The alarm clock screeched, cutting into Eridan's dreams as if it were a knight fighting a ferocious beast. He hit everything on his nightstand before he finally managed to hit the off button. He stood up and made his way to the bathroom. He stripped and showered, scrubbing his hair thoroughly. He got out and examined himself in the mirror. His roots were growing in; he needed to renew the purple streak in his jet black hair. He brushed his teeth, flossed and rinsed his mouth with mouthwash before getting dressed. He pulled on his black jeans and his gray sweater. His blue and navy striped scarf, hand made by the she-devil he once called his girlfriend. He loved the scarf, though, no matter what evil sorcery had woven it. He added it to his ensemble. Then, to finish it off, he put on his glasses. He looked at the clock. It was ten before eight. He had plenty of time to make it to his nine-thirty class and his eleven o'clock class. He'd be cutting it close to making his eight-thrity class, so he left the bathroom and went out to his dark purple and yellow-gold Camaro. He backed out of his small driveway and made his way carefully down the icy roads. He got on the interstate and cruised most of the way to school. When he arrived, he checked the time - eight-twenty-six. He hurried to his math class, first class of the day.

He made it into the room just before eight-thirty. Most of the seats were already taken, but there was a particularly lonely and gloomy looking spot next to a young man. Eridan made his way over and sat next to the guy. He didn't even look up from the desk, just sat there, resting his face on his palm.

"Hi, I'm Eridan." Eridan was socially awkward and was really nervous; to start a conversation on his own was really pushing his limits, but he was going to make his best effort to make new friends. The young man looked over to him, his dark shades hiding his eyes.
"What, were you talking to me?"
"Uh...yes, I was."
"Oh, yeah...okay, well, hi. Sollux Captor. Nice to meet you, Eridan...?
"Ampora! Eridan Ampora. Nice to meet you, too, Sollux!" Eridan was happy. One step closer to a new friend.
"Uh, yeah. Whatever." Sollux just went back to sulking and staring at the desk. The professor came in, and Eridan realized he left all his materials at home.
"Shit!" He whispered to himself. Sollux looked up.
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot my stuff at home. Do you have some paper and a pen or something, anything I can use to take notes?"
"Yeah, sure." He reached behind him into his backpack and pulled out a notebook and some pencils and pens. He handed them to Eridan.
"Thanks man. You're a life saver."
"Don't ever call me a 'life saver' again, because I'm not." And he returned to sulking. Eridan took notes as quickly as he could, getting the gist of the professor's lecture.

Time flew quickly, and before he knew it, the bell rang and the class dismissed. He'd have to run to make his nine-thirty class, which was across campus.

It was already nine-fifteen. He hustled, forgetting to return the notebook and writing utensils Sollux had loaned to him. He took them to his drawing class, where he borrowed some sketchpad paper from an upperclassmen. When drawing was finished, he exitted the room hastily to make his eleven o'clock class, then remembered he had half an hour to get there. He took his time and walked through the courtyard, where many students were lying out, reading books or studying in their free time. Then he saw Sollux, and remembered that he needed to return the items. He quickly made his way over to where Sollux was sitting, the same way as always; face resting in his palm.

"Hey, Sol. Thanks for letting me borrow this stuff, and sorry I didn't return them sooner, I just forgot I guess." He sat at the table next to Sollux.
"Sol?" Eridan turned his head in a funny direction and bent it around so he could Sollux's face. It surprised him to see his thick sunglasses removed, hanging on his shirt. Sollux was asleep.

Eridan smiled and took a picture on his phone. He saved it - he could blackmail now, if worse came to worst.

He stood up, leaving the supplies behind, save one pen. He then headed for his eleven o'clock class, painting. After this class, he wouldn't attend another class until four in the afternoon. He entered the paint room, only to see that he shared this class with Sollux, too. And, by some means, had managed to beat him to class. Eridan took a seat next to Sollux again.

"Looks like we have this class together, too."
"Are you a freshman?"
"Yes...why?"
"No reason. Just, this term, I became a junior. Also, you...you don't avoid me like upperclassmen and classmates tend to do."
"Why would I?"
"They say I'm too weird and mopey."
"Well, why are you mopey?" At the question, Eridan noticed Sollux tense up and become uncomfortable.
"Well...that is-" He started to say, but Eridan interupted.
"No, no. It's fine. Don't ever answer me if it makes you uncomfortable. I'm just overly curious."
"Ah...okay...but it was just my girlfriend."
"Oh, sorry. When?"
"Eh...two weeks ago..."
"Why do you wear those sunglasses?"
"Huh?"
"Sorry, sorry...sometimes I just say what I'm thinking without thinking it through. My bad."
"I wear them because I like the freedom to look where I want when I'm having a conversation without offending anyone."
"Oh. Cool. So, what color?"
"Huh? What color what?"
"Your eyes?"
"Wh-um...I'm not comfortable answering that..."
"Why?"
"...Uh..."
"Sorry, sorry, it's just a thing I do."
"It's fine. Most people aren't really interested in me."
"Well, I think your pretty cool. And you don't seem like a bad person, so why not get to know you before I judge you, you know? It's not fair at all to not give someone the chance to prove themselves."
"I know what you mean. You're pretty cool yourself."

Then, Sollux stood up. The art instructor motioned him over, and he moved to the middle of the class. He stood in the middle of a circle of easels.

"Alright, class. Most of you are freshman and sophomores, so you may not be used to this. Welcome to painting, I'm your instructor, Nepeta Leijon. Please take a seat at any easel. Your first assignment is to paint your upperclassman," she motioned to Sollux, "in the nude."

Everyone moved to the easels, and Eridan chose one of the seats towards the middle, behind Sollux.

"This is all about perspective and your use of three-dimensional techniques, so please show me that you deserve to be in this class. Make it as realistic as you like. This will be due at the end of the week. Get as much as you can done now, and fill in minor details later. Get to work!" Nepeta sat at a desk. She didn't look that much older than Eridan, or even Sollux.

Sollux stripped his shirt, and his shoes and socks, and his pants, and his underwear, and he took off his sunglasses. Eridan was surprised that he had really stripped completely. He bent so that he was looking over his shoulder and covered his face from the students with a frontal view. He was looking straight at Eridan, a blank expression. His eyes were different colors - one blue, one an almost orange amber color.

Eridan began to paint. Sollux was pale, and had sparkly eyes. His main goal was to express those two points, and use his signature skill - exaggeration. He would exaggerate how pale Sollux was, and how shiny his eyes were by manipulating the environment Sollux would be in.

The bell dismissed the class, but Eridan was so absorbed in painting that he didn't hear it. He just kept painting, while the other students filed out and left. Until he was the last one. Sollux had even redressed, and Nepeta had left as well. Everyone was leaving for lunch.

Sollux came over and sat beside Eridan, examining the painting. Eridan remained unaware of Sollux's presence for nearly thirty minutes, until Sollux broke the silence.

"You're an amazing painter. I'm really impressed. I don't usually like portriats of myself...but it doesn't even feel like I'm looking at me." Sollux said. Eridan jumped at the first words, turning to face him for the rest.
"Th-thanks! But it's no where near finished...This is just the beginning. I haven't even put in the full color...I haven't really done much besides the outline and some basic coloring..."
"Really? Are you sure you're a freshman?"
"Yeah."
"Where did you learn all this?"
"Taught it to myself. I always loved to paint, and it was hobby of mine for a long time...wait, say 'this' again."
"This?"
"You have a lisp!"
"I'm going now..." Sollux stood up, starting to leave.
"No, no wait! I'm sorry! I just didn't notice! I've never met a person with a lisp before! I didn't mean to upset you!"
"No, I'm just hungry. It's lunch time, you know."
"It is?" Eridan looked around and realized that everyone had gone.
"Yeah. Wanna get a bite? Just leave the painting. You can come back to it later."
"Alright. Let's go!" Eridan stood and followed as Sollux walked out.