you// c.g.

20

Moving day. It felt like forever and a day since Alexia had announced we'd be getting an apartment together. Everything felt like a dream since then on, especially with Carl.

I groaned loudly, bending over to pick up more trash bags to carry to Kev's car, we were borrowing it for the move. We didn't have many things, but a hell of a lot of clothes.

"Y'know you look great bent over." Carl's lip fell from being stuck  between his teeth. Alexia walks by and smacks him on the back of the head, grabbing water from the kitchen for herself.

"You could really help out you know, instead of watching." I responded, ignoring his comment completely.

"I like watching you." He smirked, moving towards me, "Watching you bent over in those short shorts, watching you move your hair from your face, out of breath from running around the house."

His whispers echoed, bouncing around in my head, an insane heat filling my body as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

Swiftly, I gathered the bags and walked out of the house dumping them in Kev's car. We had a couple of more bags I could carry on one last trip.

"Jane?"

And suddenly my feet are sinking into the cement, hardening so fast that I was unable to get out of it.

"Jane!"

My heart began running the mile, my brain scrambled with pictures and words; my soul was drained from my body.

"Jane, why won't you let me back in the house?" A large, dirty and blistered hand lays upon my shoulder. It grabs a hold of it tightly, spinning me around to face the man behind me.

"Jane go unlock the door now. I'm sick of you and your sister's bullshit!" He didn't look the same. He had thinned out, facial hair growing, a despaired look in his eyes. He smelt no longer of alcohol but of dirt, sweat, and garbage. I wonder, what he has become on the streets. "Speak damn it!"

"I-I-"

"I, what? I fucking what?" He pauses, his voice hoarse and dry, looking over to the Gallaghers', "Oh I see. You and your sister still staying there? Like you didn't have any god damn parents? You ungrateful little slut!"

His screams and rebukes fade rapidly, a ringing tone evident in my ears as I fall against the car for support. Tears pool within my eyes, my hand gingerly pressed against my cheek.

"You piece of shit! Did you fucking touch her? I swear to god!" Soon I hear the roars of my sister. My heart was pounding, my cheek throbbing with pain. I focused on her spits of terror against my father and then Fiona's too.

Long pairs of arms wrap around me, I turn to see Carl's face asking me if I was okay. Of course I'm not. I'm embarrassed, broken, hurt, humiliated, angry, and in fucking pain.

He pushes Alexia to the ground and grabs ahold of my arm, jolting my body from against the car and I whimper.

"Hey, leave her alone you son of a bitch!" Carl pulls me from his grasp and behind him, punching my father square in the face. I couldn't believe my eyes, but to say it didn't bring me joy would be a lie.

Ian and Lip rush towards Carl, having to pry him off of my father. I watch as I'm drug inside by Debbie and Fiona, Alexia screaming by my side.

"How're you feeling?" Carl asks softly, peering over to the ice pack pressed lightly against my cheek.

"We can't have one day without something going wrong. Not one fucking day!" I wanted to cry, but I didn't let myself. I also wanted to punch the wall and kiss Carl for coming for me and standing up to my father, but that was all besides the point.

Carl sits beside me, an arm slinging over my shoulder.

"Hey Jane, we got rid of.. him. Alexia says you don't have to go with her, she'll unpack and pick you up either later tonight or tomorrow." Fiona walks into the kitchen as if she's walking on eggshells. I nod silently in response and quickly move to go upstairs, leaving behind the defrosting bag of peas.

Lying in bed and curling in a ball, tears flood from my eyes. It wasn't like he hadn't ever hit me before, but I thought we were done with the abuse. I thought it was over, I thought we were safe.

"Janie?" Carl whispers anxiously. I try to calm down but I can't, the tears won't stop and my sobs grow louder and louder. "Oh baby come here."

He climbs onto the bed, swiftly lying down and opening his arms for me to move into. I cry onto his chest, his hands running through my hair gently.

"Jane baby, everything's going to be okay. I promise." Carl's voice was so enticing, so soothing. I wish I could honestly have believed him as I pulled him closer to my body, needing to find some kind of warmth in him that would make me forget about today.

As the dark sky begins to dawn upon Chicago, my crying stops. I ponder about what happened after we went inside; to my father, to Alexia after she left. I wondered if she had spent the last few hours crying to, or if she had pushed her feelings so deep inside her she had actually began unpacking.

"How's your hands?" I question, sitting up. My voice is groggy and low.

"Swollen, but I'll be alright. Don't worry too much, shortcake, they'll work perfectly fine for you." He smirks, lightening the mood with another dirty joke.

Feeling the urge to, I pick up his hands and kiss his bruised knuckles softly.

"What're you doing?" He asks confused. I shake my head in response, placing his hands gently on my waist as I lean in. Our lips meet and his hands begin to grip my hips, his head dipping to deepen the kiss.

I move onto his lap, biting his lower lip and I feel him tense beneath me. After a few moments of making out, he pulls back pushing hairs out of my face. His beautiful eyes glaze over my face so admiringly, I wish we could stay here forever.

His hand moves to my neck, pulling me in for another kiss, the other hand guiding my hips against his own.

"I wish you weren't leaving." Faintly he whispers to me between a kiss.

"Why?" I inquire this time.

"Because I'm utterly alone without you shortcake." His thumb traces over my lips as he stares longingly.

"I won't be far, you can always sleep over." He chuckles, and shakes his head lightly.

"What?"

"Nothing, it just won't be the same."