Chapter 2: Why Me?
Tavros opened his eyes, and rubbed his head. He looked down at his two bottles of vodka and half a bottle of whiskey he had drunk last night.
Gamzee was passed out on the other couch, holding and empty bottle of vodka while he snored.
Tavros stood up, and went upstairs.
Karkat was already awake. He had a cup of coffee, and was rubbing the right side of his head. This guy could drink, but he payed for it just as much.
"What?"Karkat asked, looking up.
"Nothing,"Tavros said, sitting down.
After a while, Karkat got up, made another cup of coffee, and handed it to Tav."Drink, it helps take down the headache."
Tavros took a sip, and felt a bit better.
Tavros looked at the clock."Crud, I have to be at work in an hour."
"You okay to drive?"Karkat asked.
Tav grunted."Yeah, hold on."
Tavros went into the bathroom, and filled the sink with cold water.
He sucked in his breath, and stuck his face into the water.
He pulled it out, sucking in the air.
After downing the rest of his coffee, Tavros grabbed his car keys from in front of Gamzee's TV.
Tavros worked at the local Wal-Mart. He helped keep the shelves stocked, nothing glamorous.
Tavros was putting some cereal up, when he heard someone walking up.
"Hey Tavros,"Jade said, smiling.
"Oh, hey Jade,"Tav replied, putting more cereal up.
Jade laughed a bit.
"What?"Tavros asked.
"Your hair is messed up,"Jade replied.
Tavros ran a hand across his hair, putting it down."That better?"
Jade nodded."So, you still up for lunch?"she asked.
"Sure, anything you have in mind?"
"Well, me and Dave were planning on Burger King, you okay with that?"
"Sure,"Tavros replied."Sorry for interrupting your date,"he said back.
Jade began to blush, were not dating Nitram!"
Tavros laughed."Well, we can head out after our shifts are over."
Jade took a breath."Okay,"she said, calming down. She went back to work.
After work, Tavros, after letting Jade into the passenger seat, went ahead and drove off the Burger King.
When he pulled up, a cherry red Camaro with black racing stripes pulled up with next to him.
The guy driving had blonde hair and wore black shades, along with a white short-sleeved shirt with long red sleeves underneath, dark blue jeans and black shoes.
"Hey Dave,"Tav said walking up.
"Yo,"Dave said getting out of his car. By looking at him on his own, you wouldn't guess he and his brother were pretty rich. His car was the only thing expensive about him."Hey Harley,"Dave said to Jade.
"Hey,"Jade said, smiling again. Only now did Tavros notice a slight smell of strawberries. Weird, when did Jade put on perfume?
The three went in and found a seat.
They all ordered burgers. Tavros ordered a coffee, while Dave and Jade order sprite. Dave and Tav also got themselves a side of fries.
All three ate up their food.
They talked and laughed, but Tavros kept noticing the way Jade stole glances at Dave. Dave kept his glasses on, as always.
Eventually, they finished, and jade got up to pay."let me pay,"tav said.
"No, I have this,"Jade said, waving them off before they could object.
Dave laughed."Always ready to please,"he joked.
"You know just as well as me that I don't like Jade that way."Tavro rubbed his head a bit.
Dave frowned a bit."Still drinking with the clown?"he asked.
"Last night,"he said, downing his coffee."I'll be better by tomorrow."
Dave shrugged."Well, good luck,"he said, patting him on the back."I'll take Jade home, don't worry."
"Thanks,"Tavros told him.
Tavros got in his car, and decided to go see a movie.
He had checked the movies, and finally gave in. He would go see that new Nic Cage movie.
As Tavros waited in line for tickets, he checked his phone, he had three new calls, and a text.
One call was from Karkat. By the sound of it, he was pleading for help because Gamzee had woken up. The second call was from Gamzee. He just said hi, and to call him back when he got the chance. the last call was from Vriska. She just called to bug him by making fun of him and talking about how great the new Nic Cage movie was.
The text was another picture from Vriska. It was her and John. Rose stood in the background, looking a bit annoyed. John had his arm around Vriska's shoulder, and was smiling. Vriska was slightly blushing. This picture was sent to all her contacts.
Tavros was annoyed, right up untill he saw the message underneath.'me and my new boyfriend 33333333'
Tavros just closed his phone, and got his ticket. and went into the theatre. Honestly, he needed somewhat of a distraction from Vriska and John dating.
Tav took his seat, a good one, close to the door for him to get out easy.
He looked around, there were people sitting all around. But, a certain plaid shirt and glasses caught his attention, Vriska was sitting a couple of rows in front of him, a few seats away. She was waiting for the movie to start, so she didn't pay attention to Tavros.
The movie soon meant nothing to Tavros. He watched, but his gaze kept going back to Vriska.
Tavros stretched his limbs. He turned to the aisle to be face to face with Vriska.
"Yo Tora-dork,"she said, smiling again.
Tavros sighed."Do you always need to call me that?"
Vriska shrugged."Whatever."
Tavros looked around."John not with you?"he asked.
She laughed."Boyfriend or not, I'm not spending all my waking hours with him you know."
"Its only that you were at Nic Cage movie, yours and John's favorite actor, and he's your-"
"Yeah, I get it,"Vriska said, annoyed.
Tavros laughed.
Vriska followed Tavros outside. When they got to Tav's car, Tav looked to see Vriska standing there."Yeah?"he asked.
"Just remembering the sorry excuse of kid I meet all those years back,"Vrsika joked.
Tav laughed."Well, you need a ride?"he asked.
Vriska pulled out her phone. It began to ring."Yeah?"she asked."Oh, okay... No, I got a ride, thanks."She closed it. She cleared her throaty."I'll accept your offer."
Tav opened the passenger door."Hop on in."
Tav pulled up the street.
"So, how has Rufio been?"she asked, looking board.
"He's been good. Him and Strider will be working on a new movie this summer."
"Ahh,"Vriska said, still board.
"And Aranea?"Tav asked.
"My aunt is good,"she replied.
"What about your mom?"Tavros asked.
That suddenly made Vriska a bit mad."Don't mention her."
Tavros went back to drving."Sorry."
"You better be,"she said, calming down.
After a while, they pulled up to Vriska's house.
"Thanks Tora-dumbass,"she said getting out.
Tav laughed."An old one, wouldn't you agree?"
She shrugged."Oh yeah, me and John are heading to the Homecoming dance together. Try to get a date, would you?"
Tavros laughed."Got it. But I still have a week until then."
"You better hurry then."Vriska turned, and went into her house.
Tavros sighed."John, you lucky bastard."
He went ahead and drove home.
Tavros opened the door. The lights were out. Figures.
His brother wasn't suppose to be back for a couple of days. Well, being a famous actor does have drawbacks.
Tavros went to the bathroom, and washed up.
When he was clean, someone knocked at hs door.
He opened it.
"Oh, hey Terezi,"Tav said."Hey Karkat,"he said to Karkat.
"Hey Tavros,"Terezi said, smiling.
Terezi wore her usual red shirt and jeans with red shoes. Her clothes were one size to big. Terezi was also blind. She usually wore a pair of red shades someone had given her. She had freckles all over her pale face and fire-red hair. Her teeth, surprisingly, were very white.
Karkat walked in with her. He just nodded.
Tavros got a couple cans of Dr. Pepper, and handed one to both of them.
"So, what are you guys doing here?"Tavros asked.
Terezi laughed."Just here to hangout Tavros."
He turned to Karkat."Why?"
Karkat shrugged."Bored. And Terezi just wanted to come over."
Terezi laughed again.
Tavros sighed."So, Gamzee got drunk again?"
Karkat nodded."Hes sleeping it off at his house. We thought best not to mess with him."
Terezi sniffed her soda, and then took a big swig of it. She smiled and laughed.
"Terezi aside, there's something I need to talk to you about."Karkat took a shrug from his can, and crushed he empty can on his forehead.
"Ask away,"Tavros said, finishing his Dr. Pepper.
"How are you dealing with Vriska dating John?"
Terezi was still smiling, but her laugh had stopped.
Tavros thought for a minute, and sighed."Makes me jealous, honestly. I mean, if she's happy, I'm happy, but it is annoying how she shows it off every time shes around me."
"Well, girls do tend to do that,"Terezi protested.
"I'll agree with her there,"Karkat agreed.
Tavros sighed."You have no clue how this feels, do you?"
Karkat and Terezi blushed."Thats what you think,"the both said.
They looked at each other. Each blushed harder.
Tavros laughed a bit.
"D-don't laugh!"they shouted.
"Sorry,"Tavros said, calming down.
They talked for a while, then Karkat led Terezi home.
Tavros layed on the couch took a breath, he looked at the ceiling, and before long, fell asleep.
Homecoming week began. each day was a different theme, until Saturday night for the Homecoming dance.
Monday's theme was Whimsical, brightly colored and creative.
Tavros had dressed in a white hoodie with a bright blue shirt, red pants, one white shoe, and one blue shoe with a yellow bandana tied across his forehead.
He looked over to John's locker to see him, wearing a pair of jeans with one leg missing at the knee, a white shirt, and Vriska's shirt she wore over her t-shirt. Vriska was talking to him, wearing her usual clothes, minus the plaid shirt.
Tavros sighed, and shut his locker. He wasn't paying attention, and ran into someone.
Tavros caught his balance, but the other hit the ground.
"Oh, hey Aradia,"Tavros said, helping a girl up.
Aradia was someone who didn't dress up brightly. She had long black curls going down her back. Her eyes were a piercing storm grey. She wore a black t-shirt with a black shirt going down to her middle of her shins, and black shoes. Her skin had a slight tan to it, showing her Indian heritage.
"Hey Tavros,"she said in her depressing voice. She had never been the same since Sollux dumped her. It was almost as if she had died.
Tavros walked with her."About bumping into you, i'm-"
"No need to say your sorry,"she interrupted.
"You have a date for homecoming?"he blurted out.
She shoke her head.
"Were you planning on going?"
She nodded.
Tavros got a bit nervous now."so, uh, you want to go. W-with me, that is."
"Sure,"she said, not even turning toward him.
That reply made Tavros sad and excited. He had a date, but with Aradia Megido, one of the most depressing people in the world.
At one point though, she was happy and smiling day in and day out. But, that is a different story.
The day went by fast after that.
Nothing really happened during the week.
Tuesday's theme was American Pride. Wednesday was Burning Flames. Thursday ended up being Winter. And Friday was themed Romantic.
Soon, Saturday crept up on them, and the Homecoming dance as well.
Well, it's a bit ify, but here you go. Hope you enjoy.
TY for reading, keep an eye out for the next update.