Chapter 4:

I walked into the lunchroom and my eyes widened with the overwhelming crowd. I closed my eyes and calmed myself down and looked around trying to pick out different crowds. I found the popular kids. I saw Dave with them and I smiled. My heart began to race faster and I gripped the handle to my lunchbox. He had on the same outfit that he had on this morning…- wait... Well duh he had on the same outfit. Nice one, john. Anyways. My gaze went down to the tiles on the floor. I noticed the pattern. Anything to get my mind off of Dave- The incredibly gorgeous JERK-. The pattern was very weird. Blue, blue, blue, red, red, red, yellow. Blue, blue, blue, red, red, red, ye-

"John?" I looked up and saw Tavros. I sighed a little in relief and nodded. He chuckled and walked off as I followed him. His table was right next to Dave's. Perfect.I took a seat on the side of the table facing away from Dave and looked down at my food. As dorky as it sounds, my dad packed my lunch. I opened my bag and went to pour it out on the table and glitter popped out… and all over the table. Dad… I swear to god. Tavros looked at me and I laughed a little.

"Like father like son." I muttered.

Tavros looked up at me. "What?"

"I prank people too."

"You don't take me as the pranking type. You're so… shy."

"I'm not that shy once you get to know me. It's just because I've never had to move states before… it's scary…"

I looked down at my lunchbox and frowned. Tavros put his hand on my shoulder. "hey. Come on. I'll help you"

I smiled. "Thanks." ((Aradia nepeta sollux jade.))

He nodded. Equius and kankri walked up. They had 4 other people with them. I saw jade and smiled. She smiled back. One of the other girls looked familiar… but where from… she had long wavy brown hair and a dark red sweater on…. OH! The girl from this morning… Dave told me to disrespect her. All the people sat down. I looked at all of em. There was jade, the girl from this morning, this other girl that sat next to equius, and this guy. The girl that sat next to equius has shoulder length wavy brown hair, a blue hat, a large green jacket and big green eyes. "I'm Nepeta." She hugged Equius' arm and he gave a smile in her direction.

The girl from this morning introduced herself as Aradia. She just sat next to the guy. He had brown short hair, a petite build, red and blue pants on, and a white shirt. He talked with a lisp. "I'm thollucth."

I giggled and he just kind of glared at me. Jade smiled at me and I smiled back. Tavros smiled as well. We all just kind of sat there eating and making small talk. Things about the weather. All of a sudden I felt someone behind me. I turned around to see Dave. I shot out of my seat and frowned. "What do you want Dave?" He laughed.

"I can stand where I want nitwit."

My heart beat faster and I can't tell whether or not it was from being angry or liking Dave but I clenched my fists and let out a deep breath. "Why are you so mean? Hmm? I did nothing to you."

He just looked at me. He got real close to me whispered something in my ear. "You're adorable when you're mad."

Then he just walked away… He just walked away like nothing! What does that even mean?! I sat down my face flushed from both anger and embarrassment. I looked up and everyone was quiet- not that I blame them. I went back to eating my sandwich in peace.

~ . . . three weeks later . . . ~

"Dave Strider. Dave Strider! What is so special about Dave Strider?! Is it that stupid blonde hair that always makes me feel like blushing? Or is it that idiotic smirk he always has on his face when he sees me? Or those REDICULOUS shades that he ALWAYS has on. WHAT IS IT?!" I say as I pace back and forth in Tavros' apartment. We had just had a sleepover and now we're getting ready for school.

"Maybe you're just in lo-" he begins

"No. No I'm not in love. Never have been. Never will be. I mean… Even if I was in love with Dave- which I'm not- but if I was… we'd never be able to be together… he's so… popular."

"Hey. Never say never, john."

"Well you just did twice."

He gave me a playful laugh and shoved my shoulder. "Shut up dude. Anyways. About your pretty boy I really don't know what to tell ya."

"ugh. Come on, let's just walk to school." I grabbed my bag and we both walked out the door. He doesn't live far from the school. I sighed and tried to make conversation that wasn't about Dave. "so… do you have a crush on anyone?"

"yeah. I do. But she's with someone."

I frowned. All this time ive been ranting about dave and he has his own love problems. "who is it?" I asked.

"Vriska."

"Vriska…. I think she's in my class. Yeah! She's in my English class."

He nodded. "yeah. But she's with Terezi so it doesn't matter." Wow. Everyone seems to want Terezi. Dave AND Vriska… Anyways… what is it about Vriska that Tavros likes? Is it her blonde hair? Dave has blonde hair. Oh Dave… I hate him so much…

"dude?" I looked up and saw Tavros sitting there. I shook my head and he shrugged. We arrived at the school and I took out my ipod and put in my headphones and walked away from tavros. I didn't want to be with any friends right now.

I sat against the wall and turned up the music. I looked up and saw dave. I stood up and he looked at me. I then saw something I never wanted to see. My stomach dropped and I rushed over to him. I grabbed his arm and pulled him off to the side away from his friends and he frowned at me.

"What the fuck dude?"

"Take your shades off" My voice was stern even though I was trying really hard to keep my composure. He looked at me and frowned even more.

"why should i?"

"because dave." I gulped "I see your black eye"

"and why do you care?"

He's right… why do I care? I don't know.. "I don't know.. but… just… let me see it.."

He took my arm his grip kind of tight and took me to a back corner where no one was and took off his shades. When I saw the black eye everything stopped. Just like it did when I met him. But when I met him… it was the good feeling… now… I feel like I just got punched myself…. I will find out what happened… and my feeling of wanting to know hat he's hiding grows even stronger