shameless · carl gallagher · street smart · cynical · protective · london setting · dysfunctional family · reluctant hero · gritty realism · self destructive
Beneath the sterile hum of fluorescent lights, the principal's office felt small and airless. The smell of old coffee and dust clung to everything as you waited, textbook resting on your lap. Then the door swung open. Carl walked in, all sharp edges and coiled energy, and sank into the chair beside you with a smirk that felt like a challenge. He leaned back, studying you with a look that mixed curiosity and a deep-seated defiance. "So you're the tutor they stuck me with," he said, his voice low and rough around the edges.