Obscure, virus ridden threats notwithstanding, my first day of school wasn't a total and complete failure. I had only missed the orientation, a good chunk of my first class, and was currently wandering up and down a busy street, filled with restaurant signs and party goers. Night was already lying thick on the city, bright lights blotting out the stars in a competition to see who was more extravagant. Couples passing by were holding hands and giggling and having a blast. I shove my hands into my pockets, looking once again for a place called 'Brosh's'. Once in a while, a human would stop laughing to give me a weird look, or step out of my way or something- typical racism or whatever they call it.
I finally happen across the chilled out looking building, warm browns contrasting against navy blues in the modern architecture. It wasn't bad- one of those half-fancy, half-laid back restaurants. Without giving too much thought to it, I enter the building to find a couple of friends sitting to the side and awaiting a table.
Terezi sits with a smirk on her face, laughing at some joke that Dave had told her. Upon my arrival, the two greeted me- one with a wave and the other with a dip of his head. They go back to their chat and disregard any further interruptions. To their right, a rather uncomfortable Karkat glares at me before turning his attention back to a black haired boy, describing some movie or another. John beams his buck toothed smile towards me and then turns back to his friend. A couple more trolls, including Nepeta, Equius, and Vriska, sit beside the others. Without much thought I take a place between Karkat and John, apparently bringing conversation to a halt.
"Oh hey Sollux!"
John welcomes me, smiling his goofy grin again. He's wearing a nice looking blue t-shirt and black jeans. His hair is, as usual, in its slightly unruly looking state. Before I can reply, I notice his blue eyes flicker back to Karkat- whose face is not exactly painted with the look of an amiable demeanor. Despite the generic black t-shirt and grey jeans, he actually looks decent. Not that I would care about him anyways.
"Hey KK. What'th the problem thith time?"
"Do you have any manners at all? I was just having the worst fucking conversation with this shithead here and then- lo and behold! A wild asshat walks in to break it all up. I'll have you fucking know that-"
After a few minutes, I tune him out and turn back to John, whom has been totally distracted at this point in time. The kid's like a puppy or something.
"Table for... thirteen right this way."
I find a spot to sit next to Karkat and order some water, as well as a salad. I wasn't really all that hungry anyways. I look to my right, where KK is currently grumbling about some inadequacy in the food. A quick snort in amusement is met by a rather dirty look from the aforementioned troll. My red and blue gaze pulls away and is distracted by the arrival of another troll to my left. Before I could stop myself, I feel a light smile and a light blush tint my cheeks. The one sitting beside me is Aradia, whom I have not seen for a full year and a half.
"Hello Sollux."
She begins, and I swear her voice is as smooth as honey. She gives a cute grin and I muster out a cool sounding reply.
"Hey Aradia. What'th new?"
And the conversation continues on in a sane, linear fashion. Ignoring the protests and tirades happening on the other side of me, I continue to chat with my old friend/crush. Yeah, I was practically infatuated with the girl next to me- her smile, or laugh, and the way that every day seemed to lighten when she walked in the room. We talk about stupid things like the weather and our grades and just life in general. I tell a joke, and she laughs. She speaks and I listen.
By the time we end the conversation, there is only a few of us left in the restaurant. I, being a polite gentletroll, offer to walk her home.
"Sure! I just live a few blocks away in an apartment."
"Awethome. Let'th go."
We each leave our share of the check, and after a tackle hug from Nepeta, we make our way out of the building and down the significantly less crowded street. It is already 11:27 PM, and dark as hell out here. I casually loop my arm around Aradia's, and we continue to chat all the way home. Her eyes sparkle as she talks and it's all I can do not to get lost in them.
"Well, here we are."
Her apartment is pretty average- five stories high with a balcony here and there. A quick hug good bye, and she's gone.
I check my phone, and realize that my 'manners' have stranded me out at midnight with a forty minute walk home. Grumbling a bit, I shove the phone back in my pocket and turn to head home.
Five minutes in, and I can't stop looking over my shoulder. I'm getting the chills out here, eerily quiet streets seeming to close in a bit. It doesn't help that street lamps go out occasionally. Silence coats the pathway, the only sound reaching my ears was that of my footsteps, and the infrequent buzz of a street light. I take a slow, deep breath and am suddenly startled. I stop walking for a moment and can almost hear another set of footsteps. Another creepy feeling passes over me, and I sneak a look over my right shoulder. With a start, I swear I can see something flicker out of my peripheral view, like a shadow darting into the cracks between two buildings. A moment passes, and I assure myself it was nothing. I've just been up too late with too many things in my head.
The rest of the walk passes in a similar way, with minimal comfort the entire way. My breath is shaky when I enter my dorm room, and I make sure the door is locked behind me. This is stupid, I know- I'm being overly paranoid and shit but...
I swear I saw someone following me.
I head off to my recuperacoon, but am stopped by the sudden realization that my window was wide fucking open. A message is beeping on my computer, but paranoia says that I have to close that window and lock it, as well as lock every other exit or entrance and search my room for intruders. After all that, I sit at my wooden desk with my heartbeat going a mile a minute and my palms all sweaty. I log on and find a Trollian message waiting for me.
-_ began trolling twinArmageddons at 12:47 AM-
You idiot. Don't you know?
It doesn't matter how many times you search.
You'll never find me.
But I will always know where YOU are, dear Captor.
-_ ceased trolling twinArmageddons at 12:50 AM-
Pulse skyrocketing, I gently rub circles into my temples, trying to calm myself the fuck down because I can feel sparks dancing out of my eyes and I sure as hell do not want to destroy anything. The messages delete themselves, and I swear under my breath as they do so. Apparently someone has an issue with me. That is totally fine by me, since I am officially fucking scared.