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Matty slowly ascended the stairs, nervously chewing on her bottom lip as she walked towards Karl's room with light footsteps.

The other had been out like a light the whole day, silently still in the room that he was currently residing in while Matty had entertained herself by reading the book Orson recommended to her called 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart, and being a commentator in Tommy's stream he'd invited her in.

It was fun but it felt unproductive,

The whole day was uneventful to say the least so the brunette decided that she'd at least try and create a little adventure for the both of them.

It was currently 10pm. The skies outside were covered in pitch black with only streetlights, the glow of the moon and the stars illuminated the dark streets. It was way past dinner but just in time for a potential mini or huge nighttime snack.

Matty didn't know if Karl would even be up for a little drop to 7/11 as their last trip was rather... straining for the man.

Although the trip for tonight was a huge step-down from their hike the other day, it can still be considered as an adventure if it includes having to drive, walk or even interact with other inhabitants of the Earth, right?

Matty accepts no criticism, small trips are still adventures. Hell, every trip's a fucking adventure!

Anyways, who would work perfectly fine the next day after hiking two goddamn mountains anyway? This small drive seems better.

Matty also noticed how there had been an unusual vibe going on around the two of them.

It all started after their hike but she had a hard time pinpointing whatever it was. Well, whatever it was, it's annoying her because it felt like they were back to square one again. With the awkward conversations and stiff shoulders.

On their ride back to her house, Karl had been silent, occasionally glancing at her with a smile and an almost silent laugh as she tells him stories about her adventures with her friends as they passed through the same road. From Charlie skidding down the road while on his skateboard and falling flat on his ass to Orson being chased down by a stray cat in that alley. Karl showed he was listening but she felt like he wasn't really with her.

The change of his attitude surely dampened the whole mood and not gonna lie, she felt hurt. Karl always entertained her stories and even shared some of his own but at that moment he was just not there.

She remembered his face at that time. He seemed as if he was experiencing the worst stomach pain that Matty had to abruptly stop the car, that earned pissed off honks from the cars behind them but she didn't care. She hated reckless drivers but if it meant checking on a person she cared about, fuck it! Hitting a passerby be damned. Maybe not. Accidentally running someone over doesn't sound pleasing. She just panicked alright? No big deal.

The only response she got from him was a nod. He went back staring outside the window and closed his eyes so Matty let him be and continued the drive home.

Now here she was, standing in front of the door, debating whether she'll ask him or not.

Matty clicked her tongue and sighed, deciding to just get it on with and knocked on the door.

She strained her ears to see if there was any movement and luckily there was. She doesn't know what she'd do if the man that was temporarily living in her house died or something.

Matty waited by the door and moved a couple steps back as she heard the ruffling of sheets and feet meeting the wooden floor.

The door swung open revealing Karl, looking so tired out of his mind. He looked like his soul separated from his body and was desperately just trying to gain it's shell back. He had one of Matty's favorite soft blankets she lent the other night covering him, as his own blanket that he brought with him for the trip was soiled by the hot chocolate they were drinking the other day whilst watching a couple of iconic cartoons on her laptop.

The blanket was wrapped around his tall frame but it made him look so small. He looked comfortable and it was adorable to see. He looked calm and didn't look tense in her presence.

Karl gave her a small sleepy and shifted his stance, leaning on the doorway. Matty caught the wince he tried to repress as he leaned more of his weight on his right leg and her guilt full-on skyrocketed. Her nose scrunched up as she lightly hissed, copying the look of discomfort on his face. Yikes.

"Do you need more aspirin?" She asked in a hushed tone, staring straight at his blue eyes that looked grey due to the dull lighting of the hallway.

Karl nodded sleepily and yawned, "Yes, please. I feel like I got hit by a bunch of dodgeballs." He admitted as he rolled his shoulders, another wince escaping his mouth.

Matty chuckled sheepishly, "Shit. I guess that's purely my fault. I'm really sorry for dragging you to go hiking so suddenly. I didn't use my brain." She said as she fiddled with the ends of her sweater.

"No, no. I love the hike! The sight was beautiful and the fresh air was a huge change to me just being cooped up in my room. Don't feel bad if I enjoyed it."

"Alright then." Matty begrudgingly agreed before fishing out some aspirin from the pockets of her baggy sweatpants. "Ah, almost forgot. Here. Do you have some water in there?"

"Yeah, I do."

Karl reached out to take the pill from her hand, having to adjust the blanket covering his shoulders as it made a move to fall off. His slightly calloused fingertips and nail scratched the soft surface of her palm, making Matty lightly flinch as it felt like ants suddenly swarmed her hand by the single action.

As soon as Karl got a hold of the pill, she quickly pocketed her hand and dug her fingernails on the soft flesh to get rid of the sensation that made her whole arm feel weak all of a sudden.

"You seem like a dealer with the get-up and handing off pills to people." Karl teased as he gestured to her attire, the baggiest sweatpants and shirt she could find. She looked like a 6 year old kid who raided her Dad's closet.

Matty felt her face flush and shrugged her shoulder, staring anywhere but him.

The two grew silent. There was tension in the air and both noticed it but didn't really try to give it attention.

They stood there not knowing what to do. Typical Matty and Karl.

"I'm actually here to ask if you want to grab some food outside but seeing your state I think it's better to just order something–"

"I can go! I'll just take a quick shower." Karl cut her off. Matty raised a brow and smiled at him, amused.

"What's the hurry, Jacobs? Missed hanging out with me too much?" She asked in a teasing tone.

She reveled at the sight of his pink cheeks and the way he tried to come up with something to say as his mouth rapidly opened and closed. "I'm just teasing. I'll wait for you downstairs." She chuckled before leaving him there.

She didn't even hear Karl's nervous chuckle nor saw how he gripped his blanket tightly while standing by the doorway of his room.

○●○●

The hum of the engine and the silent singing coming from the radio almost lulled the two to sleep. The sound of the tires crunching up gravel and fine pebbles underneath sounded crisp to their ears.

It was 10:58 pm. Still early for sleep for adults like them. 3 am had to be their earliest and 6-7 their latest.

"Where are we going?"

"We are going to 7/11, Dora."

"Stop calling me that."

"Not my fault. The only thing you've been asking every time we go out is 'Where are we going?' It's literally Dora's tagline." Matty defended.

"Would you rather I ask you something else?" Karl asked as he leaned on his side to look at her, his seat was reclined back a little bit as he felt woozy from the aspirin.

Matty shrugged her shoulders again and Karl took that as a maybe.

"Hm." He exaggeratedly sighed out as he probably racked his brain for questions. "Favorite color?"

Matty snorted at the question and the familiarity of bond papers and boxed crayons during class flitted in her mind. It was such an odd question to be asked by a grown man as most adults don't really ask about what's your favorite color and what do you want to be in the future anymore. Maybe it's because they think those don't matter because we're adults! we need to talk about big serious stuff, but those little questions would probably mean a lot to someone because you're asking stuff that most don't really know about.

There's something so intimate about knowing the unknown and digging deeper into a person's mind and finding out what makes them them.

"It ranges from black and white. Yours?"

"Hm... I don't really know. I like bright colors and dark ones."

"So, everything?"

"Yeah. I think so."

She hummed, "Acceptable. Ok, my turn. Do you have... siblings?" She asked, casting a quick glance his way.

She caught a glimpse of Karl's fond smile and his droopy eyes as he put a hand under his cheek, leaning on it. It seemed like the mention of siblings triggered the memories within him and Matty wondered what having a sibling was like.

Don't get her wrong. Having Orson and Charlie in her life already felt like having siblings of her own but they met when she was in high school. That was the only time she felt like she had two more people who cared so deeply for her other than her parents. It felt good.

But... she wanted to experience having a blood-related brother or a sister that she could always bond with and take care of. The very first best friend she'd have as she first comes into the world or when they're born into the world. Like... Does it feel different? Does the bonding seem more whole? Is it really fun and annoying to have sibling?

Matty wondered a lot. Her parents weren't blessed to have another one though, something about it being risky for her mom, so she was always stuck thinking and longing for something that can never happen.

Matty was, as most would say, a miracle. The doctors had informed her mom that she can't ever conceive a child, that it was impossible. They were devastated because they were young, they were healthy. What could've possibly gone wrong? What could they have done in their past lives to be punished that way?

But they tried. They hoped, and hoped, and hoped until one Sunday morning, her mom got her first ever morning sickness. It was a miracle indeed. It was a surprise. One hell of a great fucking surprise.

Matty snapped out of her thought as Karl spoke up, "I do! I have two younger siblings. Corry and Sean." He shared with another award-winning grin.

"How about you?"

Matty smiled and shook her head, "Nah. My parents never got to have another kid. They were sad about it but said I was enough." She muttered. She puffed her cheeks before breathing out the next response, sounding bitter in some way, "I've always wanted one though. I prayed a lot for one but you know... still the lone child." She quipped.

Matty laughed to lighten up the mood but when Karl remained silent the laughter died down along with her smile. She cleared her throat and gripped the stirring wheel, "Sorry." She mumbled.

Karl frowned and nodded his head, well tried to, he was lying down and everything so it looked he was just rubbing his head against the seat.

"I think you would've been a great sister, Mat." He said as he intently stared at the side of her face. As if he was trying to engrave the message in her mind.

He waited for a couple minutes, lying in silence that grew taut as time passed by. He feared he'd said something wrong. Maybe telling someone who's longing for a sibling and telling them they would've been great at being an older sister was a bit insensitive.

His neck felt hot and he felt the urge to take back what he'd said but it would see, worse. He waited... and as another grin was shown on her face, he felt himself copy the expression. He hadn't upset her.

"You really think so?" Matty asked. She recoiled at how curious and vulnerable she sounded but she felt touched. Nobody really told her that before so this was new territory.

Karl went back to staring out the window, watching the lights pass by, his body bent in an uncomfortable way. "Yeah. I know so. I mean, look at you with Tommy and Tubbo. You're practically their big sister already. They look up to you a lot. That's got to mean something, right?"

Matty turned to look at Karl, both their eyes looking lambent. Soft, warm, fond.

She sheepishly grinned, "Thanks, Karl. That really means a lot." She quietly said before turning back to look at the road with pink dusting her cheekbones. Her heart felt warm. Her heart felt warm...

Karl shuffled in his seat to look at her again, Matty glancing at him a bit to let him know she's listening. "You know, you should meet my siblings. They're nice and cool to hang out with. I think you'll get along with them pretty well." He offerred, not really thinking too much about what that whole sentence can imply so Matty was sat there gripping the wheel tightly, panicking, internally.

Matty's eyes widened and swallowed back a gasp because there was no need to be dramatic about it. It was a friendly invite. Friends do that.

"Meeting the family already? Damn, take me out to dinner first." She managed to choke out.

Karl shot up from his seat with equally wide eyes, his shoulders cracking at the abrupt movement. He shook his head, his curls flopping wildly around his face, "No, no! I mean like.. as a friend! I– we, that's not what I meant. I didn't—"

Matty put her hand up and chortled at his reaction, "Oh god. I get it, I was just joking!" She said in between her breathy laughs. "You're fun to tease, Jacobs."

Karl paused his rushed attempts to deflect whatever she implied to save himself from embarrassment. He laid back down on the soft car seat, "Wow. Glad to know I'm seen as a form of entertainment around this place." He replied with a joking glare aimed towards her before turning his back towards her, grumbling.

Matty placed a hand on her chest and gave an exaggerated pout, "Aw, you poor baby." Matty cooed while reaching out to pinch Karl's cheeks from afar but he moved further into his seat with a burning red face so her fingers pinched air. Her face was starting to hurt from the grin that was ever growing.

What was this guy doing to her?

"Oh come on, Jacobs." She giggled, still reaching, but eventually she gave up and scowled as she wasn't able to do what she planned to do.

"Damnit. What does a girl have to do to be forgiven around here?" She dramatically cried out. "I just wanted to pinch some cheeks." She grumbled quietly under breath. She really did. She pinches everyone's cheeks, it's another way for her to show affection. Her friends and her relatives know as they're often the victim of the pinching thing.

You'll never leave a day out with Matty without reddened cheeks.

Karl stubbornly shook his head, stifling a laugh as his ears picked up what she said even if she tried to be quiet about it. He remained facing the door, refusing to let her see the state of his lightly freckled skin. He focused on the sound of the gravel crunching just below them as he tried to calm his erratic heart beat. It was like he just ran miles and miles under the deadly heat of Florida.

Matty was like his personal sun and now, he's sunburnt, face on fire and feeling like he's in need of a cold drink to cool himself down.

"Karl." Matty called out, shaking his shoulder.

"No. Don't talk to me..." She watched as he paused and glanced at the backseat before lazily snatching her frog stuffed toy that might've caught his eye as he got inside her car earlier. She noticed how his eyes always travelled to the plushie. "Or my son Nigel ever again." He continued as he clutched the thing tightly towards his chest.

"That's my son!"

"Nuh-uh. I'm taking custody."

"That's not how it works!"

"I can't hear you over Nigel preferring me as their parent."

Matty rolled her eyes and turned off the engine, "Ok, dumbass. I'll leave you in here to starve then. Fend for yourself." She stated as she snatched the keys off the ignition.

"We're here already?" Karl asked as he sat back up for what seemed the third time the whole ride.

"Yes and I'm leaving you."

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"Would you like a hotdog?" Matty asked as they entered the cool building. The fluorescent lights were too bright and was harshly reflecting on the tin-foil-like packaging of the crisps and candies on the shelves.

"Yes! I haven't had one in months." Karl said, his hand clutching the hand of 'Nigel'.

Matty didn't have it in her to have him leave the plushie inside the car. He looked adorable. With his purple face mask covering half of his face and the green stuffed toy in his grasp. He looked stupidly adorable.

"Ok. Come on."

The two walked towards the steamers and Matty took it to herself to assemble the sandwich for them. She was grateful that the buns were already cut halfway in the middle since some shops don't and she literally has to rip the whole thing open.

"What do you want?"

"Well, what do you think's better?"

"I'd say the classic but that's boring."

"Surprise me then?"

Matty laughed and motioned towards the store, "We're at 7/11. How can anything in here surprise you?"

Karl shrugged, "I'm easy to surprise." He turned to look around and caught the guy on the register glancing at Matty. He did a double take and surprise surprise he was still staring. Karl's eyebrows furrowed and turned back to look if she'd notice the guy's gaze but she remained unbothered.

"Ok! I'm done." She said as she excitedly showed him the two sandwiches. "Now we just gotta pay for it."

"I'm paying."

"No—"

"You're hands are full. Please let me pay." Karl repeated. He felt weird seeing some random guy look at her for so long and quickly stole a glance back at the counter where said guy was still staring at their direction.

This jealousy he's feeling was . . . Karl doesn't like it.

"Fine, but I'll pay for the drinks. What do you want? I'll get it."

"Coffee? Cold."

"Ok. I'll be right back, you can bring these to the register." Matty said before handing the tray towards Karl.

Karl walked towards the counter and his frown got deeper as the man behind it was still staring at Matty. He thought it may be because they were the only customers at the moment but his eyes were literally just following her around.

He placed the tray down and waited for the man to snap out of it. When it felt like the stranger's gaze was intent on staying on Matty, Karl cleared his throat, straightening his back once he was given the attention.