Musickind

A Homestuck Fanfiction

DaveJohn / JohnDave

Chapter Three

You are John Egbert and you suddenly recognize this guy. Why didn't you recognize him sooner? Gosh, you're getting senile in your old age. But you're not even that old yet… Moving on…

"Dave Strider?" You tentatively ask. Without thinking, you drop the load of CDs you've collected and give him the biggest hug you've given anybody in a long time. He tenses up and people are staring, but you don't care! You've finally met someone you know again! You almost tear up. Almost.

"Oh my gosh, Dave, how are you! I've missed you so much! We haven't talked since you and Jade moved away! We lost contact… Oh! Where is Jade? Is she here?" You look around, and then look at Dave, who turns his head away to avoid your stare. Not that you can see his eyes anyway, hidden behind those shades. Oops, you seem to have stepped over the caution tape.

"She's away," he answers simply. "That's all there is to say on the matter." And that usually ends the conversation. Something must have happened to Jade? What did he mean "away?" Like, on a trip or away forever? Wow, now you feel like a douche. You guess he notices your discomfort and tries to change the subject.

"What about Lalonde?" he asks. "Or, should I say, Mrs. Egbert? You two got married before we left. Perfect happy couple? Kids?" Now it's your turn to look away.

"Sh-she's gone too," you answer, taking a step back. "Been gone for a long time now. And no kids." Wow, this has gotten really awkward really fast.

"Shit, dude, I'm sorry," he says, touching his neck and looking down. You shake your head.

"No, I'm sorry too," you say. You try to laugh it off. "It's been a while now! And I guess I'm over it. Maybe I'll even tell you about it some time! Uhh, that is, if you want to keep in touch and stuff." You bend down to pick up those CDs you dropped. Damn it, why were you holding so many? Dave starts picking them up too.

"Yeah, that'd be cool. Although Sundays are the only days I'm free. I'm out in the real world working a job, you know. Just in case you thought I was the pimp daddy master, gettin' paid just to be cool." He says with a slight smirk. You give him one of your big goofy grins. Dave always knew how to make any situation better. He was always so charismatic. You guess that's why you liked him so much in the first place.

"Um, yeah, that's cool! Um, but I think my schedule is pretty packed for the foreseeable future. I'll have to check on that later. But I totally have time today if you want to hang out. Today is pretty much my last free day for a while. But I will definitely make time for you if you want!" You try not to sound too desperate. Emphasis on try.

So you both exchange numbers after he ironically (or would it be unironically?) gaps at your phone and ask how the shit you have the latest and coolest tech when he has his shitty flip phone still. You're not at all sorry for bursting into laughter. You figure if Dave wanted to tell you about his financial status, he would let you know. So you decide not to pry.

And since you're free for the rest of the day, you decide to follow him around. After asking him, of course. Just in case he had any plans, which he didn't. He also didn't seem to mind you tagging along, so you feel less bad.

Dave announces your arrival at the thrift store, in his usual monotonic voice. Although you didn't think he'd be very ecstatic anyway. But you're not judging! You and your dad used to go thrift store shopping once in a while! You can find really neat things in there! Except one time, your dad brought home this creepy harlequin figure. You "accidentally" knocked it over once.

You both shop around a little before finally hitting the sweater aisle. You think he'd look dashing in one of these grandma-type Christmas sweaters. You said it'd be ironic, and he just stares at you.

"Always the jokester. You haven't changed a bit, Egbert." He says, before turning away. You can't help to do anything but giggle sheepishly and follow him around. Dave finally picks on a rather surprisingly stylish (and unsurprisingly red, of course) jacket. You both head for the register and the nice lady rings the jacket up, commenting on its nice color, to which Dave responds with a smirk.

And before he could do anything, you whip out your credit card. Of course, this had been your plan from the start! At least, after hearing Dave was shopping for a jacket and remembering the date.

"Egbert, what-" he starts, but you hold up your hand.

"Think of it as a belated birthday present! I missed it by almost a week!" You say, completing the transaction. You hand the jacket back to Dave and he just stares down at it.

"I'll owe you now," he says, unsure of what to make of the situation. You shrug and pull him out the door.

"You don't have to! This day has been enough. Really, if you know what I've been through these past couple of years, you could say that this is basically the best day I've ever had in a long time!" You say, pretty sure you have a huge, stupid, toothy grin on your face. Dave gives you another one of his signature stares. "So, thanks, Dave. I mean it. You don't owe me anything."

"Egbert," he says. "That's not my style, man. You say that, but I'm not feelin' it. I'll still feel like owin' you." You've reached the intersection, and you both know you have to split up. It's getting pretty late, anyway, and as much as you'd like to ask him to hang out some more over dinner, you have to check in with your manager.

"Hmm, then how about this," You take out your phone and bring up a blank text. Dave is still pretty much in awe at your phone. "Come to this address next Sunday. You can make it up to me by being there, okay? And wear something nice!"

Without waiting for an answer you give him a quick hug, another thank you, and head off towards your house, feeling a lot better than you could have ever expected.