LOVE LOCKDOWN (dnf + karlnap)

9: Meant To Be Yours, chapter five

APRIL

With April came rain.

Constant rain that left Karl in a weird mood. He was moping, he knew that. And he had started avoiding Nick. Which was probably for the best.

At lunch, he started sitting with George and Niki again instead of hiding in the basement with Nick, giggling over whatever cartoon they had decided to binge that week. Which was fine, except it wasn't really. Because George and Niki were annoyed by his far-away stares and nonsensical replies. The first few days, they had been kind, gently prying few-worded replies from Karl. But he refused to let them in, and they got tired of it real quick.

On the second Wednesday of April, Niki snapped.

"Karl. Please. Just tell us what is going on so we can help. I love that you're sitting with us again, but I- Where were you? You just left us out of nowhere and then suddenly you're back. But now you're sad. We're your friends, Karl. We want to help," she said, voice caring but stern in a way that only Niki could manage.

Karl looked at her friend, then at the table. Anywhere but over George's shoulder, where he could see Nick sitting with his friends.

"Karl?" George prodded. "Please?"

"I don't know," Karl shrugged. "Bad month?"

"No, that's not what it is," Niki sighed. "What is it you're scared of?"

"Did you kill someone or something?" George asked, trying but failing to lighten the mood.

"I fell in love," Karl mumbled. "And it was dumb. I knew- I knew that nothing could come of it. But we spent, like, two weeks together and then I was in love."

"Karl..." Niki said sadly, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. She lowered her voice significantly before continuing. "Was it a straight guy?"

"No. Which is the worst part."

"Was it Sapnap?" asked George.

Karl's attention snapped to George and he stared at his friend with wide eyes. "How did you know?"

George blinked. "I'm dating his best friend."

A traitorous spark of hope lit in Karl's heart, "does he talk about me? Nick- I mean- Um, Sapnap. Does he talk about me?"

"I don't know. Dream just said that Sapnap has been sad lately."

"Well, it's probably 'cause you're dating," Karl sighed. The spark faded, snuffing out with a small cloud of smoke.

"Me and Dream? Why would Sap care?" George asked, frowning.

"Because Nick is in love with Dream!"

George narrowed his eyes at Karl. "Excuse me?"

"Don't get mad! It's not like he can help who he loves!" Karl said, quick to defend Nick.

"I'm not mad at Sapnap for supposedly being in love with my boyfriend - Jesus. Karl. You are an idiot. A fucking idiot. Talk to Sapnap, to Nick, and I assure you that everything will work out fine," George said as he collected his things and got ready to leave. "Walk me to history, Niki? I think Karl needs a few moments alone."

Karl watched as his friends left, leaving him all alone at his table. With a clear view of Nick. Nick, who was staring at a half-eaten sandwich, not engaging in the conversation his friends were having.

Every cell in Karl's body pitied Nick. He knew what it felt like to be in love with someone who was close, too far and entirely someone else's while really being no ones. Well. Except Dream was George's.