Seven

"Something troubling you, Kan?"

Kanaya lifted her eyes from the dashboard and to her sister in the driver's seat. She normally walked to school but for some reason today, she just couldn't bring herself to do it. That was the case with most things these days. She felt an enormous weight on her shoulders; it was uncomfortable and she couldn't shake it off. She could only accept it and let it wear her out. Of course, this weight was result of Rose Lalonde's devious antics. She'd only teased Kanaya here and there in the few weeks that followed the locker room incident, but it still made Kanaya feel incredibly meek and depressed.

"Just tired, Porrim. I didn't sleep well."

Porrim analyzed her younger sister. She knew all too well that she was lying, but Kanaya knew that Porrim wouldn't pry. "If it gets to be too much, you can tell me what's bothering you."

"Thank you," she whispered gratefully.

The day passed by in a blur as usual for Kanaya. Even her conversations with Terezi and Karkat were found to be monotonous and tedious. She didn't have much to say these days, or rather she didn't have the effort to say anything. They were great about it though. They smiled to her and told her that things would soon look up for her, and that they loved her. She appreciated that greatly.

In her Literature class, things seemed to get even worse. Her teacher assigned their first big project. She'd had Rose and Kanaya work together before, but nothing they couldn't finish in a class period. But this project was something big that would take about two to three weeks and would require out-of-class work to finish on time and with a good grade. It was something to do with Literature and it's elements and how it has evolved but on a much larger scale, which they had to write a paper for and complete several other smaller projects to hand it all at one time. Thus indicating that Maryam would soon be spending a lot more time with the blond girl.

Rose scooted her chair closer while examining the requirement sheet. Kanaya quietly flinched. "I won't bite, Maryam," Rose snarked.

"I don't know what you're capable of, Lalonde," she whispered. Rose just glared in return. "Can we please just get to work? I want this done."

"Whatever you say, lesbo," she spat under her breath.

Be a good girl, Kanaya. She bit her tongue and tried her best to work. She looked over all the passages in her book that she could find to help her with the project. However, as she tried to read, the words just floated around the page and her vision became red with fury. She fought back her sudden urge to growl and erupt in anger.

"What is your problem, Rose? Why can't you just let me live my own life the way I want to? Why does it even matter to you?"

And then she saw something in her peer's eyes. A flash of something she just couldn't understand. Longing or perhaps jealousy, or maybe even flat out resentment. But in that moment Kanaya saw Rose as something she'd never seen her as before; weak and human.

"You shouldn't deny who you are inside."

"Did you ever think that I honestly believe in this?"

"Yes," she said venomously, "And it's bullshit."

"Well there's nothing you can do about it," Kanaya argued.

Rose stared back with a blank stare and a devious smirk. "We'll see about that."

Before Kanaya could rebuttal, the bell rang. Bodies stood, feet shuffled, and before she knew it she'd lost sight of Rose. A sudden panic washed over the pale girl and she felt as if she couldn't breathe. She tried repeating her mantra to herself but it did little to soothe her. Only one thought was running through her crowded brain was; Karkat. I need Karkat.

She began to run out of the classroom, books in hand and eyes searching the endless stream of faces. Not one of them were Karkat. She stopped off at her locker and quickly ditched her books and began her search again. She realized that lunch had begun and knowing her best friend, he'd already be in the cafeteria. She sprinted through the halls and to the cafeteria. It only took seconds before her friends called out to her.

"Kanaya! Over here!"

She found her group seated at a circle table in to the far side of the room. They greeted her with smiles and then carried on with their conversations; all except for Karkat, who saw how distraught Kanaya looked. She was a sweaty and desperate mess, which were all things he'd never seen her be before. His eyes were filled to the brim with concern.

"What's going on?"

"Rose!" She whispered, trying her best not to cry. "She's planning something. I don't know what but when I spoke to her, she had this look-" Kanaya cut herself off as she saw Rose Lalonde near the front of the room. Her face was set forward and she radiated mischief and determination.

"What is she doing?" Karkat asked quietly, a tremble to his voice as well.

"I have no idea," Kanaya answered, covering her mouth in anticipation.

Rose climbed to the top of the table, standing in the center of the rectangle. Heads flew towards her immediately. Her eyes came to rest on Maryam and another devilish grin crossed her lips. She took a deep breath and called out to the entire student population to gain their attention. Any eyes that weren't on her before now looked up at her with curiosity. She sighed and fixed her stance. She shouted one thing, got off the table, and was on her way. But the words that flew out of her mouth put Kanaya in utter shock as every pair of eyes suddenly found their way to her face.

"Kanaya Maryam is a lesbian!"

She remained blank faced but her mouth fell open to speak. She could feel her breathing pick up and her heart beat faster. Everything was quiet. So, so quiet, and it was killing her inside. She knew she couldn't cry or run away; everyone would think what Rose had said was true. She couldn't just stand there in motionless shock either. Karkat growled low in his throat.

"What are all you fuckasses looking at?! Kanaya isn't a lesbian!"

He took her by the waist and pulled her to him. In an instance, his lips were on hers in a desperate attempt to save her. She was surprised at first but then was suddenly grateful. She felt herself release the pent up tears. Kanaya hugged Karkat as they pulled their lips away from each other. She shifted her eyes around and found that only a few people were still watching and she felt relieved deep in her core. Karkat leaned in to her Kanaya's ear.

"I am so sorry for that, Kanaya," he pleaded.

"No, I'm happy you did it. You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for." She hugged harder and then they parted and ate their lunches. Things didn't go as she'd planned but Karkat had saved her in a truly compromising position. She knew she'd have to thank him some how, but that could wait another day. The only thing on her mind now was not avoiding or getting revenge on Lalonde. It was to understand her.