Using Your Best Friend as Your Lover

Mission Failure

“What did Jade and Dave do?” I clenched my fists tight and waited for the worst of answers. “All I know is that she visits his house every now and then and leaves a mess. I know that the ‘ironically cool’ fuckass wasn’t planning on telling you and you were getting curious. I mean, Sollux even hinted it earlier. Also, are you and that asshole even really together? I’m asking because if he's off doing hell-knows-what with miss fucking smartass, then you should be worried. Shit, you made me miss my chance to enter the game again.”

I stared at Karkat as he ran back into the game. Was he really cheating on me with jade? Wait, we aren’t even really together, why am I getting so worked up? I need to talk to John.

It wasn’t hard to find him. He was in the movie club’s room, watching Con Air. He looked sick though, I wonder if he is okay.

“John, are you alright?”

“Oh, hey Crystal. I think I’m gonna die soon. This movie was my favorite, but now it’s giving me kind of a headache. I’m even beginning to think that his movie is shitty and cliche. “

“Are you okay? Usually you would be crying over this movie and now you said.. that. Did you hit your head?”

She checked his pulse and put her hand on his forehead. His pulse is normal and he has no fever. What’s wrong with him? Wait, could guilt be eating him up? That has to be it. She took the chance and asked him, straight forward.

“Is Dave cheating on me?”

John choked halfway through his gasp. Bingo.

“W-Why would you think that? He loves you! Why else would be dating you?”

“Why has Jade been going to his house whenever I am apparently, not there. Tell me, John.”

“Who told you that? That’s a l-lie!”

“Stop stuttering and tell me!”

“He and Jade are lab partners! They are doing some kind of social experiment. They won’t tell me what. They used to be a thing years ago, but I swear they aren’t like that now, Crystal! Now, will you all please stop forcing me to do things!”

She let out a loud sigh and hugged John. She knew he would crack, but that sounded like he was emotionally a wreck. ‘I shouldn’t have pressured him’, she thought.

“I’m sorry, John. I didn’t mean to be so mean.”

He put his arms around her and smiled into her shoulder. Crystal took this as her apology being accepted. She let go of him and closed the door, softly, as he began to look through what movies the movie club had. Poor kid.

--

Crystal took off towards Dave’s house. He said he would be working on something today and not to stop by or else it would distract him. Jade must be there. She has to be there. Crystal was about to knock before she heard Jade’s giggle. Her mouth hung open in awe. She was right. Dave was in there with Jade. She side-stepped off the porch and ran to the side window. She sat against the ground and listened in.

“She has no clue, right?”

“Of course.  How would I tell her anyway? It’ll crush her.”

“Wow. You really do suck, haha.”

“Shut it, harley. Besides, you are part of it too. Did you tell her?”

“W-why would I tell her? It would piss her off if I did!”

“Won’t it make her angry if anyone told her?”

She couldn’t hear anymore. Her tears were getting watery. She had to get out of here. Dave was actually dating Jade and here she is, crying over him. ‘Stop it, Crystal! He is sacrificing himself for you. Do what you have to do;Get with Sollux, already.’