[manipulation and guilt tripping are discussed in this chapter and will be a reoccurring theme in the next few chapters, read at your own accord ]

***

Finally she finished recording and the time neared a surprising 11:30 pm catching Celaine off guard, she simply took off her headset and fell back into her chair, letting the cold breeze from her window brush against her skin.

She stared at her PC, more importantly her home screen before clicking to youtube, her screen flashing a bright white as she looked at it, her fingers meeting the keyboard. She began typing "Fundy" and she immediately clicked on the fox icon, and began browsing through his page, his content was original and very intricate. He was very talented when it came to coding thats for sure.

She watched his latest video "So I beat minecraft inside of minecraft," and that video was more impressive then she could imagine. He made his own version of minecraft in the game. Once again his coding skills ultimately shocking her completely.

But mid way through the video her phone began to ring. "Kaleb," she sighed looking down at her phone, she accepted it because she wouldve felt guilty if she didn't.

"Hello Kaleb," she let the video play regardless of him being on the line. "I'm outside," her eyes almost bulged from her head. "Why are you outside?" she asked, quickly peaking through her window. "I had a bad dream," he responded, the girl was a bit taken back by this and she decided to be cool about it.

"Do you want me to come outside?" she asked, "can I come inside?" he questioned. "Oh yeah sure," she responded hesitantly. She left her room, and walked to the front door, hanging up the phone she waited for him to approach the front door.

His all too familiar face stood at the door, she mumbled to herself and slowly opened it, "come in," she gestured for him and he grinned slightly.

"So what are you up too?" he asked walking to her room. "Just finished work," she responded. "You have a PC?" he asked looking down at her set up, "yeah I play sometimes," she shrugged. "What are you watching?" he walked up to the PC and saw the video she was playing.

"Is this the guy who called you today?" he began to laugh slightly looking at the screen of the guy playing minecraft. "Yeah actually it is," she slightly smiled. "I don't like him, he plays minecraft that's literally a children's game, and is he Dutch he has an accent?" he scrolled down to the Netherlands tag on his video.

"Oh so he's a real life mutual?" he looked over at her and she was standing there awkwardly. "No I play minecraft with him, never actually met him," she replied. "Sure okay," he walked over to her bed grabbing the remote. "What was your dream about?" she asked grabbing her phone and placing it face down on her nightstand.

"I thought I lost you to another guy," he didn't even make eye contact. "But we aren't even together so technically if I did get in a relationship, it wouldn't be an issue right?" she looked down at him, pricking at her fingers she felt her heart pick up randomly in speed.

"You are always gonna be mine, our love is different, that's why it's difficult but I care for you," Kaleb responded looking up at her and smirking. "What?" sure she loved his efforts and seeked for his approval due to relying on him for such a long time but she was being too blind to see through his manipulation.

"No one loves you like I do," his eyes met her.

But luckily her phone began to ring. "If that is Fundy give me the phone," his tone was now a bit more angry and she didn't even know why.

She hesitantly grabbed her phone, "simpysap" was plastered across the digital screen. "It's my friend Nick," she mumbled looking down at him. He proceeded to grab the phone from her.

"Who is this?" his voice rough, "that's not any of your business, where's Celaine?" she heard Nick rebut with the same attitude. "She has a boyfriend now fuck off," with that he hung up the phone and opened her messages.

"What are you doing?" she leaned in to grab her phone. "Who are all these guys Celaine?" he looked up at her and his eyes fueled with sadness. She immediately felt guilty. How could you just hurt someone who cares about you. "They are my friends, nothing more," she replied reaching to grab her phone as he pushed her away from it.

"You aren't aloud to talk to them, they are just gonna use you Celaine, it's for your own good," her face nearly dropped at his words. "Who do you think you are? Because you aren't my boyfriend," Celaine felt her short temper rise. "I am your fucking boyfriend. They won't love you like I do," he smirked up at her, his voice intimidatingly calm before he proceeded in blocking all the numbers.

"Don't turn your back on the only person who cares about you Celaine, no ones got you like I do," he threw her phone down, got up from the bed and approached her. Placing his hand on her cheek, she fell.

Blinded by the taunts of manipulation she let him give her a kiss. "I only want what's best for you, and you know that," he rubbed her cheek slightly.

Why was she letting him do this, sure she had dumped all her emotional baggage on him when they were together and formed a sort of need for him around. But she was sure she had lost it, but he cared? Didn't he?

"I'll see you tomorrow Celaine," he kissed her forehead. "I'm not doing this to hurt you, because I would never want to do that, it's all to keep my precious girl safe," he kissed her on the lips and proceeded to leave the room.

Maybe he did care? Or was she just vulnerable for a feel of affection, even if it was toxic.

***

hey pals

i don't like this

me either

are you okay?

this is an odd group

celaine, her boyfriend?

boyfriend?

this guy picked up the phone when i called her

and he told me he was her boyfriend

kaleb

the fortnite dude?

NO

i would guess so

he blocked my number

mines blocked too

wtf did i do to get blocked

i literally just exist

no way he blocked me

i'm sensing toxic

doesn't he stream?

yeah, @/kalebletsplay

that's so cringe

dude i'm actually worried

why hasn't she unblocked me

is she blocked on your social media?

she doesn't follow me anymore

dude i don't like this

should i call her off a blocked number

get on discord

***

Fundy quickly rushed to his PC, and waited to be rang, and when he was the group was already in the call.

"Okay Wilbur, call but don't jump straight to it. She might just hang up," George insisted. "Got it," Fundy sat there silently listening as Wilbur quickly dialed her number, and within seconds the ringing filled his headset. They stood there silently as the ringing continued and finally she answered.

"Hello?" she spoke up, "is your refrigerator running?" Wilbur joked to make it seem like a prank call and not having to do with the situation, "yeah you actually called me while I was going to catch it Wilbur, so let me go do that," they all heard her get ready to end the call.

"WAIT!" he shouted louder than he should've. "Why did you block me?" he asked, the whole calk heard the girl gasp.

"My boyfriend said it's for the better. I don't know why he blocked you, he just really doesn't trust Fundy, because he called me while I was on a date, he lives in the Netherlands and I was stalking his youtube before he came over, so he doesn't want any contact with him, which is understandable he's looking out for our relationship," she replied, almost scripted.

"Are you alright? Is he putting things in your head? We are your friends Cee" Wilbur bluntly stated. "No he just cares about me, he was the only person I had for a while, yeah I had Clay, George and Nick but he was here physically and he only wants what's best," she even felt her heart lower.

Fundy couldn't process a word she was saying, she was being manipulated and he was sure the whole call knew that. He was mad, or angry he couldn't even tell but all he knew was he hated Kaleb.

"I'm sorry Will, I gotta go. Talk soon," she hung up.

"What the fuck," was all Fundy could say.

***

this is bad, but like realistic

bc when your in an emotional state you just latch onto things when you need a sense of pride

for me at least 😳😳

and hers just happened to include guilt trip and manipulation

ty for all the love recently it means the most