Outcasts

23: Carnival

Chapter 23

Ah, the weekend. The second best thing to ever be granted to us lowly human beings. If we didn't have the magical thing called weekends, there would be so much murder and rebellion. And I just don't think the government wants to handle that much paperwork. 

But what's not magical is being woken up at eight in the morning by a persistent caller by the name of Vriska Serket. If it was possible, I would have tossed my phone out the window and hoped it hit her in the head, wherever she was. But that's not physically possible, unless she was standing outside my window.

"What do you want?" I grumbled into the phone, running a hand through my bedhead. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep if Vriska wanted to talk to me. Slipping out of bed, I shuffled over to my dresser, looking for something to wear as my odd friend began to explain herself. Or brag about something. I'm not sure.

"Woooooooow, Nep. You don't have to be so snippy at me this morning," I could practically hear the pout forming on Vriska's face. "I just wanted to invite you to an outing with a few of us. I mean, I did go all this way to have Damara park us outside your house just so you could come with us to have some fun away from school." 

Sighing (more like grunting) I looked through my clothes once more. Damn you Vriska. "Fine, I guess. Just. Just let me get dressed and I'll meet you in a few minutes."

"Don't get too dolled up, okay kitten?" Vriska teased. "We're going someplace I'm sure you don't want anything to be messed up." At this, the brunette girl hung up on me and I was greeted by my home screen.

I managed to find a baggy maroon sweater, black jeans and a pair of converse that looked too comfortable to be real. Stuffing my phone into my pocket and grabbing my house keys from the bowl by my door, I stomped down the stairs until my mother told me to stop and then asked me where I was going.

"Vriska invited me to hang out with her and a couple of our friends," I said.

"But where? I don't want you to end up coming home late like the last time you hung around with one of your gal pals," mom retorted. She had become accustomed to setting her hands on her hips, as if that would put authority into her words. But I know she just got that tip from a TeenMom magazine.

"I don't know, the mall or something," i answered back and then I was out the door. I had never done that to my own mother before. The thrill of rebelling (okay it wasn't rebelling but it was being a teenager) was exciting.

Damara's banged up truck was parked on the opposite side of my street, Vriska hanging out of the passenger side window and waving at me from an uncomfortable angle. The owner of the car had a pocky stick in her mouth and she gave a smirk and a wave herself. In the middle an uncomfortable looking Kankri Vantas was trying his best not to yell out triggers. Lastly, Gamzee was sitting in the back, looking as happy as always.

"Neeeeeeeep!" Vriska squealed as I got closer to the car. Inside, Kankri winced at her loud voice and I could see him spasming from the possible triggers. "I'm so happy that you're here!"

"Yeah, kitty cat," Gamzee grinned, leaning over the truck bed's side, a lopsided grin on his face. I nearly stopped in the middle of the street because the boy had no face make up on. I think the last time he did that was during the Spooky Saturday Swing on Halloween. 

At that thought, Eridan's face only a few days ago popped in my head, the feel of his lips on mine still fresh in my head and I could feel the heat on my face. I had to almost physically shake my head to get rid of the thoughts and I gave a forced smile to the four in the truck.