Whatever happened after Terezi left Dave, she assumed it had something to do with Karkat, because Karkat's animosity seemed to fade just the slightest bit towards Dave. Of course, something else seemed to have changed in Dave, as he wasn't being his usual chatty, sarcastic self, either. He got really awkwardly quiet around Karkat. Terezi didn't want to worry about the boys, she had her own problems. Her mother was about halfway through the second trimester, and while maternity leave hadn't kicked in yet (and wouldn't until about 29 weeks), it wasn't as if they wouldn't be fine with money. But apparently being a lawyer meant constant pursuit of justice, which was admittedly, something Terezi admired about her mother, but she also had no idea how she dealt with the amount of stress that came with that business. Well, Terezi supposed the other times her mother had been pregnant, her dad was around too. She was thinking about how to convince her mother to take a break besides blasting Hamilton at her when Dave seemed to notice.
"Hey, you alright, TZ?"
Terezi glanced upwards at him. "Yeah, I just…hm." She paused for a moment, not sure whether it was a great idea to confide in Dave. Then again, they were supposed to be friends, and he had confided in her. "My mom is like, hella pregnant and she doesn't think she needs to stop working yet even though I can tell she's really stressed and I'm worried something's going to go wrong."
"I woudn't worry about it too much. I'm sure she knows what she's doing."
"Do you really think adults always know what they're doing?" Terezi asked. This was more in reference to Dave having such injuries than about Terezi's mother, and judging by his mild silence, he knew this.
"Look, it's not what you think."
"I don't really care if it's what I think it is—the problem is that you've been hurt, and whether it's by you or your… guardian, your bro or whatever, it should probably stop. But I know you probably aren't going to listen to me; I'm not so self-righteous to think my words are 100 percent true and that I have a full understanding of the situation. I think you know what needs to happen and will make the correct judgement because you're smarter than I think people give you credit for."
"O-oh. That… wasn't really what I expected you to say."
"What did you expect me to say, pack your shit and run? Dave, please. I know that's not always an option."
"…I didn't want this to turn into a conversation about my shitty situation." Terezi raised an eyebrow. At least Dave knew the situation was shitty.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then I can respect that." They were silent for a moment.
"Ok well just like… talk to your mom; tell her you're worried."
"Pfft. You think I haven't tried that?" Terezi sighed. Dave patted her gently on the shoulder, and she appreciated the little gesture of support. It was nice knowing there was someone in her corner, because all things considered, she didn't really want to talk to Vriska or Karkat about certain things, and this 'baby sister' thing was one of them; Vriska because she tended to be cynical about family because she had a shitty one and Karkat because he'd question why Terezi wanted another sibling since he had so many.
That was truly a turning point in Dave and Terezi's friendship. While before, it had been a lot of goofing off and random inside jokes and laughing about pissing Karkat off, now it was that they were becoming each other's confidants, to the point where her mother began needling her about it.
"So what's the story with you and Dave?" she asked over dinner one evening. Terezi gagged on her drink.
"Mooooom, we're just friends. Christ."
"Well, I don't know! It seems like you talk to him a lot."
"So?"
"I just—"
"Besides, he apparently has a crush on Karkat—TULES, do not tell Kankri I just said that. Don't tell anyone I just said that," Terezi blurted, knowing Dave wasn't ready to talk about it with too many people. Latula wasn't super-gossipy, but since all her friends were the siblings of all of Terezi's friends, telling one person would let the whole thing get out of hand.
"Alright, alright. It's none of my business anyway." Latula was getting a bit down, and Terezi knew it was because Halloween was coming up. It was the anniversary of the freak accident that messed Mituna's brain up, and he and Latula had never really managed to celebrate the same way since. Terezi herself hadn't even been thinking about Halloween until Tavros brought it up at the lunch table one afternoon.
"Hey, guys, my parents are out of town, so I was thinking of, having a Halloween party, at my house maybe?" The moment Tavros started speaking with his sort of wavering, hesitant voice, especially about doing something that was probably against the rules at his house, Terezi knew what the immediate response was going to be, and she was proven correct when Vriska laughed derisively at Tavros.
"That's ballsy, Tavros. What happens if you get in trouble?"
"Ummm, I don't know… Rufioh's in charge."
"Ohhhhhhhh, no nosey neighbor babysitting this time?"
"I haven't seen Mr. Boxcars around the last couple days. I think it should be fine."
Vriska took a sharp inhale, preparing to say something else, and then Terezi bumped her with her knee. Letting those two go at it wouldn't get them anywhere; in fact it would only remind Terezi that she and Vriska were only bound to grow apart. So instead, Terezi cut them off.
"That sounds really fun, Tavros. It's been a while since we all had a party," Terezi said. Despite speaking up to shut Vriska up, this was a genuine sentiment. Terezi loved having get-togethers with the group, and they hadn't really all been in the same place since the "End of Middle School" party back in June.
"I've been meaning to host more!" Feferi said. They usually had parties at her house due to the verifiable mansion provided by the Peixes fortune. "I think the holiday season will be better for parties at my house."
"Th- that's okay, Fef, you shouldn't have to host all the time," Tavros muttered, a note of embarrassment entering his voice. Terezi was having a hard time gauging everyone else's reactions, as they were providing little more than silence, except for Sollux.
"Halloween sucks, though," he murmured, halfheartedly hiding his disdain for the holiday. Terezi glanced towards the floor. She, Sollux, and Karkat were pretty much the only ones who understood the severity of Sollux's brother's problems, and of course that accident was central to Halloween. Terezi wasn't going to be the one to push it—not only was it not really her business, but if celebrating made him uncomfortable, Sollux didn't have to show up. She wasn't going to be the one to say something. But he changed his tune nigh immediately. "Ah—fine, sounds like a plan."
"Yeah?" Tavros grinned—Terezi could hear it in his voice. It was rare that Tavros had an idea so popular amongst the group. So, yeah, Halloween at Tavros' place. Cool. Shortly thereafter, Tavros realized Aradia wasn't at the table, and delegated the job of inviting her to Nepeta.
The afternoon before the party, Terezi got a message from Dave.
turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering gallowsCalibrator [GC]
TG: you didnt tell anyone did you?
GC: About what?
TG: homecoming
TG: my uh
TG: you know
GC: Oh
GC: I mean just Rose
GC: But only because I thought she might try to help you
TG: ugh so thats why shes being so extra
TG: whyd you say anything
GC: It was like an instinct!
GC: I kind of panicked
GC: Look I already told you I trust you to make the right decision and I'm not going to push you into anything
TG: yeah and i can tell you think the right thing to do is bail on my bro
GC: Only if you are comfortable with that and feel safe enough to do it
GC: This really isn't any of my business and I'm sorry I butted in and told Rose
GC: It was a reflexive move I made out of shock
GC: But I have plenty of other things to worry about besides you yelling at me for trying to help so please don't be an asshole
GC: I am sorry, Dave
TG: yeah well
TG: i
TG: me too im being kind of a jerk
TG: sorry
TG: i just didnt need rose breathing down my neck about this
TG: and then i lost my temper and kinda yelled at kar about it too cause he wouldnt stop asking
GC: Well if you want to talk about it I am here
GC: But I won't make you say anything
TG: theyre not from me
TG: just
TG: for the record
TG: its my bro
TG: and i always just thought it was kind of normal the way he did things
TG: wanting me to be stronger and able to defend myself and shit
TG: but now im sort of starting to question it
TG: idk dude its weird
GC: Hmm…
TG: anyway so what else are you worried about
GC: Oh that
GC: My mom, mostly
GC: She's really pregnant but she won't stop working and I'm worried it could hurt the baby
TG: oh yeah right you mentioned that
TG: well hey im sure shes got it under control
TG: its not your job to worry about that shit youre supposed to be doing dumb high school stuff
GC: Yeah I guess you're right
GC: I'll try to have fun tonight
gallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG]
It wasn't easy for Terezi to coerce herself into stopping worrying and having a good time, so she laid on her bed and let Pyralspite lay on her chest for a while before digging through the closet to find her police officer costume from the year before, getting dressed just before Aranea came to pick her up. Terezi clambered into the back seat, Vriska grinning at her from the front seat.
"I take it the glorious pirate Mindfang has joined us?" Terezi asked, making the assumption that Vriska had finally made the pirate outfit her old D&D character, Mindfang, wore.
"She sure has. And I see you're donning the ol' cop deal." Terezi grinned back at Vriska.
"So off to the Nitrams, then?" Aranea asked, slowly pulling out of the driveway in front of Terezi's house. "It's kind of a shame Rufioh's busy, I know Horuss is bummed they're not spending Halloween together.
"Oh my God, I really don't care about your friends' terrible relationships," Vriska scowled at her older sister, who scowled right back. "Actually, I wouldn't mind it if Rufioh were single, he's kind of attractive. Like a confident Tavros."
"Ignoring the fact that you're my sister, speaking about someone my age, I'm inclined to agree. He was always 'the hot one' of the group."
Terezi rolled her eyes. Conversations like this were always so weird.
Aranea dropped the girls off at Tavros' place, and they were the first to arrive, besides Aradia, who'd been helping Tav set up. The party was honestly pretty mellow, everyone just being around dancing and eating and talking and playing a couple games, and then Vriska pulled Terezi aside.
"Hey Ter, wanna help me set up a game?" Terezi raised an eyebrow. That sounded like code for "I'm scheming something."
"What kind of game?"
"Seven Minutes in Heaven. All I need you to do is write all the boys' names down and I will put them in your hat. And we can use my hat for the girls."
"How exactly do you expect me to do much writing?"
"Oh, duh. Color me embarrassed. Just give me your hat, then." Terezi still seemed unsure, but, yeah, seemed harmless enough. She nodded at Vriska and sat with her as she got to work, scrawling out sixteen names on little slips of paper, and when they were done, Vriska took the liberty of getting everyone's attention—everyone who was in the house, anyway. Terezi was aware of Sollux and Karkat lingering outside. "Hey, get those two dipshits in here," Vriska snipped just before turning the music down to herd the others into the next room. Terezi let out a sigh. She stutter-stepped her cane towards the back door, slid it open, and stuck her head out.
"Hey, guys, Vriska's starting another game," she said.
"So? Does she really need everyone's attention right now?" Karkat griped back at her.
"Apparently. Listen, it's just gonna be easier if you come in now." And then it kind of hit Terezi. The way Vriska was always trying to bully or coerce people into giving her what she wanted? The way she pushed their friends around? It was beginning to go from grating, to unbearable, and Terezi had a sudden fear that this specific friendship needed to come to an end, unless something changed. But before addressing this too specifically, Terezi walked into the other room with the rest of the group. As Terezi walked in behind Karkat, she heard the front door creaking closed and John's voice as he greeted Vriska. Maybe he would be the key changing Vriska—she seemed to have something of a crush on him. Terezi was pretty sure they'd even danced together at Homecoming while Tavros had disappeared. Still, Terezi took her place on the girls' side.
"Alright, everyone, it's time for 7 Minutes in Heaven!" Vriska announced.
"Vriska, please, this is so ridiculous," Sollux said.
"Shut your lispy mouth, asshat. You don't have to play, but there's always the chance for some alone time with the freaky girl of your dreams." Ooh. Yeah, there was that signature Vriska brashness. "I have taken the liberty of putting all the ladies' names into this hat, and all the boys into Terezi's. Tavros, if you would do the honors?" Everything seemed to slow down; Terezi could feel this was some sort of ploy to embarrass him.
"Um, Aradia…?" Tavros' wavering voice read. Oh… maybe Terezi was wrong about that, then. She still felt like something was going on, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. A moment later, Vriska read out Equius' name, and the smirk on her face was audible. Everyone sort of started to dissipate from the room, except for Nepeta, and Tavros had pulled Vriska outside to have a word for a moment, so Terezi did the only thing she could think of, and that was to overlook Vriska's antics and spend some time with her other friends. This mysterious scheming plan of Vriska's would best be solved another day.