actions speak louder than words {karlnap}

chapter 32

"Nooooo," I say. "You're staring at me."

He laughs. "Fine, we're staring at each other."

My phone buzzes with a text. 

Jimmy (MrBeast): hey, you're supposed to be back in town today, right? we're filming a video tomorrow but nolan just bailed and we need you in. are you available?

I frown. "'Kay, one sec, Jimmy texted me," I mutter. 

"Oooh, gonna get paid the big bucks, are we?" he jokes as I navigate to Messages. 

I scoff. "Mm," I hum. "Totally."

He giggles. 

Me: classes start back up next week so i'm free! when and where do you need me?

Jimmy (MrBeast): [Attatchment: Link]

Jimmy (MrBeast): can you do 10 am?

~~

I thank my Uber and get out in front of a huge mall. I swear, one of these days Jimmy's gonna get me kidnapped. 

Kris is waiting at the front entrance, and I jog over, smiling. Hey, I sign. Long time no see.

She laughs. "Right?" she jokes. "You missed a few shoots while you were in Florida, but nothing too drastic. Videos should be out within a month." She fills me in on the stuff they did; definitely interesting, but nothing we won't do again I'm sure.

What are we doing today? I sign. 

"Hide and seek," she says. "Jimmy got as many people here as he could, including 3 random subscribers. Last to be found wins 60 grand."

My eyes widen. 60 grand? If Jimmy wants me to be a part of this video and not behind the camera, that could go to my college tuition! 

Kris snickers. "We have the mall for 14 hours, so we need to start ASAP," she says. "Speaking of, here's base camp."

In the middle of the mall, there's a big 'jail' made out of wood with 20 or so chairs in the middle of it. Jimmy is chatting with some crew members, and Tareq is setting up a camera near by. I go over, and Kris follows. Tareq notices me and smiles. 

"Karl!" he exclaims. "Sounds like you're leaving the cameras behind today."

I'm gonna be in the video? I sign. Kris translates for Tareq, who nods. 

"Yup," he says. "60 K prize. You gotta win for us camera kids, 'kay?" 

I smile and nod wildly. No shot I win, but I'll try. 

Tareq glances at Kris before motioning me closer. "Just be careful what you say around Kris," he whispers. "She always helps Jimmy find people. Sometimes she gets money for it. You have been warned."

I give Kris a glare. Tareq bursts out laughing as Kris gives us both a confused look. 

At 10:30, Jimmy calls everyone over to the jail. He stands on the block that the jail is sitting on, making him taller than everyone. 

"Hey everyone!" he exclaims. "We're playing hide and seek for 60 grand today!" People start whooping. I only clap. 

He starts going over rules as some crew members wander through the crowd, handing all the competitors GoPros with straps for our chests, backpacks we have to carry around, and stands we can attach the GoPros to. I accept mine and sling the backpack over my shoulder. Kris doesn't get one, which confirms what Tareq told me: Kris is my enemy for today. 

Jimmy then tells everyone to move to one specific area of the open part of the mall, and Tareq sets up a camera inside the jail, positioning it so the bars aren't visible. Kris gives me a thumbs up from off to the side. I give her a nervous smile and adjust the strap across my chest. I took the GoPro out for now and attatched it to the stand, but only because everyone else was. 

Someone shouts out a countdown from 10, and at 1, Jimmy launches into a brief description of the challenge. 

"Go hide," he says suddenly. "You have 15 minutes."

Everyone around me takes off, so of course, I do too. 

This mall has four levels, but no working elevators or escelators. So you have to run up the escelators. I run to the nearest one, following the signs to the Macy's. It's apparently the biggest store here, so hopefully there'll be somewhere to hide. 

As I'm running, something crackles in my backpack. I pause to investigate, and I find a walkie talkie. Which of course. 

"10 minutes," Jimmy says through the walkie part. I sigh and sling the backpack back over my shoulder, slipping the walkie talkie into my pocket. 

I find the Macy's as Jimmy calls out "5 minutes." This place is huge, honestly. I'm surprised Jimmy managed to rent it all out for this long. 

I hide in the women's section for the store, behind a desk that's randomly there. As I get settled, Jimmy says he and Kris are on their way. 

"We're coming for you, Karl," Kris says through the walkie talkie. What the fuck, Kris?

I frown at the camera and sign I thought we were buddies, Kris! 

This was a terrible idea on Jimmy's part. I'll be surprised if I get a full two minutes in this video. I don't talk, it won't be entertaining. I don't know what he was thinking.

Doesn't matter. 

"Hey, don't hate on Karl," Chandler says. I give the camera a satisfied nod, but it's premature, because he follows up with "because I'm not there to do it too."

I hate it here, I sign. 

Word Count 1466

~A/N~

i guess this is just a filler chapter cuz we need more mrbeast content

filler with some plot at the beginning i suppose

i feel like karl has so many more povs than nick does ;-; sorry sapnap 

anyways

i uploaded yesterday but idc were doing it again. fuck it

love yall <3

self promo time: if you want updates for my writing or plans for new fanfics/chapters, follow my writing instagram :D it's @/just_callme_m_ and i try to be active on there a lot, but im kind of not all the time. either im posting updates on my story, or it's random memes/reels i found funny ;-;

also, if you like to see me suffer creatively twice, i have an art account! its all kinda shitty art, but im trying ;-; @/queer_queen22 :D 

ok im going now bye <3