teacher's pet

𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳

≛

"are you okay to stay behind for a moment?"

karl nods, continuing to pack away his stuff as the rest of the class starts to leave. if today is going to be anything like every other day this week, the older man will just want to make out and chat for a bit before driving him home.

karl can't really complain, though. he has absolutely no problems with hanging around for some attention and affection, not to mention it means he gets to avoid getting a lift back with dream and sapnap, who are too busy being in love to notice he's there.

well, that's how it usually is. recently, since what sapnap saw, the ravenette has been much more actively trying to involve karl. it's sweet, but it feels sort of sour when it's only happening because his best friend found out he was cutting his own skin.

it feels like a far point to have to reach for people to start caring.

speaking of sapnap, the ravenette turns to him, smiling to himself as he raises an eyebrow at the brunette. "you've turned into a right teacher's pet," he jokes, referring to the fact that, in his eyes, karl stays late almost every day to do extra work on his book.

karl offers a half-hearted laugh in response but doesn't bother with any real words. he feels like any possible response he could give would seem suspicious.

"do you need a lift?"

karl was planning on going home with his brother and sapnap but something about his best friend's use of the word 'need' puts him off. as if he would rather karl didn't come with them, but it would be okay if it was necessary. obviously the ravenette doesn't actually mean it like that, but it still spoils the idea in karl's mind and he shakes his head.

"library," he says to excuse himself, pretending he's just planning on staying late. then he remembers that sapnap saw his wrist and has evidently been worried about him, and decides to add to his response so the ravenette won't feel bad or want to hang around. "i'm going to see if i can get a new book to inspire me to write more of mine. writer's block."

sapnap nods understandingly. "alrighty, see you back at yours."

karl replies with a simple, "see ya," and offers sapnap a single wave as the ravenette leaves the room with the rest of their cohort, not looking back.

the brunette turns to face lucas, watching as the older man slowly begins to pack up his belongings.

things between them have gone back to how they were before karl saw him at the park. the brunette still feels a deep, internal guilt about the part he is playing in splitting apart a seemingly happy family, but he doesn't talk about those feelings. he keeps them to himself, not wanting to make things worse for them or exchange the guilt onto lucas.

he imagines that the older man probably already feels bad enough without karl butting his head in with his own conscious insecurities.

"have you got any plans for tonight?"

karl shrugs in response to his teacher, pairing it with a small headshake. "not really," he verbalises. he told his family he would be there for family dinner but he honestly has no qualms about missing that. the thought of sitting around a table with those people, now with the added weight of sapnap knowing about his self-harm, seems like the worst possible scenario.