Chapter Text
Karl knows that summer flings don’t last. He’s had his fair share of them over his previous summers off of school. Going into high school he spent the whole summer with a girl from Massachusetts. Karl also shamefully fooled around with a few people last summer, but never at the same time. All of them were only in town for a week at a time. Karl lives in a tourist town after all.
Most people would be surprised by that because of his demisexuality, but it was just luck of the draw and Karl drew very well.
That’s why he decided that this summer will remain platonic a long time ago. This has been the plan since April when he was still in school. Karl’s friends would stay friends and nothing more. All feelings would be ignored and intrusive thoughts shoved out a window. It was going to be a good summer he’d enjoy with his friends; just friends.
It will be Chris, Chandler, Jimmy, and Karl versus the world. That’s the plan.
Of course, Karl has no idea he’s about to spend most of the summer hanging out with Alex and even more of it with some kid from Texas.
Karl’s house is quiet. His mom still hasn’t come home from work yet. He doesn’t have any pets so he’s ultimately home alone.
It’s his first official day of summer, but he can’t go anywhere. He has his license but no car to take while his mom is at work, so he invites his friends over.
He’s sitting on the floor against his bed. The air conditioning works overtime to make wearing sweaters in the summer excusable. Karl always keeps it extra cold in his room so he can bundle up.
Texting the group chat is second nature to Karl. There’s no doubt that he was the one who uses it the most. He’ll call each friend out on it and send the most unrelated memes that would change the topic of conversation completely when it’s active.
All he needs to say for the others to understand his offer is, My house?
Immediately, Chris cancels. Parents are taking us up to the lake already. Think I’ll be back next week.
Yeah. Can you set up that fire pit? Jimmy asks, more interested and apparently not worried about the fact that they’re leaving Chris out.
Sure. I think it’s out back already. Someone needs to buy s’mores though.
Chandler finally picks up his phone to get back to Karl and them. Bring Vanessa too. Karl’s lonely and I think she’s into him.
Vanessa is Chris’s younger sister. She’s probably going up to the lake with Chris too, but the joke is still there. Regardless, Karl doesn’t want her over his house. Vanessa is only a year younger than them, but she’s so awkward about it. She’s obviously attracted to Karl. She lingers for too long and laughs too loud. It makes Karl uncomfortable. He couldn’t deal with hosting her any day let alone on one he doesn’t have time to mentally prepare for.
NO ONE IS DATING MY SISTER! Karl can hear Chris shout through the screen, even though he only sends a text. It seems that only half of them are against Karl getting with Vanessa. Karl follows his best friend up quickly with the promise he’s repeated a thousand times to them.
This summer is my single summer.
Yeah right, Jimmy responds. Karl knows he’s laughing on his couch at home.
$50 that it doesn't last a week, Chandler bets.
Jimmy protests, I don’t know. Karl can be pretty strong-willed. I’d say two.
Guys give him a break and actually help him out here, Chris chastises the two of them.
Thanks, Chris.
Karl hears a car door shut outside. He shifts his weight to look out his window and finds his mom in the driveway. With a sigh, he updates the group chat. He offers to pick them up and go out.
Booooooo, Chandler sends with an effect setting the whole screen on fire.
Yeah, sorry. I’m not in the going out mood, Jimmy follows up. Karl tried to convince himself it’s fine. They can find another day to hang out.
Instead, he sinks deeper into the floor. What a great start to their summer for them against the world. Karl knew that they wouldn’t be able to hang out all the time this summer, but he didn’t expect it to blow up this quickly.
That’s fine, he mediates. Let’s try again when Chris gets back from the lake.
That will be at least four days from now. They probably won’t see any of each other until then. That’s fine, totally fine. Karl will busy himself with other things. He can hang out with Alex more and pick up a few shifts at his job. Maybe he’ll help his mom make dinner tonight.
He gets another text. It’s probably just Chandler or Jimmy confirming tonight won’t work.
Pendejo get on Minecraft.
Alex? Karl knows he has to change his plans but he didn't plan on summoning his other friend. Either way, it was something for him to do tonight.
Get on Discord too. I have someone for you to friend.
Without a second thought, Karl gets up off of the floor and boots up his computer. Who would Alex have for Karl to friend? It's just the two of them who play Minecraft. Alex doesn’t have any other gaming friends Karl knows of and Karl doesn’t have any other Minecraft friends at all.
Karl doesn’t need to think about his question for too long because Alex has already added him to a group chat with someone he’s never seen before. As soon as Alex sees him online, he creates a call. Karl joins it without knowing what to expect on the other side.
“Hello?” he says.
“Karl!” Alex greets him. “This is Sapnap.”
“Hey,” says the third person in the call. “I’ve been told we’d be great friends.”
“Me too,” Karl’s voice cracks and he hates it. He pulls his sweater over his face and leans back into his chair, hoping he’ll disappear into it. No one mentions it at all. In fact, Sapnap changes the topic completely.
“I’ll send you a friend request.”
Karl nods, forgetting that neither Alex nor Sapnap can see it. He’s too embarrassed to use his mic again though. Not a second later, as promised, the friend request appears in his inbox. Karl can’t help but notice that his profile picture is a panda.
“Sapnap? Is that a play on pandas?” He tried to make some sort of conversation, as lame as the basis maybe.
“Uh, yeah. It actually is.” Karl can hear Sapnap shift around on his side of the call. “Not many people catch that right away.”
“Really? It’s your profile picture? A really cute one too. “ Karl is cut off by laughter. He can’t tell if it’s nervous or genuine, but he likes to hear it. As Minecraft is booting up, he clicks back to Discord so he can watch Sapnap’s icon as he talks. It’s then when he realizes Alex muted himself.
“Alex, you there?” The call is silent while Karl and Sapnap wait for an answer that never comes. “I guess that’s a no.”
“So, um… how do you know Quackity?” It’s small talk but it’s better than silence.
“We go to the same high school actually. IRL friends.” Karl hates the words as soon as they come out. Who says that anymore? IRL friends. He suppresses a gag.
“Really?” Karl thinks Sapnap jumps out of his chair to get closer to his mic. “No way! I’m in state this summer! My dad is like five miles from Quackity!”
Karl is laughing at the coincidence. “What?”
Quackity’s icon unmutes and the charm rings out through the call.
“Quackity, when were you going to tell me you knew Karl in person, man?”
“So you’ve beaten me to the punch line.” He sounds smug. Alex knows exactly what he’s doing. Oh, honk, if Alex is setting Karl up- Karl realizes he hasn’t told his friend about his plans for the break. “Yeah. I was going to introduce you guys eventually but I figured there was no time like now, seeing as Sapnap is literally in town.”
“That’s what happens when you live in a tourist town.” The Minecraft Home Screen is now on full display on Karl’s monitor. His mouse hovers over “Multiplayer”. “So what server are we joining?”
Alex hums to himself. “I’m actually kind of hungry. Do you guys want to get something to eat?”
Karl audibly groans. “Man, I just booted up Minecraft like you told me to.”
“It’s not my fault you listened to me.” “I’ll pay.” The two responses ring through his ears at the same time. Karl can barely pick out one for the other. He takes a deep breath and looks at the facts.
He wanted to hang out with the boys in person earlier, but that blew up because Chris has to go up North, and Jimmy doesn’t want to go out. Alex is up for going out. This Sapnap guy really seems to like him. Karl had access to a car.
“Alright. I can pick you guys up, I just need Sapnap’s address.”
“Poggers.” Alex singsongs into his mic. “Let’s go for ice cream.”
Karl hovers his mouse over the hang-up button as an incoming DM from Sapnap buzzes on his phone. “Let’s decide in the car. I’ll be missing dinner.”
Sapnap agrees with a quick, “Mhm.”
“I’ll see Sap in five and Alex in ten. Put your best clothes on men,” Karl announces sarcastically. “We are going for greasy food and ice cream.”
Alex says something in Spanish and Sapnap audibly grins into his mic. With that Karl logs off of the call and runs downstairs. He gives his mom a quick greeting and hugs her before revealing he’s going out for dinner with Alex and his friend. Karl is out the door and in the driver’s seat before she has the chance to ask any questions.