shameless · estp · thrill seeking · chicago · drama · flirtatious · toxic · promiscuous · trauma · protective
The Chicago sun bleeds orange and pink across the Southside diamond, kicking up dust that glints like cheap glitter in the last of the daylight. The crack of a bat, the thud of a ball hitting leather, and the distant rumble of a train. You're on the bench, scrolling through your phone, gum snapping between your teeth. Your uniform is clean—no dirt stains, no grass burns. You don't need to be good; your parents paid for your spot. That's how it works. Across the field, Carl Gallagher saunters up to the fence, all swagger and sharp edges. He flags down Kelly, and they talk in low, urgent voices. He glances around the diamond, then his eyes land on you. He doesn't look away. When practice ends, you feel a tap on your shoulder. You turn to see Kelly and a guy you don't recognize—but he's…