MCYT Oneshots

Sidelines // Karlnap

// art by @ li_wri_ on twitter //

Sapnap pulls away as the bell rings overhead, gently disentangling his fingers from Karl's hair. "I'll see you after class," he says with a cheeky grin.

"Yeah," replies Karl, still breathless from the crash of Sapnap's mouth against his. The taste of the other boy's tongue is still fresh on his lips, and a bright red flush colors his cheeks. "See you," Karl adds softly, offering a shaky smile.

Sapnap smirks as he steps back, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. He catches sight of his friends in the hall, finally turning away. "Wait up!" Karl hears Sapnap call as he jogs to catch up, vanishing into the crowd. Karl stares after him a moment longer before turning away with a sigh.

Suddenly, the locker beside Karl slams shut. He starts, whirling around to come face to face with Dream.

Dream leans back against the locker doors, staring into the crowd as Karl had a moment before. "You know he's not actually interested in you, right?" he remarks bluntly.

Karl's lips tug into a confused smile. "What?" he asks, furrowing his brow. How long has he been standing there?

"You know," Dream says with a shrug, turning his disinterested gaze to riffle through his book bag. "A popular jock like him, dating a soft-spoken, bookworm type like you. You must think you're an awfully cute couple – straight out of a romcom."

"Who said we were a couple?" Karl retorts defensively.

"Exactly," retorts Dream, rolling his eyes. "You should know things don't actually work out that way. You two will never be anything serious."

Karl makes a face. What the hell is Dream trying to do? "Bye, I guess," he says flatly, heading towards his next class.

Karl only makes it a few steps before he's stopped by Dream's dramatic sigh. "Wait," Dream intones flatly, jogging to catch up. Karl ignores Dream as he falls into step beside him.

"Listen, all I'm saying is...." Dream sighs again, running a hand through his hair. "Look. He hasn't told all his 'popular' friends about you. His Instagram is still filled with pictures of him and his ex. When you guys aren't – hooking up, or whatever it is you do, he hardly spares you a second glance."

Karl doesn't reply, desperately willing the conversation to end.

"I mean, has he even officially asked you out yet?" continues Dream.

No. No he hasn't, Karl's mind echoes. "It's none of your business!" he snaps instead, a little too loudly. Luckily, the crowd of students has thinned out by now, leaving them alone in the hallway.

The boys arrive at Karl's next class. Dream lingers in the doorway, regarding him with a pitying expression. "I'll catch you after school," he finally says, giving Karl a firm pat on the back as he leaves.

"I hope not," mutters Karl as Dream fades out of earshot.

Karl slips into the classroom, taking his usual seat by the window. He opens his notebook to a clean page, then lets his eyes wander outside, where the football team is beginning their pre-game routine.

Although Karl tries to distract himself by watching Sapnap warm up on the field, he can't stop the doubt from creeping in. Am I really just a fling to him? Now that Karl thinks about it, it does feel a little bit like Sapnap is trying to keep him a secret. He's never invited Karl to a party, or even introduced him to any of his friends. He's never even called him his boyfriend.

That last point leaves a sour taste in Karl's mouth. He doesn't want to rush Sapnap, but the fact that they've gone so long without going public is only making Dream's confrontation in the hallway sting even more.