AN: I keep forgetting to thank all of you guys for your wonderful reviews, favorites and follows! So yeah I'm gonna do that now. Thank you! I have a feeling you guys will like this chapter. So yeah here goes! (Oh yeah and this chapter takes place a few days after the last one, just to make that perfectly clear)

Dave was dreaming. Or day dreaming to be sure. His mystery correspondent was like this little nag in the back of his mind, only instead of sitting there it was shouting at him in the same cantankerous demeanor as said person. Whole bucketfuls of brain power was being poured into thinking about this guy, which was kinda okay by Dave, since he never paid any attention in class to begin with.

He and this guy had been talking for about a week now, discussing things like sweet bro and hella jeff and the rom coms Dave himself begrudgingly had watched. As stand-offish as he was, the dude was pretty well versed in romance and actually kind of profound. Dave sort of admired his uncanny knack for emotions, of which he himself was absolutely clueless.

Dave wondered if they should meet someday. He assumed they were from at least the same

area, so it wouldn't be that hard to find a place to meet up… but did he actually want to ruin the big secret?

He felt his phone vibrate. It was John.

J: i am bored as shit, hbu?

D: pretty fucking bored

D: you still doing that dumb ass assignment or can we hang tonight

J: nah i am still busy. oh that reminds me, you totally have to meet my partner, he is so fun to mess with

D: do you know if rose is doing anything tonight then

D: and yeah sure ill meet em if youre that hyped up about it

J: she did not say she was doing anything with kanaya so i assume no. i would ask her though. man you are gonna love this guy, he's hilarious.

D: yeah if you say so dude

Dave switched to texting Lalonde, not really invested in the conversation he was having with John.

D: rose you busy tonight

D: i need to talk to you about something

R: Is it really that important that you can't send it over text?

D: yeah

R: I'm busy tonight, but I guess if it really means that much to you I can take a second to meet you now.

D: meet me on the roof

)0o0(

Dave was standing on the roof for a good five minutes before Rose showed up, a look of impatience on her face.

"You sure took your time," Dave said teasingly.

"My teacher was being such a moron about letting me leave, even though I haven't missed a single one of his class periods," Rose said, shaking her head in irritation, "Now what was so important that you needed me to play hookie? And if it's something stupid I may hit you."

"No, I actually need some serious advice here. Like psychoanalysis type shit." Dave took a deep breath and said, "So I wrote my phone number in a romance novel to pick up chicks right?"

Rose raised an eyebrow. "You read a romance novel?"

"Who said I read it?"

"So you didn't read it."

"Well, yeah, I read it but you shouldn't make assumptions."

Rose shot him a look, but said, "Continue."

"Okay, so then this guy calls, and he's this huge whiney annoying asshole, and for a while I hated him, but now we've been talking for a while and I think I might actually like him? Like in a non-platonic way."

"I'm not seeing the problem yet."

"Well, I don't know, I just never thought of myself as exactly gay? Except for ironic purposes," Rose gave him a look of annoyance, but before she could say anything Dave continued, "And I can't really even understand these feelings I have. We're complete opposites in pretty much every way."

Rose tilted her head in thought. "Did you like the romance novel?"

"Now is not the time for you to be looking for your next good read."

"Just answer the question."

Dave sighed, "Yeah, I guess so. I thought I wouldn't cause all that crap is so cheesy and fake, but it was actually kinda nice."

"And why do you like this guy?"

"He's pretty sappy, but he knows a lot about how people work and I guess I find that cool? Plus he's a kinda nice guy once you get past the whole asshole part of him."

Rose nodded like she had been expecting that answer. "Your feelings for that book are a lot like your feelings for this guy. I think it was your previous misconceptions about his personality, and of your own self that were making you feel otherwise, but it's obvious that now you can see the good in both things. Sure there are things in either one that you don't appreciate as much, like the lack of realism in the book and the front that this guy gives, and those will be a challenge if you choose to pursue either, but it doesn't mean that your feelings for the other parts of them aren't justified."

Dave nodded slowly taking in what she said, "So you think that I should go for it? Even though I'm like an idiot when it comes to all that mushy gooey crap?"

Rose smiled at him in an understanding way, "It all comes down to his decision really. If he is as good as understanding emotions and people as you say he is, don't you think he would already know that? So if he does say yes it's because he understands and accepts that, not because he made a mistake. So in short term, you should definitely go for it."

Dave gave her a dazzling smile and said, "Okay, thanks."

"If that's it, I think I'll be heading back to class." she started to leave, but turned before walking down the stairs. "I know you doubt yourself a lot, but go with your gut on this one."

Dave felt his phone vibrate again and pulled it out of his pocket.

J: hey, come meet me outside my english class if you want to meet my partner.

Dave sat down against the wall of the door to the roof, deep in thought. He certainly wasn't going back to class, not with so much to think about. The white noise of his teacher talking can be a nuisance.

This guy, this stupid guy, made him realize who he truly was. He remembered a conversation they had over the phone yesterday…

)0o0(

"Hey, do you ever feel like you have to hide your personality from other people?" his mystery crush had asked.

"I mean I guess so. People say I hide behind irony and being a total cool kid, but I've never really seriously thought about it." Dave had replied, shrugging even though he knew he couldn't see.

"I usually cover up my emotions with anger, or so I'm told. I feel like, if no one can get close to me, I can't be hurt, I guess." he paused before blurting out, "I guess that's pretty stupid, huh?"

"No, I can get that," Dave said, reeling from the fact that he had just perfectly described his feelings on the subject, "Actually I do that too."

"But, I kinda feel like, maybe," he sputtered, embarrassed, "I don't do that with you. Like you see the real me."

Dave had blushed and covered his mouth, glad that no one was around to see him lose his cool.

"Yeah man, me too."

)0o0(

Dave headed down the steps, making his way down to John's english classroom. He only had to wait outside the door for a few seconds before the bell rang and students came pouring out, including John, with one of the weird grey kids that went to the school in tow. He looked sort of familiar, and Dave realized he was in his gym period.

"Dave, Dave!" John called out as he made his way to stand in front of him. He stepped out of the way so Dave could get a full view of the now irritated kid. "This is Karkat."

"'Sup," Dave greeted him offhandedly, looking down at the troll, who was at least a foot shorter than him.

"Yeah yeah, pleased to meet you or whatever the fuck. Can I go now?" Karkat turned to John, who said something about staying and chatting in return, but Dave was far past the point of hearing him. His heart had nearly skipped a beat, and he could feel his ears and face turning pink. He knew that sort of raspy, a little bit whiney and definitely high pitched voice. It was that of his mystery caller.

"... Dave? Dave!" John said loudly, now almost nose to nose with him, waving his hand in front of his face, "Are you okay? You look like you have a fever!"

Karkat looked on, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. There was no recognition on his face, not that Dave could see at least.

"Yeah!" Dave said too quickly and too loudly, his voice cracking. After taking a second to regain his cool, he managed to sputter out, "Y-yeah I'm fine. Uh, look, it was nice meeting you Karkat, but I've really gotta run."

"Okay, but promise me if you're feeling sick you'll go to the nurse, okay? You passing out in class is not worth being the cool guy who never goes home sick." John said in concern, before grabbing Karkat's arm and pulling him away.

Karkat spared one last confused glance at him, and Dave waved awkwardly before realizing what he was doing. He then abruptly turned and walked as calmly as he could to the exit, and out of the school. He got to his car and sat down in the drivers seat, breathing heavily.

Karkat hadn't even recognized him, and Dave wasn't sure if he was grateful or disappointed. He also wasn't sure how he felt about him being a troll, because he had heard some weird things… but then again, he had been pretty fucking cute.

No way, fuck that noise, Dave thought to himself, shoving the thoughts out of his mind, promising himself he would think about all of it later, when he got home.

Arriving at his apartment, he placed his keys in the dish by the door. His brother, currently seated on the couch, opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Dave saying quickly, "I wasn't feeling well and the nurse sent me home." And dashing up to his room.

Dave flopped down on his bed and ran his fingers through his hair. He had a lot of thinking to do.

)0o0(

AN Shits getting real son! Thank you all again for reading this far, and for all the follows, favorites and reviews this story has been getting. I appreciate it all! OuO