B.T.: Same story, just made better. You can find this on Archive of Our Own under the same story title.
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You walk with your head down, ashamed. Not that anyone would care why you were ashamed. But you try to walk faster to the exit, fearing that someone might ask.
"Eri-berry? What's with the fast pace?" You jump, stop, and turn to face the person who questioned you. You were so intent on leaving that you didn't hear their footsteps fall in line with yours.
"Jesus Christ, Xan! Scare a man half t' death w-why don't ya." You silently curse. Damn, you thought you had your stutter under control. Xan, to your displeasure, looks amused.
"Eri-berry, you were pretty far off in ya own world. Wanna talk 'bout it on the drive t' my place?" Xan offers, to which you hastily nod and drag them out of the school and towards their orange Volkswagen Bug. Why orange, Xan will never tell.
Xan chuckles, unlocks the doors and you both quickly get in and buckle up. As Xan starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot, they shoot you a glance.
"You've been pretty out of it all day. What's up, buttercup?" You grimace slightly.
"W-well, I... I don't know how t' explain it, but I kinda like... Kar." You sit there, uncomfortable. Xan gives a hum of understanding and you feel the car slow and turn right. The car travels some distance, silence between the two of you, before stopping fully.
You look up at Xan as they put the car in park. Only then do you realize that you are not at their place, but in the parking lot of the park near their place.
"So," You look to Xan. "You mean to tell me that you feel romantic feelings for crabby-Kat?" Xan doesn't sound mad, just unsure. That's a good sign.
"Yeah..." Xan nods and goes silent, staring out the windshield. You examine your friend. Xan has always had a unique fashion sense. Blacks, blues, reds, greens, purples, and oranges colour their attire. Short sleeved shirts over sweaters. Jeans, baggy or skinny. Blue and red tennis shoes. Colourful socks. Short, red hair, and five piercings in each ear. So many times you heard bad things about Xan from the jealous girls.
"... How do you put up with the bad that comes from people?" You ask for what seems like the billionth time. Xan starts at the sudden question, before chuckling.
"I just ignore them, Eri-berry. The only opinion of yourself that matters is yours. No one has the right to tell you how to live, what to wear, or who to love." You nod. "Alexandria takes no shit. And you shouldn't either, kay?" She smiles at you and you smile back.
"Yeah." She reaches over and ruffles your hair.
"So, Karkat, huh?" You look away, shame colouring your face. "It's not bad that you like him. He broke up with Dave last week. Said he couldn't handle the "douche" mooning over Bunbert." She makes her words sound casual.
"Yeah, heard that from Rose. But that's not the problem." You can feel her confused and inquisitive stare. "I want to talk to him more, but Vris and Sol hang around him." You hear Xan inhale sharply at that.
"I see. You want to get closer, but tormentors are always near. And you can only talk about so much online... Fuck." You nod.
"I... I just don't knoww wwhat t' do... It's... really frustratin' an' shit." There goes your stutter again. Your friend nods, frowning.
Suddenly, there's a tap at her window, startling the both of you. Alexandria rolls down her window, neither of you recognizing the person at first.
"Hi. Yeah. I just came to tell you that your right tail light was out and that some of the mothers allowing their wild beast-spawns to run around are really concerned since you parked here a good half-hour ago and no one has decided to exit the car." You could recognize that slightly raspy voice anywhere. "Also, your tinted windows don't do much to lessen the suspicion."
"I thought there was something wrong with my taillights. Thanks and sorry about the mothers, crabby-Kat." No. Alexandria. Please. Stop. You don't know what is worse. Your crush being right there or Alexandria calling him "crabby-Kat."
"Oh, my fucking rom-com. Just. Can you not call me that? I thought we talked about this. You don't call me that and-" Karkat stopped mid-sentence and just stared at you, as if just noticing you were there. Granted, he was kinda focused on the driver of the car. "Uh... Hi. Eridan."
Your face erupts in a near-violet blush, as you try to stammer out a response. Your cut short, however, as you see Sollux Captor walk up behind him.
"KK. The fuck i'th taking th'o long?" Sol's lisp makes you shrink into your seat. You weren't always like this.
"The driver barely knows English, asswipe. Their passenger was translating most of what I said to them. Shit. I'll be over there in a minute. I need to make sure they have the correct directions this time." You couldn't see Sol, because Karkat blocked the car window to shield his sight of the two of you, but you heard him sigh and the sound of retreating footsteps.
"Ce fut un peu amusant." Karkat turned to face the both of you, looking confused. You would have been too if you just remembered that Alexandria knows over twenty languages.
"She said, that was slightly amusing." You translate. Thank the Sufferer you learned French. Karkat's face scrunches up in slight annoyance and holds up a hand.
"Right. I don't want to know. You better hightail it out of here and drive a different car to school tomorrow. I want it to be a couple days before those idiots figure out that I was talking to you. You know how they get." You watch as Alexandria smiles softly, sadly, and waves, giving no verbal response. He nods and gives you one last look, before turning to walk to his friends.
Alexandria rolls up her window and let's out a sigh. Sometimes you forget what she threw away to help you.
"... I'm sorry." Your apology is quiet, when she pulls out from the parking spot.
"Huh?" She looked confused for all of a second, then scoffs playfully. "You have nothing to apologize for. I got out of that bad situation when I could. I didn't quite approve of the things they said and did."
You remain silent and watch the scenery pass by the window. Just a little farther and you'll feel safe again.
~Time and Space Warp: Twenty minutes later, at Alexandria's house.~
"... Karkat never hated you. Was frustrated with some of the things you did, but that's just him being him. He swore me to secrecy, so be lucky I-" Alexandria was cut off by the ringing of her phone. You watch as she growls slightly and answers it.
"Hello. Sex Toy Emporium, where your fantasies are just one step away. How may I help you?" If you strained your ear enough, you could hear the faint sound of someone cussing up a storm before it's cut short by the speaker. Eventually, (five seconds later) Alexandria pulls the phone away from her ear and stared at it, confused.
"Who was that and what'd they say?" She directs her gaze to you, her expression melting into one of amusement.
"You'll see who and they just said they're coming over." You nod, confused but also a bit nervous. A nap sounds nice right now.
"Right. I'm going to go take a nap in your room, kay?" She nods and you head into her room, forgoing the chance to finally look around and immediately falling face first onto her bed. Sighing, you arrange yourself into a more comfortable sleeping position and close your eyes, letting sleep take you far from reality.
~Time Jump to After the Nap.~
"He's right through here. Though, he's taking a nap, so it's best to not disturb him."
"No. I thought it would be a brilliant idea to bother him." Too late, you think as you roll over to drown out the talking.
"Hey, there's no need for the sass!" Cod. Can't they just take their conversation elsewhere?
All is silent before you hear a "... You're right. Sorry. You didn't have to let me be here." You hear the slight shifting of feet.
"Hey... I was just teasing. Let's go back to the kitchen." You hear the voices fade and you move to sit at the edge of the bed. You search for your glasses. It was a terrible idea to take a nap before taking them off. After a bit of searching, you find them and place them on your face, the room becoming more clear. Unlike your eyes, your mind was still a bit foggy from sleep. Shaking your head a smidge, you move to get up and walk to the door.
Before walking out of the room, you remember your dream. It was a memory of when you and Alexandria were first starting out as friends...
(3rd person)
Eridan had gone to Alexandria's after a huge fight with his elder brother Cronus, tears streaking his face. Alexandria ushered him in, comforting as they went to the living room.
"... And really, he w-was tryin' ta help, but I w-was kinda sick of it, Xan! And now-w I don't think I can fix it!" Eridan's tears began to roll faster and harder at the thought.
"It'll be okay. We'll figure something out. I'm sure that if we just explain to Cronus why you got upset, then everything will be fine." Eridan looked at his friend through the tears, his glasses clutched in his right hand.
"Really?" Eridan's face was filled with hope. Alexandria nodded and Eridan wrapped her in a hug. "Oh, thank you!"
"You're welcome. Hey." Eridan looked up at the redhead. "Wanna do something to get you feeling even better?" Eridan looked at her in confusion.
"And what would that be?" Alexandria smiled and got up, making sure Eridan stayed on the couch. She walked over to the stereo system and turned it on, flipping to the thirteenth track. Snare drums filled the air, before the staccato flute part started.
"We're going to do some silly workout routines!" Alexandria laughed at the continued confusion. "Come on! Stand up!"
After standing, Eridan followed his friend's lead, completing the silly workout routines and laughing along the way.
(2nd person)
You smile at the memory. You continued to workout from then on when you realized that it really did make you feel better. You could hold your own in a fight, but don't. Your smile becomes pained and you shake your head, moving to leave the room.
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B.T.: Please review! It helps me see how this is doing. Thanks for reading!