"Hey Dave."

"Hm...?" I sat up in bed, half awake, half asleep.

"I'm going to go for a walk and listen to my book."

"Okay have fun." I yawned.

And that was the start to my day. So, I continued my day by doing nothing. That's right. I just went downstairs and laid down on the couch. I was too tired to sleep so I only thought.

Choosing the stagnant path wasn't always easy.

I decided to stuff the journal under my bed yesterday and found that I stashed the suitcase I originally arrived with underneath the bed too. There were the stickers all over it and an air-ness of Bro to the bag. It was him. Along with the journal that could destroy or help my life.

The accident seemed to shape my guilt survivor mentality even more. Only I got away and Bro...he. What happened. My whole life now was wrapped up a second of misfortune. Bro worked so hard, two jobs, checking up on me when he could and just caring so much. Too much. He cared and now I am left to care for myself, and I don't think I can.

I'm still a mess.

Some main character I am.

School will start tomorrow so today was left to having a crisis. I didn't get any of my shit together like John suggested, only had a pretense of doing something. But I didn't do anything. I knew I wasn't going to finish the summer assigned homework.

Multiple nights on the roof did not help me whatsoever.

And John didn't even have the muscles to get up on the roof yet.

The universe seemed to have it out for me. Whatever would happen would just happen. It didn't seem to matter anymore. My things that I packed so so long ago still wasn't here. I couldn't even be "home" without the comfort of things I had owned for months, years in some cases.

I was getting more letters but the thought of opening them gave me a large wave of anxiety.

I was very lost on the Egbert's couch, deciding.

Do I even deserve breakfast today?

Dad Egbert came in the room.

I froze, not wanting to appear weak. It was ingrained into me to be tough and with the accident ...I still felt like a sob-fest waiting to happen. It was still early morning, but I did not expect this sudden attack. Or- A talk? Dad Egbert was different.

He came up to the couch where I was sitting.

"Do you want to deliver some cake with me?" He asked, "It always makes me feel better. And baking helps the nerves."

"Oh..." I trailed off.

I have lived in his house for weeks now, and I have not had a full conversation with him once. Just one question then one word answer. That was it.

I cleared my throat since now was a good time as any.

"I...would like to do that...later. Rain check? Thank you for asking."

"Oh." He looked surprised, "Okay. Looking forward to it."

"Thanks."

"No problem son." He said easily then froze himself.

We stared at each other for five full seconds.

"Bye." Mr. Egbert said suddenly.

"Good-bye." I responded.

He left the house.

I?

Oof-

How do I even respond to that?

I was just so tired from not sleeping during the night and having nightmares.

I was awoken by knocks at the door sometime later.

John was out and his dad left. I didn't even know how long they have both been gone. I ignored it, I wasn't going to deal with the outside world, and I wasn't going to see what was up with the journal. There was another knock, louder. Coming downstairs to lay on the couch and do nothing was a big step for me.

I didn't want to open the door.

The doorbell rang. Then three louder bangs.

I groaned.

I didn't want to pay for a new door. So, I got up. I answered the door and recoiled.

Before me was a boy about on the lesser side of short wearing a black sweater in this clammy Washington weather. He looked pissed as hell as well as almost dead looking. He was also...Grey?

"Dude are you ok? You look sick. Do you want me to driv- A ride from some else to the hospital?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"Excuse me?" I leaned against the door frame and really looked at the guy.

He looked a bit nervous, eyes darting around us. And, yes, what cosplay makeup he was wearing was really really good because it actually looked like he had grey skin. And his cheeks were pink. Probably due to his poor dressing choices. His black hair was fluffed up into a crown, wore a less than welcoming expression, and had his arms crossed.

"I said why didn't you answer the door sooner, you shit for brains!"

"You a friend of John's?" I asked with a grim tone.

"Yea kinda. And I know your brother, Dirk Strider."

The world stopped for a moment, and I had to catch my breath.

"What?"

"Have you read the journal yet?"

"Uh. No." I gulped.

Many nights on the roof were actually spent thinking about reading the journal. I was too scared to actually open the damn thing.

"Oh, screw me to high heavens then. You have a lot to learn. Jesus fricking Christ. I even send them- Just. Geez. Can I fucking come inside I am freezing my ass off out here."

"Uh. Wait. Yea but. What is your name?"

"You can call me Karkat."

"Come in I guess."


A/N: thank u so much for reading.
Also: 1/3/2024 I updated this chapter. : )