Your Telephone Calls are my Favorite Place (Karlnap)

Fifty One

"What if they can't?" Karl remained still in his best friend's lap.

"Then you have a whole family of friends who love you unconditionally already waiting." Sapnap answered, resting his chin on the top of Karl's head.

Karl tightened his grip around Sapnap, wrapping his legs around his torso. Sapnap took advantage of this new position, now standing and lifting Karl off the ground in the process.

"Let's just get you into bed. I'll look over your phone and then come lay with you." Sapnap said softly, setting Karl down in his bed. Karl nodded, pulling the covers around him and rolling over to face the window. It was dusk, the street lights were just beginning to turn on.

Sapnap grabbed Karl's phone off the ground, entering his birthday to unlock it, and made his way back to the bathroom to begin listening to the messages.

Sapnap felt relieved as every voicemail from Karl's mom became more calm and understanding. She had apologized for her tone in the first message, explaining it was shock, not anger. Sapnap lowered the phone, texting Karl's mom.

Hi, it's Nick. Karl is still very worked up from the whole situation and he's resting now. I'll make sure to tell him to call you once he feels ready to talk.

Sapnap sighed, opening the messages from Karl's aunt. As expected, attached were the two photos of them from the restaurant that had been circulating around.

Just thought you deserved to know that your son has a boyfriend.

Sapnap rubbed his temples, annoyed, as he read the message. He wanted nothing more than to send hateful messages to Karl's aunt, barely able to hold himself back. He decided to simply not respond at all. Karl just asked him to read the messages, not handle the entire situation. Sapnap emerged from the bathroom, plugging Karl's phone in before climbing under the covers with Karl.

"Do they hate me?" Karl whispered as he felt Sapnap's hand slide around his waist from behind.

"No one could ever hate you, Karl." Sapnap assured, rubbing his thumb along the back of Karl's hand.

Karl nodded as a response. He had still been crying, sniffling as he wiped his cheeks.

"I'm going to tell Dream and George to do the stream without us tonight." Sapnap said while kissing the back of Karl's head.

"No, you should do it. I'll try to make an appearance at some point. I kind of just want to be alone for a bit." Karl responded, still facing away. Sapnap propped himself up on his elbow, gently pulling Karl's face to his. Karl looked up slowly, his eyes still bloodshot and his skin red and blotchy.

"If that's what you want. Text me if you change your mind and I'll come back." Sapnap whispered placing a soft kiss on Karl's cheek. He wanted to kiss his lips, but he held back. Despite having begun to work out their issues over the last several days, they still hadn't kissed like that since they were in North Carolina. Karl offered Sapnap a soft smile before facing away again.

Karl remained laying in bed as he felt Sapnap get up and gently close the conjoining door behind him. Karl pulled himself up from the bed, staring out the window. It had been raining the last several days. Gusts of wind pushed raindrops against the window.

Karl turned to his dresser, finally ready to put on a shirt. He sifted through his and Sapnap's clothes that had somehow gotten all mixed together until he found a long sleeved sweater and a hoodie. Karl put them both on, pulling up the hood and tightening the drawstrings. Karl looked over to the conjoining door as he heard his friends begin talking excitedly, starting the stream.