teacher's pet

keep it to yourself

𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳

≛

sapnap and karl make their way out of school together, barely minutes after handing in their their pop quizzes.

karl knew all of the questions in advance because, somehow, they ended up listed in his text inbox. even if they hadn't, he would've passed with flying colours because the questions were ridiculously easy and, as already mentioned, he is very gifted.

he gave it in with absolute certainty that he aced it, yet sapnap has spent the last few minutes reviewing the questions, wondering if he got them right.

karl thinks he is supposed to be joining the conversation and relating to how difficult he found it but he simply didn't, even if lucas hadn't basically helped him cheat.

sapnap clearly doesn't realise how smart karl is. no one seems to notice. well... no one except lucas.

the brunette slows down as they approach dream's car, shifting to the back door before pulling it open. he clambers into the back of the car, keeping his head down as to avoid the daily sight of sapnap leaning across the centre console to kiss karl's brother.

he likes their relationship and he can admit that they're good together, but that does not mean he wants to see them kiss. ever.

he doesn't know why he doesn't, really. physical affection in public has never been something that has particularly bothered him and obviously he is happy for them, so he doesn't know what it is about their love that makes him feel gross. karl wants to think that it's because dream is his brother, and thinking about a member of family in any romantic setting seems weird, but he doesn't feel uncomfortable when his moms show affection around him. in fact, he used to find it sweet when cynthia and delilah would cuddle up or say goodbye with a kiss.

they're not as touchy anymore, and karl knows it's because they are trying to be all cautious with his feelings. he goes through one bad relationship and everyone around him seems to think that love will suddenly become a trigger for him, or something.

he doesn't even have triggers.

well, not that he can think of.

maybe the quiet...

and sudden, loud noises...

and occasionally he flinches when someone or something moves too quickly, but that's hardly ever.

and they're not really triggers. people go through much worse things and come out fine. karl just got shouted at a couple of times, and a couple hits here and there. the mental stuff was the worst -the emotional abuse, the manipulation- so he doesn't know why it's the other stuff that seems to have stuck with him.

karl's fine.

"do you guys wanna stop at mcdonalds?" dream offers as sapnap sits back down properly in the passenger's seat. he barely flicks his eyes to look at karl in the mirror's reflection, the majority of his focus honed in on the boy next to him. karl wonders if his opinion is even important. "i fancy nuggets," he says before starting the car and beginning to manoeuvre out of the parking lot.