Karkat sat huddled in the couch, trying not to explode in rage. It wasn't her fault that everyone was expecting him to do everything and host a party, it wasn't her fault that she had pulled him away to calm down, and it certainly wasn't her fault that Karkat felt uncomfortable around her. Terezi frowned and crossed her arms. Karat hadn't said a word since she pulled him out of the party. He did this every time they were alone, and he had no reason, she was just trying to help.
"Karkat," He huffed and pressed deeper into the corner of the couch, digging his nails in his arm. Karkat hated her nicknames, but it was worse when Terezi actually said his actual name. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and a dull ache in his chest.
"What?" The word came out in a signal quick breath, making it sound more of an actual noise.
"Will you please look at me?" Terezi bent her head down, trying to get close enough to see his face without much luck. "Maybe just even talk to me?" Karkat just sat in silence, red slowly creeping up his face from how close Terezi was. He felt like he was going to lose it from the hatred he felt not at her, but how close she was, at how her voice was pleating and not the usual psycho ringing it normally was, at how she actually looked pretty cu-
"Fine!" Terezi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She stood up and turned around to face him. Karkat looked up at her to see a teal streak running down her face. Oh shit.
"I don't know what I did, and I certainly don't know what your problem is. I can't stand this, and I'm sick of you playing hot and cold with me. I just-" Terezi let out a frustrated screech at letting her feelings fall out, and stormed off toward the door.
"Terezi, wait I-" Karkat jumped up, his foot catching the corner of Vriska's purse strap hanging off and he stumbled forward before standing up awkwardly on one foot.
"I hate you," Karkat turned and looked at his ex-girlfriend, setting his other foot down. His mouth pulled up on a snarl. How dare she say that? Like he even liked her? What gave her the right?
"I hate you too." Terezi's expression dropped from annoyance to something Karkat couldn't understand. She actually looked hurt as if she expected something else.
"Fine. I guess that's why you've been avoiding me then?" The shorter troll rolled his eyes. 'No you dumb little shit, I love you, I've always loved you and I just want to kiss you more than anything right now,' He wanted to yell it at her but it just caught in his head like a bubble, unable to pop, unable to escape.
"Yeah, took you this long to figure it out?" The frustration and annoyance reappeared on the teal blood, and before Karkat knew it, she stormed over and slapped him across the cheek, hard.
He placed a hand over where she had hit him, and stared at her in shock. Terezi had stopped trying to keep her cool and pulled Karkat into a tight hug sobbing into his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Terezi, I had no idea..."
"No, I am."
"Hey, Terezi?"
"Yeah, Karkles?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."