online | dorbyn

SEVEN

daniel started up a stream early a few day later with a pounding head, dark eye bags and a grumbling stomach. he didn't feel like going downstairs to get any food or else he'd have to interact with his dad, and he didn't sleep a blink which means cranky daniel that likes to start fights with said dad. he felt too dizzy, even with his eyes closed, so in the end he decided on pulling yet another all nighter, and quite literally erased himself from social media for the next few nights.

the bourbon that was half empty sat on his desk was actually mocking him. he felt so guilty for drinking and forgetting. for drinking because he got scared that corbyn heard about his dad and what sad life he has as one of the most popular twitch streamers in 2021.

jonah probably thinks he's dead which definitely means the other boys thinks he's dead but he didn't feel like talking to them right now, so he started up a stream. granted, they'd probably join the call sometime into the stream and question him after. unless he immediately leaves the call after stream but that would be a dick move.

it's just that his social energy is gone. however, he wants to be somewhat of a decent streamer, hence why the camera is pointed at his face and his persona is the happily, bubbly daniel he wishes he could be.

as predicted, jonah was in the call less than 5 minutes of being live.

"daniel."

daniel leaned back in his chair. "hi jonah."

"how are you?" he bit out, trying his absolute best to contain his urge to punch daniel in the face.

"i'm..." he set down his crafting table in game. "i've been better." there was no point in lying. jonah knew him too well for that.

corbyn joined the call.

"you can't just fall off the face of planet fucking earth like that, daniel."

he sighed. "give me a second chat." he said while turning his camera off and made sure he was muted. jonah took that as his cue to leave, ultimately deciding on giving daniel a talking to after corbyn. "i'm fine, corbyn."

"hm. didn't you just say you could be doing better?" he snapped. "no phone call, no text, you were just gone for two- three days? what happened?"

"nothing happened, i was just.. in my head, i guess. got a little drunk and stayed in my room for a majority of it."

it was quiet. only for a minute.

"you drank?" his voice was distant. "daniel you don't drink. ever."

"yes i know that but i just wanted to forget all my problems. for one minute."

corbyn frowned. he could tell, even without his face camera being on. "forget?" he questioned. "what did you want to forget? why would you want to forget?"

"i didn't want to forget forever, corbyn. just for a minute." he said as softly as possible. "there's a lot you don't know a-about me and my life, corbs-"

"then tell me." he sounded desperate. "let me help you."

daniel froze. he didn't need help. he didn't need the pity, the sad looks, the being careful around him. he didn't need it and he definitely didn't want it.

"i should get back to the stream." he mumbled.

"daniel-"

"there are just somethings that i really can't tell you over the screen. it would make more sense in person." he fiddled with his thumbs. "let me do this stream. alone. and then you can call me again, yell at me, whatever. just, i-i want this stream. please?"