You guys rock! Seriously, I logged in to find I had 6 new reviews! Go Erinep shippers! :33
Also, tomorrow is the 90 day anniversary of this fic and today is the 90 day anniversary of my Skyrim fic!
This chapter was a little shorter than I intended it to be, but school and my other hobbies have really been pulling me down. I will try to make this fic a higher priority, considering that you guys are awesome and uber supportive. I apologize in advance for typing quirk errors and a rushed plotline. I have a feeling today will be the only time I'll have free his week and it is currently 11:06 pm so yeah. ;33
Anyways, I'm going to shut up and let you enjoy the story! I'll try not to post any more of these author notes but asfsgfgs. I just want to always express how awesome you readers are and how not awesome I am as an author! ;33 I'll hopefully be back soon with an update, until then, farewell fellow homestucks!
Nepeta woke up the next morning to a text from Feferi.
CC: Hey gill, you forgot your dress in my car. Mind if I swing by after work to drop it off?
AC: :33 I have to work until 5, after then feel fur-ee! We can have some tea too if youd like! :33
CC: Shore! Sounds like a plan! 38D
AC: :33 Sea you then! ;33
CC: 38O 38D !
Nepeta pulled herself out of bed and took a quick shower. Afterwards she changed into her work uniform-khakis, and a plain white t-shirt. She fed Pounce, herself, and then was ready to leave.
"Oh jeeze Nepeta! What are you furgetting?" She exclaimed as she reached for the door handle. She jogged back to her room, grabbed her phone and her new purse-for it seems as if she forgot her old one in Feferi's car too, along with her dress.
At this point, Nepeta stopped before the door for a few moments, and made sure she had everything she needed. She was tired of forgetting things all the time. Realizing she was all set, she left her apartment and made her way to work.
The drive to work was boring and long, as it always was. Even the company of music can only do so much. She decided to check her phone, not expecting to find anything, but instead found a new text message.
"Fefuri?" She wondered aloud.
CA: hey nep. I wwas wwonderin if you wwanted to do anythin tonight
"Who the hell is this?" She said, crinkling her nose.
AC: :33 umm whos this?
CA: oh sorry I shouldve specified I got your number from fef. Is that ok
AC: :33 Okay but whos this
CA: Eridan is it ok that I have your number
Nepeta instantly began blushing. Of course it was fine that he had her number, she just wished she could've given it to him instead of Feferi giving it to him.
AC: :33 Oh hi Eridan! :33
CA: ok but is that ok
AC: :33 Um what do you mean?
CA: like is it okay that I have your number and I text you and that we can hang out tonight
AC: :33 Oh
CA: okay im kinda confused...so no
"For someone as smart as him, he really lacks communicating abilities," Nepeta said sourly.
AC: :33 yeah sure but I can't hang out today.
CA: omg
CA: im so fuckin confused
Nepeta literally face palmed upon reading those messages. She never actually believed the myth that all boys are stupid, but so far Eridan wasn't representing his kin very well. Her work was only a few minutes away by now, so to say everything that needs to be said her previous tactic of texting at the stoplights would have to be altered a little.
AC: :33 okay so i'm hanging out with fefurry after work so im busy today. But it is ok that you got my number furom her and that you are texting me.
AC: :33 got it?
CA: yeah i think so
CA: wwhere do you work
AC: :33 the Starbucks on the North side of town
CA: ok cool
AC: :33 ok well im pulling into the parking lot ill talk to you later
CA: ok if you want
AC: :33 ...
AC: :33 yes I do want to thats why I said so
CA: oh sorry
AC: :33 ok bye
CA: bye
She pulled the keys out of the ignition and put the key ring in her purse. She put her phone in her purse as well and was just about to open up her door when she saw a face peering through her window.
"I hope you weren't using that communication device during your travels. It's an endangerment towards pedestrians and your own personal safety," Equius said, opening her door for her.
"Equius! I was being careful," Nepeta said happily, and then hugged him.
"It is good to see you. Even on such an occasion when you think it okay to throw around your safety mindlessly," he said, returning the hug and squeezing a little too tight, as always.
Nepeta stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh shush. I was being careful. You big dummy. Anyways, how was the weightlifting competition?"
"I will ignore your rude and unnecessary insult merely for the sake that I haven't seen you in three weeks," He began walking towards the building, and Nepeta followed. "I won first place in every tournament, in all four categories I was enrolled in. I swiftly DEMOLISHED my opponents and claimed my rightful place at the top. None of them stood a chance against my superior STRENGTH."
"Glad to hear it!" Nepeta said cheerfully as he opened the front door for her. "What about you and Aradia, she said she was going to try to make it down, did you see her?"
"Yes. She arrived at my final competition with our two acquaintances Sollux and Tavros and saw the last three categories. Tavros unfortunately became more ill as the night progressed and had to leave early."
Equius handed Nepeta her apron and cap and then set her purse down for her before he even touched his gear.
"Okay but like, did you guys talk at all? Did you make any romantic moves on her?" Nepeta said, doing her little shoulder dance she and Feferi invented yesterday.
Equius gave her a disapproving look. "I suppose I must have been slightly attractive. She and I are now "going out," whatever that means. I don't even know where we're going. She asked me and I gratefully accepted. I was hoping you could explain what it meant."
Nepeta squealed, causing their manager to cast them a curious look from where he stood in the kitchen. She then tackle-hugged him and while giggling uncontrollably.
"Equius!" She said after removing herself from his side. "That means you two are boyfriend and girlfriend!"
His face went instantly pale. "I...didn't realize those were the requirements...I-I...oh my goodness."
Nepeta gave him a paper towel which he began softly dabbing his forehead with. She Then grabbed a hair tie from her purse and pulled his hair back into a lose ponytail. She pulled him into a hug and rocked him slowly.
"You'll be fine Equius," Nepeta purred. "I believe in you. She really likes you. This was going to happen eventually. You know I'm always here for you. Come directly to me if you ever need advice. I'd be pleased to give it to you."
Equius returned the hug. "Thank you Nepeta. It makes me so very happy to know I have someone as perfect as you that I can always depend on and protect."
They pulled away and began their shifts at work, after making a diamond symbol with their index and middle fingers, as they always do upon seeing or leaving each other.
About an hour into her shift, she switched positions with a coworker and was working in the kitchen with her friend Kanaya.
"Hello Kanaya!" Nepeta said.
"Hello dear, how are you?" she responded as she finished putting whip cream on a drink.
"I'm good! And you?"
"I am also well. I'm even better knowing this drink will make an excellent Instagram picture." She held the drink up to her face and made duck lips.
"Ooh pretty!" Nepeta applauded, and the two girls giggled.
"How are you and Rose?" Nepeta asked.
"Excellent. Our shop is also doing very well. We even have an employee now to run the register while I work here," Kanaya said, beaming.
"Oh really? Who is it?" Nepeta asked.
Kanaya chuckled. "Rose's older sister."
"She has a sister?"
"Roxy is her name. She's almost ten years older than her. She has a terrible alcohol addiction. Rose practically forced her into the position at an attempt to curb her bad habits."
"Wow...is she a good worker?"
"She is alright...but not worth the money she receives. She shows up late, leaves early, but does a decent job working the register I suppose. I guess she knows how to do basic math because so far we haven't lost any money."
Nepeta giggled.
"But what about you...relations wise, I mean. There's a certain air around you...are you and Karkat finally getting somewhere?"
Nepeta was a little offended, and also a little sad. "No...but you are right about the whole relationships thing...Eridan and I...well-"
"Please tell me you are not talking about Eridan, as in Eridan Ampora," Kanaya said, folding her arms in disappointment.
The girls were given three orders and began working on them.
"Yeah...but he's changed. I know you two fought a little, but he's actually kind of mature now. He still acts like a boy, no doubt about it, but he also acts...kind of like a gentleman. I don't know. It's weird. I didn't like him either in high school." She nervously giggled. "But now...I can't say the same."
Kanaya rolled her eyes as she finished a latte. "They asked for a grande...right? I hope so. Because that's what they're getting." She said, attempting to change the subject.
Nepeta obliged to her attempts, and stopped talking about him. They talked off and on for a few hours, up until there was only a half an hour left on their shift. Nepeta was working the cash register, and role playing on her phone because there was another person working a register and it was the slow hour.
In the background of a pretty heated hunting scenario, the door opened. She didn't acknowledge the customer as her fingers worked rapidly on her keypad.
"Nepeta...hey!" She heard a familiar voice call from the entrance.
Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes shot up to Eridan Ampora, who was standing in the door way, a stupid half-smile on his face.
"I thought I'd pay you a visit," Eridan said.
"I didn't know you drank Starbucks," Nepeta replied, still a little in disbelief.
He half-smiled. "I don't really, truthfully. I usually get coffee from the cafe downtown."
"You should come here more often," Nepeta said, smiling slyly. In the back of her mind, she was in disbelief that she had even said something so flirtatious, but her thoughts were too focused on impressing him for that feeling to stay long.
He laughed quietly. "I think I will now that I know you work here. Even though it adds an extra ten minutes onto my route to school. I think I'll manage." He smiled and felt his cheeks burning. He attempted to pretend like his face was itching as he used one of his hands to cover up the redness.
"Anyways. I'd like two caramel macchiatos. One small, one medium," Eridan said.
Nepeta typed in his order and glanced back at the kitchen, where Kanaya eyed her disapprovingly and Nepeta returned the dirty look.
Eridan's face paled as he spotted Kanaya, but he couldn't help to snicker smugly at the thought of her making him his drink. High School was not a pleasant time for the pair, and the unpleasant memories still stuck. He briefly recalled her kicking him where it hurts and then choking him with his own scarf after he hit on her girlfriend. How was he supposed to know Rose was a lesbian? Her short skirt implied otherwise, and it's not like Amporas are known for not taking opportunities.
"So what brings you here today?" Nepeta asked him, bringing him back from his thoughts.
"Vriska said she wanted Starbucks, and I thought I'd pay you a visit. Why? Do you not want me here?"
"You and Vriska are still...talking?" Nepeta asked, feeling hurt. In high school, Vriska and Eridan fought a lot. But they also flirted even more. There was even a rumor drifting around that they had sex. Nepeta chose to not believe that in that moment.
Eridan nervously laughed. "No, not like that. We both go to the same college and we both are majoring in the same subject so we've been getting together to study."
"School hasn't started yet though."
"Yeah, but we both have our books so we thought we'd review and look into the first few lessons now," Eridan said.
Nepeta nodded and Kanaya personally handed him his drinks instead of putting them at the end of the counter.
"Watch yourself Ampora. You hurt my girlfriend and you're not allowed to hurt my friend."
Nepeta blushed guiltily and Eridan quickly walked out without saying goodbye. And just like that, the moment was dead and Nepeta's heart sunk to the very bottom of her ribcage.
"Why would you say that?" Nepeta asked, the hurt apparent in her voice.
"I'm just looking out for you, dear," Kanaya said genuinely.
"Well I can look out for myself." Nepeta snarled.
A hand was placed on her shoulder and she looked up to see Equius. "What is going on here?"
Kanaya looked at Nepeta, and when Nepeta didn't answer Kanaya answered for her.
"Nepeta and Eridan are...romantically interested in each other." She always knew how to get the point across, no matter who she was speaking to.
"You are romantically interested in him...in return? You two are both...no I will absolutely not allow this," Equius said, removing his hand and making fists.
"Too bad I'm 19 and you're not my father!" Nepeta said, getting frustrated.
Equius looked offended. "Take that back."
"No. It's true. You don't have to always look out for me. I can take care of myself." Nepeta said bitterly, turning away from him.
"Nepeta...I look out for you because I care about you..." Equius said.
Nepeta wished the hand on the clock would move faster. "Whatever."
Equius and Kanaya exchanged worried glances as both of them mentally debated what to do. In the end, they both just left her there, as Nepeta usually just has extreme mood swings that end with a little time. Kanaya, however, patted her back before leaving.
By the time her shift had finally drawn to a close, Nepeta was feeling chipper again but still was angry at Kanaya and Equius. She stripped off her apron and hat, grabbed her purse, and hurried out the door. She couldn't wait to hang out with Feferi. She really needed to talk to her about the events that took place today.