April stood in front of the door of her childhood home, thumb hovering over the doorbell as she hesitated to ring it. This had been the first time she had visited since she moved out. Gripping her suitcase in your hand tighter, she glanced to Karkat nervously.

"I'm warning you," She said to him, "They're really bad."

He gave her a reassuring smile, "It's going to be fine. Now, are you going to ring the fucking doorbell or not?"

She smiled back and rang the doorbell, waiting for her parents to answer the door. April's mom opened the door, and she practically cried her name to the heavens before the woman pulled her into a soul-crushing hug.

"Oh, goodness!" her mother said, looking to Karkat. She leaned back into the house, yelling to the other family member, "Hun! She's here! And she brought a guy!"

"Thank the Lord!" April's father rejoiced, coming to the door. He smiled and introduced himself, reaching to shake hands with Karkat, "What's your name boy?"

"Karkat, sir. Pleased to meet you." Karkat said as politely as he could, shaking the man's hand.

"Oh!" He turned to her and her mother, "Polite, and a good grip. I like this one!"

Karkat gave a nervous chuckle and looked to April. She was smiling, but she honestly was thinking how far she could run if she made a break for it. April knew this was the calm before the storm, that soon they were going to start talking to Karkat and ask him whether they were already having sex. Though, she knew there was no point in telling them that they weren't dating.

"Alright, don't just stand in the cold!" Her mom told her and Karkat, "Come in, Come in! I wanna hear all about you!"

They lead them to the living room, where a giant Christmas tree stood. It was decorated top to bottom with ornaments of all kinds. April recognized a few crafts she did as a child, heat rising to her face. However, most of the decorations were new. She was beginning to wonder how your parents could afford all of this.

"Hey mom," She asked, "Where did you get all this stuff?"

"Oh! You mean the decorations?" She asked, "Your friend got these for us!"

April stopped, looking to her mother, "What friend?"

"Y'know, I can't really remember her name," She said, waving her hand, "She'll be over later tonight, don't worry!"

"Now, do you want to put your guy's stuff in your room, dear?" Her father said to her.

April nodded, "C'mon, Karkat."

She led Karkat up the stairs, and he whispered in your ear, "..Do they think we're dating…?"

"Most likely."

He nodded, and she opened the door to her room. Immediately, she was hit with embarrassment. It was the embodiment of a teenager's bedroom. Posters of the different bands she liked littered the wall, and books upon books piled on the shelves. She surprised that your parents had kept your room intact and that they didn't turn it into an office.

"Welp," You said to Karkat, "This is it."

She stepped in and set your suitcase down, "It's dorky, I know...I decorated it when I was thirteen."

He looked to one poster in particular, "High School Musical?" He said with a chuckle.

"Like I said: thirteen."

He smiled, setting down his suitcase, "nicer than the room I had in high school." He said, looking around more.

"Oh?" She asked, wanting to hear more.

"Yeah, it wasn't this big, and it had holes all over the walls."

"Holes?"

"I was an angry kid."He explained smiling a bit, "When I got angry, I got physical. I'd punch my wall over and over… I even have a scar from when i cut my hand on the drywall." he showed her his right hand, a slight scar on his knuckles.

"Ouch!" April grimaced, "It didn't hurt?"

Her roommate chuckled, "Oh, it hurt like a bitch," He said, "but I thought I had to be tough about it. Y'know, I never told my dad." He sat on the bed, still smiling, "I didn't want him to chew me out for punching walls again."

She smiled, "I know, I feel you." April looked around at the room as if searching for something, "Some of these posters are on the wall for the sole purpose of hiding some holes in the wall."

She looked to a singular poster on the wall her bed was against, "Like this one. I trying to get a running start into my bed, but I ended up drop-kicking the wall and making a giant hole right there."

He gave a laugh, looking at the poster, "No one would suspect it." he said, "The perfect crime!"

They both laughed, laying back on your old bed. A part of April began to not mind that she back at her parent's house. As long as Karkat was with her, she didn't care. He always had a way of calming her down, bringing her down to Earth. As long as your best friend was there, she felt like she could withstand anything.

...

"You know," April's mom said to her and Karkat as she sat down adjacent from them in the living room, "I'm so relieved when April brought you. See, when she left, she was going through this phase where she thought she was gay."

"Thank god she grew out of that and got a boyfriend!" Her dad chimes in.

April felt her face heat up, and she saw Karkat's cheeks darken as well, "..Actually.." he began, "We're not dating."

"And I'm still gay, Mom."

She shut up, "Oh, well. You'll get over it." She said dismissively, walking into the kitchen

Karkat looked over to see April, seething as she tried to contain her rage. Honestly, she didn't know why she came here. All they did was insult her. Karkat placed a hand on hers, smiling reassuringly. April smiled back, feeling her anger simmer down. Suddenly, an electronic ping echoed inside the house. Someone was at the door.

"Ooh!" Your mother said, "That must be your friend; I've got it!"

She practically ran to the door, quickly opening it up, "Hello!" She said to the person on the other end of the door.

"Hi!" greeted a familiar voice.

April's heart dropped, and her face turned a ghastly white. Her stomach twisted as the voice echoed in her ears. The frightened girl shot up on her feet to look. Karkat looked to her with curiosity and concern.

This couldn't be good.