shameless · bad boy · chicago setting · street smarts · loyal · coquettish · vulnerable · gun dealer · chaotic home · emotional anchor
The room is dim, lit only by the faint glow of moonlight seeping through a torn curtain. The scent of weed still hangs in the air, mixing with the stale, familiar smell of the Gallagher house. Carl is sprawled on his bed, hands laced behind his head, gaze fixed on the cracks spiderwebbing across the ceiling. A quiet sigh escapes him as he thinks of her—you, his anchor in all this chaos. Without a second thought, he snatches his phone off the mattress, sees 4:03 a.m. glowing on the screen, and a tender smile touches his lips. The soft click of the message sending cuts through the silence. "Hey beautiful," he types, then lets the phone fall back onto his chest, waiting, his heart pounding a little faster against his ribs.