As I walked away from Kark I was smiling slightly. If the boy got any cuter than he was just then, I'm sure it'd be illegal. His wide-eyed look of shock, which quickly morphed into something like anticipation, was definitely deserving of a point in the tally, and an extra one for the blush that followed.

I also awarded myself a point for that moment when he turned to me and I saw the arousal I'd caused by simply gliding my hand over his stomach. Those points brought the tally to Strider: 8, Vantas: 4

Okay, Vantas 5. I had to admit, at least to myself, that the whimper had done something for me.

I jogged up the stairs as I edited the tally, heading towards the music rooms.

I walked down the hallway and then into the right room to be assaulted by an almost-literal wall of sound.

As I looked around I noticed that blue-red glasses kid, Sollux, dicking about with an electric keyboard, as well as a disgustingly sweaty guy beating the crap out of the drum kit, and ignored everyone else in the room as I saw Rose and headed over to her.

She was standing, in absolute contrast to the chaos around her, playing her violin. It wasn't until I got closer that I saw how she was managing it. She had her earphones in and, I assumed, playing music loudly.

I tapped her on the shoulder and waved to her before heading over to the teacher.

He sat with his feet on the table, wearing a white skin-tight shirt and skinny jeans. His hair had a similar streak to that of the senior yesterday, Ampora.

"Uh…. "I tried getting his attention, a difficult task considering his close eyes and earphones in. I ended up having to shove him roughly before he looked up. "I'm Dave Strider. Sorry I was late Mr…."

"Cronus. Just call me Cronus."

He seemed like a laid-back dude, but his accent startled me a little. He sounded like someone from Grease.

"…Sure, Cronus."

He grinned as if he didn't get listened to often.

"Well, as you can see, we're havin' a bit of free-play time, so grab an instrument and go."

"Cool." I nodded and turned, looking for some turntables of something. Unfortunately there seemed to be no such thing at this stupid school.

I was pulling out my iPod, preparing some beats, getting ready to write a rap or something when Jade rushed in carrying her over-sized bass case.

"Oh, hi Dave! I didn't know you were in this class, which is silly. Of course you'd be in music." She grinned widely at me and I couldn't help but smile a little in return.

She started talking about having roll call with 'Karkles', which she explained was John's nickname for Karkitty, and how their teacher was his uncle, but I started zoning out at the first mention of Karkitty, wondering what he was doing…

I winced and fell as another ball hit me in the side.

Why, of all the possible things to play, did we have to play dodge ball?

I knew I was supposed to move off-court, but all I wanted to do was lie on the ground.

"Come on Karkles. Get up." The annoyingly upbeat voice of John Egbert came from above me.

"Fuck off Egbert. Leave me to die of my injuries."

He laughed.

"Stop being so melodramatic. Just move to the seats."

He began tugging on my arm.

"Ugh, fine." I let him pull me up, and walked to the bleachers, before lying down again, flinging an arm over my eyes.

I just knew I was going to be covered in bruises tomorrow morning. For some reason, whenever I was forced to play dodge ball I was a ball magnet. Seriously, even the creepy-as-fuck blind girl who walked up and fucking sniffed your face was better than me.

"Okay kids. Go get out of those lame sport uniforms. Class's over." The teacher told us, unlocking the doors to the change rooms.

I groaned and stood up, slowly making my way to the change rooms.

When I entered I had a shirtless John fling himself at me.

"Kaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrkllllll lleessssssssss! Please tell me you have some deodorant I borrow."

"BLUH!" I panicked as he draped himself over me and pushed him away, throwing myself backwards at the same time.

We both hit the floor, leaning back on our hands.

"…..is that a no?"

"No just…. Don't attack me like that. You scared the crap out of me." I stood, offering him a hand up.

He blushed a little as he took my outstretched hand.

"Sorry. I was just a little panicked. Normally I remember things like this." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Geez Egbert. You're so lame." I gave a half-smile over my shoulder, letting him know I was joking.

"I am a bit, aren't I?" He laughed self-deprecatingly.

I tossed him my deodorant and pulled my shirt off.

He turned away – awkwardly or considerately, I couldn't tell – as I pulled my pants off before pulling on the jeans and long-sleeve I'd been wearing earlier.

I received my deodorant back from Egbert and shoved it in my bag. I didn't care to re-apply in the middle of the day. I only had it 'cause I was planning on crashing at Kan's tonight – my dad had 'company' and was kicking me out.

The bell went and we finished tidying our things and left the change room.

As we left the gym, Kanaya came up behind up, draping an elegant arm over my shoulders.

"Oh, by the way Kan, can I crash at your place tonight?"

She didn't hesitate before answering.

"Of course you may. Our door is always open to you. Is your father kicking you out again?"

On my other side, Egbert was looking confused, but he didn't really matter at the moment and soon ran off after someone.

"Yeah," I sighed, looking at my feet. "He's got 'company' again."

Kan pulled me closer in a comforting hug.

"Shall we have a feelings jam?"

"That'd be great. Thanks Kan." I wrapped an arm around her, returning her hug.

"No problem, Karkat."

I spotted Strider ahead, one arm slung lazily over John's shoulders, his other hand outlining something in the air.

"Hold this for a moment…" I passed my bag to Kanaya and began moving closer to him.

"…to get the guy-"

"Not a homosexual, Dave."

"Whatever. To get the girl, you need to be smooth…"

I stopped paying attention to Strider's conversation and instead the timing of his footsteps, the way his body moved as he walked and all the other things I needed to pay attention to to get this right.

When I was sure I'd noted everything I prepared myself and pounced.