CalPal

-41-

Chapter Forty One

    "That's the last of them," Karl said as he placed the last box down in the small moving truck. We looked at the packed uHaul in silence.

    "I'm gonna cry, don't even look at me," I told him as he jumped up and pulled the door to the truck shut.

    "You're going to cry regardless of if I look at you or not, Caeli," he responded, to which I glared, "But it's okay! I'm already crying."

    I groaned, "Ugh. Not even leaving Sapnap was this sad."

    "Wait like actually, let's not reminisce because I will bawl my eyes out and it won't be pretty," Karl said as we made our way back in the house. Clay was inside talking to his boys on the phone while Indi was finishing up a class. She's going fully online for the remainder of the semester since it wasn't much longer.

    I collapsed onto the couch beside Karl. He immediately wrapped his arms around my shoulders and squeezed me tightly in an embrace. I rested my head on his shoulder and started crying. Karl has been there for me so much since we became close. Anytime I needed to grocery shop, we'd go together. If I needed a break from the house and Clay was filming and Indi was doing something, we'd hang out no hesitation. In a way, he's been there for me just as much as Clay has. Sure he hasn't stepped in and put on a big brother role to my sister, but he was a good support system for me and I appreciate it.

    "Who am I going to go to when my internet goes down," Karl sighed.

    "Stop," I pouted, "I'm really going to miss you."

    "Are you crying? You're moving a few states away, not across the world," Clay came stomping down the stairs.

    "Dream, dude, can you let us have our moment?" Karl asked quietly.

    "Yeah fuck off," I asserted. He just laughed as he walked aimlessly around the kitchen.

    Karl and I sat there cuddling with each other while we heard the commotion of Clay on the phone as well as Indi coming down while she's on a zoom call with her class just because she wanted the leftover Wendy's from the kitchen. She sat at the kitchen counter listening to her class as she ate. Clay ended up sneaking behind her to mess with her.

    "Clay I swear to fucking god, leave her alone. She's in class."

    "I apologize for that, Mrs. Bernard—" Clay and I looked to each other with wide eyes when we found out she wasn't muted, "Anyways, I believe what the author was trying to communicate through her characters is that—"

    Clay burst out laughing and had to remove himself from the kitchen before he interrupted her class more than he already has, "I'm gonna do a last sweep of the house and make sure we got everything," he smiled at me, taking his phone and heading up the stairs.

    When Indi finished her class, she slammed her laptop shut and nearly shoved it off the kitchen counter in the process.

    "Tough day at school?" I questioned, raising my head from Karl's shoulder to make eye contact with her.

    "Nah. Online school, at least at this school, is much more enjoyable. My teacher's just an ass. Like she called on me, and for what? She just enjoys torturing me, that's it."

    "That's not very cash money of her," Karl replied.

    "No it's not, Karl," she complied, "Let me go finish packing the last of my things," she raised her laptop to indicate that was one of the things she needed to pack.

    Karl and I had our moment for the next ten minutes as Indi and Clay were finishing up upstairs. Despite us agreeing not to, we still reminisced about all the times we've shared while I've lived here. We act as if we're never going to see each other again when in reality, I'll probably be visiting every month. It's just, with Karl, he's my absolute best friend. We've done so much for and with each other, it's hard to say goodbye; to leave a routine I've been working at for a year now. It was a lot to digest.

    "Alright, I'm all set," Indi said, "I'll be waiting in the car."

    Indi and I would be driving the Tesla down while Clay drives the uHaul. Though I'm sure we'd be on call with each other most of the ride. The only people that know about Clay and I moving in together are Karl, Sapnap, George, Niki, and Eret. I don't know how long we're going to wait to tell the fans, or if we're even telling the fans. We've talked about revealing our relationship now that we're even more secure in our relationship and have been together for awhile. I'm not too sure on that one yet though.

    "You ready?" Clay asked as he stood at the base of the stairs.

    "I think so," I replied. He said goodbye to the boys and ended the call before we all headed outside. I wasn't selling the house as it would still be a nice place to stay when I visit. Plus, my mum gave it to me and it wouldn't feel right to sell it. I left a lot of furniture in it still since Clay--while his house was quite empty--had some furniture there. I'll just have to decorate his house some more. His mother did a lovely job from what has been done to it so far.

    Outside, Karl and I stood in the driveway swaying and hugging. Clay rolled his eyes at how dramatic we were being, but he doesn't understand the length of Karl and I's friendship. Then, Clay wrapped Karl in a nice hug and tapped his back a little.

    "It was nice hanging with you, man. I'm sure I'll be back soon," he told Karl as he side eyed me.

    "I'll be back in a month whether he comes with me or not," I smiled.

    "I'll be counting down the days."

    Indi came out of the car and approached us, "I don't want to leave without saying goodbye. You are my favorite friend of hers," Clay scoffed as Indi wrapped her arms around Karl's waist, "You're her boyfriend you idiot. You don't count," cue another scoff from Clay.

    "Alright if we want to make it home tonight, we definitely should get going."

    We all nodded our heads, "I'll see you soon Karl."

    As I made my way to the drivers seat of my car, I waved to him and blew him platonic kisses. He caught them and over dramatically squeezed them into his pants pockets. Then, we giggled about it.

    "Have a good trip guys! Love you guys!"

    We each hollered back an 'I love you' to him before getting into the vehicles and one by one, backing out of the driveway. With the house locked and the long road ahead of us, it felt nice to be on track to a new journey ahead. Hopefully everything will work out in the end.