Fuck, how could I have been so stupid?! Karkat thought furiously, I should have laughed it off or something, not stormed off crying like a bitch! He slammed his fist on the bed, ignoring the slight pain as the headboard shook.

He had to catch the bus in 20 minutes, but he was still standing in his pajamas. Why bother putting the effort into anything if she wouldn't notice? If she would just be obsessed with Strider, what was the point?

But still, it was habit, and he did his hair, dressed fashionable, even eating breakfast, although it was tasteless.

What was going to happen at school? Who would talk to him now? All of his hard work to make her like him, was all that gone to shit?

Should he just give up?

No. He shook his head violently, eliciting a strange look from Kanaya at the breakfast able. It is worth something. My Terezi is still in her head...somewhere. And I won't give up.


Karkat's gaze darted nervously around the room, searching for the fluffy red hair that was Terezi. Is she not here today?! dammit, I look hot today, why is she not here to witness this awesomeness?

The door swung open, and Karkat's hear leaped in fright. Oh...there she is. He dared to steal a glance at the chair next to him, her chair.

She waltzed in and slipped into her seat, winking at Vriska as she did so. God, she was beautiful. He blushed brightly and concentrated on his binder, overstuffed with school papers. How could she stand to be so perfect?

"Hey Terezi," he said easily, at least outwardly. Inwardly, he was flipping his shit. You are friends, you CAN talk to her! Pretend nothing happened...

"Hey Karkles!" she said cheerfully. "Have fun at the party?"

Fun?! Fuck no, I didn't have FUN! How is any of that FUN?!

"...Yeah, sorta," he lied.

"I bet I know why you didn't have fun~!" she cajoled, leaning forward.

Oh god, tell me you do. Tell me it was just a dare and my subconscious knew it all along! Tell me you like me dammit!

"Why?" he asked, not allowing himself to be hopeful.

"Cuz you didn't drink anything, silly! It really amplifies the experience you know." She waggled her head, and in his own mind, he facepalmed.

I lied. He was hopeful.

"Haha," he said weakly, "Uhhh, maybe next time."

What happened to 'I love that about you', like in my dream? I thought she liked that about me!

The door flung itself open again, and a messy blonde hurtled herself through, dragging an olive-green backpack with her. Panting, she set a note on the teacher's desk, who frowned disapprovingly.

"Late again, Leijon?"

He pronounced it Lee-yon, and she turned slowly around.

Ohhh shit.

Nepeta was a fairly going person, but her last name was one of those things that particularly rattled her. But ever since she got quiet, she hadn't bothered correcting anyone.

But today...?

"Leijon, actually. Laaay-onnn! French for lion, if you're interested. Please say it right." She flipped her hair and flounced to her seat.

That was a new one.

"Jesus Catnip," Terezi snarked, "Period much? Need a scratching post?"

"If I was, you'd be all up in that red, huh, Legislator." Nepeta hissed back. Karkat recoiled from shock at the venomous exchange, and Feferi whistled softly.

"Heyyy, Catsis got her sass back!" Gamzee hooted. Strider leaned over and high-fived her, and she turned pink.

Terezi, however, turned crimson.

What was that about?! Karkat looked at Sollux in confusion, and only received a bewildered shrug.

He stole another glance at Nepeta, and she almost looked...different. Wearing a long-sleeve shirt, as always (Jesus, she was so cold all the time), her hair just as messed up, but something...

That glow. That happy glow. He hadn't seen that grin in a while, the flash of white teeth, the faint blush of receiving attention. A switch had been flipped, or that was how it seemed.

Or rather, flipped back.

But he didn't like the look Strider was giving her.


It's short, I'm sorry, but I got chapter 13 all ready to go tomorrow!