"Alright, alright," My fifth period class is acting crazy today. "Everyone settle- Dave Strider, get off of that desk right now!"

He jumps off of it, bowing to me saying "Anything for you, Mr. V." A couple of girls giggle behind him.

"Just take a seat before I give you one in the office in stead!" Dave shrugs. He probably doesn't give two shits. His brother would probably drag him out of there anyway. I clear my throat. "Now, if there aren't anymore outburst. I would like to go over this week's schedule."

The class groans. "What are you going to surprise us with this week? A quiz? Another chapter test?" I roll my eyes at the voice in front of me.

"No, Mr. Ampora, though, you could use the points." I tell him in a monotone voice. I walk behind my desk, reaching under it to pull out a box. "It's much worse than that," Inside the box are To Kill a Mocking Bird books. "I'm making you read."

I earn a groan from my class as I start to pass out books.

"Now, I know you all have better things to do, like make up excuses to not read this, but these are easy points, you guys. You all will probably look up spark notes, anyway."

Dave raises up his hand. His black aviator shades glinting from the ceiling lights.

"Yes, Mr. Strider?" I sigh.

"What are these spark notes, Mr. Vantas?"

I smirk. "Alright, everyone but Dave will look up spark-notes. I don't care how you learn it. Just be ready for classroom jeopardy this entire week."

There's a surprise mummur that washes over the class. Someone in the back of the room speaks up. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," I pass some books to Ampora "Why wouldn't I be? Spookest is this weekend and we have an assembly on Friday. Not to mention I have to grade," I pause for a second. "Which reminds me, turn in your work on time, people. You're drowning me in all this paperwork; my student assistants are getting hand cramps."

"Maybe if he didn't assign so much of it, it wouldn't be a problem," Dave leans in to whisper to Eridan. Making them both snort.

"I heard that, Strider. Keep it up. I'll send you to Vice Principal Boxcar so fast, it'll make your head spin."

That shut him up quickly. I wouldn't be that mean. I don't even like going to his office.

"As I was saying," I give him an annoyed look. "Turn in your work, or you'll regret it. I'll reevaluate my tardy policy if I have to."

Eridan raises his hand as well. "What about the jeopardy questions?"

"Oh yes, thank you for bringing me back on course," I finish passing out the books and stride quickly back to my front desk. "Tomorrow's game will be about chapter's one through three. The category's will be about characters, setting, what's going on so far. Simple things. So I'm trusting you to read it. Otherwise, we'll read in class and have a quiz Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Understood?"

"Now, Mr. Vantas, don't you believe that's a little harsh?" Doc Scratch snakes into my room, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. His pristine, white suit emulates near perfection. Along with his combed back white hair. Scratch's light green vest is shining underneath my classroom lights, slightly blinds me. It's like he's glowing all around. "Giving them that many quizzes in a week? You already almost exceeded your worksheet quota for this class. I hope you aren't trying to max out your quiz one as well." He questions me while fixing his tie.

"Oh, no sir. It's just a mild threat," I'm stuttering on my words as I turn to face him. "Just to keep them in line."

"No need to be nervous, I'm just making one of my bi-weekly rounds," He stands next to me, waving to the class. They wave back to him, all in unison. "But you wouldn't happen to have a few minutes would you?"

I gulp. "I would need someone to watch my class while I'm gone, Dr. Scratch." Something in him drags out my automatic respect. I wouldn't dare call him his real name.

His eyes scan the class, landing on Strider. "Dave,"

"Yeah?" I have to smile at the semi-scared look on his rotten, little face.

"Watch the class. I'm trusting everything to be in order when we get back."

"Y-Yes, Dr. Scratch." He swipes off his shades, revealing his red irises.

Doc Scratch's radiant white teeth shine through his lips, "Good! We'll be back shortly." He turns on his heels, taking the reverenced cloud that surrounds him out of my class room. And I scurry along behind it.

Walking down the halls of the English building, Doc Scratch hums a quiet song. Door by door, we make our way into the depths of the building. Neither of us speak a word, and it's driving me crazy. What could he possible want to talk about? What's up that immaculate sleeve of his? "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about, Dr. Scratch?" I had to speak up. I want to go back to the safety of my class.

He purses his lips, now whistling that unknown tune to my ears. Before I repeat myself, he speaks "How was your weekend, Mr. Vantas?"

"I-it was alright."

"Just alright? Oh, come on, tell me something more that 'it was alright'," I see a sly grin come over his lips. "What did you do?"

My mind flashes back to Saturday and spending time with Gamzee. " I got coffee and spent sometime at a park downtown. Nothing too special," I wasn't exactly lying. "How was your weekend?"

We turn a corner, coming to the next section of the building. "Well, it started off wonderful. I woke up on Saturday and did my daily routine-clean my desk, call my mother, make breakfast- then started to walk my dog, Licorice. I've had him for four years. He's a little Scottie dog. We ran into Ms. Serket, went down to a park Licorice seems to love,"

I nod my head, letting out a few Uh-Huh's as I begin to zone him out. Jesus he can talk

"But, as I was sitting down for lunch, I got a phone call from Vice Principal Boxcar. He told me he's planning on retiring this year."

My eyes widen, "Really? Why?"

"He said he's getting too old nowadays, he's ready to relax. We've been working together for over twenty-four years." He suddenly look old, very old. His normal youthful swagger seemed to vanish and be replaced with a wise, old man. One who had seen many of things and recalls each fleeting memory with a struggle. If I recall, someone once mentioned he became Skaia's principal when he was 36. Like a flash, his ageless veneer comes back. All that I saw in those seconds, faded back into hiding with in the man beside me. "I'm going to have to find our replacement."

"Our?" I push open the doors that lead outside, letting him walk out first.

"I think, I'll retire after another year. I'll make it an even twenty-five years. Whoever I pick, I can also have them under my wing for a year before I retire." We go around the side of the building, taking our time in the early afternoon sunlight.

I almost let the silence easy into our conversation, but I think I realize what he's trying to say. "Do you have an idea who you want to replace you?"

He chuckles, "Keep up the good work, Karkat. We'll be seeing more of one another." He twirls the tips of his fingers, walking, almost skipping, away from me. "Goodbye for now. We will be seeing a lot more of one another."

I wave and feel as if I got out of trance. Looking around, I realize, we had stopped in front of my outside door. I grab the handle and swing open the door. Doc Scratch thinks I could be Principal of Skaia High. I feel giddy inside, remarkably giddy. I hear the shouts of the kids in my class and my eyes readjust to the light in my class. Paper balls are flying through the air, and kids marking up my board, and my eyes widen at the worst of it all.

"Dave Strider! Get out of my damn chair!" I shout, seeing his worn down, dirty sneakers on my oak wood desk.

((())

"Can we just motherfucking drop it already?" My groans go into deaf ears as John persist on.

"No, we aren't going to motherfucking drop it already, Gamzee," John grabs me by my shoulder, forcing me to look him in his sky-blue eyes. "You do realize your dad almost throttled mine Saturday right? He was, like, four seconds from stuffing my dad in his briefcase."

"Don't be over dramatic," I roll my eyes, stopping to get a drink from a water fountain. Really, I'm buying time to make up a good excuse.

"You almost got all three of us in deep trouble!" John spits in my ear. "You're lucky enough Rufioh is cool enough to lie for you, let alone Tavros was actually awake when I called."

"Yeah, he sleeps like a motherfucking log." I swallow my last gulp of water and start towards the Math building.

"No kidding! So for saving your sorry butt," John jumps in front of me, walking backwards so we are face to face with one another. "We both deserve to know why we did so in the first place!"

"Hey you guys," I groan again as Tavros walks up to us. He gives me a weird look, but continues with his greeting. "What's up?"

I storm past him, mumbling "Nothing. Don't ask."

"What's up with him?" Tavros inquires as they follow a little bit behind me.

"He's won't tell me what happened on Saturday." John sighs.

"Still?"

"Yes!"

"I had a date, alright!?" I throw my arms up in the air exasperation. "I had a motherfucking date and I fell asleep at their house."

"Really?" John states at me with blanks eyes through his glasses.

Tavros drags his fingers through his mohawk, pausing mid-stride "That's all?"

"Yes," I look around to see if anyone was watching. Grabbing onto their back-pack straps and pull them over to an empty section of the hallway. "Look, I don't want either of you to mention this to anyone, okay?" I whisper. "I mean motherfucking no one."

They nod, giving me questionable looks. "Why?" John asks.

"Because," I pause. "Just, please, don't tell anyone." I drop my voice into a serious tone. I know I can't tell them what happened on Saturday. I've already said enough.

"Okay, Gamzee," Tavros' voice has a consoling tone to it. "We won't tell."

"Thanks," The minute bell goes off and we all scurry off to our classes. I make it just in time to my class and take my seat.

"Nice of you to join us, Gamzee." A sub drags out each word in a slow, monotone voice. I pull out my math binder and start to look forward to a nice nap, when Nepeta taps my shoulder.

"Gamzee! Why didn't you text me Sunday?!" She flicks her bangs away from her eyes, giving me a nasty look. "I sent you, like, fifty messages!"

I groan remembering look at my phone this morning seeing all her notifications. "I'm sorry, Sis. My dad got back on Saturday, and he wanted a 'family day'," I turn to face her, seeing her eyes widen.

"He's home? That sucks!" She knows how my father is. She rubs my shoulder in sympathy. "I guess your on lockdown for awhile, huh?"

I burrow my head into her shoulder, pretending to be miserable, "You don't even know the half of it," I don't even have to try hard. "I didn't come home on time Saturday, and he went to John's house and gave him a tongue lashing so motherfucking hard, that he's probably deaf."

"Oh my God! Gamzee," She pushes me away, not be swayed by my act. "I thought I heard Meulin talking about you this morning. Why didn't you just call and say you were at Tavros'?"

I roll my eyes. "Kurloz talks too motherfucking much."

She shoves me playfully, "It wasn't your brother, Mr. Know-It-All," She sticks her tongue out. "It was Rufioh."

"Why was he calling her?" I ask. At least he's making my story look believable.

"Nothing much," She twirls pencil between her fingers and shrugs. "He was just wondering if she wanted if she could hangout this Friday, since Tavros is going to the Dance." She leans in close with a Cheshire grin on her face. "But between you and me, it sounds like a date."

"Isn't your mom on a hunting trip?" I turn to he with a quizzical look on my face.

"Some where in the Kenya, right now." She beams. Nepeta has always been proud that she has come form a long line of huntress. Herself not being excluded. Killing her first cougar at twelve. "Why?"

"No mom, no little sister," I shrug. "And you know she has had the hots for Rufioh since Kurloz dumped her."

She gives me some ridiculous look and rolls her eyes until it I think they'll pop out her head. "Like I have a date to the Dance."

"What about Eridan?" I suggest to her. "It's not like he has one either."

"Ew." She scrunches up her face, shaking her head in disgust. "I'm not desperate, Gamzee. I'm just going to go by myself. All our friends will be there, and I just want to dance. I don't need a date anyway."

"Right on, sis. Right on," I lean back in my chair, bowing my head in agreeance. "Maybe, I'll come a join you. If my dad will let me."

"You better," She smiles at me "It wouldn't be a party without you."