I stare up at the clouds atop the roof of the art building. My whole body aches from practice the night before. I've never wrestled a day in my life before yesterday. Maybe I pushed myself to hard, especially with a sprained ankle. Kurloz wouldn't stop worrying I made it worse all last night. I sigh, slowing my breathe. The sky is pretty today, it has a glaze of storm clouds floating in the west. Maybe it'll rain today, hopefully. I like rain, the whole process of it. It's first in a cotton candy, fluff like form, then it changes it to water. Which falls down to the ground, giving all of us water, helping planets grow.

I dart up from my position, laughing "It's a motherfucking miracle!" I laugh harder. It's, well, almost like magic.

"Gamzee!" I jump when I hear my voice shouted out in the early morning calm "Gamzee you idiot, how the fuck did you even get up there!?"

I peek over the side of the building, down below me is John. I wave down to him "S'up my wicked, Egbert?"

"You're 17," he shouts, with one hand cupping his mouth "Act like it! Seriously, get down here before you get stuck up there!"

I shrug my shoulders. Getting up from my position, I walk to the edge and jump down to the lower half of the building. Earning a gasp and more insults from John. I twist my body over to the next ledge. Thank God, I'm flexible, I would be screwed if I wasn't. Bending over backwards, I grab onto the ladder. "I don't think a six year old could do this," I flip my body heels over my head, and start to climb down.

"Whatever," A billow of air leaves his mouth "What were you even doing up there?"

I jump down beside him and stretch, "Thinking," I grab my satchel out of it's hiding space in the bush.

"Don't lie, it makes you look even stupider,"

"That's not a word," I laugh, while we make our way to the center of campus.

He groans, quickly changing the subject, "Sollux and Eridan are back today,"

"They aren't out of trouble, though. They still have after-school detention."

The halls of the science building to our locker, passing by empty classrooms "So do you,"

"Not today, I have lunch detention," I jerk the handle to the combo lock, letting it swing open.

He rolls his eyes, clapping slowly "Wow, lunch detention. You are really growing as a better student."

"Thanks for your support, John," I grab my book and hand him his binder.

"I'm so, so proud of you." I slam the door closed, we turn towards the door and proceed to the cafeteria. Campus is starting to fill up nicely now, but storm clouds cast a shade of darkness over all of us.

"Gamzee! John!" We turn around to see Tavros sneaking up from behind us.

"Hey, Tavbro," I give him a high-five and a fist-bump "Are you ready to get your learn on today?"

"No, but I guess I have to anyway."

"That's the sprit."

John groans once again "C'mon, let's go to the breakfast line." He rubs his stomach I'm starved."

"Don't you usually eat at home?" I question him, as we get in line.

"Normally, but," He grabs a tray "My dad decided to make pancakes,"

Tavros and I look at each other, then at him "That's a problem, why?" Tavros says grabbing a carton of milk.

"He had made pancakes for the last two weeks," John decides to get a breakfast burrito and something resembling salsa.

I roll my eyes. I wish I had pancakes every morning, all I get is cereal. "So you decide to poison yourself with this rot?"

"Better than a cavity,"

We go find a table to sit at, when someone darts in front of us. They skid to a stop, "John!"

"Oh, uh," Tavros and I start to snicker behind him, getting a dirty look from him. "H-Hi, Roxy."

"I'm glad I ran into you! I was searching for you!" Her pink eyes glimmer wildly, with a glaze of whiskey over them as well. "We need to talk!"

Tavros nudges my arm, and I hold back a giggle. Roxy Lalonde is Rose's twin sister. Who has a big crush on our buck tooth friend. Which, unsurprisingly, he's the only one who doesn't realize it. "R-really?"

She bobs her head wildly. "Let's go, Jonny," She yanks his arm, dragging him from whence she came.

"It's J-John!"

As soon as they are out of sight and earshot we double over in laughter. "John, you idiot!"

Tavros cackles, hard "He still has no idea does he?" We laugh even harder at this

"Remind me to tell Rose to cancel her date," my laughter slows down now. "I can't let this go on any longer. Especially with the dance next Friday."

He nods, patting my back "Let's hurry up and eat, the bells going to ring soon."

((()))

I sit on the floor outside of Mr. Vantas' room. Mr. Egbert let us out of class way to early today. I stare up at the sign in front of me, causing a supreme giggle fit.

NO SMOKING ALLOWED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY ALL VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED AT THE FULL EXTENT OF FEDERAL LAW.

Maybe because I just lit up in the bathroom before I got here could also be the reason for my sudden amusement. I normally wouldn't do it at school, but I was feeling like I needed it. Wonder what he's going to say? Everything has been going all towards the awkward side since that trip. Well, more since he kissed me? I shake my head clear of those thoughts. Not now, not when I'm about to go in there with him. I sigh, moving my vision to the ceiling. I wonder when it'll start raining? Perhaps it'll wait until after- school. Hopefully Kurloz will be here by then. I pull my knees into my chest, I won't get after school detention today probably, Mr. Vantas didn't assign any last night because of practice. He actually looks amazing in shorts. Since he wears those ridiculous sweaters, vest, and long sleeved shirts, I never new he was well built. He would probably look even better with his shirt off.

I groan, "I really need to stop motherfucking thinking about this shit." The bell rings, signaling the students to go to lunch. A huge crowd of high-school underlings come rushing out of the room, rushing to the lunch area. I dodge out the way, almost getting my ankle trampled in the process. When the coast is clear, I arise from the ground and make my way into Mr. Vantas' room. "Hey, Mr. V! How's it going?"

He glances his alluring, candy-red eyes right at me. Wait, no. What am I saying? Alluring, candy-red eyes? "Oh, Mr. Makara, have a seat. I'll begin your detention now."

Nodding, I slip into my period seat, and rest my head down. Where is all of this coming from? Okay, I like the guy. I'm not going to lie. I have liked him since I first laid eyes on him. But, all these weird, overwhelming feelings are getting to me. I may have toked too much in the bathroom. I lift my head up a tiny bit to look at him. He's sitting quietly at his desk, reading some paperwork. He's wearing this tight little burgundy vest, with tight gray shirt underneath. I can almost visibly see his bicep muscles. Mr. Vantas peeks over his work, catching he stare at him. "Something wrong, Mr. Makara?"

"N-no, nothing," I shake my head "You just, uh, look nice, Mr. V."

"Oh, well thanks." Did I just see him blush? I must delusional. He goes back to staring at his work, much harder now.

I acknowledge him, and bow my head back into my arm. The time ticks along, enjoying each second it holds me hostage in this room. The entire time, my head fantasizes about my teacher, no matter how hard I try to refrain from it. Finally the bell tolls and I jump from my seat. Mr. V does nothing to acknowledge that he knows I'm leaving. I make m way to the door, clenching my back-pack with a grip so tight, I swear I'm denting the atoms. My brain is telling me to bolt right out of there, yet when I reach for the door knob, something holds me back. "I'm going to regret this," I mumble. Suddenly, I turn to face him "Mr. Vantas?"

"Yes?" He doesn't move his gaze from his paper. "What is it?"

I take a deep, deep breath. "I kissed you, and you kissed me. I know you don't want to mention it again. I really like you more than a student should dig his damn teacher. I'm sorry if this makes you feel motherfucking weird, but it's true, bro. If you don't feel the same way back, it's motherfucking cool, too. I just either for us to forget this motherfucking happened or something. I just don't want to screw up that cool relationship we already have." I babble out. I quickly dart out the door, and down the hall leaving him dumbfounded and confused at his desk.

((()))

I was wrong about it raining. It's a motherfucking storm. The rain has poured down non-stop since after my sixth period. I'm soaked down to the bone. I pull my phone out again, hoping Kurloz has realized I've called him 13 times. Yet, there is nothing, not even a text. I try again, and after a few buzzes it goes straight to voicemail. "When I get home, you better hope someone is there to save your motherfucking beating you've just earned, brother." I click the end call button and start making my way to the house.

"Gamzee!" I turn around to see Mr. Vantas standing out in the rain. "Do you want a ride?"

I stand there for about thirty seconds before I dart over to him and his umbrella. It's either get a ride with him, or walk two and a half miles in plastering, cold rain. We make our way over in silence to his

car. He starts it up, while I toss my bag in the back seat. It's still a little cold when I get in my seat, but it's a lot warmer than outside. Mr. V drives, not really saying a word. Just clearing his throat every now and again. We past by the elementary, and begin our way to my neighborhood. I run my fingers through my damp hair, trying to figure out if I should try and break this silence, but I think I've spoken enough today already. It doesn't take all that long to arrive at my house. All the lights are on, all except for mine. I don't turn to him, I look down at my feet. "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Vantas." I mumble. I begin to open the door to his car.

"Gamzee, wait," He finally speaks up. "What you said, back at my classroom during lunch. I don't want to forget it happened, alright?" I turn to him, he looks at me earnestly. "Yeah, you kissed me. I liked it, so I kissed you back. I don't want to screw up anything we have between us either, so," He taps his finger tips on the car's steering wheel, blowing out some hot air. "Look, if we're going to do this, you can't tell anyone, alright? I don't want to lose my job."

I still ill look at him in a daze of confuse.

He rubs his forehead, breathing kind of heavily, fogging up most of the windows on his side of the car. "So, I guess, are you doing anything this weekend? I'm free for most of it."

We exchange numbers, and I told him I'll meet him at some arcade downtown. After a few minutes, I realize I should probably go inside. I reach for my back-pack in the back seat, smiling now. "So, I guess I'll see you Saturday?"

"Yeah, don't be late," he mumbles.

"Mr. Vantas?" He looks up for his staring match with the dashboard and I quickly lock my lips onto his. At first I can feel the shock run through his face, then he melts into my lips. I let go, biting my top lip "I won't be."

"Please," He catches his breath, smiling at me. "Call me Karkat."