Chapter Thirteen: Aging (Leveling) Up
John's friends were all abuzz that week at school. It was clear everyone was getting anxious for summer, despite the break being over two months away still. It seemed like the longest school year ever, and it was only April. Jane had heard back from colleges, but was procrastinating on making a decision. She'd decided, in addition to some more traditional schools, including Skaia University, which Roxy attended, to apply to some culinary schools, which aligned more with her interests anyway. By all accounts, Jane didn't really need to go to school. She was about to inherit the Betty Crocker company—apparently her grandfather added a clause to the contract he and the current owner had signed, saying that all rights to the Betty Crocker name (now a branch of a conglomerate owned by the Peixes company) would return to the Crocker family when Jane turned 18, which was only a handful of days away at that point. But Jane didn't want to jump right into running a company; she wanted to know what she was doing. Maybe a business degree would be better suited for that, but Jane also wanted to learn to cook more beyond just being a baker. So a decision would clearly have to be made, and Jane would have to make it soon.
gutsyGumshoe [GG] began pestering timaeusTestified [TT]
GG: Dirk, what do you think I should do?
TT: What a broad question.
GG: What a helpful answer.
TT: Do in regards to what?
GG: School.
TT: Oh.
TT: Fuck, I don't know.
GG: What are you doing?
TT: I don't know.
TT: Probably trade school. Night classes.
TT: I have to look after Dave now, so that throws a wrench into things. Not that I'm not happy to do it, of course.
GG: Of course.
TT: What's the dilemma exactly?
GG: I suppose I'm just torn.
GG: I could go to school with Roxy and get my Bachelor's in Business, which would be a good choice considering my inheritance of the company.
GG: Or… I could go to culinary school.
TT: What do you want to do?
GG: I suppose I would prefer culinary school.
GG: But I would be alone.
TT: Eh, everyone goes to college alone.
TT: At least at first.
GG: You're probably right, but…
GG: I hate the thought of all of us going our separate ways.
TT: I'll still be living here.
TT: Roxy will probably stay close by.
TT: And Jake decided not to go back to England, so…
GG: Oh!
GG: I hadn't heard he'd made up his mind.
GG: So what is he doing?
TT: Studying Archaeology at Skaia U.
GG: So really if I leave, I'll be the only one to do so.
TT: Fuck, dude, you'll visit at least.
TT: I really do think you should do what you want.
TT: It's not as if you're going to run out of money.
TT: You're a fucking mogul.
GG: But what if I find I can't run a business?
TT: Jane, you're smart and intuitive.
TT: You'll be fine, no matter what you do.
GG: Gosh, well… shucks, buster!
TT: I know you're excited but watch the fucking language.
GG: Hoo hoo!
GG: Well, I suppose I will need to talk to my father about enrollment.
TT: Where is this culinary school?
GG: Well. I got into one in New York, one in-state, and one in Chicago.
GG: I will probably stay in California, though, so visiting is easier.
TT: Damn.
TT: Go Crocker.
GG: :B
GG: Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dirk.
GG: I think I needed that.
TT: What're friends for.
gutsyGumshoe [GG] ceased pestering timaeusTestified [TT]
When John and Jane came home from school on Monday, Jane went into their fathers' office, discussing her future plans for education. John frowned a bit, then decided to go into his room, killing some time with The Sims or something equally mundane. As he pulled up the game, Pesterchum went off.
twinArmageddons [TA] started memo: aradia's birthday shenanigans
TA: okay guys so
TA: aradia's been away from skaia high for a couple months
TA: but i thought it would be cool of us to throw her a surprise party
TA: ive already arranged things with her dad, and tavros and i are taking care of snacks and decorations
TA: all you guys have to do is show up to Prospit park at 4:30 on friday
Oh man, it was Aradia's birthday? John had no idea. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how little he knew Karkat's group beyond Karkat himself and Vriska. It was kind of silly; he'd been hanging out with them at school all year, and still hadn't taken a lot of time to get to know them. Had he gotten so wrapped up in feelings for Vriska that he neglected other friendships? Well, Terezi was cool. But he didn't really know the rest of them, and guilt ate at him a bit.
adiosToreador responded to memo
AT: actually, if anyone wants to help me set up, that'd be great
cuttlefishCuller [CC] responded to memo
CC: Shore! I'd love to be there for Aradia.
CC: I can't help set up, though. I have swim practice after school.
CC: Sorry, Tav.
AT: that's fine
arachnidsGrip [AG] responded to memo
AG: You mean you've actually done something helpful, toreadork?
AT: um, yeah, actually
AT: sollux told me about this on friday
AT: we've been planning.
AG: Whatever, as if I'd go to a surprise part for Aradia, of all people.
AG: Finally gonna ask her out, Lispy McAsshat?
TA: maybe
AG: Hahahahahahahaha!
AG: Fine, I'll show up just to watch that disaster unfold.
carcinoGeneticist [CG] responded to memo
CG: What the fuck is your problem?
ectoBiologist [EB] responded to memo
EB: wow, vriska, calm down.
CG: Aradia has always been a good friend.
CG: I don't get why you hate her so much.
grimAuxiliatrix [GA] responded to memo
GA: Yes, Aradia has been helping me with my romantic problems, despite having her own, and despite being quite away from us.
GA: I would love to attend.
CG: Yeah, shut the fuck up, Serket.
CG: I'll go.
turntechGodhead [TG] responded to memo
TG: im in
TG: rose and jade too probably
TA: are they not in the chat?
TG: i dunno theyre not online right now
TG: but im seeing rose later so ill let her know
CG: Nepeta says she'll come too.
TA: if you hear from gz, let him know too
CG: Yeah, okay.
CG: He's been making himself scarce lately though.
TA: yeah i know
CC: Eridan wants to know if he's invited.
TA: eugh
TA: yeah i guess
TA: equius too
TA: though that might be awkward
CG: He's here too.
CG: He says he'll go.
TA: ff what the fuck is Eridan doing at your house?
CC: We're still friends, Sollux!
TA: whatever
AG: Okay, we're all fucking going, can this pointless chat end now?
TG: what about terezi
CG: Why don't YOU tell her, Strider?
TG: no need to be jealous karkles
TG: you know id never dream of anyone but you
CG: Shut the fuck up, don't call me Karkles.
TA: you two are fucking gross.
TA: see you all at the party, then.
CG: You'll see us at school tomorrow, dipshit.
AG: Hey, yeah, why couldn't this idiocy have waited for then?
TA: fuck, this just seemed easier.
TA: you don't have to get up my ass about it.
Just before the chat closed, John had an idea.
EB: oh, tavros, i'll help you set up if you want!
AT: oh, yeah
AT: thanks, john
twinArmageddons [TA] closed memo: aradia's birthday shenanigans
At the very best, John could establish more of a friendship with Tavros. At the very worst, it would be incredibly awkward and the tension of their ongoing rivalry of sorts would only get worse. And… and Tavros knew more about Vriska than anyone else. While John had decided to basically ignore Karkat's advice, he figured it wouldn't hurt to ask Tavros' opinion.
The school week was something of a blur, and Friday arrived quicker than anticipated. John had arranged for his dad to take him and Tavros over to the park after school to set up, and John was oddly excited about it. Maybe because they hadn't all hung out in a group since New Years'. John spotted Tavros near his locker, grabbing the bag of party supplies, and John darted over to him, grabbing the handles of his wheelchair. Tavros looked notably startled, glancing back at John, who just grinned at him.
"Hey, Tavros!"
"Uh, hi, John," Tavros faltered. "Could you, uh, maybe give me a warning before grabbing my chair like that? You startled me."
John blushed lightly, and let go of the chair handles. Tavros skillfully caught his whells, stopping the chair before it rolled too far away. "Sorry," John mumbled. "I-is that like, poor manners?" he asked, now walking alongside Tavros.
"Incredibly," Tavros said, then he seemed to catch himself. "Sorry, John, I just, uh, don't like people pushing my wheelchair unless I know them really well." John frowned. Of course it was rude, he should have known that. "But- it's okay! Let's just go get the stuff at the park set up," Tavros said with a smile. John could tell Tavros was trying to reassure him, and it was working. They went out to John's dad's car and helped Tavros in, and then John helped his dad fold up the chair and find a space where it would fit, and once everyone was oriented, they drove off towards the park. There was a sense of awkwardness between John and Tavros. Neither of them knew what to say, just the sound of the radio filling up the car. John's ears perked up when a familiar song came on the radio. He stretched forward, turning the radio up a bit, then began singing along in hopes it would break the tension.
"How do I…get through one night without you? If I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be? Oh, I… need you in my arms, need you to hold… You're my world, my heart, my soul… if you ever leave…" John grinned again at Tavros, who laughed, and then joined in.
"How do I live without you? I want to know, how do I breathe without you?" John laughed, and the two of them sang the rest of the song together.
"You've got a pretty good voice, Tav," John said.
"Oh, uh, thanks," Tavros muttered.
They finally arrived at Prospit Park, and John began draping streamers around the gazebo while Tavros set up the snack table. John kept thinking about the song they'd sung in the car. Something about it… it was cheesy, he knew that. It reminded him of one of those 80s movies where the guy stands outside the girl's window playing a song on the boombox to get her to go out with him. And in his mental image, that girl was Vriska. They'd had a good date, and they hung out a lot, but… he wasn't sure it was going anywhere. They still hadn't kissed. She pecked him on the cheek a lot. They held hands. But they were 14, John had never dated anyone, and he had no idea what constituted being a couple. He let out a heavy sigh and turned back towards Tavros.
"Tavros, there was a reason I offered to help," John said. "I wanted to ask you… talk to you about Vriska."
"What about her?"
"Is she always so… abrasive?" He remembered how harsh Vriska was on Pesterchum when the party was mentioned.
"Um…" Tavros sounded hesitant. "She's got a strong personality. But I think… she's trying. To be a better person."
"I think she's trying, too. She just… she told me some really intense stuff the other day," John explained, conveniently leaving out the fact that 1- "the other day" was over three months ago and 2- they'd been going on dates basically since then anyway, "and I wasn't sure what to make of it. I know she wants to be good, and big and important, but she's also done bad things, and I don't know how to handle that, and I don't think she does either."
"Well… like what bad things?" John knew Tavros knew the answer to that.
"She told me she was the one that put you in that wheelchair," John answered. Tavros frowned at him, looking down a bit.
"Just give her time, John."
"Do you think she's going to change?" She'd started to, but her actions and speech around John seemed vastly different than her actions and speech around everyone else. Reputation seemed like a big motivator for Vriska.
"I don't know," Tavros huffed. "We're kids. 14. Who knows? Don't blame her for things in the past. I haven't even blamed her for… well, for this," Tavros said, gesturing at himself. John pondered for a moment, then smiled. He thought he understood what Tavros was saying. They did have a lot of growing up to do, and John needed to stop worrying about what Vriska had done, and start looking at what she was doing. And what she was doing was trying. Maybe John could stop overthinking everything.
"Thanks, Tav. I know we're not really close, but I appreciate it."
"I try."
The two boys went back to setting up, finishing all the arrangements in more friendly conversation as the group began to arrive. Sollux was clearly running late, as he was the last to arrive (besdies Aradia, of course) and he went about double-checking and triple-checking. Feferi calmed Sollux down, and Sollux ushered everyone towards the gazebo as Aradia came running up. Everyone shouted surprise, and Aradia thanked Sollux, and the party went on. John went back to his own business, making his way over to Vriska. He sat down next to her, smiling softly at her. Vriska smiled back.
"Vriska…" John started after a moment, "are we, like, a thing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like.. do you think of me as your boyfriend?"
"Of course I do, stupid."
John pursed his lips a bit. "Well… I don't know, you just don't act like we're together around everyone else."
"I don't…" Vriska sighed. John grabbed her hand, gently rubbing his thumb against hers. "I don't want to look weak. I can't look weak."
"I don't understand what you mean by looking weak. These people here, they're your friends. They're not going to judge you if you're not 100% alert, guard up at all time."
"I'm not worried about judgement, I'm just… not wired to let my guard down."
"Well can you let it down for me?" John heard himself say. He wasn't sure what he was saying or asking or even doing but he found himself looking into Vriska's eyes. Eye. Her gaze was searching for an answer, even though he'd been the one asking the question. "If we're…" the word sat in John's throat, and he swallowed it down. "If we're together… then I want you to know you can tell me anything. But I want to be together. Even around them. Look at Kanaya and Rose. They're cuddling 24/7. I'm not saying we have to be like that, but… I don't know, some PDA wouldn't hurt. Fuck, I didn't even know what we were until just now. I…"
"No, I understand. If I want this to work, and trust me, I do, I need to learn not to be so afraid."
"What're you afraid of?"
"I don't know. That I'll push you away like I always do. Or worse; you'll push me away."
"I would never," John said. And something inside him urged him forward, until he found himself impossibly close to Vriska, and their noses brushed each other's and their lips met and John's heart was going to beat out of his chest. John broke the kiss off, looking down, resting his forehead on Vriska's. She was looking down, too, her arms draped over John's shoulders. Vriska stood, hastily, her face red.
"Uh," was all she managed to get out. John couldn't look up at her. He was sure he was the color of a tomato. Vriska didn't leave the table, though. Instead she poured herself a glass of soda. Eventually, John composed himself enough to glance back at her. The world was muted, and John could only look at Vriska as she cheered something at the rest of the group. That… just happened. John Egbert, teen dweeb extraordinaire, had kissed a girl. All was right with the world. And then…
"HOLY SHIT!" John was jolted out of his daydreams by Karkat's shout. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Karkat, you FUCKER!" Sollux shouted at Karkat. John had no idea what was happening. "Can you not lose your shit for one day?!"
"Well excuse me, shithead. I need to go now. My dad just got shot."