Wow I almost never do these okay. Hi guys! I just wanted to drop by and thank you all for enjoying my fanfiction! I really appreciate it. I would love to hear your thoughts on it, so shoot me a review or a PM or something silly like that. Alright. Enjoy this next chapter!

After another morning struggle with Mituna, Sollux headed off to school. He didn't see Eridan on his walk, and it was only right. Feferi was his best friend, and of course Eridan was going to be made that Sollux was a complete asshole to her and cheated. It's not like Sollux could go back in time and fix what he did wrong.

Was it really wrong if Sollux was happy now? But then he had to think: Was he actually happy?

Sollux had a deep hatred for thoughts like these, and normally put off all the emotional stuff until he couldn't any longer. He knew that soon enough he'd have to face facts, but he procrastinated yet again and promised himself to think about it after he did his homework. After all, he'd ditch sappy and emotional for simple and rational.

His step seemed to quicken as he made his way down the street, Dave just entering himself. Sollux called out to him and jogged to catch up. Dave gave him the normal elbow in the ribs as a greeting, saying, "Hey, Sol."

"Thup, Thtrider," Sollux said. "What'th goin' on?"

"Just waiting for the weekend, man," Dave said, smirking. "That pool party is going to be great." The deviousness in his tone was hard to ignore.

Sollux blinked a few times, thinking. "Why do you say it like that?"

"Because, Vriska and I are going to get that Ampora kid," said Dave. "While her searches may not have brought up anything useful other than the fact he's a total dweeb, I know there's something deeper in there. Ampora isn't our average, everyday hipster, Sollux. Vriska and I plan to find out what's up with him. Are you helping or what, man?"

"What's John doing?"

Dave shrugged. "He's not going to stop me, but he's not proud of me right now."

"Well, I'm kind of on John'th thide."

"How can you say that?" Dave asked. "Don't you notice how weird he is? And don't blame it on the fact that he's foreign. The Brits are not that foreign compared to, say, Japanese people."

"Watch it," Sollux warned.

Dave rolled his eyes, not that anyone could see. "Sorry, sorry, you know what I mean though! Something's up with that kid. Are you helping?"

Sollux sighed and shook his head. "Let me think about it?"

"Alright," Dave said, sighing. "So, what're you planning for Aradia?"

"Can we not talk about her?"

Dave stopped. "Woah, man, what's up?"

"Nothing, honethtly," Sollux said.

"Don't lie to me, man. That's not cool," Dave said. "We're bros. Bros tell bros everything, right? I mean, come on. I've only kept one thing a secret from you ever, and that was John. Bro, don't leave me hanging here."

"Thhup up, Thtrider," Sollux said. "I'll tell you. Jutht calm your thhit. Lithten, AA ith cool and thtuff, but I'm getting tired of her attitude about thome thingth, and her conthtant talk of death." He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers, his expression one of pure irritation and sarcasm.

"I thought you and her actually got past all that stuff. You said she was a cool chick," said Dave. Shoving Sollux's hands down.

"Yeah, but it'th like we went back to thquare one. In all honethty, I'm thinking of ending it later today. No thenthe in being unhappy at the party."

"But it's her party," Dave said.

"It'th VK'th party, not her'th. If anything, I can thit in the corner and pretend you're all in your underwear or thomething," Sollux said, getting a jab in the ribs from his laughing best friend. The two sat down in history class together, Karkat already there.

"There you two assholes are! Do you know how long I have had to sit here and listen to that big fat guy we call an educator drone on and on about history to those nerds over there? A long fucking time. It doesn't help that Gamzee has been texting me about miracles nonstop. I can only handle so much of his stupid upper-case-lower-case shit before I blow my top."

"Calm your shit, Karkat," Dave said. "Where's prissy pants?"

Karkat pointed over to where Eridan sat on one of the desks next to a few other history nerds. He looked genuinely intrigued in the conversation, and then Eridan was talking about whatever the topic was.

"Technically it was Germany, depending on your definition of the phrase," Eridan said.

"No," the teacher said. "It was Russia, Eridan. Get over it."

Eridan puffed up his cheeks. "You may be a teacher, but trust me that Germany beat out Russia by less than a year. I understand the new realization may be a little sore to you, but that's not my fault. Point is, Germany was the last absolute monarchy. I do a lot of research. I wouldn't make this claim if I didn't have the notes to back it up."

"Then bring your notes tomorrow, Ampora, and we'll see just how valid your little notion is," the teacher sneered. "Sit in your seats, class. We've got a minute until we begin and I don't want to waste any time, because we have a lovely lecture today about the beginning of time!"

The entire class let out a groan, and Eridan returned to his seat. Listening eagerly, the youngest Ampora jotted down notes in his book and seemed to genuinely enjoy himself.

Sollux let his eyes wander over Eridan's form. His clothes were tighter than an ill-fitting rubber glove. His hair was back and out of his eyes, a few baby curls falling onto his forehead. As Sollux's eyes continued to scan Eridan, he noticed a few bright red patches on him. The small scrape on the back of Eridan's hand was already turning brown, but the one of his cheek was still raw and shiny from the white blood cells gathering upon the flesh. Sollux winced a bit behind his glasses. How had no one else noticed?

Quickly scrawling a note, Sollux slid the paper under Eridan's elbow. It took a moment, but after the teacher excused himself to fill up his water bottle. Eridan unfolded it, quickly wrote something back and turned away.

Sollux read it over. He tripped on the pavement of the parking lot after getting out of Vriska's car. A likely story. Sollux ripped the note in half and stuffed it in his pocket, no questions asked. He'd talk to Vriska at lunch about it, though it wasn't like it was majorly important. What was majorly important was asking Karkat, guru of all things romantic, about Aradia.

After class, Sollux did just that. He said, "Hey, Karkat, got a second to talk?"

"Oh God. What the fuck do you want, dipshit?"

Sollux winced. "Thomeone ith a grumpy ath today. Lithten, I need your help with Aradia."

"Why? Couldn't remember what shade of red was her favorite? Just dig her up a rock and she'll like it. She'll go off and talk about its history and shit. You'll make her fucking day."

"Thhut it, athhole. I want to break up with her," Sollux said, his tone hushed. Karkat's head snapped up from his backpack, confusion in his eyes as he asked why, his voice slightly irritated and yet disappointed.

"I'm jutht not happy," Sollux said. "I'm tired of talking about dead thingth all the time."

"I thought you two got past that."

"We've thuddenly gone back to thquare one," he said, just like he did to Dave that morning. "And I gueth thhe theemth leth interethted in me than thhe wath before."

"Has she finally realized how dull and boring you actually are? Not to mention you're kind of a giant asshole, Sollux, and you're not even romantic. Ever think this was because you invited me, Dave and Gamzee, and then we brought John and Tavros because we thought it was going to be a bros-night-out, and then you show up with Aradia? Seriously! You even tried to make out with her in front of all of us, and I can tell you, she was almost as uncomfortable with it as we were! Well, everyone who was paying attention. Aka me. Because all I could hear over that trashy movie you let John pick out was the sound of the three couples around me who kept shoving their tongues down each other's throats! Do you want to know how much fun it is? Let's see. Allow me to do the calculations. Carry the one, oh let's see… None! No fun was had on my end of the stick at this stupid little get-together you called a date! And I'm guessing she feels the same way."

Sollux took his glasses off to clean them on his shirt. "At leatht we had the broth-night-out after I took her home. And how wath I thuppothed to know Dave and GZ were going to bring John and TV?"

"You're retarded! You were supposed to be alone with her! It was a date! Did you know that most dates only have two people? Because I remember that being something I learned back in sixth grade. And last time I checked, we're in high school now. That's three years, Sollux. Are you that stupid?"

"Maybe" Sollux said. "Jutht thtop with thith and tell me how to break her heart without hurting her."

"I doubt she'll be very hurt," Karkat said. "I'm sure she'll celebrate because she won't have to talk to your lame ass. But, since I seem to be in a generous mood, I'll help you. Just tell her outright. Tell her you feel like she's ignoring you and that you think you two need a break. Who knows? Maybe you'll both get back together and realize you were both being ridiculous! Or maybe you'll move on for good and stop being such a pansy, and maybe get off the computer for reasons other than her, and even then you just want to hop back on because you think she's dull."

"Hey, thtop talking," Sollux said. "I athked for romantic advice. Not a life adjuthtment theminar."

"I'm just stating facts here, you twit," Karkat said as they headed out into the hallway, both heading to class. "You better do it soon. She's right over there talking to Vriska. Good luck."

"You suck ass," Sollux yelled as Karkat walked away. Karkat simply flipped him the bird and headed to class. As for Sollux, he walked over to Aradia and Vriska, gulped and stood beside them for a moment before Vriska saw him.

"Oh, hey Sollux," she said.

Aradia turned. "Hi, Sollux."

"Hey, AA, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Vriska headed off. "I'll save you the trouble. See you in class, Aradia!"

Aradia waved at her and turned to Sollux. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Uh, emotional thtuff," he said.

"Did someone just die?" Her expression was sad, but her brown eyes sparkled. Sollux shook his head and she seemed to slump over a big in disappointment.

He said, "Are you tired of me? Be honetht."

"Yes," she said quickly. No mercy. "We're done. Bye."

"What?" Sollux asked. "No! Thith wath me breaking up with you, not the other way around."

"Too bad," she said, shrugging. "Glad you finally caught on after two months."

"Okay, tho you've been trying to make me mitherable tho I would break up with you?" Sollux asked. "You're nuttier than I thought."

"Well, that's not a good way to treat your ex, Sollux," she said, and then she stomped away. Sollux glared after her, and finally yelled, "For the record, I broke up with you!" She flipped him the bird and went around the corner, and Sollux went to class, completely confused. He sat down at his seat next to Dave.

"I heard you yell something," Dave said. "Did you finally end it?"

"Apparently, thhe wanted to end it two monthth ago," Sollux said. "I have no clue what jutht happened, but I think I'm thingle."

"That's great for you, dude," Dave said, giving him a pat on the back. "And now, we deal with the shit hole that is our education system."

"You make it sound much more fun than it is," Sollux said with a smirk. With that, he hunched over his notebook and began scrawling notes, and he felt as though a weight had been lifted off his thin, bony shoulders.