Each Touch

Break

Before anyone knew it October came, which meant Halloween. People were chattering about that year's Halloween dance; planning out their costumes for the contest, rummaging up the courage to ask their person of choice to the dance, the volunteers planning out the layout of for the gym. The school was hyped up for the upcoming holiday as it did every year.

John was sitting idly at his desk, it was last hour of the day before Halloween broke out for everyone. A solemn look on his face as he doodled on his paper; a certain albino lingered in his mind making its way out through said doodles. He wasn't going to the dance like last year, there wasn't a point in going. There really wasn't a point in going last year either but he went anyways because...Dave was with him.

It's been about two months since he and Dave had hung out, the days stretching out longer for John without the company of the other. Quiet days felt odd; the blue eyed teen was so used to the soft tapping, inaudible mumbling, and regular chatter Dave produced. What was he to do though? He's been hanging out with his immediate family, and family is quite important.

The bell rang, snapping John out of his daze; he got up and packed his things before walking out. Walking pass Karkat's last hour, he saw that the other wasn't there and left early. Holding his backpack straps, he walked down towards the exit only to be stopped by a breathless Dave.

"Dave?" John questioned arching a brow.

"Yo," Dave smiled sheepishly.

"What're you doing here?"

"Coming to catch you before you do anything else tonight."

"What do you mean?"

Dave gave a small chuckle, the kind of laugh that the other hadn't heard in such a long time; it made his heart twinge just hearing it. Grabbing John's hand, the blond dragged John out of the school and bolted down the street towards his apartment complex. He was finally free from Jade's grasp, using this time to have John all to himself finally.

"D-Dave!!" exclaimed John.

"What?" questioned Dave.

"STOP!"

The albino came to a stop, lips parting as he turned to look at a dying, out of breath teen. The tone of John's voice was strained, forced, reluctant. What was wrong with John? Maybe he needed to catch his breath or maybe tell his dad first. Whatever the reason, it sounded like John didn't enjoy what he just did which is explainable.

John looked up at Dave, a voice in the back of his head telling himself to stop whatever he was about to say. Standing up with a hand on his chest, he took a few last deep breaths. With the time away from Dave, he's given some thought into their friendship; normal friends don't usually kiss each other, or do the things they've done with each other.

It wasn't natural.

"I...I'm busy...Tonight," said John.

"...What?" questioned Dave.

"I'm busy- my dad needs me at home and-and-"

"-I understand."

There was a minute of silence, an inaudible crack in the air broke between them. John tugged at the end of his shirt as he stared at his best friend, it pained him to break off his one chance at hanging out with Dave but it felt...Like the best thing to do.

The bespectacled teen opened his mouth to say something, but was again interrupted by Dave raising his hand to stop him. A small smile curled on the albino's lips before he turned to walk away. John pursed his lips together as he watched, heart dropping.

"Dave..."

----

((I apologize for the long wait and the short chapter, I've been caught up with other things))