(A/N: I should probably just list my DA. I have more on their.. This will be the last OLD fanfic I will post. New ones coming soon. My Deviantart is: Hachilen so go look at my shizz :3)

-

"So.. Wwhat is it you wwanted?" Eridan finally asked, after they stood there, staring at each other for a while.

The smaller boy looked away a bit and rubbed the back of his head. "Your the only one who wasn't fucking obnoxious." He grumbled. "So I just

wanted to say hi or some shit.. Like it or not it's done." He crossed his arms, blushing faintly. "So that's it I'm leaving now." He quickly shoved a piece

of paper into Eridan's hands, than hurried back to the cafe where his friends were.

The taller boy watched until he was out of sight, than looked at what was in his hands. He unfolded the torn paper and saw that it was a number,

not just any number, Karkat's cell number. He made an excited noise but quickly stopped himself, than looking around to see if anyone heard. Luckily

no one did. Along with the number there was a small, nicely handwritten note. 'Okay look I am only doing this shit because Terezi said I needed more

friends or some fucking nonsense like that, I would prefer if you just threw this aside and forgot it but if not.. Just text me sometime or something so I

can have your number to.. Don't need that chalk licking idiot on my case.'

He smiled after reading it, and put the paper into his pocket and headed home. Karkat had put a little heart after his writing, which Eridan found

adorable.

-
It had been about Nine the last time Eridan looked at the clock, he sat at his desk and finished putting his recent pictures on his laptop. Ever since he

had got home there was only one person on his mind, this time, it wasn't Feferi. He glanced at the paper on his desk and thought about texting the

boy he met earlier, though, he was most likely busy or asleep. Eridan didn't want to interrupt anything.

Karkat however, was not busy, nor asleep. He was sitting up in his bed, music blasting in his ears so he didn't have to hear what his dad was doing

in the next room. He wasn't complaining at all however.. He was rather thankful for his dad actually being there. Karkat's father was gone for weeks

sometimes, only to come back and pick a few things up. He didn't care too much when his dad didn't come home. Karkat had a curfew every night, his

dad cared when he was late or didn't tell him where he was. At least he was trying to play a parent role, sometimes. He made sure there was always

food for Karkat to eat, even if they were just some one dollar microwave meals or leftovers from the nights he was home. Karkat was very thankful.

Even if there was another side to his dad, very many things most people would call the police for, or some shitty child protective services. There were

plenty of times he had to pretend he wasn't his fathers son, just to protect them both.

"Come onnn..." He groaned a bit, staring at his phones screen, that was dark from no messages. He tossed his phone to the other side of the bed

and got up, deciding to take a shower instead of waiting like sad puppy wanting to be pet. It was almost to good to be true that the guy he met

earlier wasn't interested.

Eridan sat back in his chair, a text all typed out and ready to be sent. His hands shook, almost afraid of what sort of response he would get back. He

closed his eyes and hit send, then putting his phone back on his desk, not caring if it sent or not.

"Shush wwho cares if he doesn't respond.." He took a deep breath and took off his glasses to rub his eyes, saying hello shouldn't of brought him so

much stress. He was almost relieved to not get a response, maybe he was asleep or busy like he had thought. Easy enough, he didn't have to worry

about what the boy might of said-

His phones screen suddenly lit up, and he froze. "He actually responded..?" He mumbled to himself, something he was way to use to since he lived

alone. He slowly reached for the phone, then letting out a sigh of relief to see it was only Feferi.

"Hey Eridan! Your taking a day off to hang out with me tomorrow! I had a sudden desire to go to the beach... I'm inviting Karkat too, since you guys

seemed to have this silent friendship, weirdos! Hehe. Respond ASAP silly~!"

That was just like her, making plans without consent from Eridan first. He could never say no to her anyways, maybe because he was so madly in love

with her. He sighed happily and responded.

"Sure I'll go, promise me you aren't forcing that poor kid to come along?"

She replied almost instantly. She was a very fast texter. "Of course not! I asked him and he said it sounded fun! He doesn't know I invited you

though }8]"

He sighed and figured he would tell Karkat in the morning when he was awake. "Alright fair enough, see you then Fef."

"Sleep well!~"

He smiled and put his phone down again. He noticed it had been a good half hour since he sent the text to Karkat, and between talking to Feferi and

getting no response from him, his nerves were calmed. Eridan got up and stretched, only to see his screen light up again. With one new message.

Karkat had got out of the shower and was mentally hitting himself for not waiting a little longer, not even two minutes after walking away from his

phone is when he got the text and he figured Eridan thought he was ignoring him. He put aside his social anxiety and texted him back.

"SORRY WAS IN THE SHOWER, I'LL SAVE YOUR NUMBER NOW. THANKS."

Eridan was now looking at this message, taking a few minutes to try to figure out why he typed in caps. He didn't seem like he was angry from what

he had said.

"Your wwelcome?" He responded, not really getting it.

"FUCK I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, CAPS BUTTON IS BROKEN ON MY PHONE SO I'M NOT FUCKING ANGRY OR ANY SHIT LIKE THAT." Karkat facepalmed, mess

up one on a new friendship.

"Oh I see. That is fine, your going to the beach wwith Fef tomorrow right?"

Oh nononono. He knew? "YEAH WHAT OF IT?"

"She invvited me as wwell. Are you alright wwith that? I don't havve to come along." Eridan nervously laid down in his bed, waiting for the response

to come.

Karkat hesitated a bit, but wrote a reply. "WHY WOULD I CARE ITS JUST THE FUCKING BEACH, NOT LIKE WERE GOING ON A DATE OR SOME SHITTY

THING LIKE THAT."

"Sounds good then, see you tomorrow." Eridan put his phone on his small side table by his bed and rubbed his head, something wasn't right. He had

only just met this boy and he already liked him, almost as much as Feferi. No no no, he wasn't gay. He loves Feferi and has since high school. He

groaned a bit and pulled his blanket over him. He needed sleep, he was exhausted and confused. That was the thought he kept in his head.

Karkat didn't bother sending a good night text. He almost felt like he was in a dream, like the shitty rocoms he watched when he got bored. Except

without the happy ending. He loved those movies, and romance novels which he hid under his bed. He's read so many of them he knew more than

someone who had romantic experience, which he was okay with. Until now.. He was in love, and there was nothing he could do about it. The most he

could do was try not to screw things up tomorrow at the beach.

That was it.

-

The next morning was stressful for both Karkat and Eridan. Karkat, who was shaking with nerves, and Eridan who was just use to sleeping in and not

getting up early.

Karkat didn't sleep much like normal, and struggled to get dressed without looking back at his bed with utter lust. Oh how he would love to just go

snuggle back into it. He avoided the thought and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. It almost felt like a dream to be able to hang out with the

guy he met, who he had fallen in love with even though Feferi was going to be there as well. She had caught him after he had snuck out to give

Eridan his number, and he had to admit (Luckily not in front of everyone else) that he liked Eridan a bit, but he was a terrible liar and Feferi got the

hint. That was the only reason she had planned this whole thing, what had seemed like an innocent trip to the beach was now going to turn into a

total nightmare for Karkat.

He reluctantly went downstairs and made some eggs and toast, making sure to leave a bit for his dad and his.. 'guest'. As well as a note for where

he was and what he was doing, even though his dad could always text him Karkat preferred to leave a note so he wouldn't freak out.

Eridan was almost too excited for the day, getting to spend it with Fef (which he always loved) and his newly made friend. He didn't mind the slight

drowsiness he had from getting up early, he only went to his laptop to check on his blog to see nothing really important happened. Instead of getting

on with his average day, he went to make some coffee and eat a bit of the leftovers from the night before. He wasn't a big breakfast person and

normally skipped it but today was special. He quietly hummed to himself and packed up his supplies for the day. He was all ready to get going, but

realized he still had a good hour to spare before he needed to leave. "Dammit look at the clock before you get up.." He mumbled to himself, but

shrugged it off and went to watch some TV to pass the time.

Karkat kept telling himself he was going to go through with today, however his head had another idea to tell them both he got sick or something

stupid to avoid going. He decided against it and finished his breakfast and headed outside. It was way to early to meet up, but he needed some

fresh air and a good morning walk. Karkat pulled out his phone and went to send a text to Eridan, but feeling really lazy got the better of him, so he

called instead.

The phone didn't even ring twice before the blogger answered.

"Hello Kar!" Eridan was smiling, and Karkat could tell without even seeing his face.

"Uh hi? Look I'm fucking bored and really just don't feel like waiting at home, so meet me at the cafe.. I don't really care if you come or not- … Hello?

HELLO?" Karkat growled and pulled the phone away from his ear, did that little shit hang up on him? He calmed himself and put his phone away. He

didn't care. He wouldn't let it show, he was to good at hiding his pain.

Karkat walked into the cafe only to find Eridan already there, and flipping through photos on his camera. He froze a minute, this was his last chance

to change his mind, go home, and pretend he was ill. Instead he found himself walking over to Eridan.

"Oh hello Kar~" He smiled like a goofball. "This place is really close to wwhere I live, that's how I beat you here."

"Whatever." Karkat sat next to him, since there weren't chairs on the other side, and to be honest he really didn't mind being so close.

"Do you live far from here?" He asked, glancing at the boy who was slumped down next to him, arms crossed.

"Yeah a bit. But I wanted a long walk. Got a ride last time I was here.." He mumbled, yawning softly after. Tiredness was really starting to get to him.

"Oh I could of gavve you a ride you know." Eridan smiled slightly, he couldn't help it from how cute Karkat looked when he was tired.

"Nah. Don't want you to know where I live thanks." Karkat sighed, if he knew, if any of his friends knew where he lived he would lose them all. He

didn't enjoy talking about his home life at all, even after being asked a million times. Most of it was made up, if he decided to speak about it. His

house was small, made up of about four rooms, two being bedrooms, one bathroom and the kitchen and living room were combined. It was also

always a mess, a few torn walls and carpet. It wasn't exactly something to brag about.

"Aww come on, I wwould most likely forget after anywway.." Eridan pouted, waking Karkat of his inner thoughts.

"It isn't that. I just like walking." He lied, hoping the other would buy it, but just like everyone else Eridan saw through it like a piece of glass.

"I don't think you do.." He frowned. "I wwon't bother you much though, not like I told you wwhere I livved or anything~" He smiled again, going back

to flipping through pictures on his camera.

"..." Karkat got lost in his thoughts again, why wasn't he being pushy like everyone else? He knew he liked this guy for a reason and he was sure

he was going to find out soon.

"Hey Kar?" Karkat looked up to see Eridan looking at him, concerned. "Your a little spacey.."

"Sorry. I'm always like that."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"Okay sure I get it. I still havve a lot to learn about you~" He chuckled a bit, he so wasn't use to talking to people, and now trying to make friends?

Seems like a joke.

"Weirdo." Karkat huffed, unable to hold back a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Am I screwing up already? Dammit..!" Eridan cursed, his hands squeezing into fists in his lap. "I sorta havve a confession.. I don't exactly havve

many friends.. The ones I do havve sorta forced themselves on me so.. I don't exactly knoww howw to-"

"Don't worry about it."

"W-wwha?"

"I said don't worry about it. There's a reason I gave you my number, you know."

"Oh.. I see.." Eridan sighed, relieved a bit. He had a lot of learning to do when it came to friendship.

"We should head to the beach now, Feferi will most likely be there soon."

"Ah. Right."

The two headed out, and headed for the beach. Karkat barely holding back the desire to hold his hand, it was for the best..

"Haha yeah and then she was all 'where?! Where!?' and Dave was totally freaked out!" Feferi giggled, Eridan and Karkat laughing along.

"Wwhat did she do Fef?" He asked, still chuckling after their giggle fit.

"She licked his cheek and he totally lost his cool and was blushing and everything! Hehe it was so funny, you guys should have been there! Though

isn't it so great that they are dating now because of it?~"

"Yeah I am really happy for her." Karkat smiled, he hadn't laughed so much in years. It felt like a dream for the three to be sitting there, watching the

sunset at the beach. He played with the sand under his hands and made another mental note of how thankful he was for going.

"Hey Kar this is the first I have seen you smile, are you having fun?~" Eridan smiled at him.

Karkat felt his face get hot and he looked away again, forcing himself back to his normal bored expression. "I guess today was /okay/." He mumbled,

not going to admit how much fun he really had.

"Oh! Shoot time for me to go boys, i'll see you later! Gotta go meet with Jade before I go home, see you!" Feferi ran off and both of them

waved."Eridan send me those pictures when you get the chance!" She called before disappearing in the distance.

"Pictures?" Karkat glanced at the other, who was in a dreamy state still.

"Huh? Oh. You didn't notice I wwas taking them? I could send you some copies as wwell if you'd like." He smiled.

"Oh. That would be cool I guess." He looked down at his hands again, playing with the sand between them. "..You really like her huh?"

Eridan instantly blushed deep red. "L-like her? Oh uh.. Yeah I guess. I do." He stared off into the distance. "Every since I met her really.." He sighed

happily. "Just a stupid crush though.. She would never like me that way."

Ouch. Hearing it almost pissed Karkat off, to the point where he couldn't help bottling it up. "..Fucking great. Just go for it, take the chance you'll never

even fucking know who really gets hurt." He stood, fighting tears that were starting to form in his eyes. "Do it. Tell her, I'm going home."

Eridan watched him, a bit confused. "Oh uh.. Alright then.. You wwant a ride?"

"No." He started to walk home, not caring that it would take a while if he walked, not caring that his dad would act like the worried parent for him

being home late, not caring about anything.

Eridan stared down at the sand, trying to figure out what had happened. It had sounded like Karkat was telling him to go for it, to tell Fef how he felt,

but in another way it almost sounded like he was upset about it. He shrugged it off and headed home, trying not to think of it too much. He decided

Karkat was right, he would never know unless he tried. He promised himself. "Tomorrow I will tell Fef I love her."

(BOOOOOM. Nextttttt.)