AN- Hey its me again, finally have another post! If anyone ever read my stuff in the first place... ah well I don't really care. I hope you guys like! Its based off a dream I had... anyways I don't own the characters! -VV

It's the middle of my senior year and people are starting to change. Not the growing up changes (no those are boring). I mean the changes in how they behave. Kanaya has been hanging out with some blonde girl from her writing class; they are together a lot more often than she is with me. There is a boy in my history class that has been staring at me often enough for me to notice from the corner of the room. Dave has been less of an annoying prick to me; he also was acting strangely with this boy from my history class. Perhaps they are making a last ditch attempt at a temporary quadrant-filler? Anyway, there is history-boy right now. Perhaps he was the nerve to talk to m- or guess not, there he goes. Bye douchenozzle! Go back to your belovedly blonde Strider. Maybe I should find out his name so I don't just call him history-boy. And perhaps insult him PROPERLY. I start to walk towards the two human boy's lunch table and sit down. Normally I don't eat at school so I have only a notebook to set down. "HEY BLUE-BOY, YEAH YOU FROM HISTORY. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" he sighs and answers, "The name is John Egbert. What do you want Karkat?"
"NOTHING EGBERT. I JUST WONDERED WHY YOU HAVE BEEN STARING AT ME FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS LIKE I AM THE HAPPIEST THING THAT STUMBLED INTO YOUR LIFE. THAT OR JUST YOUR STUPID HUMAN HISTORY CLASS." His cheekbones flush pink and he starts to stutter an apology when Dave cuts him off. "Why would you stare at this douche John. All he does is shout, cuss and hate everyone and everything. Besides, he isn't even hot. Now; if you are looking for someone hot... you can check out this piece of hot Texan ass." I don't retort except to glare at him, trying to find his eyes behind his reflective shades. John blushes more and he gets up to leave "Uh sorry guys! My stomach is hurting I'll be right back!" I watch him leave unchanged. "Dude you realize he isn't into guys? Leave him alone." Dave chases after him before I can point out he was hitting on him more than I was. I just sit there until the bell rings, totally confused. Quickly I rush to my next class and spend it drawing giraffes in my art notebook.

-a couple weeks later-

It's history class again and I'm drawing again before class starts. When I hear the bell ring and someone slip into the seat next to me; I finally look up from my notebook. Who the hell would come back and sit with me in the back corner of the class? "Uh hey Karkat? What are you drawing?" he whispers over to you. 'Oh my gog it is that dipshit not-into-guys-but-okay-for-Strider Egbert. What the hell does HE want?' I respond quickly, trying to get him to leave as soon as possible. "NOTHING, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I close my notebook on the heart and spade I had drawn before he can look. "Look, I was kinda uh... wondering if you wanted to come to a party? Dave is having a party tonight and i was hoping you would like to come with me!" I look over incredulously at him and turn away when I feel my face heat up. "FUCK, UH... I GUESS? I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING... SO SURE. I'LL COME WITH YOU ON THIS STUPID ADVENTURE TO STRIDERS." I shake my head wondering why I would agree to this. He just smiles and grabs my hand for a second, leaving a crumpled note in it. I pull back quickly, nearly hissing at him then I read the note 'ectoBiologist i'll be on pesterchum waiting' I glare at him until the teacher starts his lecture; then I actually pay attention to the class for once. All of this I knew already, trolls only go to school because that is what people my age do. I was school-fed when I was a wriggler. After my classes were finished; I practically ran to my car and drove home. I quickly took a shower and changed into my favorite grey jeans and cancer t-shirt, my symbol. Brushing my teeth and hair took longer than normal because I wanted to look nice; but I eventually stumbled out of the bathroom and checked my laptop's Trollian app. The chatbox had no new messages so I type in the name he gave me, ectoBiologist. A new chatbox opens and I start typing.

carcinoGeneticist started trolling ectoBiologist at 4:13

CG: HEY IS THIS YOU EGBERT?

EB: hey is this you Karkat?!

EB: cg?

I stare at the screen a couple of minutes before realizing he was talking to me then respond quickly

CG: IT STANDS FOR CARCINOGENETICIST... ITS MY TITLE.

CG: YEAH THIS IS ME. WHAT TIME ARE YOU PICKING ME UP?

CG: WAIT... DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE I LIVE?

EB: you kinda live right down the street from me

EB: actually if you look about four houses down im out on the front lawn!

CG: WHAT?

I get up and run to the window and look out, what do you know... four houses down John is out there kicking around a soccer ball. I run back to the computer and type again.

CG: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

EB: playing soccer... well only kinda.

EB: it would be funner with a partner!

CG: YOU WOULD LIKE THAT NOW WOULDN'T YOU BULGESNIFF.

CG: …

EB: pleeeeeeeease?

CG: AUGH FINE. I'LL BE OVER SOON

EB: yay! see you soon!

ectoBiologist is now offline

I run downstairs and walk down the street to his house. "NOW WHAT?" he laughs and passes me the ball. I kick it back and forth for a bit before he rushes over and starts getting more into the game. I struggle to get it over to his front step and defend my space at the same time. What could he possibly want from playing with me? "Hey Karkat? What's your last name?" That's what he wants; to get to know you. I hesitate before telling him. "VANTAS. MY NAME IS KARKAT VANTAS." Why would he care? It is probably better to not go down that road right now. Tomorrow is registration day. You can't get too personal with this... human! I look up from the ball to see him smiling at you. "Now was that so hard?" Aren't you going to stop? Guess not. "GUESS NOT... ANYWAYS WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ME SO BADLY ENOUGH TO TAKE ME ON A... TAKE ME TO STRIDERS PARTY?" He obviously noticed you rethink that and he frowns a little and stops kicking the ball. "You seemed like the type I could trust and get to know. Someone i wanted to be friends with before tomorrow. I know it'll be another week after that until we find out who we are paired with but... I want to have more friends than my four." I nod and sigh. "ALRIGHT YOU HAVE A POINT. WHEN DOES THE PARTY START?"
"I think he said I could bring you over at six. It's five thirty so we should probably leave soon." I nod again and pick up the ball; we go inside and put it away. He rushes to the bathroom to brush his teeth then we head out to his car. The drive there was near silent and we go up to the Striders apartment in the same fashion. Dave welcomes John with a hug but ignores me for the most part except to say "hey vantas." I respond with an unfeeling "STRIDER." He walks back into a room and comes back in a red suit and wireless headphones as music starts blasting through the apartment. I end up getting lost in the sea of people that start to show up as I try to make my way to the kitchen. There are way too many people for my taste, this is also why I don't do parties. Later on I notice a familiar face in the crowd. The bright red glasses and the teal tongue gave her away. She slides into the kitchen and gives me that smirking, seductive grin. "H3Y K4RKL3S! D1DNT TH1NK 1D SM3LL YOU H3R3. 1 THOUGHT YOU H4T3D TH3 D4V3 HUM4N OR... 4M 1 WRONG?"
"NO TEREZI I STILL HATE HIM AS PLATONICALLY AS EVER BUT I GOT INVITED HERE BY HIS FRIEND. THE BLUE BOY? HIS NAME IS JOHN" I could barely hear her over Striders 'sick beats'. Not saying that I really wanted to hear her. "WHY ARE YOU HERE ANYWAYS? YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SO FUCKING PSYCHOTIC TO BE FRIENDS WITH THAT DOUCHE?" She just nods and cackles out a laugh. I roll my eyes, of course she is. "WH4T OF TH4T JOHN HUM4N? H3 SOUNDS D3L1C1OUS!" She pauses to think. "WH1CH R3M1NDS M3 TH4T 1 H4V3NT H4D 4 T4ST3 OF YOU Y3T. YOUR R3D BLOOD IS 4LMOST 4S SW33T 4S TH31RS!" It is half past time to abscond Karkat! GET THE FUCK OUT NOW! I try to sneek around behind her and escape into the crowd when I hear John calling my name again. I run out of the kitchen and to him as quickly as possible. "THANK YOU FUCKASS. YOU PROBABLY JUST GOT ME OUT OF A FACE LICKING NIGHTMARE." He looks at me confused then takes my hand. "wanna dance?!" You aren't out of the frying pan yet Vantas.