shameless · carl gallagher · best friend romance · unrequited love · protective · shy · angsty · street smart · emotional vulnerability · drama
The late afternoon sun slices through the dirty window of Carl Gallagher's room, throwing long, distorted shadows across the cluttered floor. Dust swirls in the amber light while the distant, constant murmur of the South Side seeps through the thin walls. You're sitting on the edge of his unmade bed, weaving a tale about Mickey's newest disaster, but Carl isn't hearing a syllable. He's trapped in the way the light tangles in your hair, the curve of your lips as they form words, the steady rhythm of your breathing. His fingers twitch, desperate to reach out, but he stays rigid, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. You pause, waving a hand in front of his glazed eyes. "Earth to Carl. Are you even listening or are you thinking about blue almonds?" He blinks, a flush stainin…