CHAPTER ONE: THE END

His keys clinked together softly as Karkat opened the door to his and John's apartment. A rare smile graced his features, as he thought back on their life together. This would be their third anniversary so Karkat had gotten off work early just so he could surprise John. As he walked into the living room he glanced down at the small box in his hand and thought, ~ I'm going to do it; I'm really going to ask him to be mine forever. ~ The small hallway to the room they shared seemed to stretch on far longer than it actually did.

His hand shaking slightly Karkat prepared to open the door when he heard something strange. It sounded like two people were talking, ~ that can't be right; John must be watching one of his movies again. ~ Karkat was not prepared for the awful surprise waiting behind that door. His smile slid from his face to be replaced with a look of pure agony. John was in the bed; the problem was that he was not alone.

"J-John? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING WITH STRIDER IN OUR GOD DAMN BED!?" John jerked away from Dave stuttering, "K-k-k Karkat, your home early!" His pain momentarily forgotten Karkat flipped out. "OF COURSE I CAME HOME EARLY! IT OUR THIRD FUCKING ANNIVERSARY AND ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS SURPRISE YOU! NOW I WISH I NEVER CAME HOME! OR THAT I HAD BOUGHT THIS FUCKING RING!" When he paused to catch his breath John tried to explain.

"It's not what you think Karkat! We were just, uhhhh… "*SLAP* Karkat was now shaking with his rage in full view. John looked as if he had just been shot as he raised a hand to his face. "Fuck you, fuck this place, fuck your god damn excuses, AND FUCK THIS RELATIONSHIP! IM LEAVING AND IM NEVER COMING BACK!" he turned on his heels and stormed back down the short hallway. He heard john's muffled cry of "wait!" but he didn't look back.

The door was almost ripped from it frame when he jerked it open. He had just made it down the stairs and out onto the streets when the first tears started to fall. The tears fell silently until he reached the park. As it was empty he wasn't afraid that someone would see him. ~Three years, he thought as he sat on his favorite bench, three god damn years and the whole time he was thinking about strider or with him. ~ As the past came into focus, Karkat got the feeling that almost every time John had said that he was working late or that his dad had called and needed to see him was a lie.

With every thought he fell deeper into despair. With his hart broken and his soul shattered Karkat realized that he was now in fact, homeless. "Damnit all." He groaned aloud. "Who the fuck is going to take me in? Kanaya is off on vacation with Rose, Tavros lives in a fucking dorm room, Eridan freaks me the fuck out, Equius… well he does have Nepeta to deal with so that's a no, Terezi only has one bedroom and I am not sleeping on her stupid couch. Sollux just moved in with his girlfriend Feferi so he can't help me. …. FUCK!"

There was no one he could call! Who would even be able to put up with his crabbiness any ways? ~Well there is… No, no, no, HELL NO! I am not going to put this kind of shit on Gamzee! He already has enough going on in his life he does not need this! … But where else am I supposed to go? The fucking soup kitchen? God damnit! I guess I don't really have much of a choice do I? ~ With a heavy heart Karkat got out his phone and logged on to pesterchum.

carcinoGeneticist (CG) began pestering terminallyCapricious (TC) at 2:30 p.m.

CG: HEY GAMZEE PICK UP YOUR DAMN PHONE!

TC: WhAtS uP bEsT fRiEnD!? I hAvN't HeArEd FrOm YoU iN fOrEvEr! :o) HoNk!

CG: GAMZEE PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR FIVE MINUTES OK? LOOK I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE SHIT ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD BUT DO YOU THINK I COULD COME STAY AT YOUR PLACE FOR A WILE?

TC: Of CoUrSe MoThErFuCkEr! BuT cAn A bRoThEr AsK wHy?

CG: I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I GET THERE OK? I…I DON'T FEEL LIKE SAYING IT OVER THE PHONE.

TC: AlRiGhT tHeN bEsTfrIeNd! SeE yOu In A fEw! :0) HoNk!

carcinoGeneticist (CG) ceased pestering terminallyCapricious (TC) at 2:38 p.m.

With a sigh Karkat returned his phone to his pocket. ~Well, ~ he thought, ~this day couldn't possibly get any worse than it already is can it? ~ The walk to Gamzee's didn't take long as Gamzee only lived a few blocks away from the park. In no time at all Karkat was outside the door of his clown friend.

Before he knocked, Karkat thought for a moment about what he was going to tell Gamzee happened. ~Ok, so maybe John cheated on me. Well no, there's no maybe about it. That fuckass played with my heart like a kitten with a new toy. Shit! What can I tell him? The truth? Fuck that! Knowing Gamzee he'll just go on about his stupid miracles or some shit. No, maybe if I tell him John is having family over and I just need to stay for a few days…No that won't work. It won't be a few days. I'll probably still be here after a few weeks. Oh god, will he even be able to tolerate me that long? Even Gamzee has his limits. Well I guess there's nothing left but to knock. ~ His thoughts still in a whirl, Karkat knocked sharply on the door.

END CHAPTER ONE.