~Dave~
Caring for John was too much for him, so he just, stopped.
Completely
When John left two years ago, he took a piece of Dave with him. A part of him that can never be replaced, though he tried.
He tried to replaced it first with a girl, his old friend, Jade. He took her virginity one night, but it wasn't right to him. It wasn't John.
She said, I love you.
He said, I can't.
She asked why. She asked about all the smiles, the kisses, and late night texts. It all meant nothing to him. She was cute, but she wasn't an angel like John was. She wasn't glowing with every giggle and laugh. Her eyes didn't shine into the darkness Dave held inside.
That relationship ruined their once tight friend group.
Rose and Kanaya were still in love. Dave despised them, envied them.
Dave attempted to replace what was stolen. This time, a kid with anger issues, who was smart and sensitive in an odd way.
He went by Kar.
His real name was Karkat.
Dave remembered thinking, Who the fuck would name their kid Karkat?!
But they've been dating for 7 months, and he didn't want to break Kar's heart.
Dave pushed the thoughts away and dragged himself out of bed. It was his first day of Senior year. He was already 25 minutes late, but he honestly didn't give a fuck.
He had totally changed his appearance after John left without a trace. He shaved the sides of his head and got a lip piercing. He practically stopped wearing red, and slipped into some black ripped up skinny jeans. He took an old beat up Jansport backpack and waved goodbye to his Bro.
While walking to school Nirvana came up onto his playlist, and Dave winced as if it damaged him physically. He quickly skipped the song and listened to nothing until he reached the school gates.
----------
"Dave Strider? You're late," His teacher said. "You do realize you can't just sit in the back and pretend nothing happened."
All the students stared at the teacher with awe. The expressions on their faces was something along the lines of, You're talking to Dave Strider like that?
Dave had lost all respect for people after John left, and he'll leave it at that.
Dave just simply flipped off the teacher and slumped down into his seat, sketching shitty drawings in his small notebook.
The teacher looked at him in surprise and reached for the phone. Dave looked up at her and smirked.
"Really?"
"Of course! That was completely out of conduct!"
"You really don't know me at all, do you?"
He walked up to back up to the front and whispered something in her ear.
Her eyes widened and she just simply nodded.
The students' eyes followed Dave till he reached his seat in the back.
----------
Kar met up with Dave outside for lunch. Dave was sitting against a tree smoking a cigarette he stole from some guy's pocket.
Kar looked at him with disgust, "I thought you stopped?!"
Dave just glared up at him, "Fuck that. I wanted to smoke so I did."
"Where'd you get it?"
"That's confidential."
Dave cocked his head back, blowing smoke out of his mouth. Thoughts of John ran through his head as he watched the puff of smoke fade into the air. He scoffed, he had enough of it, he knew he had to let go of John. Dave pressed the butt of the cigarette into the ground. He took Kar by the shoulders and started to kiss him.
Just because John was gone, didn't mean Dave couldn't kiss other people. Dave had needs just like everyone else, and Kar fulfilled them fine.
It was also a way for Dave to let his anger out.
He kissed harder against Kar, as Kar stopped and pulled away.
"Not here, not no-" Dave slid his hand down Kar's pants and shut him up.
Kar let a small moan out and Dave bit Kar's lip, causing it to bleed a little.
They kissed for awhile until Dave's mouth went numb. He said goodbye to Kar, who just kinda sat there, absorbing the moment.
It would mean the world to Kar, but nothing to Dave.
Dave lit up another cigarette, walking past all the whispers and stares. He walked to the bathroom to wash off his hand.
Fucking Kar, he really liked that.
Dave just sighed and shook his head.
As he walked out he saw his sister staring at him.
"What is wrong with you." She walked over to Dave and slapped him across to face. "In front of everyone?! Did you hear how loud Karkat was, and you put your hand down his pants. In front of everyone!"
Dave looked down and rubbed his cheek "Rose, you know I'm not doing-" She cut him off.
"I know you are so emotional because of John and you're so 'rebellious' and 'cool.' But that, 'I don't give a fuck' attitude needs to stop. Dave please."
He just simply walked away like he did from all his problems.
Dave was so broken he didn't have the strength to fight, he could only just walk away.
----------
It was his 5th period and he heard a familiar voice over the intercom.
It was the Principal.
"David Strider, please come to my office. Now."
Is he fucking joking.
Dave knocked walked into the Principal's room and slinked down into the way too familiar chair.
"Nice haircut."
"Shut the fuck up, what am I doing here."
"The teachers are very worried. You have this new reputation that scares everyone. One teacher said you whispered something in her ear, like a 'Get out of jail' free card. What did you say"
"Something along the lines of, I know where you live. It's such shit I can't believe she fell for it." He chuckled a little, "Can I leave now?"
The Principal shook his head, "No, Mr. Strider, I have some news."
Dave scoffed "Like I care." He got up out of the chair and sprinted out of the office.
"Hey!" The principal yelled out to the hall. "Get back here now!"
Dave was already out in the courtyard by the time he finished. He started climbing the front gates of the school. He couldn't take it anymore. He started running. He didn't know where, or why.
Why, Dave thought, Why did you have to leave me?
With his eyes squeezed shut, tears running down his face he bumped into something and fell.
"Who the fuck, did you not see me!?" He stumbled to get up, wiping his eyes. He looked up and felt that same physical pain.
"Um- hi Dave."
John waved to Dave and Dave could feel himself brake apart as his head hit the sidewalk.
