"Ivan Pavlov is the father of Classical Conditioning. He discovered he could teach dog to salivate at the sound of a bell…"
The professor droned on with the lecture, hands behind his back as he paced from one side of the room to the other. While most students were spacing off, doodling on their notebooks, or doing anything else unproductive, April Medina took her notes diligently as the professor's monotonous voice hummed in her ears. April's phone gave a curt buzz from her pocket, alerting her that someone was trying to text her. Continuing to write, she pulled out her phone and check the notification, it was from her roommate, Karkat.
Karkat: HEY YOU ALMOST DONE IN CLASS?
April looked to the time, then to her notes, seeing the page was full of little notes.
April: Yeah, nearly done. Expect me in maybe a half an hour?
Karkat: AWESOME
Karkat: CAN YOU STOP BY THE STORE? GAMZEE IS COMING AND WERE OUT OF POPTARTS. YOU KNOW THAT ASSHOLE LOVES THOSE THINGS.
April: Yeah! Sure thing. I'll be home in 45 then.
Karkat: GOT IT. SEE YOU THEN.
She put her phone back in her pocket and continued to write. The remainder of the class passed by quickly and without interruption. She began to put her things away as her teacher assigned the homework. A twenty page essay on the process of classical conditioning due next time the class meets. Good, at least it wasn't fifty pages like last time. she was the first to leave when the class dismissed, unlocking her bike from the rack and riding towards the Wal Mart. She picked up a few different boxes of poptarts, maybe this time they'll last longer.
She quickly finished her shopping, riding to the bus stop and waiting. It took a while, but it finally arrived at your stop. She put her bike on the rack in the front, then carried the few bags of groceries on board with her. The bus ride was longer than usual, and she spent most of the time on your phone. It took her all the self control she had to not break into the poptarts while she waited for her stop. Finally, she reached home, which was a small two-bedroom apartment. She set down her bike and opened the door, closing it behind her.
" 'm home!" she called as she set down her keys.
" Hey sis" greeted a familiar stoner from the couch, eyeing the grocery bags she was carrying "whatcha motherfuckin got there?"
"Your favorite." She said as she emptied the bags on the kitchen counter.
"Motherfuckin poptarts? Geez, sis. You all up n' know me so well." He gave a hoarse chuckle, immediately getting up to open a box.
"Where's Karkat?" She asked, putting some of the boxes away.
"He all up and left. Said he was gonna get the mail or somethin." he explained, shoving a frosted breakfast treat in his mouth.
April shrugged, making her way to the living room, " ...Wanna play mariokart?" She asked, turning on your wii.
"I'm always down for motherfuckin mariokart." The lanky stoner gave a soft chuckle before flopping on the couch.
"You fucking bitch! Did you really just blueshell me?!" April growled at the stoner right as the door opens.
"Not my fault, sis. You were in first." Gamzee chuckled.
Karkat walked in, arms full of mail, "Hey. Im back."
"Hey Karkat!" She called back, not looking from the screen.
"How was class?" He inquired, setting down the mail.
"like usual, boring. He assigned us a twenty page paper this time."
"Jesus Christ, and it's due next lecture?"
"Mhm, but i took notes on the subject, so I should be able to get it done quick."
Karkat shuffled through the mail, picking up an envelope addressed to her, " Good. There's some mail for-" he paused, reading the label, then stayed silent.
"Dammit!" She cursed, losing the race to Gamzee, then turn to see your roommate" huh? What were you saying?"
He cleared his throat, hiding the envelope, "uh.. Nothing. Nevermind."
She raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was acting so strange. Gamzee eyed the two as she got up, walking to Karkat.
"Come on, what is it?" She said, gesturing to the hand behind his back.
"Look, I told you it's fucking nothing, okay?" he told her again.
"Karkat, is it for me?" She demanded with her hand out, her eyes fixated on his
He hesitated, staring into her eyes-well, more like glaring. The two stayed like this until he finally gave in to April's pleading eyes. Grumbling, her roommate slapped the envelope into April's hand, a bit of pink dusting his cheeks.
"It's from your parents." He said, "knowing what they usually say, i wanted to save you the trouble."
April opened it immediately, taking out the contents. It was a letter. They always sent a letter when they wanted something from her. Her eyes skimmed over the cursive words, reading what the paper had to wanted: to visit. They even through in one of Mom's Famous Guilt Trips. She let out a scoff, tossing it to the paper on the counter and walking back to the couch.
"God, can you believe these people?" She said indignantly as she grabbed her controller, going back to the character select screen.
"What do those assholes want this time?" He sat in between her and Gamzee.
"What do they want every time? they want me to visit."
"You gonna go?"
"After all they've done to me? Fuck no!" She said, choosing her normal character.
Karkat chuckled, letting out one of his rare smiles, "Nice job finally putting your foot down." he grabs the third controller, joining the game.
April stared at the computer screen, typing at a million miles per hour, the only light in the room coming from the laptop. It was three AM, and she couldn't sleep. Karkat was long asleep, and she was bored. Having nothing else to do, she began working on her assignment. Five pages in, she got distracted and decide to go on facebook, which she hadn't checked in a couple months. April scrolled through past notifications, old school friends having children or getting married. It brings a small smile to your face. Her gaze wandered to the "people you may know" section. She added some people, one after another until-
Oh no
Oh no