Chapter Text
Chris gently lowers his phone and turns it off. He glances at Nick across the room, then whispers to Matt, "...psssst... Matt."
"Hm?" Matt looks up from his phone.
"Do you wanna help me prank Nick during the next car video?"
Matt turns off his phone and peeks at Nick across the room. He's wearing headphones and jamming out while on his laptop, oblivious. Matt turns back to Chris, lowering his voice, "How so?"
"So you know how he always gets scared of random shit in car videos?"
"Mhm?"
"What if we gave him something to be scared of?"
"...Okay, I'm gonna be so honest here, you're being really vague. What are you suggesting?"
Chris sighs, "Have you ever seen the Sam and Colby kidnapping video?"
"Dude, what the fuck?"
"So you haven't seen it?"
"No, I have-- are you suggesting we--?"
"Yeah."
Matt thinks for a moment, then says, "Fuck it, we ball."
"Yes! OK, I'll text you the details. I've got one other person on board," Chris picks up his phone from the coffee table and rapidly begins typing something.
"Who?"
"Colby!"
"What?! You were able to schedule a kidnapping but not a video?"
"Sshhhut up," Chris retorts half-jokingly.
"Brooo... Why would he even agree to that after what happened with Sam?"
"Dude chill. They got over it in like three days, and they're not even brothers."
"That's what I'm-" Matt inhales deeply, then lets out an exasperated sigh, covering his face with his hands to ponder what to say. Then he drops his hands and speaks again, "Wouldn't he be more affected 'cause we're brothers? Wouldn't it take longer for him to get over it?"
"No, he would get over it faster . Our bond is stronger dude."
Matt thinks it over again, "I don't know, I don't think it's a good idea..."
"What?! C'mon, you were just on board!" Chris whisper-yells, throwing his hands up in the air with frustration while simultaneously gently tossing his phone onto the couch beside him.
"Yeah, but maybe I changed my mind! I don't want him to hate us."
"Hate us? He's not gonna hate us."
"Well-- not hate us , but you know what I mean."
"C'mon man, please? Colby knows what he's doing. We can't pull it off if you're not in!"
"Well, maybe you should've asked me before you asked Colby ," Matt stands up to walk away, and Chris picks up his phone and puts it in his pocket before following him.
"Will you please just do it? What are you so afraid is gonna happen?"
"Are you guys good?" Nick asks. Both of the other boys are slightly startled at his sudden input. He has pulled one headphone away from his ear and is now staring at Matt. He must've noticed the commotion when Matt stood up.
"Nothing that concerns you, Nick," Chris says as he walks by, still following Matt. Matt makes his way down the hall and turns into a room.
"You sure?" Nick calls down the hall.
"Yes!" Matt and Chris call back before the door slams, and their argument continues.
Nick watches the door for a moment, then puts his headphones back on and continues what he was doing, unbothered.
"Sam and Colby's video was fine, and they're both still really good friends, so what are you so afraid of?" Chris asks Matt, now at a normal volume, confident that Nick can't hear them.
"You know what else happened? Colby and Sam Pepper got a LOT of backlash for it! And their video wasn't 'fine.' Sam was sobbing at the end. Plus, I'm pretty sure he was in on it."
"No way, Sam's acting is ass."
"He literally said he was in on it."
"He just said that so people would get off Colby's ass," Chris retorts, pulling out his phone and typing something as he paces the room, "There's no way he was in on it."
"Oh yeah? DM Colby and ask him."
"What? No- This is- This is off topic anyway," Chris turns off his phone and puts it back in his pocket. He stops pacing and makes eye contact with Matt, "Are you seriously not gonna do it?"
"No. I'm not. And if that means you can't do it, then don't do it. Tell Colby it's off."
Chris lets out something between a sigh and growl and storms out of the room. Nick looks up and pulls one headphone off again as Chris angrily grabs a jacket off the coat rack and leaves the house.
Matt walks back into the living room calmly to grab his phone.
"What's up with him?" Nick asks Matt as he walks past him to grab a snack from the kitchen.
"He wanted to pull a prank on you, and he needed me to help for it to work, and I wouldn't do it," Matt explains, opening the fridge and browsing its contents.
Nick laughs, "What prank?"
Matt walks back into the living room with a Coke and a bag of chips. He sits down at the table with Nick. "Have you ever seen the Sam and Colby kidnapping prank video?" He answers the question with a question, popping the Coke can.
"No?" Nick takes his headphones off entirely. Matt can hear music playing loudly through them before Nick pauses it. "What's that?"
Matt sips his Coke, "Uhm, prolly best you don't know, actually."
"Well, if you don't tell me, I'm just gonna look it up," Nick looks back to his computer and starts typing.
"No--" Matt reaches a hand across the table to halt Nick. Nick stops typing and looks up, confused.
"On second thought, I'd rather just tell you," Matt says. Matt explains the prank Sam Pepper and Colby pulled on Sam a few years back, leaving out some depressing details about how Sam reacted when Colby was 'shot.'
"Damn... And he was going to do that to me ?"
Matt nods.
"Jeez... What'd I do?" Nick chuckles a bit.
Matt laughs lightly with him, "I don't know; did you drink the last Pepsi or something?" Matt sips his Coke.
Nick laughs again, "No, I know better than to drink the last of Chris's Pepsi."
Matt puts his drink down, making a show of clicking his tongue and exhaling deeply, refreshed. "Then I have no idea."
Nick smirks, looks back to his computer, and shuts it, preparing to go back to his room.
"Oh, and did I mention--" Matt adds as he opens his bag of chips. Nick looks up but keeps gathering his things.
"He got Colby to agree to help him."
"What?!" Nick freezes, staring at Matt in shock.
"I know," Matt says, mouth full of chips.
"He was planning a kidnapping instead of a video?"
Matt giggles and nods.
"Even after--?"
"Mhm."
"With Sam?"
"Yup."
"Damn. Is Chris persuasive as hell, or did he just not tell Colby something?"
"Knowing him, it's probably the second one."
"Yeah, you're right," Nick looks down at his things, taking inventory, "Still crazy though."
"Yeah."
Nick starts to walk out when Matt's phone buzzes. He picks it up and grunts in confusion at the notification.
"What?" Nick pauses on the threshold between the hallway and the living room.
"I've got a DM from Colby."
"Really?" Nick excitedly walks over and leans over Matt's shoulder, putting his things on the table. Matt leans away from Nick, hiding his phone, and smirks.
"What's got you all giddy?"
"Nothing. Just wanna see what it says."
"Mhm," Matt sits up straight again and lets Nick peek. Sure enough:
New message from Colby Brock
The blue check next to his name and professional-looking profile photo are enough to convince Matt that it's not just some random fan account, so he taps the notification and unlocks his phone. Instagram takes a moment to load, then brings up a nearly blank message thread with Colby.
>Colby Brock: Are you not gonna help with the prank?
Matt scoffs and smiles at his phone, then quickly types:
>Matthew Sturniolo: No, I don't think it's a good idea.
A few moments pass, and Colby starts typing again. Matt can feel Nick shift next to him. He seems a little too excited to see what Colby is going to say.
>Colby Brock: Why not? We're not actually going to hurt you guys lol
>Matthew Sturniolo: I know, I just don't think Nick would appreciate it, seeing how Sam reacted.
>Colby Brock: Oh wait, you know Sam was acting, right? He was in on it.
Matt immediately screenshots that message and sends it to Chris, with the text, “told u. ” Chris reads it, but doesn't respond. Matt nudges Nick and gestures for him to look at the phone. Nick giggles and says, "Yeah, yeah," quietly. Matt reopens Colby's DMs and messages back.
>Matthew Sturniolo: Lol, that's what I thought. Chris must've left out the crucial detail that Nick wouldn't have been in on it.
Colby reads that message but takes a moment before replying, surely to ask Chris about it. A few minutes later, he messages back.
>Colby Brock: Damn! I did not know that. Thanks for telling me, brother!
>Matthew Sturniolo: Sure!
>Colby Brock: So yeah, we are NOT going to do it if Nick isn't in, lol
>Matthew Sturniolo: Good to know, lol
Nick nudges Matt.
"Ask him about getting together to film."
"You ask him," Matt retorts.
"Fuck no!" Nick pushes himself away from the table and takes a few steps back, "Or--" Nick trails off, trying to find an excuse not to talk to Colby, and starts pacing the room. Matt turns in his chair to watch Nick and smirks knowingly.
"Awhhh."
"What?" Nick stops pacing and looks at Matt.
"Does Nicolas have a crush?"
"What?! No- I just- I don't want to- He probably- He wouldn't talk to me," is what Nick finally lands on as an excuse. He starts pacing again.
"He definitely would,"
Nick whines. "No, you do it."
"Fine. But I'm crediting the idea to you," Matt turns back around in his chair and starts typing.
"Ohoho, don't you dare ." Nick tries to sound angry, but Matt can hear the smile on his face.
>Matthew Sturniolo: By the way, Nick wants me to ask you about maybe setting up a film day.
"Too late," Matt says as the message is sent.
"You little--" Nick walks back towards Matt threateningly but instead leans against the table to look over his shoulder again. "What'd he say?"
"Just give it a second, damn."
>Colby Brock: Oh yeah, great idea! Sam and I just finished Hell Week, so we have some time open.
Matt starts to reply, but Colby sends another message before he can finish.
>Colby Brock: Also, hey Nick ;)
>Colby Brock: Sorry for almost pulling a really harsh prank on you, lol.
Nick doesn't even get to read the last message because he pushes himself away from the table and starts pacing again, head in hands. He makes a loud, almost angry-sounding groan and then says into his hands, "HE WINKED AT ME."
Matt twists in his chair and laughs, swatting an arm towards Nick playfully. "Relax, bro, you're getting all worked up over an emoticon."
Nick makes some more miscellaneous flustered noises into his hands as Matt turns to write a reply.
>Matthew Sturniolo: Nick says it's all good ;)
>Colby Brock: Hah
>Colby Brock: Alright, when are you guys free?
Nick darts back to recheck Matt's phone.
"What'd he say???"
"Dude, relax. He literally just asked me when we're free; calm down."
Nick backtracks a few messages and reads what Matt wrote as a response. His jaw drops.
"YOU WINKED BACK AT HIM???"
"Hehehyeah? What, is that a bad thing?"
Nick cringes (literally) and steps away from the table. "Ouuuhhh, he's gonna think I'm-- Auhhh..."
"You're fuckin' crazy..." Matt smiles and replies to Colby. Nick grabs his things and hurries back to his room.
>Matthew Sturniolo: We're pretty much free till December. We do have to film a car video next week (as you probably know, lol) and then again two weeks after that, but we can film those anywhere. Traveling doesn't interrupt them. Plus, if schedules line up, you and Sam could make a guest appearance :D
>Colby Brock: Yo, sweet! Sure thing, man! Next week might be a bit too soon, but you guys can come out in 3 weeks, that's perfect! How's the 19th sound?
>Matthew Sturniolo: Great! I'll let Nick and Chris know.
>Colby Brock: I'll talk to Sam, too. Btw-- who should I send the details to once I've got them?
Matt pauses, then smirks as he gets an idea.
>Matthew Sturniolo: Nick would probably be best
>Colby Brock: Gotcha, thanks, man!
>Matthew Sturniolo: Np!
>Colby Brock: 🖤
Matt turns off his phone and leaves it upside-down on the table, going to break the news to Nick.
Matt knocks twice and then opens the door to Nick's room. Nick is sitting on his bed, wearing headphones, and watching a YouTube video. He pauses the video and looks up as Matt comes in, pulling one headphone back as he did before.
"Hey, we've got a date."
"Huh?" Nick takes his headphones off and holds them idly, looking confused.
"I said you've got a date."
"What?" Nick lowers his headphones into his lap, even more confused and now looking a bit scared.
"With Colby!" Matt announces enthusiastically.
"WHAT?!" Nick shouts, his arms darting to his sides as he stares at Matt in shock and terror.
"I'm kidding, I'm just kidding. We have a filming day set up with Sam and Colby."
Nick relaxes and places a hand on his chest. "Don't scare me like that."
"...But expect to receive a DM from Colby."
"Matt, be serious."
"Oh, I'm dead serious this time."
"What? Why?"
"I may have told him to send you the details when he gets them."
"What?! MATT."
"Have a good night!" Matt says lovingly as he steps backward out the door.
"MA--"
Matt shuts the door and chuckles lightly to himself as he walks away from Nick's room.
Sure enough, a few days later, Nick receives a DM from the Sam and Colby account with details about the trip. Nick practically shoves his phone into Matt's hands as soon as he sees the notification, demanding that Matt reads it and responds. Matt reluctantly does so, wondering how Nick is going to possibly record two entire videos with Sam and Colby if he can't even manage to read one DM from them. Nevertheless, the message reads as such:
>Sam and Colby: Hey Nick! Just messaging to confirm some details about our upcoming film trip with y'all -S
>Nicolas Sturniolo: Hey! Sure thing! So what's the plan?
>Sam and Colby: Colby and I were thinking of doing a haunted video in a place called Aqua Vista in Utah. We would all fly in the morning of the 19th, get settled all day, then we could record your guys' car video and then do haunted after that. We can recover from staying up so late on the 20th (trust me, we'll have to), and if you guys want to stick around, Colby and I will probably hit up a party in SLC on the 21st. If y'all don't want to stick around tho, that's fine! -S
Judging by the text signature, Sam is the one who had messaged Nick, not Colby. Nick really has nothing to be scared of, but Matt is fine with doing the talking anyway. He consults Nick and Chris about the party, then replies to Sam.
Sure! Matt and Chris are up for it. And we'll definitely show up to the party
Before sending the message, Matt calls out to Nick, "Nick? Are you okay if I send a winky emoticon?"
"NO."
Matt scoffs, disappointed. He always uses emoticons when texting.
>Nicolas Sturniolo: Sure! Matt and Chris are up for it. And we'll definitely show up to the party.
>Sam and Colby: Perfect! Colby and I have already booked us all a hotel, but you guys will have to book a flight and a rental car yourselves, sorry about that :( -S
That's fine! We don't mind
"Nickkk? Can I send a smiley emoticon?"
"Why?"
"He said sorry because we have to book our own flight, and I'm trying to say it's okay."
"Fine."
"Thanks!"
>Nicolas Sturniolo: That's fine! We don't mind :)
>Sam and Colby: 🤍🖤 -S and C
"Nickkkk?"
"If it's not a wink or heart emoticon, you can send it."
"Colby sent a heart."
"WHAT?"
Nick rushes into the room and takes his phone from Matt. Upon reading the message, he covers his mouth and dances up and down on his toes. He joyfully walks out, a huge smile on his face. "Thanks, Matt!"
"Mhm!"