Dave hesitantly explained the situation to John's dad, though he seemed less verbose than he was when he told John. John also had a feeling there was more to the issue than Dave being "not straight", but Dave was clearly in a fragile state. They'd hardly gotten the issue settled over breakfast when Jane came in after spending the night at Roxy's, in a frenzy as she came through the door, not quite paying attention.

"John… John! Have you heard from Dave? Dirk says he wasn't—oh," Jane said, looking up at the table.

"Hey, Crocker," Dave muttered, hardly looking up from his cereal. "I messaged Dirk."

Jane glanced back down at her phone again, scrolling through the messages until she noticed the update from Dirk.

timaeusTestified [TT] began pestering gutsyGumshoe [GG]

TT: Jane
TT: Have you heard anything from John?
TT: I just got home and Dave isn't here.
TT: And I know you said John has been asking about him.
TT: Shit, you're probably asleep already, aren't you?
TT: Let me know, ASAP.

gutsyGumshoe [GG] is online!

GG: Oh dear!
GG: No, I haven't!
GG: I'll ask him as soon as I get home.

gutsyGumshoe [GG] is now an idle chum!

TT: Oh, right.
TT: Don't sweat it
TT: I got a message from him sometime last night.
TT: He's at your place, actually.
GG: As I just discovered.
GG: Why is that, exactly?
TT: Long story.
TT: And I'm not sure how much the little dude wants me sharing.
TT: Suffice to say Bro's care has been less than ideal.
GG: Oh no!
TT: I mean, the guy isn't even around half the time.
TT: But Dave and I are gonna deal with it later.
GG: Well let me know if you need help with anything.
TT: Will do, Crocker.

Jane glanced back up at the table. John had refocused his attention on his breakfast, and Jane let out a sigh. "Well, if that's all sorted out, I… really need a nap." Her dad grunted an affirmative, and Jane made her way upstairs. She'd slept at Roxy's, but it wasn't enough to make up for not only the physical exhaustion, but the emotional exhaustion she was feeling. She had half a mind to message Jake, but he hadn't spoken to her—without Dirk's presence—since before Homecoming. The thought of losing her friends was, to say the least, a troubling one. She tried not to dwell on it as she collapsed onto her bed.

The car ride to school the next day was sufficiently awkward. John's dad was driving, and the boys sat in the back. Dave was tapping away at his phone, and John couldn't help but be curious about who he was messaging. Eventually, Dave huffed and switched away from Pesterchum to the Notes app.

crocker is kinda hot

"Dave!" John whined, squirming a bit. Jane peered over her shoulder to see what the commotion was as Dave quickly erased the message. John felt his face warm a bit. Dave was probably trying to make him feel awkward on purpose.
stop reading over my shoulder then.
John huffed, straightening himself back into his seat and taking his own phone out.

ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering arachnidsGrip [AG]

EB: so what's with the spider thing?
AG: Whaaaaaaaat?
AG: What are you talking about?
EB: your spider thing
EB: like
EB: you're really into spiders, right?
AG: I guess?
AG: I have a lot of spider t-shirts.
EB: and the 8 thing
AG: Riiiiiiiight.
EB: see? you did it just now
AG: I know, John.
AG: I don't know that there's a reason.
AG: I guess I just like spiders.
EB: do you have a pet spider?
AG: …..
AG: Yeah.
EB: hehehehe
AG: Why'd you even ask?
EB: i dunno
EB: guess i'm a little… curious about you
AG: Aw, John.
AG: That's cute.
AG: Anyway, I gotta go.
EB: okay
EB: see you later
AG: l8r
AG: :::;)

arachnidsGrip [AG] has ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB]

John leaned back. He truly didn't understand girls, or relationships. His dynamic with Vriska was a very interesting one. They flirted, if John was clear on what was flirty and what wasn't, but it was hard to tell how seriously Vriska took anything, plus John was pretty sure she had something going on with Tavros. Well, they weren't an official couple. Maybe…
"Hey, Dave…" John muttered.
"Hmm."
"Would it be crazy to ask Vriska out?"
Dave spluttered. "What?"
"I dunno… I just kind of like her."
"You mean ask her out… like on a date?"
"Yeah, that's what that means, right?"
"I mean, usually. I guess." John huffed at Dave's hesitance. "Listen, dude, I don't like Vriska. There's something off about her. But I'm not gonna stop you. Actually… might be good for you."
"What do you mean?"
"No offense, but you're pretty soft, Egbert. Maybe she could toughen you up."
John frowned a bit. He didn't really like the idea of Dave thinking Vriska was tougher than him. Did that mean Vriska herself thought she was tougher than him? John set his jaw, a swell of determination rolling through him.

When John got to 3rd Period P.E. class, he changed very quickly into his gym clothes and rushed out to where everyone was waiting for the teacher so they could begin their stretches.
"Hey, Vriska!" he called, jogging out to his spot. She turned to him, a smile on her face more akin to an actual smile rather than the smirk that she typically wore, and, in John's less than expert opinion, it looked like she had finally re-dyed her hair. John felt his heart skip a beat.
"Hey, John!" she said, grinning. "How was your weekend?"

"Oh… um. Nothing special, haha! Just the party, and um… well, I thought you looked really good in your, um, pirate costume."

"Heh, your costume was pretty good too."

"Oh, wow, um. Thanks. Say, Vriska, what're you-"

"Uh, John? Your glasses are fogging up."

John turned very red for a moment, fumbling with his glasses to wipe them with his gym shirt, completely losing his train of thought. Vriska chuckled for a moment, then both her and John's attention was captured by the blow of a whistle. Ms. Mendicant was approaching, and the kids scrambled into place. John was a few rows in front of Vriska, and thus the conversation was cut short.

As the students found out in short order, they were facing the most dreaded day of the year: rope climb day. After the stretches, they were herded back inside and instructed to form a circle around the rope dangling from the ceiling. There was a small stack of what looked like moderately soft cushions underneath it.

"This is the best way to test upper body strength. Pull yourself up the… eh, about 20 feet to the top of the rope, and back down. Don't worry if you can't make it today. We'll be doing this a few more times throughout the year and I'll track your progress. Serket…" the teacher paused, glancing at Vriska's prosthetic, "considering your circumstance, you're excused."

"What, you think I can't do it 'cause I only have one good arm?" she scoffed at the teacher. "Move, losers." Vriska pushed her way through her classmates, and gripped the rope with both hands. John furrowed his brow. He hadn't thought about the fact that one of Vriska's arms just didn't have any muscles. Vriska got about halfway up before she started sounding winded, but John knew she was going to be stubborn about it. True to form, Vriska pulled herself all the way to the top, and John couldn't help but be impressed. He wasn't sure he'd be able to pull it off with both arms, but he was still thinking about what Dave had said to him that morning about being soft. Vriska's smirk was back as she walked over to John.

"Alright, Egbert, you're up," Vriska said. John grimaced a bit.

"Ohhh… okay. Great," he muttered as he walked up to the rope. He gripped the rope tightly in both his hands. John didn't have a lot of muscle, and he doubted he could make it all the way, but he inched up bit by bit, hardly even paying attention to how far he was going. He didn't even think he was halfway before his arms started feeling like flubber and he was sweating like mad, fogging up his glasses again. He was about to give up when he heard Vriska's voice.

"Come on, John! Don't be such a wimp!"

John gripped the rope tighter, ignoring the slight burn in his hands, and continued pulling himself up, until every inch of his arms were shaking, at which point he knew he had to go back down even though he had nearly made it to the top. It was embarrassing, he thought, that Vriska had managed to outdo him, and he shuffled his way back towards her, rubbing his sore arms. Vriska was still smirking, but she punched John lightly in the shoulder as he walked past her.

"Nice job, Ebert. That wasn't totally pathetic."

"Uh. Thanks, I guess."

John's arms were still feeling a bit jello-ish when he got home that afternoon. He laid down on the couch as Jane took a seat in the nearby armchair. Dave resorted to sitting on the floor. Jane looked stressed as she kept glancing at her phone throughout the cooking show she'd put on.

"Jane, what's wrong?" John mumbled. His exhaustion was evident.

"My friends have become too busy for me," she said, sounding just about as tired. Her eyes lit up as the screen name golgothasTerror appeared on her screen.

GolgothasTerror [GT] began pestering gutsyGumshoe [GG]

GT: Greetings!

GG: Oh. Hello, Jake.

GT: Im not interrupting anything am i?

GG: Um, not really? I just am watching Cupcake Wars with John and Dave.

GT: Ah i see. I would be happy to message you again later if it would spare you any inconvenience.

GG: No, it's fine! It's really nice to hear from you, actually.

GG: I was beginning to think you'd forgotten.

GT: Forgotten?

GG: Yes… all four of us were supposed to hang out tomorrow and go to the movies.

GT: Right, my apologies jane, ive been quite scatterbrained as of late.

GT: but really it has been too long since you and i have really hung out.

GT: I have to admit its been a longer stint than i expected. Certainly one involving more downtime than i would have guessed.

GT: I really thought that senior year would be more exciting, what being the end of an era and all. But no, it seems what i am doing most is waiting around to hear from schools, twiddling my thumbs.

GG: Mmhmm.

GT: Not to say its been all downtime and doldrums. Exploring new clubs has been great. Finding friends and such. I wouldnt trade that for anything.

GT: And really we are getting close to something big happening regardless. Every day it seems like more and more anxiety is bottled up in everyone walking the hallways but graduation is quite soon in the grand scheme. Perhaps they just wish for something better.

GG: Mmhmm.

GT: I met this one girl in explorers club, i think shes in jade and johns grade, and she had this hulking brute of a lad with her, and they seemed to think that were all going to have wonderful futures. Honestly you and me and all our friends and siblings have incredible potential and talent when you think about it. Roxy and her early graduation, you being in line to inherit the crocker company, and… dirk, with his robots.

GG: That's nice, Jake. What did you actually want to talk to me about?

GG: Actually, why don't we just talk about it tomor—

GT: Okay we can talk about that if you insist.

GT: Really jane you sure know how to twist a fellas arm!

GT: I just wanted to get your take on what you might call my own personal ultimate riddle.

GT: It involves dirk.

GG: You don't say.

GT: Its true. I havent seen him in a couple days.

GT: I have been laying low for a while but i just received another series of pushy inquiries from him.

GT: Maybe i shouldnt be too hard on the guy since he was probably just concerned, not having heard from me and all.

GT: But i still couldnt help but detect a tone of desperation, like he could sense i may be having doubts.

GT: This kind of thing has been all too common unfortunately.

GT: Im not sure its going to work anymore.

GG: Mm.

GT: He can be so needy!

GT: If only he could just relax and trust that i wont spontaneously tire of his company.

GT: Although the irony i guess is that his overbearing tendencies are beginning to fulfill his own paranoid prophecy.

GT: Its such a shame. Weve had so many capital adventures together.

GT: I dont know why he has to be like this. He always was an intense fella. But in person... holy cow.

GT: I wonder if it has to do with the way hes grown up isolating himself? And now he doesnt know how to deal with people without suffocating them?

GT: But then again i grew up under similar circumstances and i think i turned out pretty much ok socially, at least i hope so. Do you think so jane?

GG: Mmmm!

GT: Actually it just occurred to me. Its funny he didnt mention the movie in his text.

GT: Im SURE he wouldnt have forgotten. He never forgets ANYTHING what with all his calculations and his computerized brain. Both figurative and literal.

GT: I wonder what his game was? He invited me to dinner without mention of the get together as a potential conflict...

GT: If he sensed i could use some space perhaps he was concerned that if we both showed up to your place would be awkward?

GT: Or maybe he didnt want to mention he was going over in case it would spook me away from attending?

GT: Argh! Do you see jane? This is what his endless machinations do to you!

GT: Anything he says could be part of some grand convoluted scheme and it just makes you agonize and boggle and wonder until your brain hurts and you just KNOW its a battle you cant win.

GT: You know what i mean jane?

GG: Mmhmm.

GT: Do you think i should just bite the bullet and end it?

GT: Its probably the right thing to do.

GT: Boy am i not looking forward to that conversation though.

GT: Its going to be a doozy. What did i get myself into here?

GT: I think ive made a lot of mistakes honestly.

GT: Not the least of which was getting this shitty tattoo, now that i think about it.

GT: Yes yes i know we all thought it was a riot at first.

GT: I guess it still is maybe? But lately ive been wondering if it might not have been an act of sound judgment.

GT: Can you believe that jane?

GG: Hmm!

GT: I dont know. Its a real pickle im in here but i do feel better just being able to get it off my chest.

GT: You are such a good friend jane, always ready to listen to my relationship woes. What a trooper!

GT: It never ceases to amaze me how excellent you are at this friendship business. Where would we all be without you?

GT: In a way you really have been the glue holding us all together on our adventure. Gosh youre a standup gal.

GT: Oh which actually reminds me of ANOTHER thing thats been bugging me about dirk.

GT: He can often be almost hilariously self absorbed. Dont even get me started on when he starts going off on these long monologues about his philosophical gobbledygook.

GT: I'm not sure he actually has much of a filter when it comes to what others regard as interesting points of conversation.

GT: Not to rag on the guy too hard but i guess at times i would just like to see a little more self awareness from him is all.

GG: Jake.

GT: Did i tell you what happened on our last outing together?

GG: Jake.

GT: I cant remember if i mentioned. Oh man but thinking back on what happened its even more ridiculous in retrospect.

GT: Where do i begin?

GG: Jake!

GT: What?

GG: Shut up!

GT: Huh?

GG: Shut up!

GT: Errr.

GT: Did i say something wrong?

GG: JAKE.

GG: PLEASE.

GG: STOP TALKING.

GT: I dont...

GG: JAKE.

GG: I SAID SHUT UP.

GT: Wha...

GG: JUST,

GG: SHUT,

GG: THE FUCK,

GG: UUUUUUUUUUP!

Jane slammed her phone on the side of the table, angry tears boiling in her eyes. John had already fallen asleep on the couch, and Dave only gave her a passing glance as she stormed upstairs. Jane had never felt so angry in her life, but… it was so infuriating. She was the one being left behind. Roxy was busy with college, and the only time Jake, and to a lesser extent, Dirk, talked to her, it was about the relationship and how it was crumbling and how could Jake forget they were all going to get to hang out? Jane had planned it essentially right after the Halloween party, because that had turned into a total shitshow, and she was so excited to see them all together without Roxy getting shitfaced, but everything just felt pointless. It was always pointless.