Gamzee walked at a steady pace, knowing when he got home, he would have to talk to Karkat. The tiny part of his brain that housed his insane personality was screaming at him to turn around, run back to Jade's house, and beat Vriska until she couldn't harm Tavros anymore; the much larger and much more rational section lamented that he should have at least taken Tavros with him when he left. Gamzee ran a hand through his hair, looking up at the sky and the slowly sinking sun. This day had turned out different than he expected. He had hoped to get Tavros to go out on a date-but-not and maybe confess how flushed he was for the other troll, but Vriska had shot that plan out of the air. The Capricorn moved his thoughts away from her as thinking about Vriska made his anger surface again. Instead, he focused on Tavros: his cute halting speech, the adorable way he was oblivious to Gamzee's staring, how he always smiled when Gamzee was around. Gamzee smiled himself at that image; Tavros never realized he was watching him that closely. He had it as bad as Tavros – if he could believe what his friends were telling him.

Arriving home after ten minutes, Gamzee headed straight to his room. He figured Karkat would be out of hiding by now and ready to talk. If not, Gamzee was willing to drag him out of the closet and force him to speak. Fortunately, Karkat was sitting on his own bed, fiddling with his laptop and frowning. The Cancer looked up when the other troll walked in.

"Tavros okay?"

"He's fine." Gamzee closed their door and locked it to ensure neither Sollux nor Dave would interrupt them unexpectedly; then, he sat on his bed, waiting for Karkat to start talking.

Karkat put his laptop to the side and shut the lid. He turned to Gamzee but didn't make eye contact. Gamzee counted the seconds that passed until Karkat cracked. "Sollux wouldn't fucking leave me alone about who I was flushing for after you left earlier, so I ran back here and hid in the closet. He got back, and being the smartass he is, he found me. I kept telling him to leave, but he wouldn't, and then he realized I wouldn't tell him because it was him. He—" Karkat crumpled the sheets in his fist. "Sollux… tried to kiss me. I freaked out, though, and I don't fucking know; he said something about being wrong and left." Karkat threw his hands up, frown deepening.

Gamzee wasn't good in the matesprit department, considering what was going on in that quadrant for himself, but he knew Karkat needed some kind of advice. He racked his mind for anything. "Well, maybe you should motherfucking apologize and explain to him why you freaked the fuck out. Why did you, anyway?"

Karkat finally looked at him. "I don't know. He'd just found out my fucking biggest secret, and I guess I was expecting him to be angry or something, but he wasn't. So I flipped my shit when he tried to kiss me because I was surprised. He probably hates me," Karkat mumbled.

"I motherfucking doubt that, Kar."

"If I were him, I would hate me!"

"You already hate yourself, so your opinion doesn't fucking count. Talk to him." Gamzee flopped back on his bed, making pictures out of the dots on the ceiling. His legs kicked back and forth where they hung off the side of the bed. "Sollux isn't a stupid motherfucker. If you tell him what you told me, he'll understand."

Karkat followed Gamzee's example and let himself fall backward. "Whatever. Did you tell Tavros?"

Gamzee shook his head, but seeing as Karkat wouldn't hear it, he answered, "No. Vriska fucked up and let some motherfuckin' assholes talk shit to him. He started crying as soon as I got through to him."

Karkat sat up in a flash. "You didn't do anything to Vriska, did you?"

"Nah. Motherfucking wanted to; almost did. Tavros being in the other room helped control my anger."

"Did you go all... 'high blood' on her?"

"You mean the whispering/yelling thing you said I did when I was murdering everybody? For a second."

Karkat sighed in relief. "At least you're keeping control over your violence now."

A knock on the door ceased their conversation. Gamzee got up, unlocking and opening the door. Dave was standing outside the room looking bored (well, Gamzee assumed he looked bored; sunglasses made expressions hard to decipher).

"Bro ordered pizza; it's in the kitchen."

The Capricorn watched him walk back to the stairs and descend. Dave usually got Sollux to tell them when food was there, so it was a bit strange getting the information straight from the source. Gamzee didn't bother to close the door as they would be leaving. He motioned for Karkat to get up, and they went downstairs.

/Schoolstuck/

Tavros dried his eyes thoroughly, wishing Gamzee hadn't left so soon. The crying, along with the emotional stress, left him feeling drained, and he did not think he could get himself home before nightfall. The Taurus was resigned to the fact that Vriska was the only choice left. Speaking of Vriska…

The troll appeared in the doorway with a relieved smile. Tavros blinked, and the expression was gone. I had to have imagined that, he thought wearily. Vriska doesn't smile unless it's filled with evil intentions.

"Are you okay, Tav?"

"I'm, uh, fine. Can you, bring me home?"

"In a bit," Vriska answered vaguely. She seated herself in her computer chair and rolled over to the other. She seemed to struggle briefly over something she wanted to say before nodding and opening her mouth, "I'm sorry."

"What?" Tavros' mouth dropped open.

"I'm not repeating myself."

"But – why?"

"Why am I sorry?" Tavros shook his head. "Why did I apologize?" An affirmation. "Because I didn't want you to get hurt. I know, it's out of character or whatever," she said, halting Tavros' questions, "but I'm not so huge of a bitch anymore. Considering we're all that's left of our kind, I'd rather not piss any of you off or have any of you die or get hurt; that doesn't mean I won't torment you, though."

Tavros rubbed his temples. "You're saying you, uh, didn't let those guys do that on purpose, or make them do it?"

"Why would I bother manipulating stupid humans? Besides, did you not see me punch that piece of shit who thought he was all badass picking on someone who couldn't fight back? What an idiot."

"Vriska, I'm confused."

The Scorpio scowled. "What now?"

"Do you actually, uh, care about me?"

"What could have possibly given you that idea?" she replied sarcastically.

Tavros grinned sheepishly. "I mean, do you, have flushed feelings, or…?"

Vriska redirected her gaze to a spot over Tavros' right shoulder. "It's not like that. I was trying to make someone jealous. You happened to be the perfect target; I mean, you gave me exactly what I needed to manipulate you."

This made Tavros' confusion mount. Who in the world would Vriska need to make jealous? Vriska never liked anyone. Tavros also questioned why she was telling him this. It was way off from Vriska's regular demeanor, and it was starting to freak him out.

"You're not an, impostor or something, are you?"

Vriska spun around in the chair, resting her chin on her palm. "I could punch you or something if you want to find out."

"How would that, uh, prove you're you?"

"It wouldn't, but it would be pretty fun." Vriska smirked. She put her feet flat on the floor, stopping her spinning. "Do you want me to take you home now?"

Tavros shook his head. "I have another question." Vriska waved for him to continue. "You said you're, uh, using me to make someone jealous, but, why me? Other than being, easy to manipulate."

Vriska was quiet for a while. The only sound was the tick tock of the clock hanging on the wall. Tavros was going to retract his question when Vriska met his eyes.

"I… might have pale leanings. For you," she added for clarification.

This sent Tavros' mind whirling again, but for a much different reason than last time. Vriska wanted to be moirails? After all the shit she had done to him, after the failed matespritship-thing they had sort of tried? Tavros stared at Vriska uncertainly; he knew he didn't hate her (a big character flaw, him not being able to hate people). But did that mean he wanted to try a moiraillegience with her? It couldn't hurt – more than being around Vriska normally did, anyway. Tavros analyzed his feelings: he wasn't completely averse to it, especially since Vriska had become less mean. Actually, he thought, I think I've always known we would work out better as moirails than any other quadrant.

"Uh, I think, I kind of feel the same. As long as you, don't kiss me anymore, I'll pretend to be your, um, boyfriend." Vriska genuinely smiled, a sight Tavros found pleasing. "But, if we're going to be moirails, you have to, tell me stuff. Like, who are you trying to make jealous?"

Vriska grimaced. "Can I tell you tomorrow?"

The Taurus sighed, knowing this relationship wouldn't be easy. "Sure. I'm ready to, uh, go home, by the way."

/Schoolstuck/

The next day of school was completely opposite from the day before. No one touched any of Tavros' possessions (or desks). Vriska pushed him to his first class, and people looked too frightened of her to pay attention to Tavros. For once, he felt like he fit in. Well, if fitting in constituted being afraid of his moirail. Gamzee, Karkat, and Terezi were already sitting when he and Vriska arrived, and all three glared. Vriska ignored them and leaned down to tell Tavros goodbye before leaving for her own class.

Tavros went to his desk and got out his supplies, knowing he would be able to focus better today. He felt Terezi poke him in the back with her walking stick and swiveled around.

"Are you still going along with her?" she whispered.

"Yeah, uh, sort of." Tavros glanced to the side to make sure Gamzee wasn't listening in. "I'll, explain later."

"You better, or you'll be getting a good whack from this." She held her cane up to his eyes so he had to cross them to see it. Tavros nodded hastily. "Good."

Terezi went back to doodling a picture of her and Dave, glasses askew and shirt designs hanging in the air to their sides. Tavros grinned at her horrible artwork and turned back to the front of the room. From the corner of his eye, he caught Gamzee peering at him concernedly.

The Taurus faced him. "Gamzee?"

"Were you all fucking right when I left last night, Tav?"

"I was, uh, fine. Thanks again."

"There's no need to motherfucking thank me. I was just doing what any good mate—" Gamzee closed his mouth so fast, his teeth clicked together. Tavros' eyes widened. Was he about to say what I think he was about to say? "Uh, what any good motherfucking friend would." Behind Tavros' back, Terezi held up her paper which now read "nice job", with obvious sarcasm.

Disappointment flashed through the smaller troll. He knew he had heard correctly: Gamzee had started saying "matesprit". Did he cut himself off because he didn't know of Tavros' feelings and did not want to chance it, or did he cut off because he discerned that his feelings were not of that variety? Those questions bogged down Tavros, and his mood dropped. He went back to focusing on the blank board in front of him. Gamzee shot a distressed look at Terezi, but the female troll shrugged and waved her paper-turned-sign; "nice job" was scratched out and replaced by "you fucked up".

/Schoolstuck/

First and second period streamed by in a haze of knowledge Tavros did not bother to pick up. On his way out the door, Terezi intercepted him. She caught the handles of his wheelchair, held up a hand to Aradia, and pushed him toward his third period.

"You are going to talk, Tav. I know Vriska will monopolize you at lunch, so I put it upon myself to steal your time between classes," Terezi said cheerfully, purposefully running over people's feet and not bothering to apologize. She was blind, after all.

"Terezi, I'm, uh, not sure how to explain."

"How about you tell me why you are STILL 'going out' with Vriska?"

Tavros entwined his fingers and twisted them nervously. "We're not really, going out. Vriska is using me to, um, make someone else jealous. She hasn't, told me who yet."

"Using you? Tav, that's even worse! And why would Vriska, of all trolls, tell you anything?"

"Well, she's – we, are kind of, uh…" Tavros mumbled the last word.

Terezi jerked the wheelchair and bent so she was on Tavros' level. "What was that, Tav? You two are what?"

"Moirails…"

Terezi let go of his wheelchair all together this time, and he rolled a few inches. The Taurus was suddenly assaulted by the Libra's cane; a few students stopped to watch. He shielded his head with his hands, fending off the painful blows. Terezi finally stopped and circled in front of him.

"Is she controlling you?"

"No! Terezi, I know it's, uh, farfetched, but I really think Vriska is, my moirail." He received another whack for that statement. "I made an agreement, with her. We're not, uh, dating anymore; not really. Vriska isn't all, that bad when you, uh, get to know her."

The blind troll raised an eyebrow. "This is the bitch that threw you off a cliff, the reason you are paralyzed, and you are saying you want a pale relationship with her?"

"No one else would, have one with her, and I've, uh, been looking for a, moirail. Vriska might be, mean to me, but she still listens. It's her own way of, uh, being a moirail."

Terezi shook her head, hitting Tavros one last time. "I trust your judgment on most things, Tav, but this is not one of them. You should break off that relationship before you get hurt."

"I won't," Tavros said stubbornly, going around Terezi. She jogged to catch up with him, getting in his way a second time. Tavros rolled his eyes. "I need to get to, uh, class, Terezi."

She stepped to the side. "You haven't won this argument, Tavros; I am a trained legislacerator, and I will convince you to stop this fling with Vriska."

Tavros ignored her and hurried so he would get to class on time.

/Schoolstuck/

Terezi fumed as she stomped to her class. Kids jumped out of her way; the ones that didn't got hit by her walking stick. Her mind was churning with the hatred she felt toward Vriska. She hardly noticed when Dave appeared by her side.

"Hey, cool kid," she said absent-mindedly. "You seem to show up only when I'm in a bad mood."

Dave stuck his hands in his pockets. "Isn't that what being a moirail or whatever shit is about?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"What did Vriska do?"

"What she does best: piss me off."

They got to their class and took their seats in the very back. No one bothered them back there, and the teacher never called on them. It was the perfect place to go unnoticed when you wanted to pass notes or talk.

"By the way," Terezi said, changing the subject, "did you tell your matesprit how you feel?"

"I don't have a damn matesprit; I'm not a troll."

"I can smell that, but you still have someone special, and for us, that is called a matesprit. Stop avoiding the question."

"No."

Terezi rapped his knee with her cane. "You need to say it!"

"I'm not going to fuck up a friendship for stupid girly feelings I shouldn't have."

"That is the worst excuse, Dave, and we both know it."

"Whatever," he muttered, shrugging. Terezi knew from experience that she wouldn't be changing his mind any time soon, so she gave up and pretended to focus on the teacher while devising ways to maim Vriska.

/Schoolstuck/

John practically skipped through the halls on the way to his third period, the hood of his god tier outfit trailing behind him wildly. (His dad had washed it last night! Why would he wear it again if it wasn't washed? Gosh.) Today was a great day, and he couldn't wait to get to art. A few kids greeted him as he passed them; John waved back, smiling widely. He was well-liked in school. Maybe not to the same extent as Feferi and Eridan, but no one bothered him for his weird choice in clothes or other quirks.

He stumbled as he entered the art room, surprised by the presence in the room.

"Dave?"

The other boy was sitting with Tavros at the table they had used yesterday. Tavros looked like he felt very awkward near Dave, and Dave was straight-faced as per usual. The blond looked up at John as he walked over.

"What are you doing here?" John echoed the question Nepeta had asked him the day before.

"They wouldn't let me make one damn sword, so I switched out."

"To art? Why? No, wait, let me guess: to be ironic."

"Why else? Cool kids don't do art unless it's in an ironic way."

John took the seat across from him and next to Tavros. "Of course. They kicked you out, didn't they?" He giggled at Dave's frown.

"Uh, can they do that?" Tavros interjected.

John nodded. "In extreme circumstances that don't warrant suspension or expulsion. Which I'm surprised they didn't do," he directed at Dave. "Shouldn't they have at least suspended you? You were trying to make a deadly weapon."

Dave shrugged, and John breathed out heavily. The blonde was good at getting out of bad situations like that. He never understood it.

"Dave! Are you cutting class, nya?"

John observed Nepeta pouncing on Dave and hassling him, Equius showing up to scold the girl; Tavros didn't take part in the craziness. Class was pretty much a loud mess for their table that day.

/Schoolstuck/

Tavros gladly left third period. He never felt entirely comfortable around Dave since the whole failed trolling incident. Besides, Dave hardly talked to him when they were around each other, so they were left in silence until someone showed up. It was annoying, actually.

Tavros let go of those thoughts and searched the hall. Vriska was nowhere to be seen, even though Tavros had expected her to come find him. It was strange, but Tavros brushed it aside and headed to the library; he had to return the book of fairy tales he had found one day in the beginning of the year when he was hiding from some kids. He'd renewed it at least three times, and he would have again if he thought they would let him.

Once in the library, he dropped off the book and went to the section he'd found it in to see if there were more like it. As Tavros went by an aisle, he looked down it: Kanaya was sitting on the ground with a book open on her lap, leaning back against the bookshelf. Tavros decided to go say hi, so he backed up.

"Hey, Kanaya," he said softly, rolling over to her.

Kanaya's head whipped up, her eyes wide until she saw who had addressed her. Her gaze softened, and she smiled. "Hello, Tavros. How are you?"

He pulled up a foot shy of her position, noticing she had company already. A head of blonde hair rested on Kanaya's shoulder, while the rest of the person was curled up against the troll's side.

"I'm, uh, fine. How long have you two, been in here?"

Kanaya eyes rolled up to stare at the ceiling. "We were sent to get books halfway through third period. The teacher said we could stay if we wanted to. I found a book to read, and Rose fell asleep reading over my shoulder."

"Oh, that's cool, I guess. I was trying to, uh, find more books on, human fairy tales."

"They would be in the fantasy section, I believe. It is the last aisle."

"Thanks, Kanaya."

"You're welcome, Tav."

Tavros left the two girls to their reading/sleeping and followed Kanaya's direction. She was right about the stories being in the fantasy section. The Taurus scanned the titles on the shelves he could reach, but nothing stood out. He gave a frustrated sigh and rolled back an inch or two to see the books above him. Most of them were uninteresting also; as Tavros was about to give up, a medium-sized, purple-covered book caught his eye. The writing on the spine was golden and proclaimed that the book contained a vast collection of tales. The poor, wheelchair-bound troll almost cried at the unfairness of the situation: the book was about two feet above him, and he definitely would not be able to reach it without help. Tavros debated over asking the librarians, then threw that choice out because they didn't like him (he heard them grumble about his wheelchair taking up too much space in the cluttered library). He was on the brink of giving up and coming back with someone – probably Vriska – to get it for him, when an arm reached over his head and plucked the book from its shelf.

"Here you go, Tav."

Tavros tentatively took the book from Gamzee after facing him, fixing his eyes with the other troll's. Gamzee's lips twitched downward at Tavros' lack of response.

"Are you all motherfucking okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm, uh, fine," Tavros stuttered out, holding the book to his chest like a shield, as if it would protect him from any sort of rejection he might be about to receive. "Did you, um, need something, Gamzee?"

"What?" Gamzee looked confused for a second, scratching his cheek. "Oh, yeah. I needed to fucking tell you some important shit, Tav."

"Isn't that an, oxymoron?"

"A what?"

"Um, two words that, mean the opposite of each other," Tavros explained.

"Oh, I guess it was, then." Tavros mentally patted himself on the shoulder at his perfect scheme for getting Gamzee off topic. Sadly, it didn't last long. "I know you're trying to motherfucking distract me, Tav, but this is fucking important, so I'm not gonna let you fucking do that." Gamzee stalked forward, Tavros matching his pace going backward. The wall cruelly held as Tavros' wheelchair bumped against it, as walls consistently do. Gamzee crouched to Tavros' level, keeping their eyes locked. The Taurus shivered as Gamzee leaned closer, mesmerized by the purple hue his irises held.

"Gamzee, uh – what did you, have to, um, tell me?" Tavros whispered shakily.

"I don't remember," he said right before kissing Tavros.

/Schoolstuck/

Author's Notes:

Cliffhanger!

"What is this - I don't even -"

You guys hate me now, don't you? :

Also, thanks to those who reviewed! The anon, Evil Italy, and azamichaaaan, all lovely reivews that made me happy~ Glad you guys are enjoying it. Also, I love making people enjoy reading things they usually don't; it makes me feel like I accomplished my mission. :) And another big thanks to those who story alerted and favorited! I love you guys so much ;_;