"Hey, Rose!" John called, running up to her, holding his jacket hood over his head, "Wait up!"

The blonde paused, letting the rain pitter-patter on her black umbrella. Rain was indeed common for October, but naturally, Egbert wasn't prepared. Jeez, did she need to supervise him at all times? "John, get under the umbrella."

"But I'm fine!" He complained. "It's just rain!"

"John Egbert. Think of it this way. If you get a cold, then you'll be stuck with me even more, because who is gonna watch over you while your dad isn't home?"

"If that's your reasoning, I'd rather get a cold," muttered John, under his breath.

"Hm?"

"Nothing." He stepped under the umbrella reluctantly, ruffling his now wet, dark brown hair.

John and Rose had been friends practically before they were born. Their parents were neighbors, and also best friends, so they'd had to get along. 'Getting along' turned into friendship, friendship turned into best friends, and for John Egbert, best friends turned into a very secret crush. Well, in his mind, it was secret. It reality, pretty much everyone knew, or at least, had a suspicion. Even Jade knew, and she was generally pretty oblivious to things like that. As long as Rose didn't know, it would be okay.

Unfortunately for John, Rose was really hard to read. There was virtually no way to know what she was thinking, or if she meant what she said, and if you asked, she'd just smile demurely. "Even I don't know for sure," she would say. So he'd stopped asking.

Even now, walking silently in the rain, under Rose's black umbrella, after knowing her for so long, he felt incredibly nervous. She smelled faintly of lilacs and vanilla, and her slightly damp blonde bob swung by her jaw line. A lacy gray dress floated above her knees, her pale legs had black boots laced on them, and a serene smile rested on her black lipstick'd mouth. She hadn't really changed since their sand box days, and looked just as wise and all-knowing, if not more so. He hadn't changed either.

Still a glasses wearing dork who had a huge crush on her.


"Sollux, have you ever considered asking Eridan on an actual date, instead of constantly flirting?" Aradia asked, munching on chips. As usual, they were in Sollux's bedroom, about to watch horror movies like they always did on Saturday nights. AA just couldn't get enough spooky shit. It didn't help that it was almost Halloween, that just encouraged her. Because of Aradia, Sollux had played Hide and Seek Alone, Bloody Mary, Slenderman, Ib, and even used a Ouija board, way more often than he would have liked.

Ghosts sucked. Majorly.

"No, I haven't. I don't even know if I like him, okay?"

"Obviously you do, or else you two wouldn't be fighting all the time."

"Shut up. AA, I don't want to have this conversation." He snapped, "Let's just watch the Grudge and eat popcorn and forget about it."

"Maybe I'll invite Feferi over sometime. And maybe she'll bring Eridan?" Aradia suggested.

"Don't you fucking dare."


Tavros squinted at his phone in confusion. When was the last time someone had called him? Normally if he needed his friends, he just messaged them. In fact, he couldn't remember when he'd last given out his phone number. Did he even have more than three contacts?

"Um, hello? Who is this?" He squeaked.

"Heeeeey Tavbro!" A calm voice on the other end of the phone answered. "Wassup?"

"G-gamzee? How did you get my phone number?"

"I asked. Doing anything fun?"

"Well, uh, not particularly?" he glanced at his computer, with the WoW login screen still open. "Why?"

"Movie. You and me?"

"M-movie? When? I think I'm free on Saturday..." Tavros stammered. Movie? What?!

"Oh naaaaawww Tavbro! I mean now. Please? The new TMNT movie is out, and starting in like...half an hour? I've got faygoooo~" Gamzee singsonged.

Tavros was stunned. Gamzee wanted to hang out with him? What was faygo? He liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles too? Should he go? "Uh...Okay. Where are you?"

"About five minutes from your house." He could practically heart Gamzee's smug grin against the phone.

"Let me guess. You asked?"

"Uhuuuuh. Want me to pick you up?"

The doorbell rang and Tavros smiled. "Well, I think you've already, um, taken care of that." He rolled to the door, opening it to find a grinning Gamzee, still on his phone. A pair of dark faded jeans hung loosely on his gangly frame, and a t-shirt, black of course, clung tightly in contrast, emphasizing his sizeable biceps. So used to seeing him in long sleeves and sweatpants, Tavros just about had a heart attack. He looked so good.

And then there he was, in khaki shorts and an old fiduspawn t-shirt. Could he be any more childish?! Gamzee was a man, and Tavros was-

"Tavbro? You ready?" Gamzee asked curiously. "Do I look funny or something?"

"No! Nooooo, no no, you look great. I, um, I mean, you...look, um, g-good?" he exclaimed hastily. "I'm, uh, sorry I look...not good."

"But you do look good." Gamzee said, flashing him a smile. "C'mon Tavbro, we don't wanna be late."


Wow, this is a really shitty chapter. Jesus, this looked WAAAAY better in the notebook. Please review and let me know what you think. I'll make Chapter Four longer, I promise.