sweet tooth - karl jacobs

chapter 9- hubba hubba

"what is it this time?" i ask. "no wait, let me guess. a bunch of brands of licorice?"

"nope," karl says, shaking his head. "but i like this guessing game. keep trying."

"uhh..." i scan the store and look for something. "different flavored gummy bears? or gummy worms?"

"ugh, i wish. no."

"am i close?"

"the first guess was on the right track. but not the right candy."

"different brands of..." my eyes lock on the assortment of hershey's on the back wall. "chocolate?"

"bingo!" karl says as he snaps his fingers.

"interesting, how's that going to work?"

"well, i THINK it's gonna be a blind taste test, where someone has to guess what brand of chocolate they're eating. i'm not positive, jimmy honestly doesn't tell the crew anything because sometimes he likes to spring the game on us and make us participate." i let out a laugh.

"he sounds interesting."

"he is. and speaking of-"

"how many brands of chocolate do you need? and what flavor? milk? dark? white?" i unintentionally cut him off.

"oh, uh i think four brands of chocolate? we already have one brand at the studio. and maybe all the flavors? just to make sure?" karl responds. i roll my eyes and smile.

"of course you'd need all of them. why would i expect anything else from you?" karl giggles.

"you're right, you should know better by now!"

we go through different brands of chocolate and end up choosing hershey's, dove, lindt, and nestle. we get five bars for each flavor of each brand, which results in a lot of chocolate.

"let me just box this up for you, wouldn't want you dropping any of this," i say as i head to the storage room and get a cardboard box. the two of us plop the chocolate inside and go up to garrett to pay for everything.

garrett's eyes go wide when he sees karl and me approaching, and he gives me a knowing glance. my eyes widen and lips form into a straight line as if saying "don't you dare say a word." garrett subtly nods.

"good morning!" he says as we approach his register. "did you find everything you were looking for?"

"we did! your co-worker is very kind, she's been helping me out a ton these past few days."

"i wouldn't expect anything less from haven!"

"sure you wouldn't," i say sarcastically. the two boys laugh.

"i'm karl, by the way," the brunette extends a hand over the register and garrett shakes it.

"garrett, nice to meet you," the worker replies.

"nice to meet you as well!"

we wait a couple of minutes for karl's truck to appear out back, and when it finally does we start to leave the store. but not before garrett catches my eye and mouths "hubba hubba" while fanning himself with his hand. i scowl at him and mouth at him to "piss off."

karl and i make it to the truck, where we load the heavy box into the back.

"alright, well if that's all i can help you with-"

"wait!" karl cuts me off and hops out of the back of the truck, down to the pavement where i stand. i raise an eyebrow at him.

"you know, jimmy is looking for people to help out with the video. i think, since you did so much to help me, would you like to come?"

the most confused look is written on my face, and i can't help but chortle and lean my head back.

"seriously?"

"yeah! i'd really like it if you came..."

"no thanks. i'm busy."

"what? you don't even know when it is!"

"but i know i'll be busy."

"haven!"

i look back at karl, who has a pleading, desperate look in his eyes. i almost feel guilty. but i can't risk getting close to this boy. i have to take these measures to protect myself. i refuse to get hurt again.

"why do you hate me so much?" karl asks quietly.

remember how i said i almost felt guilty? yeah. well that line kicked me in the stomach. now i feel insanely guilty.

"i don't hate you, karl," i reply. "i just... can't."

"please? my friends have been dying to meet you. and anyway, it'll be fun. i'll pick you up, i'll drive you back home when it's over, meals and snacks are provided. and i'd really like it if you were there." he inhales slowly. "and if you're at all worried, this is strictly platonic. i swear i wouldn't try to pull any fast ones on you."

"when is it?" i ask.

"well, we're starting to set up on friday. which is tomorrow. then saturday we film. it'd be awesome if you were there both days. but if you can't make it, or just don't want to be there, i get it."

"what time should i wake up?"

i notice karl's contagious smile slowly growing on his face.

"i'll be at your place at 8."

"alright. see you then."

i start to walk away, but karl shouts after me.

"haven! i have no clue where you live!"

i sigh as i turn around and walk back to karl. i take his phone from his hands, put it to his face to open the face id, then go to his contacts. i create a new contact, input my name and number, then hand him his phone. then i pull my phone out of my back jeans pocket, open the contact app, and give him my phone. he enters his information with a smile on his face, then hands back my phone.

"i'll text you," i tell him as i put my hands in my jean pockets. karl nods and looks as if he wants to hug me, but i turn away and start walking back to the shop before he does. it's too soon for that.

looks like i gotta tell my manager that i need to take tomorrow off.

(A/N the author's note below was written at the time i initially wrote this chapter and it was me freaking out. i thought it was funny so i'm leaving it in. enjoy)

(y'all i kid you not. a few days ago mr. beast showed like a video of him in his own willy wonka chocolate factory [writing this author's note on may 26, 2022 for the record so this timeline makes sense] and... i'm doing a candy themed video for this story... WHAT THE HECK??? mr beast hire me right now i swear to god i'm perfect for your team. great minds think alike. i'll move to north carolina right now. i'm filling out an application right now. everyone vouch for me. he should hire me. i would be amazing)

(i hope my antics made you smile. anyway remember to vote, comment, share, and add this to your reading lists :D i love you so much forever and always <3)