Distractions. She needed them, couldn't breathe at the moment without them, needed them to live, just for today. She felt awful, her heart constantly caving in with each fantasy that passed through her head, ugh how awful. The atmosphere of the Cleaners consisted of gentle conversations and the rumbling of the large, cube machines as they churned clothes in their depths, spinning and spinning and spinning and god, she couldn't stare at them, it reminded her about she felt at the moment. Just… colorful pieces of fabric spinning out of control in gray depths. Ugh. How idiotic could she be?

Realizing she was unintentionally staring at a women (who was plainly making a show of how awkward she felt), she picked up her bag and set it on the bench with a little too much force and unzipped it, retrieving her own garments and carefully going through the lights and darks. Thought of the previous hours slipped through her head, reminding why she felt so hurt. No, that wouldn't describe it. Desperate maybe? Oh yeah. That sounded about right. She had woken up, ready to fight the day, feeling fresh, free, dig her heels in and get stuff done! She was going to call Karkat and shoot some schedules his way when she had remembered:

Terezi. He was seeing her today. The image of his smile, one not brought from herself, as he fought with her playfully. And how he had set aside the day he was going- supposed- to help her. What hurt was how easily he had cast it aside. Hadn't cared about her grades? No no, that sounded selfish, of course he did, he cared since he had found her report card in high school by accident! Wow, had he blown a sprocket! Since then he had kept such careful tabs on her, encouraging her, rebuking her habit of procrastinating, checking up on her to make sure she was okay-!

A sharp shake of the head, and the thoughts were violently tossed away.

"I don't have time to brood," She hissed, suddenly very focused on separating her clothes. "I have things to do, I need to get to work, c'mon Lejion get a move on, let's go!" As soon as she had filled a basket with light pastel colored fabrics she turned on her heel—And rammed the basket and its contents on none other than the ironic dj; also known as Dave. His cool façade was unscathed, his shades askew on his face and, invoking a flustered "BAAAAAUGH, DAVE NOOO", calmly removed her lime colored underwear from his blonde hair, dark ember eyes betraying no emotion.

"Dave! WAH! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING—"

"I did. Twice."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TAP MY SHOULDER—"

"I did. Twice"

"I'M SO SORRY!" She snatched her undergarments from him, flustered and thoroughly humiliated. Oh, it's no biggy, just, oh y'know, dump your dirty clothes all over a rising star. Totally cool on your part, you should be so fulfilled and oh gosh darn it this Saturday sucked. She collapsed on her knees and hurriedly threw her scattered clothing back in the ocean blue basket, assisted by her recently obtained companion.

"You're so far out into space, even Egderp wouldn't be able to catch up to you. Something troubling you?"

"No!" She exclaimed that a little too loud, hehe oops. "I mean, aha noooo, what do you mean troubled? Me? Aha! You're as funny as ever, hehe we should hang out together more, boy are you hysterical." She was almost positive that Dave's soothsayer eyes were unraveling every single bit of her emotions and their cause as she stretched out on her belly to retrieve a sock that had skidded underneath a bench.

"Whatever you say, kiddo." Relief flooded through her as she accepted a light blue skirt from him. "Ruffles. Very classy."

"I think they're cute," She said, standing up with the basket.

"Oh goth. You theriouthly aren't flirting with her, are you?"

"Naw man, she's not exactly my type. Nice kid though."

"Hi Sollux," She squeaked up at him. Why must everyone be taller than her? However her excitement returned. She didn't see Sollux very often! He was wearing a black T-shirt, topped off with a yellow jacket, with some gray skinny jeans. His shoes were mismatched, as usual. Is hair was short and choppy, that like a scene haircut. He was holding a basket of clothes as well.

"Thup. Haven't seen you for a while." They attended different colleges. Sollux was working on become a hacker for the FBI, and good gosh was he gonna land the position. He had cleared her laptop of so many viruses with just a few codes. He had replied, 'A magician never thares their thecrets.' Basically, 'you'll never find out, pfft.' He was a genius with a keyboard. Well… a genius with everything. Blargh. He was cool though. Got things done, then partied hard. He lived a good life. She had met him through Karkat. Sollux was modeling for him (well, mostly ticking him off) and Nepeta had ran into them. He was pretty nice… well, in a teasing way. Well, that's what made him interesting after all! "Jutht a quethition. Aren't you thuppothed to be with Kk?" Ah, there's that stab in the heart again. Took a nice hearty chunk out of her happy go lucky attitude.

"Hm? Oh! Karkat is spending the day with Terezi."

"Why? I thought he wath helping you?"

"He needs some time to relax. Y'know, get school out of his head and all. I mean, he deserves some time to relax and have fun." With a skilled foot, she undid the hatch of the washer and started shoveling her laundry into its depths.

"Do you like Tz?" Oh, did she ever. Terezi was a fantastic roleplayer and a funny person. She often busted a gut when she and Terezi got together. Being blind never ever bothered her, much less got in her way. She walked around with ease, bapping everyone with her cane once in a while. She had a relaxed yet gangly stride, and her dirty blonde hair was always clean smelling. Nepeta adored her.

And so did Karkat.

Sigh. She shut the door to the machine and started it, mounting the top. The washer started with a dull whud, and shuddered as it churned its insides. Sollux merely dumped his load into the washer next to hers and hopped on top too. Dave settled for leaning against a support beam.

"So I take that you have all day to yourself?" He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah," She responded, gripping the steel edges of the cube. Sollux's machine started with a violent lurch, earning it an 'OH THIT'. "Oh, hee hee! Are you okay Sollux?"

"Peachy," He replied, Shooting a sharp glare at the beige colored washer through his 3D glasses. He gripped the sides in case the machine wanted to try and throw him forward again. Already Nepeta was drowning in relief; her friends sure knew how to keep her mind off certain things.

"As I was saying before the bull of a machine tried to throw off its less than prepared raving rodeo rider-"

"Fuck you."

"- I had to ask you for a favor."

"Me? Sure, go ahead."

"Today I made a CD of some of the ill beats I made,"

"Ill indeed, they'd make me barf too," Sollux muttered. That wasn't true, actually. He broke into a groove whenever he heard techno music, Dave's included.

"—And I'm gonna send them to a couple record companies."

"Dave that's awesome!" Nepeta leaned back as the washer picked up its pace. She was experienced with this sort of thing. Sollux, unfortunately, was swaying around like some sort of inflatable tube man with his hands stuck to the machine. He made some pretty funny noises, too. Perhaps he should dismount; for his own safety. Pfft, she was skilled with this sort of thing. It was one of her many talents. Whee.

"A-a-a-a-and?"

"I figured you'd be here. Champion of washer riding, overcoming the biggest heap of stinking laundry. You. Are. The champion."

"You were looking for me?"

"Yeah."

"THIT! NEPETA, HOW THE HELL CAN YOU THIT THO THTILL, GOD DAMMIT!"

"Maybe you should hop off now Sollux.."

"Back to the subject."

"Right!"

"I need you to take some photos of me. I need to send at least three to the company. For some sort of wacky album shit." Whoa whoa, hold the detergent was he asking her for help?!

"You want my help?!" She squeaked, freezing on the lurching metal cube.

"That's one way to translate it," he affirmed. "You're the only photographer I know besides Vantas," Urgh. "You'd probably go easier on my wallet too. Hopefully."

"Of course I'll help!"

"Cool. How much?"

"Nothing at all," She sang, sliding off her steed gracefully. She smirked at him playfully. "Think of it as a 'Leijon buddy discount'.

"Well aren't you funny," He replied, though he didn't sound amused. At the sound of a 'OH GOD NOOOOOOOO', Nepeta sidestepped and caught Sollux as he tumbled not so gracefully off of his perch.

"Oww, not tho hard AC, that hurts!" Granted she did grip his arms, and let him go with a soft apology. " 'th fine. I don't know how you can even thit thtill on that damn thing. It's like thome thort of demon bull."

"I can teach you how to sit properly on the drying machine!"

"No thanks. I don't think my ath can take much more."

Now this was a distraction! If running around town with a buddy and picking out the most flashy parts of towns to take a great picture didn't take your mind off of a crisis, then nothing else would probably help you out. Granted, Dave was a picky client, and when he told Nepeta what he wanted to see in his picture, it all but made her stare at him in a confused manner.

"Wouldn't they want to see some sophisticated shots? Like… um.. well, maybe see you standing in front of your apartment, or in front of your school?"

"Nah, they wanna see something abstract. Something that'll shoot out of the photo and punch them in the face with the purest irony." Okay, working with Dave was a liiiittle more complicated than she expected.

She couldn't quit now, though! If she did, she'd go back home, where she'd most likely pout all day and think of Karakt. C'mon Nepeta, you can do this!

"Alright Dave, I'll do my best! Stand over by that statue! Just scoot over! A little more? A liiiiittle more! Stop! Okay, stay right there…" Hmm. How exactly should she do this? She looked him over through the little square of her camera. Maybe if she tilted it upwards a little…? Oh, no no no wait she knew! She hurried over to the bench beside the statue and stood on her tip toes, attempting to look taller. She snapped a picture, looking proud. "There! All done!"

"Alright. How many did we take?"

"Fifteen," She replied, hopping down. Fifteen fantastic pictures, if she did say so herself.

"Isn't that a bit much?"

"What, of course not!"

"Sorry if I don't get your… well, different point of view."

"I'll go home and edit the ones I like best. Then I'll edit and print them out for you! I can bring them around… Um, Wednesday?" His shielded eyes seemed to go over the conversation, digesting what she said.

"Alright sounds cool. Hey, my house isn't that far away. You want a lift?" Oh dear lord.

"I-in a car?"

"No, in a flying saucer. Or can I interest you in a nice army jet?"

"No thanks, I'll walk. I mean, I've walked to this park before, I live about an hour or two away on foot." He stared at her for a good minute. "I'll be fine! Really! I mean it's around four, right? I'll get those pictures done in a jiffy Dave, just sit tight and spin your records! Kaybyeseeyoulater!"

If he argued back with her, she most likely would have lost.

No one really ever wins a battle against Dave.

He had… Well, a way with words.

There was nothing wrong with an hour walk home. Besides, she had gotten back home in time! Heck, it was only six! She could whip up a quick dinner, feed Pounce, and put her laundry away! Well… Shove it in a drawer anyway. Then she could get down to business and go through the pictures she took with Dave!

"That's not too bad! Oooooh, yes Pouncey, I'm back hello helloooo! Did you miss me? Did you? Awww yes you did you little precious furrball you! Awww, yes yes hiiiiiiiii!" Quickly trotting to the kitchen, she opened the fridge and examining it's contents, she pulled out a microwave meal. Eeh, it wasn't that bad looking. She wasn't exactly starving either. Pounce, however, had different views, because as soon as she had Nepeta's attention, she plopped right done next to her dish and meowed indignantly.

"Oh yes yessss, I know it's aaaaawful. Here, move over, lemme get your food. Theeeere you gooo, are you happy now? Ooh yesss, Poucney a happy girlie now, aint she? Awwww yeaah, eat that right up, good girl!" A sideglance towards her bulging satchel. "…. Pfft. Laundry can wait until next morning." Basically, an excuse to roleplay. But as she plopped on the couch and fired up her laptop, something else pulled at her concentration; Dave's photos. Uuuurgh, she had to get those done. "Eh, why not." She drew her bag over to her closer and removed her camera from it's little case and fished out the USB cord, (Which was in-between her couch cushions. Golly, she thought that she had lost it for a second, PHEW.) He laptop pinged, indicating she had a message. Looked like it was only Equius. He could wait, after all, he understands that she's a busy girl! (Well, busy roleplaying. Eeh, except she wasn't doing exactly that at the moment."

The pictures looked fine to her; All they needed was a little lighting here and there and—

Oh man. Her fingers froze around her mouse, her eyes widening. Her heart wrenched once, twice, three times. Did her day really need to end like this? She closed her laptop. She didn't want to see that.

She didn't want to see Karkat and Terezi. She didn't want to even double check to make sure it was them, because she knew that it was them, conveniently placed on the outskirts of the photo.

Holding hands, smiling at each other.

Why did luck hate her so much.

A/N: Oooooh, this is an awful chapter Sorry everyone, please please pleeease bear with me! DX