Things stayed pretty much the same throughout November. Terezi and Vriska were still mad at each other, so in coping with that, Terezi started hanging out with Karkat more again, and she noticed a new, weird tension between him and Nepeta, one that was only made obvious when Terezi was over at their house and Nepeta either wasn't there, or was avoiding him, because usually the two girls would roleplay together at least for a bit while Karkat rolled his eyes at them. Though Terezi hoped they'd be able to patch things up on their own, after a while, she felt as though it might help to shoot Terezi a message.

gallowsCalibrator [GC] began pestering arsenicCatnip [AC]

GC: So whats going on between you and Karkat?

AC: ohhhh

AC: nothing

GC: Really? Because I was over a couple weeks ago and you were nowhere to be found :/

AC: he called me out for having a crush on him

AC: and yelled at me about it

GC: Oh man Nep, I'm sorry

GC: If you ask me, he's acting like a petulant toddler about it

AC: oh, no, its not his fault

AC: maybe i DID come on a little too strong

GC: I mean

GC: Yeah

GC: But still, he shouldn't have yelled at you

AC: mmm, yeah, maybe…

GC: Anyway, Karkat probably has other things to deal with

Terezi knew this to be very much true. Since Dave had confessed that he had feelings for Karkat, Terezi had been keeping notes on their behavior when they were around each other, and though Karkat hadn't actually said anything, neither to her nor Dave, she had a feeling that he had feelings for Dave, too. Karkat did not know what subtlety was when it came to his emotions.

AC: hmm?

GC: Oh, it's nothing

GC: I have been sworn to secrecy

GC: In any case, you should just talk to him about it

GC: You know

GC: Clear the air?

AC: i guess

AC: but i feel so weird about it now!

AC: everyone in the house feels so weird about it now

AC: its quiet and awkward all the time

GC: All the more reason to fix it

AC: :((

AC: youre purrobably right

AC: talk to you later

arsenicCatnip [AC] ceased pestering gallowsCalibrator [GC]

Terezi let out a sigh, a bit jealous that she knew Nepeta and Karkat would reconcile. Terezi and Vriska hadn't exactly been on speaking terms since the Halloween party, the exception being during Biology class, and even that was only to make sure their labs got done. The silence was only more deafening since being on Winter Break. Well, there was Feferi's party that night. That could definitely be a chance to talk to Vriska, because as much trouble as she was, Terezi didn't like not having Vris around.

Terezi arrived at Feferi's place before too long, the party already in full swing, and spotted Vriska on the couch minding her own business. It seemed like she was more talking at Jade than to Jade, who was on the couch next to her flicking through the music channels.

"Hey Vriska," Terezi said, trying to get her attention.

"What." Vriska's voice was disgruntled and annoyed.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"You're already talking to me."

"I mean about… our fight." Terezi wasn't sure why she was being so hesitant and nervous about this; it wasn't like Vriska was her girlfriend or anything. But still, it sucked to be arguing with your best friend, and Vriska seemed to recognize that this was actually a somewhat serious topic.

"Oh. That. Well, go ahead."

"Uh…" Terezi was very aware that there were people around, and this was a conversation that she'd rather be having in private, but Vriska made it clear that it wasn't going to happen that way. Maybe this was another instance of her being manipulative; Terezi wouldn't yell or get angry again if they were in front of a bunch of people for risk of making a scene. "Well… I'm sorry I blew up at you like that. I can't expect you to change overnight, but it doesn't even seem like you're trying. I just… things aren't always going to go your way and I think you need to accept that and relinquish just a little bit of control and stop trying to manipulate everyone else's lives."

Vriska was quiet for a moment. "Yeah… I had been kind of thinking the same thing. I don't like being mad at you."

"And I don't like being mad at you! Can we stop being mad at each other?"

"Yeah. Scourge Sisters?"

"Scourge Sisters."

Terezi and Vriska fell into a regular conversation after that, laughing and talking as though they'd never fought at all, and Terezi was glad for some return to normality, and then John showed up and caught Vriska's attention. Not that Terezi could fault her for this; though Vriska hadn't said anything, Terezi was pretty sure those two had some sorts of feelings for each other, and she knew this wasn't a conversation that should be interrupted.

"Hey Vriska," John said.

"Hey John. Nice to see you."

"Yeah… you look really nice tonight… did you have a chance to watch that awesome video I linked you to?"

"What video?"

While Terezi was listening to their conversation, the unmistakable squeak of a wheelchair told her that Tavros had arrived. Oh boy. She already had a feeling in her gut that this was not going to go well.

"You know… the one about the renegade hero who busted loose from the slammer to save the day," John continued, blithely unaware of the potential (scratch that, the nigh inevitablity) for drama to unfold.

"John, the way you describe movies makes them sound extremely stupid. Why would I want to watch this crap?"

"Just do it. You won't be sorry. I mean, when you are not so busy or whatever."

"Uh, hey, guys," Tavros' wavering voice interjected. Terezi had half a mind to clear the area. Love triangle, here we go. She really wanted no part of it.

"Hey Tavros!"

"'sup, Toreadork." Vriska and John's greetings overlapped with each other.

"I, uh… got this. For you," Tavros stammered.

"This oughta be good." There was the sound of tissue paper rustling and being crumpled up, followed by a long silence in which Terezi couldn't really tell how Vriska was reacting, and then she spoke again. "Nice present, Toreadork. Like I don't have plenty of dice."

"I just thought, uh, I…"

"'I, uh, um…' Please, Tavros, spare us all from your pathetic whimpering for a change."

"But-"

"What's your deal, anyway? I don't see you hauling in presents for anyone else. I know I'm special and all, but if this is your way of showing me you like me, then forget it." Tavros hesitated for a moment, then left the room, and a deafening silence took his place. "What the fuck are you looking at, Four-Eyes?" Vriska snipped.

"Vriska!" John shouted, just as Terezi was about to. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What?"

"You're being really mean. He was only trying to be thoughtful."

"I didn't…" Vriska's voice trailed. Terezi tried to think of something to say, but was coming up blank. Not that it really mattered; the situation seemed to have been diffused by Dave's timely entrance.

"'sup, everyone," he said. Vriska shuffled out past him, Dave stopped John from going after her, and Terezi was really not sure what to make of what had just happened. She was inclined to just go back to being mad at Vriska, but maybe that wouldn't be productive. It was hard not to let her worries about her friendship take over her mind for the rest of the evening, but Terezi was trying her best to enjoy the party regardless of the elephant in the room, even upon Vriska's return. It was really a conversation better left for later anyway. Instead, she spent the rest of the night hanging out with Dave and John, despite not being very talkative for the time being. She had to keep reminding herself not to spend the whole party thinking about Vriska, and eventually, she did have a good time with the boys, leaving not long after Dave did. Her only mistake was thinking that the drama was over for the evening. When she opened the front door to her house, she heard something that sounded off. It sounded like her mother was home. Not only that, but… it sounded like she was crying.

"Mom?" Terezi called, her voice wavering a bit as she was unsure of what was going on. She followed the sniffling sounds towards the kitchen.

"Terezi, oh," Rebecca sounded startled. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry."

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"I… went to the doctor today, for an ultrasound…" Oh. Oh no. Terezi had a terrible feeling in her gut. "I… had a miscarriage."

"No…" Terezi muttered, feeling her heart absolutely sink. She had no idea how to handle the situation in that moment; the only thing she could think to do was to hug her mother, so that was exactly what she did. While Terezi wanted to spend the evening with her mother, that plan was so rudely interrupted by her phone ringing.

"Call from: Vriska Serket," Nora announced.

"Ugh," Terezi scoffed, but she answered her phone anyway, stepping away from the main room to have that conversation. "Hello?"

"So, what, are you mad at me again?" Vriska immediately accosted her.

"Vriska, I really can't talk right now."

"I can't believe that right after we made up, you're taking Tavros' side AGAIN."

"I'm not taking Tavros's side, I just—"

"Oh really. Then why did you not even try to talk to me afterwards?"

"Because you're a bitch! And maybe I had other things to think about! You are not the center of my universe! I got mad at you because you manipulate and you yell and abuse your friends, Tavros most of all, and you think it's fine just because he's too nervous and afraid to say anything to you. Well it's not. And right after we had that conversation about you trying to get better, you go and embarrass him in front of ALL our friends, and it showed me that you're just as bad as everyone thinks you are, and unless you ACTUALLY shape your shit up instead of just saying you're going to, I am not going to pretend I'm fine with things. Now if you don't mind, I really can't talk now. I've had an incredibly emotional night because my MOTHER just had a MISCARRIAGE. Goodbye!" Terezi slammed her phone on the counter. Why? Why couldn't Vriska understand? Why did she have to make herself the focus of everything? Why did she have to be so cruel to everyone? Terezi let out a tense, heavy breath and picked her phone back up. "Nora, message Dave."

gallowsCalibrator [GC] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG]

GC: Hey Dave
GC: Can I talk to you about something

TG: can it wait

TG: im with kar right now
GC: Well
GC: Its kinda really serious actually
TG: oh shit whats up
GC: Just dont tell Karkat, I dont need him to worry about me right now
TG: of course not
GC: My mom had a miscarriage and Im really messed up about it
GC: And also Vriska is being heinous
GC: Like I thought we made up but then she immediately just proved me wrong about it
TG: yeah she uh
TG: she kinda sucks
GC: I just
GC: Dunno what to do
GC: Can you come over? I could use the company
TG: theoretically
TG: but im riding home with jades cousin and idk if you want me to explain whats going on
GC: Not that I have a problem with Jade but
GC: Id rather you didn't
TG: ok
TG: well i can come by tomorrow if you still want
GC: I would really appreciate that Dave
GC: Hey
TG: hm
GC: Youre a cool guy
GC: I hope Karkat figures that out soon

TG: thanks

gallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG]

The next day, Dave did come over, and after playing some games to kill time, Dave got to the bulk of the issue.

"So how're you doing?"

Terezi sighed. "I dunno, I guess I'm feeling better today. It was just a lot yesterday. With Vriska, and my mom… but it'll be fine. I guess I just needed to remind myself I have other friends."

"Well yeah, of course you do. There's me and John and Karkat…" Dave's voice trailed, and it was Terezi's turn to posit a question.

"What were you doing with him last night?"

"I just walked him home from the party. He asked me to hang out today, but…"

"Shit. But you told me you'd be here."

"Yeah."

A silence settled between them for a moment. "What's going on between you two?"

"I dunno… trying to figure that out. I felt real bad for blowing him off, too, but I didn't know what else to say. I think he thinks I hate him or something, which is weird because I've been flirting hard."

"I think that's more a reflection on him than you. He's got a lot of self-loathing built in. I think he has a hard time believing anyone would actually be romantically interested in him. Especially after the way things went with us."

Dave raised an eyebrow. "You and Kar?"

"Yeah. Middle school. We kissed like, once, and we both liked each other and 'went out' but then I went blind and shit kinda hit the fan, and romance was the last thing on my mind. Sorry… if that's weird."

"No, no, it's fine. So… what're you gonna do about the Vriska thing?"

"I think… she is not my problem. I don't have to do anything about it, and until she stops being an asshole to everyone, I am not going to."

"Are you sure?"

This time, it felt definite. Terezi was done waffling over this. "Yes."