Making it to the water's edge just moments after Karkat, I was startled to find that there were even more people swimming around in the large pond, which was settled nicely in a fixture of many hills, creating a bowl effect in the ground. Then with the pond being lower than the top of the hill, the dock, that Karkat leaped off without hesitation was up pretty high above the water, at least high enough that even his small form created a nice sized splash, one that caught three of the girls who seemed to be avoiding getting their hair wet.
Actually, as I looked around it came to my attention that the only one not in the water was Vriska who instead was laying out on a towel at the bottom of the hill near the water, her attention towards two of the guys in the pond, seeming to be glaring at them and not even noticing when I walked up behind her until I spoke
"Not swimming?" She whipped her head around towards me quickly her hair fanning out as she did so, a grin spreading on her lips when she realized it was just me, then she shifted on the towel to face me while still laying down, more of her body becoming visible as she did so making it that much harder to keep my eyes on her face.
"I will if you do." Her voice was definitely flirty, and though I tried to stop it from happening, heat still flared up in my cheeks letting me know my face had gone red, which just made her grin stretch that much further, as she stood from the ground she put her hands on my right shoulder, becoming closer than I actually felt comfortable with which made my ears go hot.
"Yo bro!" Glancing over at the startlingly gruff voice, my eyes found the guy who had been crazily pushing around the kid in the wheelchair, only now he was stationary and waving at me, the almost clown like face paint he wore untouched by the water (The makeup was really kinda creepy, not going to lie). Which I noticed, while most of the others had to tread water at the distance he was out in the pond, he seemed to be standing normally, the water only to his shoulders, there was no way he was that tall. Though to be fair, he was only about ten feet away from shore. "Ditch the bitch! Come have fun!" Vriska moved over to her towel again, angrily snapping back at the boy.
"Shut up Gamzee! Go drown or something!" The whole group went silent as every set of eyes locked on the giant, who was staring at Vriska with an uninterested look, finally he shrugged, took a deep breath, then slid under the surface of the water and from everyone's view. The party grew still as the seconds ticked by, eyes still staring at the spot where he had disappeared, and even Vriska's eyes were wide and worried as there was no sign of him coming back to the surface.
"Fuck! Vriska! You just had to say that!?" At Karkat's yell one of the girls, with bright red hair, a fuchsia bikini, and goggles dove under the water and dragged the other back above the surface where he took a huge breath, a wild grin on his face as he looked around at the worried faces.
"Aw shit motherfuckers! I still had a few minutes!" He wiped the water from his face with his hands, which brought the rest of his remaining makeup off with it, only for him to turn his attention back to me, and I found myself startled when my heart skipped. Without his face paint, I dare say he was rather attractive... If you're into guys that is! Cause I wasn't! Nope nope! No homo here! Cause you know, that's not a thing I am!
Watching him climb out of the water and make his way up the hill, my jaw dropped, he really was a giant! He had to be at least a foot taller than me! Maybe even two! He laughed at my reaction when he came up next to me, his hand settling on my shoulder, a crooked smirk on his pale lips as he leaned on me a bit, though he was huge, he seemed to weigh next to nothing…
"Come on bro, you're going in the water now." Looking up rather confused by his statement, I turned to ask Vriska something that had just popped into my head, only for a surprised yelp to escape my mouth as he easily lifted me off the ground and threw me over his shoulder like a child. So not only was he tall, (and attractive) but he was strong too?! Okay, this wasn't even fair!
"Dammit clown! Quick taking people I try and talk to!" When his only response to her cry was a deep throaty chuckle, I mouthed sorry then shrugged apologetically hoping to avoid these two fighting any more. Startled when he grabbed my legs, the skin tingled where his hands touched as his moved to my waist.
"In ya go!" Wait, what?! My attention was ripped from the feeling as my stomach dropped at the weightless sensation, only to flail around as I tumbled toward the water below, barely having time to tuck my arms and legs in before breaking the surface. Popping back up as soon as I could, the others were laughing while making sure I was okay, chuckling as well I just nodded and brushed my now limp hair off of my glasses, the pushed my frames further up on my nose, thankful that they hadn't fallen off when I went under.
Looking up at the dock, the guy was leaning over grinning down at me, with a slight wave he jumped off the other side of the dock, landing closing to the boy he had been hanging out with earlier, and when he surfaced he made sure to send a splash Vriska's way.
And then I was alone...
Glancing around, I could see the different groups in different portions of the pond, even Vriska was no longer alone. Okay, so some of them tried to include me, but it didn't seem to last very long as they were quickly pulled back by their friends... Actually, the only one I didn't see was... Suddenly my head was shoved under the water and when I popped back up, I sputtered and gasped in air, recognizing the laugh coming from behind me.
"Whoops! Sorry John, thought you were Karkles!" Turning to the one of Karkat's friends I did know, I found that in place of Terezi's red glasses, were red goggles that looked just as sharp. Her grin was wide as she kept her hands on my shoulders so she didn't accidently swim away while talking to me.
"Oh it's fine! Is the water messing with your sense of smell?" She nodded with a soft sigh, pushing her light red hair off her forehead, she lifted her nose higher sniffing the air a few times before sighing a second time with a shrug and a smile.
"Do you think you could direct me toward Karkat? He's late for a date with justice!" Chuckling with a nod of my head, though I quickly felt bad about the nod, I placed my hands on her shoulders and turned her in the direction of my friend, who's back was towards us. He had no clue what was coming. "Thanks John! Sniff you later!"
"No problem!" Watching her go after the easily angered teen, I turned my back away hoping not to be caught up in his rage, so I swam further out into the pond where none of the others really were, deciding to swim by myself, choosing not to bother anyone while they were with their friends.
The far shore called to me, and I decided to settle on the other side of one of the hills, out of the sight of the others where I got some time to myself to think... Maybe I should have Karkat drive me home, but I guess it was a rather long drive, that wouldn't really be fair... Not to mention be rude to Aradia and the rest of them here. One or two new people I could handle, but over ten of them? I was way over my head here...
When the sun above me was suddenly blocked out, I glanced up and jumped, biting my lip when the now straggly haired giant was leaning over me, a grin on his lips, and something that resembled a cigarette between his teeth though I could tell by the smell that it wasn't.
"You really like scaring me, don't you?" He plopped down on the ground next to me as I smiled up at him, when his long spindly limbs were all stretched they out proved much longer than my own, and I sure as hell felt intimidated by the obviously older teen. Though, I was glad for the good humored company at least.
"Aw shit man, I forgot! I'm Gamzee!" Smiling a bit, I couldn't help but chuckle, that was kind of obvious, but I wasn't going to say that, especially with Karkat having told me that Gamzee was… Well, pretty odd when he smoked. I didn't want to accidently do something wrong and set him off.
"Oh! Um, I'm John!" Giving the best grin I could, he looked over and laughed, clouds of smoke coming out of his mouth as he did so, only to lean back against one of his hands as his head rolled to the side so he could look at me easier.
"Motherfucker I know who you are, hell, Karkat talks about ya enough. Fuck, for the longest time, I thought you bros were dating and shit!" Violently shaking my head as a blush crept onto my cheeks, I laughed humorlessly and rubbed the back of my neck, feeling my stomach start to tie into tight knots.
"No, uh, I'm straight actually..." Glazed purple orbs stared at me for a moment before Gamzee took one last long drag of whatever he was smoking, then flicked the end of it away, another cloud of smoke forming a different type of visual of his words. A strange smile forming on his lips as he shifted to sit upright again suddenly.
"I can fix that." Before there was even a second for me to ask what he would mean by that statement, he had shifted forward and grabbed my wrists, pinning them to the ground easily but forcefully as his lips crashed hard against mine. Going rigid from the unsuspected attack I struggled to free myself from his grasp, ignoring the unfamiliar feeling that had replaced my shock as I tried to cry out for help when his lips pried mine apart. Only to cringe as a smoke stained tongue was shoved into my mouth stopping me from shouting.
"Eeeeeeeeee~!" At the squeal he quickly detached his lips from mine, Gamzee's fingers unwrapping from my wrists, which allowed me to scramble away from the giant, my heart racing. "I ship it!" Looking up, Nepeta was standing there, covering her huge grin with her hands, swinging her shoulders side to side happily as she kept moving her gaze between the two of us. "You two are my new OTP!"
"Whoa whoa whoa! Shit Nep," Purple eyes flickered over to me before turning back to the smaller girl, and I became fearful of what he was going to say. "John here is motherfuckin straight, I was just dickin around." The smile on her face slipped slightly, but not completely and he watched us carefully for a moment before saying quietly and in a determined voice.
"I still ship it." Sitting there ignored throughout this entire exchange, I couldn't comprehend how Gamzee could be so calm! I mean, he just pinned down and forcefully made out with a stranger! Technically he just assaulted me!
...
So why did my lips burn for more...?
A/N: Well here you go! The first taste of GamJohn! ~Imoto out!