I'm really sorry for them acting so out of character, I really am. But hey, I tried.

The bus ride to school seems to last only a few seconds and before I know it John is running to me with Karkat on his heels.

"Tavros! How are you?" John asks smiling like every day. He, though, isn't panting like Karkat is.

"Uhh, nice, I guess", I answer. John doesn't really seem to care for what I answered, and secretly I'm glad for no more questions. Instead he starts rambling on and on about a game he saw yesterday. I'm pretty sure he mentioned something about it being a rerun from last year.

I follow the two to the school. John walks with me to my class and continues to his own class from there. Karkat comes a bit later after being held back by Terezi. He sits down on the floor next to me and we wait for the teacher.

"So, have you gotten over that fucker already?" he asks suddenly and it takes me a few seconds to realize what he's talking about. Then I notice Dave farther in the hall.

"Oh, u-um, I, don't know", I stutter and turn my gaze down.

"Would a new relationship help with it?" Karkat asks turning his gaze to my slightly blushed face.

"What?" I ask staring at him. "W-what do you, uh, mean with that?"

"Just thinking. It helps sometimes. And I know-" he cuts himself short there like he was going to tell me something but decided against it.

"You know what?" I ask, now curious. What could Karkat know, that he didn't want to tell me?

"Shut the fuck up! I'm not supposed to say it. Not to you at least", he snaps and I stare at him.

"Karkat, that's, uh, kind of rude", I say quietly and look down.

"Fuck. I didn't mean it like that. It's a secret, okay? My friends. Not supposed to fucking be talking about it. Like I am now. Fuck fuck fucking god damnit!" he starts rambling and I sort of tune out. A secret of his friends I'm not supposed to hear? It just makes me more curious.

"Oh, there's the teacher, thank god", he says and gets up filing into the classroom with the other students.

School goes by quickly and I'm glad for that. I haven't really seen Dave, only in the one class we share. But I haven't really seen anyone that much. It's sort of lonely, but I don't mind. They would probably feel sorry for me and ask how I'm getting on or something. I get enough pity as it is, and I don't really like it. It never did anything good to my self-esteem either.

I go to get some food from the cafeteria and find John there with Karkat, Dave, Nepeta, Rose and a few others. I take my place next to them, at the edge of the table.

"Hi Tav!" John says cheerily and I smile at him.

"Hi John", I say and a few greetings are exchanged. I glance at Dave and lock eyes with him for a second before he looks to John, who's talking to him.

"So, I heard you're dating some girl now", John says leaning closer to Dave. "Is this true?"

"Yeah, caught her staring and she's not that bad looking either", Dave answers blankly.

"You're such a player Dave! This is just like when we lived in the same neighborhood in Washington!" John scolds him and Rose says something, too.

"Shut up. I can do what I want", Dave snaps and I look up.

"Like force me into doing something I don't want to?" I ask and everyone goes quiet. They just stare at me, John open-mouthed and Dave actually looking taken aback. I pick up my tray, not feeling like eating anymore and leave the cafeteria having had around two bites of my food. This would come back at me later, but I can get food at my place.

"Tav! Hey Tav, wait!" I hear and slow down, not really wanting to stop. I look back and see John arrive next to me grabbing my chair and stopping me. I turn around and look up at him.

"What?" I ask, crossing my arms. I don't feel like talking.

"Just wanted to say, if you want to talk about what Dave did, you can talk to me about it. I know he's… Quiet straight forward and all that", John says kneeling down in front of me. "You can talk to any of your closest friends. They'll understand and it'll make you feel better."

"Yeah, I'll talk when I'm ready", I answer almost as a whisper and John nods.

"Try to make it through school, maybe we could hang out afterwards", he says smiling and returns to his friends. I continue to my next class. Oh how I wish I could already be home. At least Gamzee's there. He's probably the best friend I've ever had. He would understand, wouldn't he?

After a rather tiring afternoon I make my way to the bus to get home. I take out my cell and hesitate a bit before texting Gamzee.

adiosToreador began pestering terminallyCapricious [TC]

AT: wHEN WILL YOU GET HOME?

TC: iN hAlF aN hOuR.

TC: wHy?

AT: cOULD YOU, uHH, pICK UP SOME FOOD ON THE WAY HOME, pOSSIBLY?

TC: sUrE tHiNg TaVbRo.

TC: wHaT wOuLd YoU lIkE?

AT: aNYTHING, rEALLY, aS LONG AS IT'S, uHH, eDIBLE,

TC: sOmE mOtHeRfUcKiNg EdIbLe FoOd CoMiNg Up In HaLf An HoUr ;o)

AT: tHANKS,,,

adiosToreador ceased pestering terminallyCapricious [TC]

I get off the bus and go to the elevator. The nice old lady from my floor is there too and greets me with a smile.

"Hello little Tavros! How was school today?" she asks.

"It, uhh, was all right", I answer, resisting the urge to add 'I guess' to the end. It would make her worry and she doesn't need that.

"How nice! How about I bake cookies today and drop some off at your apartment? You could give some to your... Friend too", she says with a sweet smile and I can't see why to say no.

"That would be very, um, nice of you", I say and the elevator stops. I let her get out first and follow behind, saying good bye and unlocking my apartment's door. I close it behind me and wheel to the living room. I put my bag down next to wall and pull myself onto the couch, laying there and reach for the remote. I barely reach it but manage to grab it and turn on the TV, flipping through the channels till Gamzee comes.

"You here, Tavbro?" he asks and I listen to him walking around the kitchen with his food supplies.

"Yeah", I answer after a silent moment and the moving stops.

"Barely heard that. You need to speak louder next time", he says and I hear a playful honk from one of his weird horns. I usually bring them to his bed when he leaves them around. Why hadn't I noticed that one?

Oh well. I don't really mind them that much and there's such a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. I decide it's best to get myself off the couch and into the kitchen. It will definitely be easier to eat there.