It had been several years since he had even seen Karkat, at least. Last John had heard, Karkat had gone through his high school career in those "special" classes- you know, the ones where the kids are pretty much on permanent lockdown within the school because the teachers think they're too violent or whatnot to be with "normal" kids. Karkat had gotten though a week of regular classes his freshman year before going off on a teacher, the language of such outburst not suitable for any polite company.

That had been when John had been about thirteen. Now he was 18, the same goofy grin of his innocence plastered on his face as he caught sight of his old friend walking across the college campus. "Karkat!" he hollered, clutching his messenger bag as he broke into a run.

The other boy turned with a small jump, obviously not expecting to be ambushed. As John ran up, Karkat narrowed dark eyes and sneered.

"Karkat! I haven't seen you in ages!" John wheezed, slapping a hand on Karkat's shoulder. "I didn't know that you went here!"

Karkat was a few inches shorter than the panting, gangly John. He had to tilt his chin to glare at the spectacled boy. A strand of ginger hair fell into his eye, but he ignored it. Only girls and sissy fuckasses swept back their hair.

"Who the fuck are you?" he growled.

John appeared taken aback for a moment, but then just laughed.

"John. John Egbert, remember?"

"Obviously not."

"Oh come on," John nudged. "Middle school? We hung out together all the time! Like, at lunch and stuff."

Karkat gave a weak shrug and turned away. "What ever you say."

As Karkat walked away, John trotted to his side.

"We should definitely catch lunch today. We haven't seen each other since pretty much eighth grade. I mean, it's pretty awesome you came here of all places. It seems everyone did, like Terezi and Eridan and that weird guy Equius..."

"If I agree to meet you for lunch or some shit where you can stuff your fucking noise-hole, will you shut up right now?"

John laughed. "Okay. Meet me in front of the library at 12:15."

Karkat nodded and grumbled something incoherent before slipping away into a crowd of other students.

John waved and called "Later!" as he checked his watched. "Shit!" he swore, realizing there were only five minutes before the start of Biology.

He ran, sneakers squeaking on the linoleum as he skidded into the science wing two minutes later. His best bro, Dave, was leaning against the wall just outside of their professor's door, hands shoved in his pockets.

"Sup." John gasped for breath. "Isn't class about to start?"

"Yeah. I'm enjoying what freedom I have remaining for the hour."

John grinned. "You'll never guess who I saw! Remember Karkat from middle school?"

"Vantas?"

"Yeah! Well, apparently he goes here now too. Isn't that cool?"

Dave shrugged, expressionless behind his shades. He straightened up from the wall and led the way into the classroom.

"That's kind of weird, man. I wouldn't peg him as the kind to bother with college."

John set down his bag on the lab table. "I'll ask him. We have a lunch date today. Er, no homo."

"Whatever you say."

Class started with a lecture on mitosis. John tapped his fingers against the counter, anticipating when 12 would roll by. Even though they hadn't been particularly close, he and Karkat were on good enough terms to be considered friends at one point. He had to admit that the kid was pretty unsociable, but John saw the attitude as just a unique personality quirk. He wondered how Karkat had been doing these past several years. It was like he had suddenly dropped off the face of the earth since the beginning of high school.

John looked up from his scribbled-on notebook to see Vriska, another friend, shooting him a dirty look from the lab table in front of his and Dave's. She jerked her head to motion at his hand, which was still tapping away. He stopped immediately with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry," he mouthed.

She turned her head back to the teacher, leaving John to tap his foot on his chair to imaginary music. The minutes crept by, ticking down monotonously until it finally reached 12. A boring lab came to a close with Dave saving everything on a USB and promising to get around to finishing it eventually.

"Go on," he said. "I got this. You're driving me crazy. I'll see you later, man. Remember, we've gotta check out that new game at the mall tonight."

"Okay, thanks! And yeah, I remember!"

John grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulder so enthusiatically, it just barely avoided whacking a passing student. He was too excited to notice. As he ran out the door, Dave pocketed the USB and shook his head. Even if John was his best bro, the kid could be the giddiest little shit to ever walk the earth.