Chapter 4: A New Start
Tavros woke up the next morning to see Vriska walking from her room.
"Morning,"Tavros said, stretching.
Vriska rubbed her head."If your clown friend comes here, i'm going to beat the shit out of him."
"Understood,"Tavros said, laughing.
"You know anything that can help?"Vriska asked.
"Yeah, but it doesn't completely help."
Tavros made a pot of coffee, and gave a cup to Vriska."Drink. After that, dunk you head in some cold water. It does wonders."
Vriska grunted, and drank her coffee. After that, she grabbed some clean clothes, and went to the bathroom.
When Vriska was cleaned up, Tavros helped her with some housework.
"Why are you helping?"Vriska asked when Tavros put laundry in the wash.
"You let me crash on your couch, so I might as well help with chores to pay it off."
"I was drunk, and you helped me home. It was fair enough."
"Not to me."
When they were done, Tavros checked his watch."Well, I have work tomorrow, but I have time to kill in the mean time. You need a ride to John's?"
Vriska blinked."I didn't think you liked John that much."
Tav shrgged."I don't, but I need something to pass the time by, and a drive always clears my head."
Vriska laughed."Sure, just let me get my hoodie."
Tavros pulled on a pair of jeans from his car, and a hoodie as well. It was colder than he had thought.
When Vriska came out, her hair was combed down, with a pair of blue jeans, boots, a black shirt and a dark blue hoodie. She hadn't bothered putting on fresh make-up, but cleared off the eyeliner from the night before.
The drive was pretty normal.
"You think your aunt will be back soon?"he asked.
Vriska shrugged."No clue. Depends on how much trouble my mom got into."
Tavros laughed."The infamous Marquise Serket."He stopped laughing."You never told me why she turned to crime."
Vriska shrugged."After my dad died, she went down. Left me with my aunt, sends money to help us by, but constantly goes back to crime."
Tavros nodded."Yeah. I never knew my parents that well either. My mom died when I was born, and my dad died when I was still in elementary school. Even then, he wasn't around much. He always had to work. If it haden't been for Rufio becoming my legal guardian... I don't know where I would be now."
Vriska smiled."Well, I'm glad you stayed at least. You would still be a woos if not for me."
Tavros laughed in reply.
John's house wasn't much to brag about. A two-story house with a small balcony.
His dad kept good control on the yard work, and John was always playing games when he wasn't working around the house.
Tavros pulled up."Here you go."
"Thank Torea-dork,"she said, before getting out.
She knocked on the door before Tavros pulled out. He didn't stay to see what happened afterward.
Tavros pulled into his driveway, after refilling his gas-tank. Rufio wasn't home. He was planning on leaving in the morning anyway.
Him and Strider always liked working early. Those two were a great team in the movie industry. Shame his father haden't been around long enough to see his success.
Tavros was watching TV for a couple hours. after that, he did a little bit of a work out before bed to wear himself out a bit.
He slept soundly that night.
The next day, after his alarm woke him, he cleaned and dressed. He decided not to shave for the day, so he had a little stubble on his face.
He saw Vriska sitting at lunch, just having her head down, sleeping.
"You okay?"Tavros asked.
Vriska grunted."Not really."
"Tired?"he asked.
"Yeah, didn't sleep well last night,"she yawned."I was hoping to get some sleep, but appearently you won't let me."
Tav shrugged."Wheres John?"he asked.
"Puking his lungs out. He had more of the spiked punch than I did."
Tavros raised an eyebrow."I thought he had a higher tolerance than you."
"You thought wrong,"she yawned.
Gamzee walked over to them."Yo, motherfucker. Whats hangin'?"
Vriska gave Gamzee an evil look."I would beat you senseless if I wasn't tired."
Gamzee laughed."Whatever. I just came to say hi motherfuckers."
He walked off.
The day passed by fast after that point.
Tavros, after work, stopped by at Karkat's place.
Tavros knocked on the door. Jack answered.
Jack Noir, a man in his late thirties with slightly tanned skin and black hair. He usually wore black and white.
Karkat's dad, an old minister for one of the local churches, had died a few years ago, and Jack, a family friend, took him under his care.
Karkat's dad was speaker of reform in the Catholic church, and often spoke out against certain things. He was murdered by a protester at one of his speeches, which quickly turned into a riot. His mom became hospitalized shortly after the inceident, and was diagnosed with bone cancer. she was still hanging on, but unable to take care of her son. His brother Kankri was also unable to take care of him, seeing as he was off at college at the time.
"Hey Jack, Karkat home?"Tavros asked.
"Yeah,"Jack grumbled. Tavros walked in and found Karkat in the kitchen talking with Terezi.
"No, I can't taste colors. Why do you keep asking weird shit like this?"Karkat asked Terezi.
"Beacuase, these two things taste the same, but different,"Terezi said, holding up the two pieces of plastic.
"Why are you licking plastic in the first place?"Karkat asked.
"Beacuase I was bored,"she said, annoyed.
"Am I interrupting?"Tavros asked.
"No, your saving me,"Karkat said."And also, quit licking those things. Throw them away."
Terezi pouted, but threw them away.
"What do you want Tav?"Karkat asked, opening a can of Dr Pepper, and handing Tav a root beer.
Tavros took the soda, and replied,"Just here to waste some time."
Terezi laughed."Same here."
Karkat ignored her."Does it have anything to do with Vriska?"he asked.
"No, not today,"Tavros replied, only half-lying.
"Your lying,"Karkat stated.
Tavros scratched behind his ear."Fair enough."
Karkat sighed."Well, I can't help you with vriska as of right now, but I might if I knew how deep your connection was."
"Well, you two mind answering some questions for me though?"Tavros asked.
"Sure,"Terezi said, answering for the both of them.
The next day, Tavros was drving home from work and passed by Vriska's house to see her sitting outside.
Tavros pulled up to see what was wrong, if anything.
"Whats up?"he asked.
"Go away,"Vriska said, standing up. Her eyes were bloodshot.
"Whats wrong?"he asked."Your mom in more trouble?"
"I wish,"she replied.
She saw her phone in her hand."John break up with you?"he asked.
She stopped."How did you notice?"she asked.
"I can read you like a book sometimes Vriska,"he told her."After all, you are my friend."
She lowered her head more."Why would you be my friend? I'm just a bitch. So much, that even John noticed."
"Don't say that,"Tavros said."You are a wonderful person, and John is stupid not to notice it!"
"Just leave me alone,"Vriska said, going inside.
Tavros sat down, leaning against the door.
"Vriska?"he asked.
"Yeah?"she replied.
"Are you okay?"he asked.
There was silence."No."
"Is there anything you need?"
She was silent again."I don't know."
Tavros heard something growl.
"You want something to eat?"he asked.
"Yeah."
"I'm coming inside, is that okay?"
Vriska opened the door. Tavros came inside.
Tavros made a couple plates of peas and mashed potatoes. It wasn't much, but it was filling.
Vriska thanked him, and ate.
"So, what all happened?"Tav asked.
Vriska slid him the phone."Read it."
Tavros read the text message.
Sorry Vrisk, it just isn't working out with me. But, we're still friends. Right?
"Wow, didn't even have the balls to say it to your face?"Tav asked.
Vriska didn't reply.
Tavros slid her phone back to her.
They ate in silence.
After they finished, Tavros looked at the clock.
"Hey Vriska, its pretty late, you mind if I crash here for the night?"
Vriska shrugged."I don't care."
Tavros took a shower, and walked out to see Vriska still at the table.
"Don't let some guy who was dumb enough to let you go bring you down Vriska."
"You don't know anything,"she replied.
"Oh, that's where you are wrong,"he replied.
"How so?"she asked, raising her eyes to him.
"I know what its like to feel like someone is mocking your feelings toward them. I know because the girl I use to have a huge crush on never acknowledged my feelings. Eventually, I began to notice her feelings were directed to another person."
"Who?"Vriska asked.
"Jade,"he replied."But I never loved her. I thought I did, but I was wrong."
Vriska snorted."So you think John is the same way?"
Tav shrugged."If you ask me, he didn't like you the way you liked him. He just wanted to test it out to see how well you and him would be together. Honestly, if I had to guess a girl he would end up with, other than you, it would be Rose."
"Lalonde?"Vriska asked.
Tavros shrugged."The two have known each other since they were kids. Their parents even dated at one point. It would make sense."
Vriska thought for a minute."So, what do you suggest?"she asked.
"Try to find someone else. Someone who won't be dumb enough to let you go. Someone who you like to spend time with. Someone you can trust. Someone kind. I don't know, who would you like to date besides John?"
She blinked."I've asked you many times before, and you never gave me a complete answer. Why do you keep helping me?"
Tavros smiled."Because you're a friend, and..."
"Yessssssss?"she asked.
"Well, uh..."Tavros was beginning to blush."Well, you did help me get more confedence in myself. And there is no way I can thank you for that."
"Why are you blushing then?"she asked. She had an evil grin on her lips."Well Taaaaaaaavros?"
Tavros cleared his throat."Well, how would you react if you tried to tell a girl who bullied you for years, 'Thank you?'"
Vriska laughed."Fair enough."She stood up."Well, i'm going to sleep. I'll wake you up in the morning."
"Thanks,"Tavros said, telling her goodnight.
Tavros fell asleep easily that night. For some reason, being at Vriska's made him feel happy, and able to sleep easier.
When he opened his eyes to next morning, the smell of bacon filled his nostrils.
"Morning,"Vriska said, seeing him walk in."Sleep well?"she asked.
"Yeah,"he replied with a yawn."Making breakfast?"he asked.
"No, i'm ass-raping a fish, what does it look like?"she said back.
Tavros laughed.
When it was done, Tavros thanked her, and ate it all up.
"Any good?"she asked.
"Wonderful,"he replied."Simple, but somehow has a more... comforting taste than what I've had before."
She smiled."Thanks."
After breakfast Tavros got dressed."Need a ride?"he asked.
"Yeah,"she sighed."Its better than walking ten minutes to the nearest bus stop."
Tavros started up his car and drove off to school.
"How did it go?"Karkat asked.
"How did what go?"Tavros asked.
Terezi laughed."A blind girl can hear many things, including how John Egbert broke up with Vriska through a text message."
Tavros raised an eyebrow."Who told you this time?"he asked.
Terezi shrugged."Rose."
"Ah,"Tavros replied.
"Now answer my damn question,"Karkat added.
"It went okay, even if I am stretching it a bit."Tavros sighed."But, it filled me with a new hope."
"Good,"Karkat said. He stretched."Well, I have work due next class. Might as well finish it up."
The days went by like crazy. and, before they knew it, December was on them. And Christmas even closer.
The days leading up to this point were pretty boring.
Well, there you go guys. Another chapter done.
The next couple one to three chapters will be focusing on Christmas time Tavros. Will he give vriska a gift she'll never forget, and will he get that kiss under the mistletoe. Well, just wait and see.
TY for reading. Leave a review if there is anything you believe needs added or changed, or anything.