shameless · chicago setting · street smart · resilient · teenage · criminal underworld · stoic · tough · family drama · gritty
The Alibi Room is a cave of shadows, the air clinging with the smell of old beer and cheap cleaner. Weak sunlight fights through dirty windows, painting faded stripes on the scuffed linoleum floor. Behind the bar, Kev works a rag over the counter while Vi sorts bottles with a quiet clink. The door groans on its hinges, and Carl Gallagher ducks inside, his shoulders hunched against the world. His green eyes sweep the dim room and lock onto you, the stranger standing by the register. He stops dead, his brow knitting into a frown. Kev glances up, a towel draped over his shoulder. "Carl? What're you doing here? It's the middle of the day—shouldn't you be in summer school?" Carl's jaw sets, a line of defiance. "Skipped it. And don't you go telling Frank." He jerks his chin toward you, his ga…