The next day Roxy was absent during breakfast. Calliope said she was still sleeping.
"She'd better get up if she wants food. It's going fast." Gamzee said, watching other kids help themselves to the pancakes.
"We'd better not have to do more skiing." Karkat grumbled.
"Naw, today we're going hiking." Gamzee said.
"Oh, great." Karkat didn'thate hiking, he just didn't find it very interesting. But of course he had no choice but to go. Since they were hiking uphill Gamzee was carrying Tavros. Calliope was staying behind to wait for Roxy to wake up.
"C'mon Karbro, this'll be fun!" Gamzee said. Karkat just shrugged.
They were being led by some tour guides who separated them into groups. They were all in the same group so none of them complained. Their tour guide, some very optimistic-seeming girl about their age, led them down a forest trail.
"You probably won't see any animals along the trail because they're all hiding from people." she said, gesturing around them. "But if you do see something don't yell or take any pictures or you'll scare it off. If I see any cameras out I'll confiscate them immediately." Some kids groaned and she instantly got them to hand over their cameras. "Phones will also be confiscated if I see them out."
"I'm already one hundred percent sure this will be unbelievably boring." Karkat commented.
"Shut up and enjoy yourthelf KK." Sollux said.
Calliope sat on her mattress and ran her fingers through the white hair on her head. She sighed and looked at Roxy. She was still asleep. How could she sleep for so long? It was already 9 o'clock and sun was shining right on her face. Calliope reached over and shook Roxy's shoulder.
"Wake up Roxy." she whispered. Roxy mumbled something and squinted her eyes open.
"Calliope?" she mumbled.
"Good morning. You missed breakfast." Roxy sat up and stretched her arms.
"Dang. What was it?"
"Pancakes. Do you remember anything about yesterday?"
"Uh, yeah. I got drunk." Roxy smirked and shook her head. "Am I in trouble?"
"No, the teachers don't know it was you who brought it." Roxy sighed.
"Phew. Safe!" Roxy grabbed her clothes and started getting dressed. Calliope politely turned away.
"Do you remember anything that happened while you were drunk?" she asked. Roxy shrugged.
"Uh, no. Not really. Why?" Calliope sighed quietly.
"Nothing. I was just wondering." Roxy stopped and looked at her.
"What did I do?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"No, I did. I can tell you're not telling me something. What did I do?" Calliope sighed and looked at Roxy.
"You kissed me." Roxy's mouth fell open and she blinked.
"…Oh." she finally said. Calliope sighed and stared at the ground.
"After I dragged you back to bed you hugged me and told me I'm beautiful. Then you kissed me."
"You are beautiful!" Roxy said. She reached over and patted her head. Calliope smiled and shook her head.
"I-I was just wondering if you were serious. About the kiss."
"Oh."
"But if you were drunk, I guess not." Calliope smiled, though she didn't feel particularly happy.
"Uh, actually I did." Roxy said, looking at the ground. Calliope stared at her in surprise.
"Huh?"
"Um, I did mean it. I was serious." Calliope felt herself blush and she covered her face with her hands.
"O-oh." Now what was she supposed to do? Her best friend had kissed her and meant it!
"I understand if you aren't interested in girls." Roxy said.
"No—I mean, I…I don't know." Calliope said. She brought her hands down and rested them on her lap. "No one's ever called me beautiful before. Gamzee said that yesterday while we were skiing, but he's like my brother so it's like that doesn't count."
"You are beautiful." Roxy repeated. "Why are you so hard on yourself?"
"Because I'm not!" Calliope exclaimed. "My eyes are too big, my face is too thin, and my hair's…"
"I think it's pretty." Roxy rubbed her behind her ear, then stopped. She felt along the edge of the white hair. "Wait, is this a wig?"
"Yeah." Calliope sighed. "I'm actually bald. I just use a special kind of glue for this wig."
"So? Then you can have the hair colour of your choice without having to dye it!" Roxy said. "And hair dye is bad for your hair anyway, right?"
"Yeah…"
"So cheer up! You're beautiful!"
"But I'm not!" Calliope insisted. "I'm too thin, my fingers are too long and-"
"Stop it!" Roxy exclaimed. She reached forward and pulled Calliope into a hug. "Don't do that. You are beautiful, you just won't admit it." Calliope gave up trying to argue and just hugged Roxy back. "Have you ever actually been told by someone you're not beautiful?" Calliope nodded.
"My brother said I'm ugly."
"Well, you're brother's a dick and you said he's in juvie anyway."
"Yeah…"
"So you're beautiful! Stop denying it!" Roxy held her face to her and kissed her. "You're my beautiful princess Calliope." Calliope blushed and hugged Roxy.
"Thank you."