on the cold wooden chair.

"Everyone rise." And so we did. 

"Good morning everyone," The judge began, "Today we will be deciding if Alexia Lodge will become Jane Lodge's legal guardian." And with that everyone sat.

"Miss Lodge I see you have hear your parents' signed affidavits to relinquish their parental rights." Alexia smiled smally over to me and I returned one, although I didn't really mean it. Was I supposed to be happy I had shitty parents?

"I do, however, also know that your mother is never around from previous, one too many family court dates," She paused, a nervous look appearing on Alexia's face, " How did you get her to sign these?"

"She came knocking at the Gallghers, wondering why she couldn't get into our now condemned house to steal more money."

"What?" I inquired, but she shushed me quickly returning to hear the judge's response.

"And your father?" I gulped at even the thought of Alexia being around not one, but both of our parents for something like this. But I did still question if anything she was saying was true.

"Honestly, I just asked him nicely." That wouldn't have worked with our father. Alexia's face showed me everything, that this 'nice' meeting wasn't at all nice. 

"I see you don't have a permanent living arrangement?"

"Well, we've been staying with the Gallaghers-"

"That is not a permanent or acceptable living environment-" She cut off Alexia.

"Your Honor, I was just getting to that." Alexia tried to sound as polite as she could, "These last few months and with my promotion, I've been able to save enough money for our own apartment. I sign the lease forms next week."

"What the fuck?" The Gallaghers, Kev and V, Mickey and I were all taken aback. The judge smiled. 

"You do know that in becoming your sister's legal guardian you will be giving up the next few years to take care and raise her?"

"I've been doing it my whole life, I'm sure I'll be able to handle a few more years." She smiled widely, grasping onto my hand. I leaned into her shoulder. 

"Well, then I now announce you as your sister's official and legal guardian by law. Have a nice day ladies." And with that her gabble hit wood. Everyone cheered. Immediately I jumped into her arms, her spinning while laughing cheerfully. 

"Time for celebration!"

We entered the Alibi Room where a poster was hung wishing me a welcome home.

"Everyone welcome back our beloved Janie." Kev smiled, tilting a drink to me. I smiled widely.

"Round on the house!" Tommy yelled, to which Kev yelled back saying 'no, no' over and over but was flushed out by the immense amount of people who filled the bar. 

"Have one," Lex handed me a beer.

"We missed you." Fi messed with my hair before walking up to the bar with the others. I walked to an empty booth and sat with a sigh before Carl had taken a seat next to me, his arm snaking its way around my shoulders.

"Hey shortcake," He grinned causing my heart to flutter. Again I sighed, but lent against him. "What not happy to see me?"

"No I am." I laughed, sitting upright and brushing his arm off of me. "I don't wanna move out."

"Well you'd have to either way." Carl said before taking a swig of my beer. I grabbed it from him.

"What do you mean?" We sat in silence before my eyes widened, realizing. "Holy fuck, you guys really lost the house?"

"Yeah dude, but its whatever. I'm staying someplace real nice though." He nodded his head,  a smirk scribbling itself out on his face. My eyebrow raised.

"Where?" 

"The Warldof." He spoke cooly.

"You're fucking lying! Everyone's staying there? How do we have the money for that, its so expen-"

"No," He laughed, "Me and Nick are staying there. Fiona's at Sean's with Liam, Debbie's at some fucking cancer patient's house with Frank, Lip's at college, Ian's at Mickey's."

"A cancer patient?-- Wait where has Alexia been staying?" I inquired.

"Mickey's too. But you're more than welcome to stay with me." Carl smirked so flirtatiously, I could feel my face getting warm. Stop it Jane...

"Yeah you and Nick. No thanks, I'll stick to the Milkovich's." I shrugged him off, looking anywhere but in those beautiful hazel eyes.

"Whatever, I know you'll be visiting." He winked and I was torn between strangling him and kissing him. NO KISSING HIM!

"Shut up Carl."

"Aw did I hit a nerve?" He teased moving closer.

"Hey c'mon Jane we're going to MIckey's-"

"I know, I know." I responded, quietly thanking god Alexia saved me. "I'll see you later Carl."

"Oh I know." He responded with a wink. Fuck.

When Lex and I arrived at the Milkovich's I was serenaded with bad music, shitty beer, but really good fucking weed. 

"So I assume Carl told you about the house." Lex sat next to me on the couch as I passed her the blunt. 

"Yeah, what the fuck happened?" I turned to her.

"I don't know, another Gallagher feud." She rested her head against the back of the couch. 

"When were you gonna tell me you were getting us an apartment?" I questioned her, not knowing why I was so heartbreaking about moving out of that house.

"Well, one way or another we were going to. The Gallaghers are our family, Milkoviches too. But we also have our own lives to live, and if you can I'd really like you to get the fuck out of the South Side." I must've frowned or something because she turned to me, fixing hairs that fell down on my face. " You're too smart and too beautiful to be stuck here until you die. You could do anything you wanted if you were determined to."

"I love you." I smiled. Tears began to fall from my eyes and I wasn't sure why. 

"I love you too." She pulled me into her, "Y'know there's still time for the house to be saved. Which we both know somehow and someway it will be. You'll always be able to see them and sleepover."

"Fucking Gallaghers." I sighed. Her chest heaved up and down as she laughed.

"Fucking Gallaghers."