A/N: Wow, this came out longer than I thought it would. I guess I had a lot to deal with with Jade. Actually, I have more crap to deal with with her, so more Jade crap to come.
I feel like I went too fast in this again, with like switching emotions and dialogue and crap, so for that I apologize. I haven't read over this as many times as I normally read over chapters, so if you find grammar or spelling mistakes, as well as confusing words or sentences, tell me! I don't bite!
WARG, YOU GUYS ARE TOO AMAZING! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEWS!
Oh, and based on something someone said I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER WRITE SMUT. I'm sorry, call me innocent or some shit, but I do NOT like smut or lemons, and they make me uncomfortable. I don't mind if you write or read smut/lemons, but I will never write or read smuts. This is not meant to be offensive to anyone, because I completely respect you if you like those who like them, but please don't request them, because it will never happen. Thank you for understanding.
Oh, and welcome back Guest who uses ":0)", you have been missed!
Oh, and to mE, and mE's bro, I totally didn't even realize you had signed with you names. My apologies Momokie and Nathan E. XD
Ok, I'm done, I think.
Caio for now!
~Webs
Oh, no offence meant by Karkat laughing at Sollux's religion. He was merely saying Sollux didn't seem the kind of guy to be Muslim. I was absolutely not making any kind of stereotype, meaning or intending any form of offence, or anything else. I am extremely sorry if anyone is offended. I am not against any form of religion, so please do not take that as such.
Nanda had been freaking the fuck out, especially when she realized I hadn't brought my phone with me when I had run ten miles away from our house.
I was a little too preoccupied with why I had had the nerve to actually kiss Sollux to remember why I had run away in the first place, but I'm barely through the front door before Nanda comes flying out of the kitchen to hug me, nearly forcing me from my feet.
"Don't ever do that again!" She practically yells in my ear. "I know you were scared, but don't ever do that again!"
"N-Nanda, calm the fuck down." I give her a second to regain her composure, then quickly fill her in on where I had been for the past four hours. She tells me she had gone out to search for me on her own, and only just got back, but had debated calling the police.
I really didn't expect her to go to those lengths.
"The look in your eyes when you read the letter... You freaked me out, Kat."
"I'm sorry." I mumble. And I really am sorry. Nanda was never the bitchy older sister, ever, rather the one that would do anything for their little brother.
"Don't be, you just scared me." She stand up from where we sit at the unused kitchen table. "Tea?" I nod vigorously. "Oh, and Kat, his parole says he can't travel, so you're completely safe here, okay?"
"Okay." That doesn't comfort me as much as Sollux's hug had. When did a guy become more comforting than my own older sister?
"And even if he could, I'd beat the shit out of him before he even got near you." I smile, accepting the mug offered to me.
"Thanks, Nanda." She smiles back and tousles my hair.
"No problem, Kit Kat." At that, I stick out my tongue. She had stopped calling me that when I was ten.
She just grins, grabbing my mug for a sip, before grimacing.
"How can you stand this shit?" I snatch my cup back, draining it in one gulp.
"How can you not?" She rolls her eyes.
"Whatever. Hey, you should go take a shower, Kat." I had taken on last night, so what's the big deal? "You smell like sweat."
One hot shower later finds me curled up in my comforter while leaning against my bed. I'm watching Princess Bride and having a wonderful time drawing Miracle Max. It's just after noon now, and I feel like I'm forgetting something.
The movie. Swearing, I find my phone on my nightstand and quickly start pestering Sollux.
-CarcinoGeneticist started pestering TwinArmageddons at 12:06 a.m.-
CG: DUDE, I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THE MOVIE
TA: iit'2 fine. ii thiink today wa2 a bad day anyway.
CG: YOU SURE?
TA: 'cour2e
CG: WE CAN MOVE IT TO NEXT WEEKEND
CG: I MEAN, IF YOU WANT
TA: 2ound2 good to me. 2aturday?
CG: THAT'S FINE. NOON?
TA: iit'2 a date.
CG: WOULD YOU STOP SAYING THAT?
TA: you're 2o much fun to tea2e, kk
CG: YOU KNOW WHAT, SHUT UP.
CG: SEE YOU TOMORROW
-CarcinoGeneticist ceased pestering TwinArmageddons at 12:08 a.m.-
Arrg, why does everything this guy says sound like he's coming onto me?
I growl and return to completing Max's ridiculously fly-away hair. The hair-stylists must have had a heyday getting his hair to stay like that.
Fuck, why the hell had I kissed Sollux? What, by all things holy, had been running through my mind? That's right: nothing. Absolutely nothing. My mind had gone completely blank, my body moving of its own accord.
Yes Karkat, my brain was saying. Let's go completely fuck up your relationship with your only friend. He's not going to guess anything. He's not going to know you're gay for him. He's not going to mind.
"Enough sarcasm from you." I hiss at myself and flip to the last blank page in my sketchbook. Nanda better hurry up and get me new ones, or I'm going to freak out.
Speaking of which, I need to get Nanda a christmas present, and a birthday present. How lucky do you have to be to be born on the 25th of December? I get one of the boring spring birthdays in April.
Now would be a good time to start getting Christmas presents though: before the rush. So, I need to get something for Nanda, and Kanaya, and um...
I really should get Sollux something, but I don't know if he even celebrates Christmas. He could be Muslim for all I know.
I laugh at the thought. I highly doubt Sollux is Muslim; Jewish, maybe, but certainly not Muslim.
Still, it couldn't hurt to ask.
-CarcinoGeneticist started pestering TwinArmageddons at 12:21 a.m.-
CG: DUDE, WHAT RELIGION DO YOU PRACTICE?
TA: ii'm jewi2h. why?
CG: JUST CURIOUS
-Of course he's Jewish. Shit, Hanukkah starts in, like, three days. What could I possibly get Sollux that wouldn't be completely weird?-
CG: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
TA: what do ii want for what?
CG: FOR HANUKKAH
TA: ...
CG: WHAT?
TA: iit'2 ju2t... why are you getting me anything?
CG: BECAUSE IT'S TRADITION...?
TA: oh, well, iin that ca2e, two free moviie ticket2
CG: THE FUCK?
TA: ii don't want anything, 2o you pay for the ticket2 on 2aturday, okay?
CG: THAT'S A PRETTY LAME PRESENT
TA: chriistma2 ii2 more for giiviing. '2iide2, AA'2 already getting me what ii need.
CG: WELL, IN THAT CASE, FINE.
TA: ...
TA: are you mad kk?
CG: I AM NOW THAT YOU CALLED ME THAT
CG: SERIOUSLY, YOU COULDN'T COME UP WITH A BETTER NICKNAME THAN *KK*?
TA: what, iit 2uit2 you
CG: IT SUITS ME MY ASS
CG: MESSAGE ME BACK WHEN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING GOOD
-CarcinoGeneticist started pestering TwinArmageddons at 12:29 a.m.-
Actually, out of all the nicknames people have given me over the years, KK is the least girly-sounding one. When compared to Kit Kat, Karkitty, and Kat, KK almost seems manly enough for the average teenager. I should be used to the fact that people call me the randomest assortment of shit.
I tuck away my phone, knowing Sollux won't message me back, and flip through my notebook, pausing on one of the pictures I had drawn of Sollux. I had drawn him in full-winter garb, like he had been at the park, minus any kind scarf or gloves, because he hadn't been wearing any. It had been really hard to get the clouds of breath right, and the highlights on his nose from the cold.
Whilst glaring at the completely inanimate object, I'm hit with an idea. It'll take almost all day, and probably a few more, and I still have English homework to do, but I decide that this idea'll be the best gift for Sollux.
With all the sleep I had gotten while sick, I'm up the whole night, and I'm not even tired when my alarm clock rings at seven o'clock.
I take a quick shower and dress quickly, eager to return to my project. I had progressed significantly yesterday; I think I'll have it ready for Saturday, which is conveniently not only our rescheduled movie-date, but the first day of Hanukkah. I highly doubt he'll see this coming.
Unfortunately, I'm forced to abandon my project at the call of Nanda for breakfast: Lucky Charms and bacon. Whoopty do.
Nanda drops me off before making her way to work. The rain yesterday seems to have melted a lot of the snow, but much of it still remains, freezing my toes off.
As I'm trumping up the sidewalk to the main doors, someone taps me lightly on my shoulder, and I nearly flip the fuck out. My little jump-into-the-air reaction earns a god-awful lot of snickering from the culprit: Sollux, who looks fucking freezing.
"Goddamnit, Sollux!"
"You thould have theen your fathe!" I punch his shoulder and walk through the doors, not bothering to hold them open for him.
The walk down to the art classroom is full of snickering, furious eye-rolling, and a few blushes on my part. God, and I'm actually in love with this guy?
Other than a few glares sent in my direction from Eridan during the two classes I have with him, the day passes uneventfully, and even happily when Sollux cracks the most ridiculous jokes about our teachers. They aren't even that good, but I guess that's what makes them funny. It also could be the fact that I was giddy off of lack of sleep.
I should have known, with all the gods content to fuck with my life, that everything was going too well.
After the final bell had rung and Sollux and I have retrieved everything from our lockers, we're walking back down the hallway towards the front of the school when I hear it.
"Karkat!" Fuck. I know that voice.
"KK?" Sollux glances at me in concern as I hunch my shoulders and pray to god there's another student in this school that has the same name as me.
There's several disgruntled shouts behind us, as if someone is forcing themselves through a crowd.
"Karkat Vantas!" Well, I guess it's a stretch to hope someone has my last name as well. I slowly turn and see my worst nightmare running towards me, knee-length black hair flying. She's wearing black ear-muffs and gloves, and a white jacket that drops clear to her shins. Her black glasses perch precariously on her freckled, button nose, and they're the last thing I see before Jade Harley collides with me, full force.
I'm thrown back into several feet of skidding, thanks to a frame almost as small as Jade's. Sollux and several spectators cry out in surprise as Jade's lips meet my jawline.
"I can't believe it's you, Kat!" She's squealing. God, she's just like her mom. "I can't believe it's you!" I see Sollux glaring out of the corner of my eye, and take a second to wonder why, but when Jade starts jumping up and down, taking me with her, I'm a little preoccupied. "I went all the way to Skaia to look for you!"
It takes longer than it should to calm Jade down enough to get any more discernable words out of her; she's breathless, and blushing, and beaming, and refuses to let go of my hands.
Nearly everyone in the school is staring at us by now, quite a few bordering on glares, Sollux included. I can't think about all that right now, so I yank one hand free from Jade to grab one of Sollux's, and pull them both through the crowd that had gathered at Jade's shouting. I waste no time with being polite, just shove people out of the way until we make it out the doors and into the snowy courtyard.
I ignore both their protests and guide them around the side of school to the outskirts of the soccer field, where there are no people to speak of. Once there, I release both their hands, and rake my fingers through my bangs.
"Jesus Christ, Jade! Are you trying to get me killed?!" She looks slightly hurt for a second, but it doesn't last long before her grin returns full-force.
"But I'm so happy to see you, Kat! I haven't seen you since fourth grade!" She's about to start gushing more, but taking Sollux's death glare into account, I jab the heel of my hand to her forehead, silencing her.
"Jade, will you be quiet for one second!" She closes her mouth slowly, confusion freckling her appearance. I'm a little surprised myself. Two weeks ago, and I would have given anything to see Jade again. I sigh. "Thank you." I remove my hand, casting a quick glance at Sollux. He looks no better, even with Jade's tongue stilled within her mouth.
I see Jade glancing questioningly at Sollux as well, and rub my face tiredly. After all the shit that's happened recently, Jade has to show up now, smack dab in the middle of it all.
"Sollux, this is Jade Harley, a friend from a long time ago. Jade, this is Sollux Captor. We're... friends. "
"We've met." Is his hiss as he crosses his arms tightly across his chest.
Jade looks to me uncertainly. A quick shake of my head, and she backs off entirely, putting two feet of space between us.
I sigh again, not really sure how to deal with the awkward atmosphere.
"U-Um, so..."
"Kat, can I speak to you please?" I raise my gaze again to find Jade staring intently at me. Of course she wants to talk to me: we haven't see each other since the rather terrible end to our friendship.
I quiver at the thought of talking to her alone, but it'd be even weirder for Sollux to be there, so I nod, turning to Sollux.
"Sollux, I really need to clear some things up with Jade." I can see him chewing his bottom lip angrily. "I'll text you later, okay?" He doesn't respond, shooting another glare towards Jade. "Okay?" I press, finally eliciting a grunt of defeat from Sollux's throat.
He doesn't say anything else as he walks away. Why do I feel like I just crossed a line I really, really shouldn't have?
"Kat, you wanna explain why Sollux was just glaring daggers at me?" I try to rub the exhaustion from my eyes before turning back to face to her. She isn't smiling anymore, and I don't curious is the right word to describe her expression. Demanding maybe?
Geeze, where do I even start? And truthfully, I don't know why Sollux is so mad at Jade. Everything is so hard to read from him, I can never be sure what he's thinking.
"Kat, Sollux and I have gotten along pretty well. I've done nothing to anger him?"
"Oh yeah? How do you two know each other again?"
"We sit next to each other in art." So she's the desk partner that was on vacation, allowing me to sit next to Sollux.
God, the irony.
I rub my hand over my face again, having trouble focussing my thoughts. "Jade, honestly, I have no idea. We've only known eachother for like two weeks."
"You two seem pretty close."
"Well, we're not." No matter how much I want us to be.
"Um, Kat? Can we talk about Sollux later?"
"W-What? W-Well, I guess."
"Good, because I've got a lot on my chest." I'll bet, with the way she broke it off. Well, a lot of that was my fault, but she could have handled it better. "Um, should he sit down?" She nods to the bleachers, and I follow without a word. I sit on the lowest bench, Jade one above, and we fall into complete silence. For someone with a lot on her mind, she stays pretty quiet.
We've been sitting there for about ten minutes when it starts snowing again, the fresh flakes only reminding me of that time in the park with Sollux. Had that only been a week ago? So much has happened since then...
Jade makes no move to be the first one to speak, so I inhale slowly, mentally preparing myself.
"I'm sorry." My words seem to freeze on their way to Jade, their arrival only marked by her sharp intake of air.
"W-Why are you sorry?" I refuse to look at her, instead turning my head the other direction to watch a really lovey-dovey couple walk around the perimeter of the soccer field. They swing their hands between them, and it takes me a second to realize they're both girls.
I can't help but smile a little at that.
"It was... my fault." I finally answer Jade.
"What was?" Is she playing dumb to just get me to say it, or does she actually not remember?
"E-Everything. I screwed up your relationship with John, completely destroyed ours, and th-then you moved... because of me."
"Are you fucking serious?" My eyes jerk around to meet her gaze with surprise. No matter how much I swore around her as kids, she never once muttered a "bad word", not even "damn".
Her eyebrows are almost lost in the matted mass of her black hair they're so high on her forehead.
"W-What?"
"You're kidding me, Kat." To say I'm confused now is a bit of an understatement.
"What are you talking about?"
"I didn't move because of you, Kat!" She scoots down one seat to sit next to me on equal ground. "Did you honestly believe that I would uproot my family because you made a simple mistake?"
"W-Well, um... yeah?" I had screwed up pretty badly, if you ask me. John only blamed Vriska (that fucking bitch), and the only ones who even knew about the real facts were me, Jade, John, Vriska and Kanaya, so I was never punished for it, except by Jade.
"I can't believe you!"
"Well, what was I supposed to think?! Right after it happened, you fucking moved, and you wouldn't tell me why!"
"Kat, my mom had been planning to move for over a year. I didn't tell you about because, well, I didn't want to leave you behind." Illia had been planning it for over a year? Why hadn't she told me? "I asked mom not to as well, because then you'd be sad, and I didn't want you to be sad spending time with me." Jade answers my look, tucking her hand through the crook my arm makes against my raised knees; the bleachers are pretty fucking close to the ground.
"U-Um..."
"Was it something I said that made you think it was your fault?"
"I think... I think it was the lack of saying anything. In your phone call, you just said you were moving, and I shouldn't come say goodbye. You didn't ever let me apologize before you hung up." You'd think after eight years that I'd have gotten over all this shit, but when you lose your best friend and first crush, you tend to not forget easily.
"Kat, I didn't want you to convince me to stay behind. I know you would have too, so I did all I could not to hurt you too much." I snort cynically.
"Well, you did a bang-up job of that."
"I'm really, really sorry, Karkat. I never meant you to blame yourself." I find that really hard to believe.
"Even for the thing with John?" She starts laughing, much to my chagrin. "Would you stop that?" I snap back.
"Of course I don't blame you for that! If anything, it was my fault!" She seems quite unable to stop laughing, trying to hide her mirth behind her hand.
"How'd you figure that?" I growl. At that, she stop laughing, instead letting her cheeks take on a rosy color.
"W-Well, if I had noticed you liked me... before Vriska got to you, maybe... maybe it wouldn't have happened in the first place." I roll my eyes.
"Jade, we both know there was no way you would have noticed."
"Actually, I'm kind of glad all that happened." I nearly choke on my tongue as I process her words.
"W-What?"
"Well, it not only made it easier for you to accept me moving, but it got you to get over me." Ouch.
"How do you know I'm over you?" I could almost feel her grinning.
"Karkat, my gaydar has been buzzing ever since I saw you!"
"Your... gaydar..." Honestly, how can she say that with a straight face.
"Yep. Over the past years, I've greatly honed my skill in detecting homosexuals, and you're definitely gay, Kat."
"You have absolutely got to be kidding me, Jade." She shakes her head, hair bouncing over her shoulders before she leans in super close, nose inches away from mine.
"Are you denying it, Kat?"
"W-Well, n-no, but-"
"As I suspected! There's no taking it back now!" She jumped to her feet, lightly skipping in a half-circle to face me again. "Karkat, I'm really, really glad to see you. I'm sorry you thought everything was your fault, and I'm sorry I hurt you so much, and I hate to bring this up, but I have to."
"Have to bring up what?" Her now-serious tone sends a shiver up my back.
"I told you I went to Skaia to look for you, right?"
"You mentioned it..."
"Well, while there, I visited Kanaya in regards to your whereabouts."
"I don't like where this is going, Jade."
"Well, she mentioned some... things. Like why were aren't living in Skaia anymore." I lock my gaze to the ground, neck heating up. I honestly don't feel like re-explaining the same thing twice in two days, especially not this.
But then I find I don't have to answer.
Jade dives forward, throwing her arms around my shoulders. At first, I think she's going to kiss me, but she just hugs me, for a very long time.
It doesn't have nearly the same effect that Sollux's had, and I think it's more Jade's benefit than mine. I assume Kanaya told her everything; If it was for the better of her friends, Kanaya would do fucking anything, including spilling my darkest secrets. And actually, I don't mind that she did. It not only saves me from having to go through it all again, I can tell Sollux he's the only I trusted with the information. Would that make us better friends?
When Jade finally pushes away, both our phones are buzzing angrily in our pockets. Jade smiles before answering hers, and I return it kindly, clicking "talk".
"Hello?"
"Oh, Kat. I didn't expect you to pick up."
"Is something wrong Nanda?"
"I thought I saw your phone on the kitchen counter."
"No, I grabbed it this morning."
"Well, I was just calling to tell you the Harley's want to get together for dinner sometime." She says that slowly, as if I'm about to explode. Who can blame her? The last time she brought up Jade, I had thrown tea at her.
"That's fine."
"What? Are you sure?" I smile, though I know she can't see it.
"Jade and I just talked some stuff out." Jade turns her head at her name, but continues her conversation with what appears to be Illia.
"That's great, Kat!"
"When are we inviting them over?"
"Illia suggested Christmas."
A/N: I have a whole big, amazing scene idea for Christmas, and I absolutely can't wait to write it.
Oh, I realize I haven't said what Karkat is getting/making Sollux for Hanukkah. I won't tell you yet, because Sollux doesn't know what it is yet, and I'm not using any dramatic irony for this. I'll give you a hint: For those who have watched Cardcaptor Sakura (the first anime I ever watched), you might be able to guess what it is ;D
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! It'd help if you guys reviewed, and told me what I should change, because this is far from perfect.
Ok, I'm done. I feel like I had more to say, but I'm honestly drawing up a blank. Oh, isn't jealous Sollux the cutest thing ever? I don't think he really hates Jade, but he certainly doesn't like her much XD
Ok, caio for now!
~Webs