moonlight [ quackity ]

chapter 9 || exposure

after the whole tantrum and family drama issues had resolved, i felt a lot safer.

"hey," karl said, lightly startling me as he stepped into the room i was staying in.

"what's up?" i responded, plastering a sweet smile on my face.

"we're good right? i mean, i know i can't just apologize and get away with what i said, but i was hoping you at least don't hate me," he mustered out through an embarrassed look.

i looked down at the ground before bringing myself to a standing. "karl," i started slowly walking over to him, "nothing you ever say can get rid of me." i pulled him into a hug, letting him slowly wrap his arms over my shoulders. "i'm too clingy."

"i love you," he sighed out.

"i love you more assface," i chuckled.

when we pulled back from the hug i walked past him to exit the room and go to the second office, starting up the computer in there. "you still down to stream today?" i pressed my lips together looking back to see he had followed me to the room.

he hummed as he nodded, then left to go to his main office and get everything set up.

as i was preparing my set how i liked it to stream, i noticed i had yet to unpack my stream deck. "crap," i quietly told myself. "karl!"

"yeah?!" he shouted back across the house.

"i'm not ready yet! i forgot to unpack something! give me a minute!" i returned the shouting.

"kay!" the sign that he understood was enough for me to travel back to my room and start sifting through my things, looking for the essential tool i needed. while i searched, my phone started vigorously ringing. although i didn't know its exact location, i was able to find it after a couple of seconds of pushing around my disorganized laundry.

i read the name as "mother" and felt my heart jump in my chest. why was she calling me? she knew i was with karl and there had to be far more important things for her to do over calling me.

i promptly answered, making sure to shake off my panicked state. "hello?"

"are you fucking with me right now?" she said over the phone, not yet shouting, but obviously provoked.

"i.." i stopped to think, "i don't know what you're talking about mom."

"don't you dare 'mom' me," she responded, voice getting slightly louder. i squinted my eyes at the severity of her tone. what the hell is going on?

"mom, i genuinely don't know why you're so upset," i scoffed, running my mind over anything that i could have possibly done to piss her off.

"you think you would tell your own mother if you don't get into college."

fuck.

"i just- i," i found myself stuttering on my words, "i planned on telling you."

"don't even bother lying to me," she huffed.

why was she so mad? it's one college. "why were you going through my room?" was the only thing i was able to muster out. though i knew i would regret saying it, it was somehow better than saying nothing at all.

"shut up!" she shouted over the phone, "you don't get privacy, y/n. you live under my roof. you are a child, and i'm the adult."

"that doesn't even make any sense mom! i'm 18 years old now, so you really had no reason to be going through my shit," i felt myself getting angrier by the second. not only was i angry, i felt my anxiety level rising as i heard muffled movement on the other end of the line.