I'm lying awake in my bed, it's three o'clock on Monday morning. It's not unusually for me, it has always been hard for me to sleep. Yet, after a long camping trip, you'd think I'd be conked out. Especially if I have to deal with a bunch of teenagers tomorrow. But I can't, my mind is still flashing back to this weekend. Those idiots that run the place downgraded my cabin, but that was the only complaint for the entire three days Gamzee and I were there. We had to share a bed, since it was a one bedroom cabin with no couch, damn cabin workers, but I was okay with that. My face scowls, I should not be okay with that. He's still my student, I could of just slept on the floor. But yet, I choose not to. I sit up crossing my legs, and running my fingers through my hair.

I get up, out of my bed. I guess, if I can't sleep, I mine as well do something. I shuffle my way in the direction of the kitchen. When I moved to this town, I wanted to find the cheapest, fast place to move into. So my friend, Meenah, sent me here. It looked nice in the brochure, so I considered it. Then the landlord showed me a picture of the place I thought I was going to buy. It was an open space, with separate rooms for the kitchen and bathroom. I probably should have known better. When I walked in, there was a bathtub in the middle of the floor, a hole in the wall so you could see into the next room, and a box of sickles and juggling clubs. They fixed the floor, but they couldn't do anything about the tub. As I cross my apartment, I glare at the bathtub. I must admit, it's good for holding at my clothes, satchel, books, and random dishes. I go to my fridge and grab a bottle of water, the stove clock is blinking 4:38.

I flop down on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. I'm never going to get to sleep, and I have to go to work in two hours. All these thoughts are still flowing through my head, though. I look over to my phone, getting idea.

"I wonder if she's even awake," I ask myself aloud. The question flaots through my mind for less than a quarter of a seond, before I start dialing like it's a nine-one-one emergency. After a few minutes of the dial tone, someone picks up.

"Hello?" Says a sleepy voice on the other end.

"Terezi?

"Oh, Karkat," In the background I hear her shuffle sheets, probably trying to sit up "How are you?"

"I'm fine, I just couldn't sleep," I twirl the phone cord around my fingers "I have a lot on my mind."

"Like?"

I try to find the words to say, the ones buzzing through my head all night "Lets say, hypothetically of course,"

"Of course," Terezi says with a high amount of sarcasm.

"Lets say, I may like someone," I pause "But I have mixed feelings about them, till a certain moment,"

"Uh-huh," She yawns on the other end of the phone.

"How can I tell if they like me, or it was an in the moment thing?"

"Karkat, did you forget your entire high-school year or re you really clueless about this?"

"I didn't date anyone in highschool,"

She takes a deep sigh before she answers me "Well, what happened in this certain moment?"

"They kissed me," I say slowly.

"Well, did you kiss them back?"

"It happened to fast," She stays silent on the other end of the phone. "Terezi?"

"Yes, I'm still here. I'm just thinking," I let her have her silence. "How about you kiss them back,"

"Do you think I should?"

"It's all I can think of at 5:30 in the morning,"

((()))

I'm sitting at my desk on Tueday. I took Monday off to clear my head a little bit more, and because by six o'clock I was out cold. My class heads out the door, mumbling and complaining about the ten page essay they have to write and turn in tomorrow. It's what they deserve for treating my substitute which such a poor attitude. Gamzee didn't say a word all class period, he even turned in last nights homework assignment, willingly. I looked at him surprised, but he wouldn't return the gesture. I sigh, getting up from my desk, I hoping I could talk to him.

"Vantas,"

I look up and frown. It's Strider. "What is it?" I snarl.

He strolls on into my room, sitting on top of one of my desk, "How was your-"

"Get off the top of there. Hasn't anyone ever told you that makes the top of it lose? I don't want to have to send it in for repairs,"

"Fine," He says "Look, I really need a favor from you,"

"You, the man that came in to my class on Friday and disrupted my teaching, who threatened me in the hallway, and I all around don't, like. Wants to ask me for a favor?"

"Look, I've asked everyone else," Coach Strider rubs his temples "You're, like, the last person I would even consider asking,"

I look at him, then fall back into my chair, "What is it?"

"We need a timekeeper for our meet at Derse High School next wednesday, all the other teachers can't or don't want to do it,"

"Why can't," I point my finger at him "You or Zahhak handle that?"

"We can't because we're coaching the kids," He suddenly whips off his shades, looking me in my bright red eyes. "C'mon, please! If we can't bring our own timekeeper we'll get disqualified, and this is the first time inyears Skaia has made it to States!" He clasps his hands together, dropping down to his knee "I'll do anything, Vantas, anything to get you to say yes!"

I look take a moment to savor him on my floor begging. I get up from my seat and turn my back to him. "Anything, Strider?"

"If you'll say yes,"

"Fine, I'll be your damn timekeeper. On one condition," I swivel back around, catching a glimpse of him swallowing his pride.

"What?"

"You do not come and intrurrpt my class untill finals are over with,"

"Deal,"

"And, you stop asking me to pass students who fail,"

He grits his teeth, and stays silent for a moment before he sticks his hand out "Okay, fine,"

I shake his hand smiling "Great,"

A/N: New chapter, yea! Hey, I wanted to thank you guys for reading this, for one. Seriously, you all are great. Plus, I wanted to thank the person who mentioned me on Tumblr for a good GamKar fanfic writer. I really appreciate that.