❝ ❞

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When the pair settled inside the car, they were silent.

The car was humming lowly while the AC blasted on high. The inside of the car felt like a microwave after being out in the sun for too long, another reason why Matty regrets even impulsively moving in Florida knowing how her skin gets in hot weather.

The two didn't know whether they should remove their masks but both informed the other that they tested negative, though Matty recommended they should remove it when they get back to her house, purely because she'd probably stutter a lot when she sees his face. Stutter in a good way though. He was pretty and there's no lying in that.

Karl agreed until Matty changed her mind and they both removed their face masks. Soft smiles and slightly blushed cheeks making itself known.

Matty decided that music could help their situation. She handed Karl the aux cord wordlessly and he accepted it with a small mumble of 'thanks'.

Both their communication skills combined plummeted down to -13. If a passerby could magically sense the tension inside that car, they would no doubt cringe.

Matty started to back out of the parking lot before making her way towards the highway. There weren't much cars considering not a lot of people have been flying out of the country and back.

Matty liked that the heavens decided that it'd be close to empty so she was alright with having to go through it.

Driving on highways scares the daylights out of her. She'd rather die than drive on one but for some reason she didn't complain to her friends about how she stupidly offered to pick Karl up, knowing that she'll have to drive on a highway to get to the airport.

Matty gripped her steering wheel tight before convincing herself to talk to him. She didn't have a problem giving him a hug earlier so this should be easy.

"So, how's the flight, Jacobs?"

"How are you?"

They both asked at the same time. It was a good thing though since it made the two of them laugh.

Matty looked at him briefly with a grin, "You answer first." She said. If she wasn't driving she would've nudged his shoulder with hers. Another habit of hers.

Karl gave her a shy smile before going back to fiddling with the box of donuts sat on his lap. "It was alright... I guess. There was this kid that wouldn't stop staring at me though. It went on for almost half the flight so I thought if I smiled at them they'd stop but they just full-on stared, like blank faced and all until their mom noticed and told them off." He said while fake-shivering. It was really creepy though.

Matty barked out another laugh, careful not to let the amusement get to her too much. Their life was technically in her hands.

"Was it a fan?"

"Matty.."

"Yes, Karl?"

"It was a 3-year old kid."

"Sheesh," Her nose scrunched up, "kids sure are something. I don't even want to know if I acted the same way when I was their age." Matty replied, cringing at the idea. She would, for sure, go and ask her mom about it later though.

Karl laughed and shook his head, "Now, it's your turn to answer." He reminded as he took one of the iced coffees inside the cup holders that was settled between them.

"My day's going great so far." She said. "I got me some donuts and I picked this random guy up from the airport and now we're going back to my house."

"Oh? I wonder who that is." Karl asked, putting a hand under his chin as if he was deep in thought.

"Just some guy." She shrugged, smirking.

"Damn, I'm just some guy? Hurt. Wounded. I'm going dark." Karl said in a faux sulky tone, his eyes dramatically casting outside the window as if it was raining. "I'm getting out." He announced. He placed a hand on the window, a solemn look in his face, like the ones in the movies, until he retreated with a yelp. His face was now covered in shock and pain, "WHY IS IT HOT?" He asked, as he clutched his hand before practically slamming it towards the AC to soothe it.

Matty cackled loudly, "Oh my god. I should've recorded that. Goddamnit!" She said, lightly hitting the steering wheel in exasperation. Well, she still wouldn't be able to take the video unless she wanted them to go into an accident.

"You're rude. Why didn't you tell me it was hot!" Karl said, a hint amusement evident in his voice.

Matty rolled her eyes still chuckling, "Well, I didn't know you were going to go all emo and do that!"

"I was pretending to be in a movie, okay?" Karl placed a finger back on the window to test out the heat again and grimaced at the temperature, "I can fry an egg on this." He thoughtfully said before taking a sip of his coffee again. He glanced at Matty with a knowing look. Like he had an idea. A terrible one.

Matty immediately shook her head, as if she already knew what he was about to say, "We're not frying stuff on my car, Jacobs!"

"Oh come on, Matty! Please." Karl begged, dragging the 'e'. "I just wanna know."

"Well, I don't want to know so, no."

"Boo."

Silence filled the car, but now it was a comfortable one. Matty felt something heavy in her chest, a good one though. Her heart felt full. She truly didn't realize how much she'd missed meeting new people until now.

"Are you sure you really don't want to try frying something or...?" Karl asked again before sipping on his coffee.

Matty laughed, her eyes squinting in amusement, "Oh my god... Why are you insisting for this to happen?" She said with wild eyes.

"Because! It seems fun."

"..."

"..."

The two stared at each other.

Matty stared at his infectious grin and unconsciously copied it.

Slowly her mind just gave in. She rolled her eyes before huffing out a breath and turned her attention back to the road, "Fine, Jacobs. We can try and fry something on the hood of my car—"

"Yay!"

"But!" Matty cut off, pointing a finger at him, a raised eyebrow thrown his way playfully, "But, you'll clean it up."

Karl scrunched his nose up, in thought before nodding, "Ok, deal."

The first few notes of Glass Animals' song called Tangerine began to start playing, the sounds reverberating throughout the small space of the car.

The beat and vibes of the song seemed to fit the scenario.

Florida, tropical, heat.

What are the odds that it played on shuffle? The gods seemed to be keeping an eye on the two. Like they were some characters in a movie.

Karl smiled and lightly cleared his throat to catch Matty's attention as she was busy bopping her head to the song, "I guess you can say this was an egg-cellent idea. Don't you think?" He mused.

"Oh my god."

Laughter bubbled back up Matty's throat and Karl was blessed with the sound once more.

His cheeks turned red at the sound. Out of all the things he's heard since he was born into the world, her laugh was starting to become one of his favorites out of everything so quickly that it's starting to hurt him.

How on earth was he going to survive two weeks?

a random chapter lolz. a filler for this duo, my babies i adore them *wipes tears*

ALSO karl's really determined to fry that damned egg smh plus he's being a :( sad boy rn.

what the hell r we gonna do.