The Sixth Sense but it's Karlnap

Tina

Sapnap pushed open the restaurant doors, the harsh temperature difference hitting him like a brick. He scanned the dim seating area, quickly spying who he was looking for. Wasting no time, as he was already late, he weaved through the array of brown tables dressed in red cloths, towards his mum who sat forlornly, her head in her hands and a half eaten plate of food before her.

Sapnap sighed as he sat down opposite, glad for the opportunity to rest his legs after walking so far to the restaurant.

"Hey mum." he greeted happily, unbuttoning his dark blue coat quickly, fumbling with the round pieces as he tried to cool down in the humid air of cooking scents and perfumes. He sat expectantly waiting for a reply.

His mum didn't move, her head stayed planted in her hands and her eyes covered by her small fingers, all colour seemed to be drained from her fingertips, her skin somehow paler than her nails. She looked slimmer than usual and her thin hair was unstyled, much different to her normal assortmet of hairstyles she cycled through.

"Mum?" Sapnap reached forward to touch her elbow, but she swiftly recalled it, taking a shiny glass in her pale hand and bringing it to her lips. Twirling the red liquid briefly, she sipped at it, her tired eyes looking over to where Sapnap sat.

"Look, mum, I'm sorry if I've been a bit distant lately, its just, the stress, i think. Well, I've met this boy, his name's Karl, he's very interesting. We've actually arranged to go to a café tomorrow, well I arranged. You see he doesn't like to talk but he's still got a brilliant imagination, but don't worry, its only for studying. He's actually so much like Ant, you remember Ant? They're so similar but I just can't place-" His rant was interrupted by glasses clinking and paper rustling.

"Thank you ma'am." The deep voice of a restaurant waiter filled his ears, impatient fingers slid a small metal tray with a bill across the wood. Sapnap tried to grab it, even if he had only just got there and hadn't eaten, he didn't want his mum to pay, it was her birthday after all, but just to his luck, she took it first. Standing hastily, she began to gather her coat and zip up her purse.

"I love you, Sapnap." She whispered, barely audible, and exited the restaurant before Sapanp could even process her words. Just as she left through the door, a small tear rolled down her face, smudging the light foundation on her face as she wiped it away, disappearing past the windows.

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Karl was never one for going out. There was too much noise and fuss for his liking, and yet he found himself at the welcoming doors of a café he wouldn't dare step foot in had he not been invited, or forced to go to. Apparently it was what was best, but he didn't see the point, it wouldn't change anything; he would still be scared.

He jumped as the metal bell rang above his head, signalling to everyone in the room that he was there. The door closed slowly when he let go of the brass handle, but it still made a loud click when it shut. Noise, chatter, scents and eyes hit him with overwhelming force, it felt cramped with all the people and voices, yet there was more than enough space for 20 more people at least and plenty of room for Karl to tread between the elevated bar stools and light-brown, wooden tables.

There he was. Waiting. Sat gazing out of the large window before him. Karl stopped, staring at him timidly.  He hadn't had an extensive amount of time to take in his looks yet, after all, their last meeting was cut short, but for Karl, that was better. Sapnap - as he'd introduced himself as - scratched his chin, his fingers scraping his short beard stubble, making that awful scarring sound that pained Karl's sensitive ears. On his head sat that pesky baseball hat which had all but hit him the day before, the tiny thread eyes following Karl as he approached the table - not that he wanted to.

"Karl! Finally, I've been waiting for so long. Hot in here, don't you think?" Sapnap pulled at the front of his sweatshirt, exaggerating his statement. Karl's sweaty palms stuck to the chair as he pulled it out, his heart thumped in his chest, fearful lips remained sealed and the gaze of pearly grey eyes stayed glued to anything apart from the other. They air was humid, but Karl daren't say anything to agree and his limbs were too tense for communicating, frozen along with his uncertain mind.

Sapnap watched him carefully, observing everything thing he did, from the not so subtle wiping his hands on his jeans, to the nervous flickering of his eyes in the direction of the counter.

"This place is cool, isn't it?" He asked cautiously, noting the obvious silence between them once more. Karl seemed to grip his chair like it was about to kill him, his legs pressed tightly together to allow space to hold the chair. Even beneath his sweater and coat, Sapnap could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he stared at the counter, his grey, panic stricken eyes jumping around the room anxiously.  Then his chest stopped pulsing.

Karl could feel himself of the edge of consciousness, looking up into a pair of dull brown eyes whose owner was paler than snow. Dark, chocolate brown hair fell over her shoulders and cracked lips parted to speak.

"Hi, I'm Tina, is there anything you would like to order?" Her voice was sweet. Sweeter than it should be and radiated more happiness than her outside showed. But despite her calming voice, Karl couldn't stop the thump that shook him from the inside and the sweat that beaded beneath his hair. Everything was too loud; the chattering people, the distant hum of music, the rasp of his own breaths, it was like someone turned the world's volume to full. Karl looked into Sapnap's eyes, asking for silent help but quickly looked away, regretting needing it. Before he could even turn his regret back to fear, the scraping of chairs and tables hammered at his ears and a pair of cold arms wrapped around him.

Sapnap didn't even have to think. The moment Karl looked at him, he saw the horror and knew he needed to get out. He practically threw the table so he could get up and grabbed the shaking boy, holding him close to his beating chest as he carried him onto the empty street outside. Karl closed his eyes tightly, resting his sweating forehead on Sapnap's shoulder and he bit down on his lip, suppressing the urge to scream. He was scared. That much was clear, but why?

Sapnap held Karl securely as he hurriedly walked to a small, secluded corner which lay only a few hundred meters away, tall flat buildings either side making convenient walls for the space with the fencing of houses locking them in, the only entrance or exit was the narrow space that Sapnap only just managed to squeeze through with Karl in his arms. He could hear the boy crying, his tears dampening his sweatshirt, sticking it to his skin, but he didn't mind. Karl was priority.

He set Karl down on the floor and he instantly backed up to the fence, wetting his sleeve as he tried to wipe away his streaming tears, but more fell in their place, covering his cheeks like a hot river of fear.

"Karl it's alright, you're safe, I promise." Sapnap crouched in front of him, watching the steady flow of tears slow ever so slightly. He smiled warmly, looking into Karl's shiny pearl eyes, a barrier of water rested at the bottom of them, glimmering with salt, nitid almost as much as his eyes themselves, still beautiful through the pain. Reaching out his hand, Sapnap gently brushed his coarse-skinned thumb across Karl's soft cheek, catching a tear that slipped from it's ledge and brushing it to the side carefully. Once fearful eyes shone with wonder and infatuation, Sapnap's heart jumping in his chest at the sudden change of emotion, and he too looked down at the boy, captivated by his mystery.

Sapnap felt something touch his wrist, it was warm and gentle and he looked to see Karl's slim, painted fingers wrapped around him, they didn't even reach all the way around, Sapnap was sure he could cover them all with just his palm and still not use the all the shadow of his own hand, he could hold it if he wanted to, he could hold it and keep Karl safe. He could help him.

Karl's loose grip tightened, he pulled Sapnap's hand gently from his face and let go. Sapnap watched their hand fall together, Karl's wet sleeve stuck a little further up his wrist, leaving dark red lines only just visible to the other, but before Sapnap could ponder, he stood up and, looking down at him guiltily, he spoke.

"Sorry"

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bet u thought they would kiss.