AN: Welp, no guests reviewed while I'm writing this, so I guess it's me blabbing for a couple of sentences and then the story. I'll try to make this long, I promise! Anyways, thanks reviewers, favouriters and followers who're still here! I love you all! Plus this is a story that I really enjoy (that's, ah, one way to describe it) writing, and I'm glad people like it! Anyway, I think I've blabbed long enough, and I doubt anyone actually takes the time to read this, so better get on with the story. Eeeeeeeeeenjoy!


Karkat took a deep breath. He was stood outside the Egbert's house (Which was very big and pristine-looking. He just hoped John's Dad wasn't one of those people.) and he was nervous. It wasn't like it was that big. He'd met other parents, gone to other houses, and been fine. Why was John's house making him like this? Probably because he was feeling really bad about everything right now. It wasn't like he'd spent a night getting advice from a dead person. It wasn't like his dad thought he was mental. Yeah, that would never happen, would it?

This was dangerous. Emotionally, this was dangerous for him. This was a friend he'd basically told to fuck off. Seriously. Also the guy's best friend had basically told him to butt out. And the guy's best friend just happened to be one of the most popular known kids in school, even though he hung out with the unpopular ones. Strider was actually a pretty cool guy, if Karkat thought about it. But he acted like a dick. So that pretty much evened it out.

Shut up. You're here to apologise to John, not Strider. Karkat thought to himself. Of course, he should really apologise to all his friends. But John seemed the most upset by his outburst, by far. Jade and Rose seemed more angry that he'd hurt John. So did Strider. Huh. Everyone seemed to love John.

Karkat realized he'd been standing outside the Egberts's for ten minutes and he hadn't even got on to actually thinking about what exactly he was going to say. He should probably knock. He raised his hand, but he didn't have time to even knock. John's Dad, he guessed, answered the door. He looked like a tired office man with a hat."Hi, I'm, uh, a friend of John's." Karkat said, twiddling his thumbs behind his back.
"Oh! Well, come in! He's upstairs, in the shower, I think."
"You seem so surprised."
"Well, John's not really the...sociable type. He doesn't have friends over much."
"Oh."
"I'm John's Dad, by the way. "
"Karkat. Karkat Vantas."
"Well, Karkat, you can go up if you want. I'll just be in the kitchen if you need anything."
"Uh, yeah, thanks." Karkat headed upstairs. John's Dad was fairly nice. Nicer than Karkat'd expected him to be. It seemed people were different around here. That was nice.

Karkat knocked on John's room door (It had a bright blue sign with letters stating 'John's room') and then opened the door slowly. John was sat at his computer monitor in a blue shirt and jeans. Normal weekend clothing. "Da-...Oh."
"John. I-we need to talk." John sighed.
"Yeah. OK. But make it quick, will you? I need to go somewhere later." John stood up, and sat on the bed. Karkat perched awkwardly at the end of the bed. "John...I, um...I'm really sorry. About what I said. And, well, everything."
"It's OK."
"No. It isn't. It isn't OK. I have a tendency to push away friends and people I need, and I never get to tell them that before...Before they aren't here anymore. I'm not going to make that mistake another time. Because I need my friends and family and everyone else because I can't just be there and be strong and be happy on my own. I've lost way too much."
"...Karkat, it's OK. Really."
"Stop saying that! You should be angry, after how much you tried. And hey, you're well set out, aren't you? Big house, lots of friends, cool Dad, constant support. And you deserve friends who would stick up for you, no matter what. You deserve normal friends. Honestly, sometimes I think everyone would just be better off without people like-"
"No!" John said firmly. "No one in the world, no one would be better off without people like you, Karkat. Never, ever say anything like that again. Ever."
"But-" John pulled Karkat into a hug.
"Ever."


AN: This is super short. I seriously need to extend my chapters. I might do a super long chapter soon. Though it'll probably take ages to get published. Meh. Review if you liked! c:
~AP