Chapter 10. Wow. I most certainly thought I would booed off the site by now. I was surprised when people didn't point out every little thing I got wrong.
Well, some of you did that, but in a nice enough way that I didn't feel bad.
School starts in eight days, band rehearsal starts tomorrow, and my audition for Actors and Musicians Ensemble is in three days.
Two days ago I was in a big concert benefit for said band, featuring Esperanza Spalding.
And yet, I find time to write for your greedy eyes.
You're welcome.
This chapter is (kinda) in three parts. I'll include narrative from all three main characters, but think of it as happening at the same time. (more or less) It'll get less confusing when you read it. Also, I'm thinking about renaming the fic. I'll put in the summary that is used to be this.
Side Note: Editing offer is still up. I'd rather you PM me, so we can make the exchange through email and I can edit it in the comfort of my own word processing program. I've had people asking me how much I'm charging for this, too, so I'm only going to say this once.
IT IS 100% FREE OF CHARGE. NO MONEY TRANSFER INVOLVED.
I would, however, like an editing credit.
I'll be straightforward, asking you about certain things and giving my opinion. For instance, I'll fix your spelling and punctuation errors, but if I believe it would look cleaner if you didn't use bold so much, I'll ask you about it and you can say "That's my writing style." And I'll back off. But if you agree, I'll make some changes, then send you the edited document, so you can see how you like it. If you don't, you can send it back and I'll revert it.
Honestly. I'm going for a respectable, efficient editor.
But, so far? No takers.
*Sigh*
-z/S
Karkat Vantas and Dave Strider. (From the point of view of Karkat Vantas.)
You swear you were just trying to find her to ask if she wanted to watch a movie! You weren't following her. No way.
Ok, that's a lie. But you weren't following her to be creepy! You were concerned. You had seen her storm from the stairwell that led down to Can Town, with Dave following behind. She looked like she was going to the roof. She took no notice of you or anyone else. A few minutes after they passed by, you started following them too, convinced that Dave had fucked up. You had paused to catch your breath once, and then continued.
What you saw when you opened that door was completely beyond your perception of reality.
Betrayal. Hurt. Lies.
All of it, lies.
You couldn't move. You could only watch as she pushed him away, crying.
A tiny glimmer of hope.
She pushed past you, her face twisted with confusion and damp with tears.
She was still beautiful.
After a little while, your brain starts to function again. It slowly recounts what you had just seen. They were talking, and then he moved forward and kissed her.
He kissed her.
She had looked so surprised. Her eyes had fluttered, as if they were fighting the instinct to close. They had stayed open. Then she had pushed him away.
She didn't want it.
She got up and started running, staggering a bit. She was crying and her face was flushed. She had pushed past you then, not seeming to register who you were and what that meant. She had knocked you down.
You look over at Dave. He was on his back, holding his hands to his head. Something clicks.
He kissed her.
HE kissed HER.
He FUCKING KISSED YOUR MATESPRIT.
You stand up. He caused her this pain. You start walking forward. He made her cry. Your face is a mask of fury. He feels bad about it.
You pause. Where did that thought come from? I mean, you guess he does look a little sorry. Like he's beating himself up for being so stupid.
Your face softens, and you continue walking. Soon you're looming over him. He moves a hand to see where the shadow came from, and his face falls when he see's it's you. His hand goes back to his forehead.
"Yo." he mutters. He sounds defeated and regretful, and for once, he sounds genuine.
"Stand up, you little fucker."
He looks at you again, calculating. It dawns on you that you're able to read him so well now that his poker face has been shattered. He sighs, and slowly stands up. You stare him down for a while, and he shifts uncomfortably under your gaze.
Then you draw your arm back and punch him with every ounce of strength in your body.
He doesn't flinch or defend himself, he just takes it and falls, his glasses flying off and landing a few feet away. The bruise is already forming, and he looks like he's about to pass out. You sit down next to him.
"Now give me a reason why I shouldn't fucking do that again."
His eyes look dead.
"It was my fault. I acted on impulse. I misread her. She fucking blushed, what am I supposed to take that for? Anyway she hates me now. She's probably freaking out. God I fucked up. I ruined something awesome. She was complaining about you again, she seemed so unhappy with you... so I took a chance and fucking screwed myself and our friendship over. Plus I have a black eye that hurts like a son of a bitch. I didn't expect someone your size to pack a punch like that, Vantas."
You glare. "Not helping your case, Strider. My hand is just itching to connect with your flesh."
He smirks. "And I'd defend myself this time. I let you punch me the first time because I fucking deserve it."
You get up. "You can sit there for however long you like. I'm going to go find her."
"Have fun. Hope she cries into your shoulder forever so you have to keep changing shirts and do laundry eight times a day."
"Shut up, asslicker."
Raise your hand if you totally saw that coming.
Oh shut up, you liars.
-z/S
Terezi Pyrope.
You wake up crying and shaking. Suddenly there are licorice coated candy arms around you. You lean into them and sob, not caring who it was that you were soaking with your tears. Eventually your fuzzy mind comes into focus.
Karkat. Oh god Karkat. You have to find him and tell him everything. You struggle to free yourself from the unnamed comfort that is holding you.
"Tez! Tez calm down! It's me! Calm down!"
You recognize that voice...
"CALM DOWN GOD FUCKING DAMNIT WOMAN."
You decide to calm down. There is red somewhere. Above you a little bit... right where the persons face should be...
Kar-"Kat...?"
"Yes. Are you calm?"
You turn to face him. There's a scratch on his cheek and you can smell the genuine concern in his eyes. Suddenly tears are overflowing and pouring down your cheeks.
"Wait a second! I didn't mean to-"
You grab him around the waist and cry. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Karkat. I- I'm-"
He puts a hand on your head, holding you to him. "It's ok, Terezi. I know what happened. It's not your fault, it's fine... You're fine..."
You stay like that for a while, crying into his chest and apologizing over and over and him telling you it's not your fault. It was never your fault. You don't believe him but at the same time you know he's right. Your legs hurt and your head is pounding. You finally settle down and then he's kissing you. You fall asleep against his lips.
I know that Terezi's a bit OOC but that's because she's hysterical.
-z/S
