Debbie had always looked at Carl like he was a total retard. She looked down on him, and frankly, she didn't like him much either. Faced with his angry screaming, she just raised an eyebrow provocatively. "What?"
Seeing Debbie's attitude, Carl got even madder. He shook the paintball gun in his right hand violently. "Why did you break my paintball gun?!"
Debbie denied it with practiced ease. "Wasn't me."
In that moment, interestingly enough, Frank, who was sitting nearby, had a moment of déjà vu. For a second, he felt like the daughter standing there wasn't Debbie, but Fiona.
The way she lies... it's exactly the same, Frank thought to himself.
"If it wasn't you, who was it?" Carl's face twisted in rage as he roared again.
"You got proof?" A look of superior smugness appeared on Debbie's small face. She acted like she had this retard completely figured out and there was nothing he could do about it.
Seeing this.
Carl, who indeed had zero proof, froze. He stared daggers at Debbie, falling silent.
Peg, who had paused on the stairs, let out a cold chuckle. She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, lit one up, and watched the show with a grin, curious to see what Carl would do.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Carl clenched his fists. He had truly reached his limit.
You have to understand.
If this were school, and someone pulled this...
Heh. Carl would have thrown hands ages ago. He wouldn't be wasting time talking.
"Apologize! And pay me back!" Carl ground his teeth.
Debbie, thinking her intelligence gave her an easy win over Carl, sneered dismissively. "It had nothing to do with me. Why should I apologize?"
The words hung in the air.
What was that saying again?
When you can't take it anymore, you don't have to.
Carl snapped. His body moved like a blur as he tackled Debbie to the ground. He raised the broken paintball gun and smashed it down toward her. "Fxxk you!!!"
The beating came out of nowhere. Debbie hadn't expected Carl to actually get physical. She was stunned, instinctively trying to dodge.
But where could she go?
In the blink of an eye.
Debbie took several hits. Tears of pain instantly streamed down her face as she screamed hysterically, struggling desperately to fight back.
Just like that.
Carl and Debbie were rolling on the floor, brawling.
Frank remained on the couch, steady as Mount Tai. He smiled, fished a joint out of his pocket, lit it up, and completely ignored the battle royale happening between his children.
Peg, cigarette dangling from her lips, walked down the stairs one step at a time. She reached the vicinity of the brawl but didn't rush to stop it. She just stood ready to intervene if necessary.
It didn't take long.
Debbie, who was no match for Carl in a fight, got the crap kicked out of her. She wailed in pain, begging for mercy.
Carl refused to stop. He wanted to keep hitting her!
Peg finally spoke up. "Carl, that's enough. She surrendered."
Carl actually liked Peg quite a bit. Hearing her voice, he landed one last punch on Debbie, then stood up. His expression was cold, radiating pure aggression.
Peg genuinely liked seeing this side of Carl. She laughed heartily, reaching out to pat his head. "Let's pack up and get out of here. Grandma will buy you replacements for everything that got broken tomorrow."
"Okay."
Carl agreed instantly and went upstairs with Peg, completely ignoring Debbie, who was curled up on the floor.
Debbie lay there, sobbing in jagged gasps. She hated Carl. She hated Peg. She was heartbroken.
"Get some ice, I'll help you put it on," Frank said softly. When it came to seizing an opportunity, Frank was a professional. He saw his opening and took it.
In her moment of despair, receiving sudden care—even from Frank—made Debbie feel a wave of emotion. She felt like Frank still loved her. She squeezed out a tearful smile at him. "Okay."
---
Carl and Peg moved fast.
About fifteen minutes later.
They were packed and back in the living room.
"Bring the wheelchair," Peg said to Carl. She wasn't sure how long her burst of energy would last.
"Yeah," Carl replied simply. He tossed the luggage, packed in large black garbage bags, onto the wheelchair and began pushing it toward the door.
Moments later, the two of them left the Gallagher house, heading for 2114 North Wallace.
---
2114 North Wallace.
(Note: The text says 2113 in the header but implies they are neighbors to the Gallaghers at 2118, and moving to 2114. Assuming 2114 is the destination/neighbor).
Kevin was over at the Alibi Room making money.
Since Dex restaurant wasn't open tonight, Veronica was sitting on the couch by the window, trying her hardest to read a book.
Yes, trying very hard. You could say she was forcing herself.
Veronica was annoyed. Vivian had explicitly said that as long as she kept reading day by day and built the habit, she would eventually get used to it—maybe even like it.
Total bullshit! Veronica muttered silently, gritting her teeth and forcing her eyes back to the page.
Ethel was doing housework, scrubbing away in the kitchen.
The word "habit" applied perfectly to Ethel.
Time ticked by slowly.
Suddenly, the sound of a truck stopping outside broke the silence.
Veronica immediately—and justifiably—shifted her attention to the window. She squinted and saw a truck parked in front of the house next door. Someone was moving in.
Who the hell moves in this late? Veronica was puzzled. Without hesitation, she tossed the book onto the couch and got up to check out the new neighbors.
Not long after.
She saw Peg and Carl. Veronica was visibly confused.
"Carl? Your grandma is moving in here?" Veronica asked immediately.
Carl gave a cocky grin. "Me and my grandma are both moving in here."
"????" Veronica was dumbfounded. Knowing Fiona, she couldn't believe this was happening. "You're not living at home anymore?"
Carl actually hated Debbie right now too. As of this moment, he had zero attachment to the Gallagher house. "Nope. I live here now. I got my own room. Very nice!"
Veronica couldn't process it.
What the hell happened over at the Gallagher house this time?
Fiona treated those kids like they were her own life. How did Carl convince her?
"Fiona agreed to this?" Veronica asked again.
"I don't need her permission!" Carl replied with absolute conviction.
Veronica understood a little better now. Carl had moved out unilaterally. She thought about it for a second but didn't know what to say.
In a tree not far away.
The crow, Xiao Wu, silently watched Peg and Carl, relaying everything it saw back to Dexter.
Dexter's Place.
"I'm going to go check on how Carl's settling in. I'll be back in a bit," Dexter said, standing up and looking at Bianca. "You okay being here alone? Scared?"
Bianca smiled and shook her head. "I'm not a child. Go ahead."
"Looking at those, you're not much different from a child," Dexter teased, looking at her chest and muttering under his breath, deliberately looking for trouble.
"!!!" Bianca's face changed instantly. "Dexter !"
"Haha, I take it back! I'm going, I'm going!" Dexter bolted immediately.
Bianca puffed up her cheeks in anger. "I'll deal with you when you get back!"
Dexter chuckled as he walked out the door, heading straight for 2114.
He had thought of something earlier and wanted to have a chat with Peg.