Whatever it takes

21. Memory In Dreams

November 9, 3:44 pm
Karl POV.

It had been a week since the park. Johnson and Schlatt had gotten arrested and let go with repercussions. My parents tried to take them to court for what they did to me, I told them it wasn't worth it. They backed off once I broke down for the eighth time.

I broke my left arm, my nose, and four ribs. To match that I also had a busted lip and stitched on my chin and forehead. Life was great right now, totally.

I laid in my bed staring at the ceiling. My room was pitch black since I hadn't even bothered to turn on my LED's. I let out a sigh before my phone rang.

"Hey Karl, I'm coming over. Your mom texted and told me you needed to get out of the house since you haven't left it since you got discharged from the hospital." Sapnap's voice rung through my ears. "Why?" I whispered back. "I told you why, you need to see sunlight. Touch some grass y'know?" The puns of his car moving stopped.

"Plus, it's too late for me to leave since I'm already here." And he hung up. Why, why did he have to come over now. I turned my body so I faced the door. A minute later Sapnap stood in the doorframe looking back at me.

"You look like shit Karl." He said, moving towards me after he turned on the bright white light. I light was blinding so I had to squint to see him. "You're not allowed to say that to me." I murmured. "And why is that?" He asked, sitting down beside me. "Cause you're my boyfriend and you have to be nice." I grabbed his hand and held it to my chest.

"I don't wanna go out to the sun." "Too bad, get ready. We'll leave once you're done." He kissed my forehead and exited the room. I closed my eyes and sat up. I didn't want to move. I wanted to lay in bed and stay there for the rest of my life. But knowing I couldn't I got out of bed and walked over to my closet.

I grabbed a lavender colored jumper with a dark green collar and swirls on the sleeves. I put in my black jeans and white shoes before I left my room meeting Sapnap in the hallway.

"You ready?" He asked, grabbing my hand. I nodded tiredly and we walked out of the house. We were in the car before I asked where were were going. "You'll just have to wait and see. It'll take a while to get there though so you can just nap or something if you want since that's all you wanted to do earlier." He responded giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I smiled in return. "Yeah, okay."

It was hard to take a nap in his car. It was loud on the road we were taking to get to the mystery destination. The radio had broken a year ago and cut off every now and then only to turn back on with a loud screech. But somehow I managed to fall asleep.

My dreams never meant much, mostly they were just random stories I told in my head about my friends and I. One of them was about a place called Mizu, another there was a masquerade with a man named James who looked awfully familiar to Sapnap.

This dream was different though. I was back at the park, same place I had been with Sapnap only our roles were switched. Instead of me getting beat up, it was him.

I kicked and screamed at Schlatt to let me go, at Johnson to stop, but no noise came out of my mouth. Nothing I did helped my case. A hand covered my nose and mouth, blocking me from breathing before I had passed out. I awoke, still in my dream, standing in the same playground, only several years prior.

I looked around and saw Quackity sitting on the swings alone. I walked over to him and sat beside him. "Hey." I said, he looked up at me with his bruised eye. "What happened?" I asked. "Don't you remember?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. I shook my head no. "Fought off that Schlatt guy for you since he made fun of your moms. Lost the fight but it was worth it."

I remember this now.

And not just because Q explained it to me.

We were in the second grade, just a few days after we had met. Schlatt had found out that I had two moms and completely freaked. Called me names and beat me up. I looked At my arms to see the familiar bruises that had been there long ago.

Quackity, even though he had only known me for a few days decided to take a stance on the situation. He initiated a fight with Schlatt after he started insulting me again. Luckily the teachers only saw his actions as defense so he didn't get punished as much as Schlatt did.

I smiled at the memory, at Quackity. Only for everything to move quickly, aging so fast that we were now our current ages.

"What're you doing here?" He asked looking disgusted by me. "What d'you mean?" "Why are you here. I left you on purpose you annoying piece of shit." I was shocked. "Leave." Quackity yelled, pushing me from my swing.

"I'm not your friend anymore. No ones your friend anymore. Sapnap left you cause you're too annoying and needy. Dream left cause he didn't like being around a child. I left cause I have better friends now. I have Schlatt and Johnson. And they're better friends than you'll ever be." He kicked me in the chest.

"More mature."
Another kick.
"Funnier."
Kick.
"They don't cry every time someone walks away from them, they just grow up."
Kick.
"So grow up you useless, stupid, childish fuck."
His final kick hit me in the heart, sending me back to reality.

I jolted awake to see a sunset over a grassy field. I felt that my cheeks were wet with tears.

"Karl?" Sapnap Asked worriedly. "Karl what happened? You were crying and saying all this stuff about yourself and," he took a deep breath in before hugging me.

"None if it's true. I love you. Alright. You're not useless, you're always there for everybody whether they like it or not. You're not childish, you're just you. And you'll never annoy me. Never. Okay." He held me tight as I sobbed onto his shoulder.

"Quackity." I whispered. "What about him?" Sap Asked. "He said that stuff to me. Said he left me for Schlatt and Johnson. He used for protect me and then he hurt me." I said through my sobs.

"Q would never do that. He loves you too much. You know Q left Schlatt weeks ago. He's okay now. You're okay now. He won't leave you or any of us." Sap whispered into my ear.

I didn't tell him he had also left me too, too afraid for it to actually happen.

"Let's move to the backseat, my chest hurts from leaning over the center console." Sap said before leaving the car only to re enter it through the back. I climbed over the console and into his arms.

And he held me whispering sweet words as we watched the sun set.
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Word count: 1251

Guys I swear actual plot is coming up soon, for now have Karlnap