Sapnap idly chatted with the last few guys as they got their stuff together after practice.

"You guys ready for the game tomorrow?" Sapnap asked as he took off his shin guards.

"Yeah," said Tommy, putting up his stuff. "We're definitely winning."

"Kinda weird to think it's tomorrow already." Tubbo sounded nervous.

"Don't worry Tubbo, those noobs don't stand a chance. Here, I'll show you. Stand there."

"Okay."

I have a bad feeling about this.

Tommy ran up to Tubbo, launched himself off the wall and pretended to score an invisible goal behind him.

"YEAH! POGCHAMP!"

Tubbo clapped impressively as Tommy paraded his "victory."

He jumped up on one of the benches and continued, "And after we win we'll beat em up for ever opposing us." He pointed finger guns at Tubbo.

"PEW PEW PEW"

Tubbo pretended to die dramatically.

But Sapnap was looking at Clay, who started packing up his stuff more hurriedly.

"Hey Tommy-"

Tommy was still caught up in his imaginary action scene, encouraged by the innocent Tubbo.

"BANG BANG BANG!"

Poor Tubbo didn't stand a chance against the magnificent Tommy.

"And after we win that game we'll obliterate everyone at the tournament." He spun around, annihilating everyone with a machine gun and knocking Clay to the ground.

"Tommy you idiot." Sapnap stormed over to him while Wilbur helped Clay up.

"What? Don't call me an idiot because he got-"

"I'm fine." Clay said. "Sapnap. It's fine."

Sapnap was tempted to keep going at Tommy, but Clay's eyes told him to let it go. So he did.

Tubbo was watching with wide eyes and Tommy was still 0blivious but Wilbur let him off the hook by moving on.

"Clay, your birthday's next week right?"

"Yeah." Clay seemed happy with the subject change.

Wilbur was skillfully attempting to regain the friendly atmosphere from earlier. "Which day?"

"Thursday." Clay rubbed the back of his head and picked up his stuff.

Shit I don't have a present for him. He doesn't expect me to get him a present right?

Probably not. Clay doesn't really expect much from people.

"See you guys tomorrow." He left.

Wilbur watched him go with a hint of regret, but he hid it well and started up more conversation.

"So, you guys excited for the party?"

Chatter resumed and the tension of the moment wore off. Sapnap went back to getting his shit together and half-listening.

Most guys were going, not all of them in costumes. Sapnap didn't have a costume planned, but he might pull one together last minute or just go casual.

The conversation drifted back to last year's party, last season, and last winter.

Someone brought up Clay's absence at the end of the year and Sapnap tuned back in for Tubbo's question of why.

Most of the guys averted their gazes. Fundy finally answered,

"He was in the hospital. We don't talk about it."

Sapnap saw Tommy put the pieces together and finally realize he fucked up. Sapnap glared at him.

"Ah, shit I fucked up didn't I?"

Yeah you thick idiot.

Tommy gripped his hair in his hands. "FUCK."

He looked sincere.

"I'll apologize tomorrow. I'll apologize to him."

"That won't make up for it," Sapnap told him.

"At least he's trying," Fundy said.

"More than you did." Sapnap shot back.

"Hey don't get mad at me for not wanting to get in the middle of that."

Tubbo interjected, "Guys, we shouldn't be fighting. Clay's gone, Wilbur's gone, everyone else has gone home. Let's leave it here."

Tommy agreed. "Let's go Tubbo."

Fundy followed them out and Sapnap was alone.

He calmed down, packed his stuff up and was about to leave when he heard voices.

They were coming from deeper inside the building.

Sapnap followed the sound to the other locker rooms down the hallway.

He heard voices inside and was about to barge in but he heard George's name. He stopped with his hand on the door.

"-orge isn't doing anything."

Sapnap frowned. It sounded like Wilbur; Sapnap thought he already left. Why would he be talking about George?

Eavesdropping is wrong. Sapnap ignored this thought.

Fuck manners, I want to know what they're saying.

He had missed the response to Wilbur's statement, but it was said in a lower voice, one that was more inclined to stay quiet. Probably Techno.

"I swear I don't understand half the things you say anymore."

Wilbur sounded like he was pacing.

"Why won't you just tell me?!"

"Keep your voice down."

"THERE'S NO ONE HERE! Just you and me and the stuff you won't tell me! You aren't a magician, Dave, you don't have to hide stuff from me."

"You know I don't like being called that." Techno's voice was hard. "And you know why."

Wilbur sighed. His voice was softer when he next spoke, "That doesn't justify what I think you're going to do."

"You don't know what I'm going to do."

"Then what's the point of dropping hints? You think I'll be proud of you?"

Silence.

"I think we'll come out on top."

"Well you don't exactly radiate bottom energy."

Wilbur's reply made Techno snort and Sapnap almost give away his position.

"Shhhh- did you hear that?"

Fuuuuuuuck. Time to get out of here.

Sapnap pictured Techno silently creeping toward the door and he really really did not want to get caught on the other side. He started backing away as quietly as possible.

"Give it a rest, you're just trying to distract me."

The door didn't open. Sapnap silently breathed a sigh in relief.

"I'm not, actually."

"Fine," Wilbur's light footsteps walked around the room. "Let me get my stuff and we'll go, but I'm not dropping this."

"Whatever you say." Techno's footsteps left the door and Sapnap took that as his chance to dip.

He yeeted himself outta there as fast as possible and didn't breathe safely until he pulled out of the parking lot.

Now what to do with this super vague information.

It's not information. I actually have no idea. I was just lucky to get out of there.

(1k words)