Hello everyone again sorry about the long wait for this chapter a lot of things came up and I needed to take a short break from a lot of things, but here's the new chapter pleas enjoy!
A New Friend?
Okay there is nothing to panic about right? Maybe? Hopefully? Of course not, nope, nope, nope. Oh who where you kidding.
You have are a major melt down right now, there is nothing stopping you from panicking internally because this new guy is Dave's cousin. He and Dave must be close since they do look really similar, and well are related. "He's probably another predator. No that's stupid you guys aren't animals, try to look on the positive side." thinking in your head out. You move you eyes on him and widened them because all you can think is, "YOU ARE POSITIVE THAT HE'S A FUCKING PREDATOR." out loud in your head. Now you body is going into panic mode to, you body is starting to sweat, heart rate is increasing, and you breathing is becoming shorter.
Not wanting to have a full on panic attack you try calm to the internal conflict in you try to think about calming thoughts, like water falls, naps, your family's store. Slowly you body starts to calm down, heart rate decreasing, sweating stopped and your breathing returned to normal. Turning your head from side to side slowly, scan across the room it looks like no one noticed that little episode. Sighing in relief, you try to calmly think about the situation.
You move your vision to of the front of the room and look down at the table, you are trying to think about the positives of this situation. The noise of the front room starts to fade and the thoughts in your head start to get louder.
Trying to reassure to yourself that this Strider most likely won't be the same as the one you've known for most your life. Maybe the two of you could be friends? You know do friend things like talking about movies, playing video games, pull pranks and making awesome pillow forts.
What are you thinking, you are seventeen not twelve, kid stuff like that probably won't be very interesting to a person like a him. He's probably going to parties every weekend, or those really popular scent mixers things.
No not the cute group blind date kind of scent mixers when couples are picked based on the compatibility of their partner's scent, and couples start to get to know each other, no. He's probably been to the more extreme side of spectrum of those mixers, like the larger ones held in clubs or private parties, where scents are all over the place, and people are looking for a partner or multiple partners for the night, type of thing.
Shaking your head, and taking a brief glance at the front to "Davis", you thought that was a rather rude conclusion to come about since, you don't know him personally so you shouldn't be quick to judge. Like Jade always said,
"Don't judge a book it's cover, John, or that paperback looking cover might be a hardcover and will hurt twice as much if it hits your face." Jade always did have oddly specific and well timed pieces of advice for you.
Considering at the time, right after she said that to you, your face met with one of Karkat's hardcover romance novels. Then again maybe you shouldn't have dissed the novel. So if you learned anything from that experience, maybe trying to become friends wouldn't hurt.
But have you a sinking feeling that you might not be able to get along with him in the end, if Dave is anything to go by. You don't know what went wrong to cause this whole thing between him and yourself, but it was probably something you did. Since he wasn't open to talk to you after the incident, or acknowledge you unless he was bullying you.
You do go back on it a lot, thinking about what could have possibly went wrong between you two, was it because you didn't listen enough, maybe it was because you were to pushy, was it because you were too selfish at times, maybe because you hurt his feelings by not giving him an immediate answer, or maybe because he realized that he wanted nothing to do with you all together.
You felt your heart sink a little at that last one, but it felt like it could be true.
Your were brought back to reality when the sound of metal sliding across the lament flooring, followed by a soft thump of a person seating them self onto the seat next to you, breaking you from your thoughts. The scent of apple, and oranges became more present next you.
You glance to the right to see the source of the scent; it was the same person you had encountered at your family's shop the other day. Also the cause of your panic attack earlier today but you have calmed down since the beginning of class.
He turns his head your ways and gives you a nod, and slight smirk as a greeting. You mouth, "Welcome to Namco High.", followed by the largest smile you could muster, to return his jester. Even though he is a Strider he deserves a friendly greeting on his first day.
After you two greeted each other, Ms. Serket began class it was a pretty dull English class. Nothing more than covering one of Shakespeare's plays. "Hamlet.", trying to translate the lines of the play, and comprehension questions. There is nothing but a silence between you and Davis during this time, though you did feel a little nervous around the guy.
Before you knew it the bell rang alerting you to pack up for your next class, which is advance biology. Getting up from your seat Ms. Serket called you and Davis up to the front of the class. Judging from the papers in her hands those are probably the assignments you missed yesterday, also maybe a couple of assignments for Davis to, for what he missed since the semester didn't start to long ago.
"Well, John here is what you had missed yesterday it's not much. Just a little critical thinking for the second act on Hamlet." She handed you the paper and the assigned readings, you accepted the assignment and gave her a small nod.
"Davis, I know that it's you first day but here is a couple of assignments I need you to do. They are very short but seeing as you came near the beginning of this new semester it isn't too much." She said as she handed a small stack of papers to Davis, nodding he accepted the papers, holding them in his hands.
"I know it looks like quite a bit of work and reading but I'll give you a week for you to submit the assignments, and all." She said to him, and then she turned he face to you with a pleading look. "I know that this is pushing you under the bus a little but John could you help Davis with some of the readings to catch him up to speed. "
Taking your gaze away from your teacher you look at the stack of papers in his hands. The stack was about two inches thick and those are just the question sheets. That would take him a while to do, and on top of upcoming assignments. Well you don't see why you wouldn't help him it would take quite the load off his shoulders; maybe you could take this chance to get to know him.
"Of course Ms. Serket, I'll be glad to help, Davis.", you looked at her giving a small smile.
She smiles back and the bell for the next class to start rings. "Oh my, I'm sorry for making you two late, here I'll write you two a letter for your next class which classes do you both have now." She asks as she rummages through he desk to get a pink slip.
"Advanced biology." You both answer, surprised you look up to see the tall boy's face. His expression is masked by that Strider poker face you've come to known over the years, and from what you notice on that mask is a subtle expression of relief.
"Well it makes it easier for us since I think Davis does not quite know the class lay out quite yet, and you two could get better acquainted." She smiles as she hands you the note. You and Davis walk out of the English classroom to make your way down your biology lab.
There is an awkward silence between you two now since you two are alone as you walk through the empty hallways. The only sound in the hallways is those of your foot steps clicking against the floor.
The increase in silence was making you nervous, the added clicking of you steps also adds emphasis on the tension you are feeling. Like in video games when your character is walking down what seems like an empty hallway, but the next thing you know a zombie dog crashes through the window.
However you don't think your situation is that nerve wracking but it makes you think of all the negative things that could possibly go wrong between you two. Like what if he decides you are too boring, or lame for him to be his friend.
He doesn't quite know you yet to come to that conclusion, but he's kind of met you before, and first impression makes a large impact. You feel negative thoughts start to rush into your head again.
What if he thinks you are too weird because of that freak out you had with him the other day? Maybe he thinks your some sort of nervous wreck that would seem to be is more of a stupid obstacle than a good companion. Then again maybe if you are lucky he doesn't remember you.
"Well this is getting a little awkward." He decides to break the silence.
"I know this might be a little uncomfortable but aren't you the kid I met at that café yesterday right." He said as you two walk next to each other, and you nod.
Holy shit he remembers you, who were you kidding with thinking he'd forget the kid who had a major panic attack at a public place. Way to Egbert, you thought you could lure self into a false sense of security. Like anyone would forget a thing like that either!
Looking at the left you noticed that large windows, that follow along the side of the hallway you were walking along. Maybe if you run fast enough you could just crash through one of the windows in this hallway to spare you from this facing this embarrassing situation, about a four story drop.
Before you could actually think to go through with the terrible plan, he decides to continue.
"I'm sorry to hear you weren't feeling great, and I reminded you of someone that hurt you. I have that affect on people sometimes, but all things aside I think we should start somewhere you know try to be friends or not its up to you."
That was something you were not expecting. You look as him with wide eyes and you couldn't believe what you were hearing it was out of left field.
Was he really giving you a chance? You looked up at his face, and his expression tells you that he isn't lying, even though it's kind of blank. Taking a a closer look on his face it looks his eyebrows as arched in a way that could be described as someone looking for acceptance, for a friend maybe, but it look like there was more to it. Maybe you could take this chance in trying make a new friend, maybe you guys could be best bros, and you could see what could plaguing him, if he was willing.
"Yeah I'd like to friends to." You say back to him, he smirks and he starts a small conversation like you were meeting for the first time but then again you guys kinda are doing that.
"Well my name is Davis Strider but you obviously know that already. I prefer it if you call me Dave, but if you need time to call me that it's cool. I'm from L.A, California, used to live with my bro but moved here since he going on a business trip for the semester. I like to take photos, making sick beats, sword fighting, drawing ironic comics…" he starts off, it's pleasant listening to him.
You listen to him and a lot of those things sound rather familiar, though it kinda flies over your head but there was something that caught you which was " …also I like to drink apple juice, the stuff is the nectar of the gods."
In many ways he was rather similar to the Dave you've known for years, from hobbies and like and dislikes. Also the two talk the same with mannerisms like the slight slip of the Texan accent.
"John there something wrong?" he asks you, and you look up to him. "No nothing is wrong." You smile at him and you shake off you previous thoughts and you continue with your conversation.
"I'm John Christine Egbert, I'm from here in Sburb and I like to play the piano, biology, pulling pranks, doing magic, and watching awesome movies like Con Air. My favourite actor is Nicholas Cage he's handsome and a genius actor, one of the greatest."
You hear laughing next to you, "Really man, Nic Cage the guy is a joke, and the way you phrase it, it sounds like you have a man crush on the guy." Davis laughs at your last comment.
"Hey he's not a joke, he's a brilliant actor he can be very serious when he needs to be, and he shows a lot a passion when he acts to. So what if I kinda do." You retort back.
"It's fine you could like whoever you want, but don't you notice how over the top is. He adds a little too over the top passion into his acting and it drips all over the place. It comes out as fucking laughable, seriously man." He argues back.
"Not really I think that over the top passion translates well on to the screen, you can see every emotion the character he is portraying so well, it's like magic on the screen." You say as you remind yourself of the stunning performance Nic Cage did in Con Air.
"Haha yeah Egbert, and nice middle name very ironic, since I think Christine would be a more suitable first name for you."
"Really, I think so to since I got my middle name from my late nanna." You look up at him, and smile since it's something you were given to honor her.
Davis looks at you, and gave you an expression of what you can guess is surprise, or was it distress? It looks like he is panicking a little before he opens his mouth, you say, "To be honest it's a name I take pride in carrying, since my nanna was such a great person." You smile at him again.
"The way you say that, she must have been a great lady." He looks at you at smiles. "Yeah she really was." You reply
"Well it looks like we're here." You two stop in front of the door of the biology lab.
"We'll talk about when we could do your assignments after class." You said looking up at him, he nodded.
The two of you entered the classroom, looking at the front of the room Dr. Captor was sitting at his large desk. The both of you approach the teacher's desk, and you handed the note Ms. Serket gave to you. He didn't seem to be bothered by your tardiness, and you were asked to be seat while Davis was asked to stay up front, probably for introductions.
Walking to the back you took your seat, and took out your books for class. After getting settled you heard the teacher introduce Davis. You didn't pay attention since you two were already acquainted, but you looked at the front anyway to be polite.
You thought it was nice to talk with him; he was a really cool guy. There was a lot of things that reminded you of Dave like how the both like apple juice, making mixes, doing photography not on digital cameras but the ones that require film to develop photos, also how they both don't like puppets.
In many aspects Davis is a lot like Dave. Was this like you are trying to replace someone you longed to talk to again? You don't want to think that but it looks like it could be the case.
It seems rather sad, but you try not to think about too much. You shake your head and thought, so what if they are rather similar with interests, likes and look like carbon copies of each other...
….. A carbon copy….
A light flicked in your head. Was there a chance that he is actually Dave in really shitty disguise? You thought to yourself it does seem like it's prank he could pull off, like how likely would it be to have a look a like cousin attending the same school that you both go to while he is out doing community service. It's not really hard to make a fake identity, or get one. And balancing community service and school at the same time does look plausible. Was this a really stupid trick? Then again you can't quite rule it out as not fake either, because if it is real then it will blow up in your face.
When Davis was finished with his introductions he made his way to the seat next you again, and class resumed. Using your peripheral vision, you inspect him more carefully.
Hmm… Platinum blonde hair, check. Pail skin, check. Ben Stiller shades, check. Freckles, check. Unreadable calm expression, check. Red eyes? Maybe, but you can't tell with those shades on his face.
Is there chance that Davis Strider, was actually Dave Strider trying to fuck with you.
Sorry again I've been so busy lately I was taking a summer course and before I knew I didn't have much time to write the next chapter. Also right after I finished my course I had a serious case of writer's block, so I needed a small break. Now I have managed to kick out of my writers block and write out the the next couple of chapters so there maybe a couple updates coming your way. They'll come out as soon as I could get my chapters edited properly. :3
I hoped you enjoyed the chapter, and please leave a review. Thank you :3