Chapter 5- Splattered Mud
Steven's P.O.V.
The rain was thick, and heavy. Don't get me wrong, we needed it. But I would've preferred a warning a bit less sudden than waking up because I almost drown in the truck bed curled up in my apparently leaky workshop.
Karkat was no longer in here, but Gregory looked rather upset that his bed had been soiled by rainwater. I groggily figured out which I should account for first, and headed outside.
I was met by a fierce bought of rainfall. I was immediately soaked to the bone, and outside everyone was rushing about to attempt to keep things dry. The one person who needed to stay dry, wasn't.
Karkat was obviously trying very hard to sweet talk Shelby back inside the tent, but she seemed very persistent about staying ankle deep in the muddy field and attempting to help. She hadn't even regained her voice, this surely wouldn't help. I trotted over, a very disgruntled Gregory tagging along.
“Can I do anything to help?” Karkat groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. He seemed unaffected by the weather, his dark shirt soaked through and hair dripping. Without so much as a shiver, he gestured to a very annoyed and sopping wet Shelby, who's biggest problem WAS the weather.
“She refuses to go inside.”
“Are you all that surprised?” I chuckled.
“Well...no.” He grumbled. “I just want to help without worring about her getting hurt.”
“That's her retarded boyfriend's job. Where is he?” Karkat shrugged.
“He's been wandering around all morning. I never know where he is anyways.”
“Does Shelby know?” Karkat narrowed his eyes.
“Uh...you can ask her.” I approached the trembling figure, who had decided that at least the tree would slightly deflect the incoming droplets. She really didn't fair well in any weather above or below 70-80 degrees. And this had to be hitting the 50's.
“You know where Sticky Bum went?” She pursed her lips, then shook her head. “None in the slightest?” She held up a finger, asking for a second to think of some way to express what she wanted to say without hacking her life away in the process.
She ended up just groaning to herself and stumbling to Karkat, who pretty much already knew what she wanted to say.
“He's been asking me to keep an eye on her lately. She hasn't even really seen him and sat down just for a hi in a week or more.”
“So you show up, and he decides she's not his responsibility anymore. ...no offense.” She looked incredibly annoyed with that statement.
“I guess. I don't mind.” He said with a shrug.
“Well she's a handful-”
“Karkat I gave you one job, to keep her out of the rain!” Louis paraded up, snapping at Karkat. Shelby had an odd look on her face, almost somewhere between annoyed and hurt.
“I tried.” Karkat said, remarkably calm. “But she's her own person.”
“Look, if you can't handle her-”
“Look, I think we have a problem here.” I interrupted. “Isn't she YOUR girlfriend?”
“Well, yeah, but-”
“But? But then why are you making Karkat take care of her?”
“Because Shelby likes him.”
“Well she likes you too, sticky bum. She doesn't need a babysitter.” Shelby looked very pleased with this, nodding but at the same time pressing to a sodden Karkat in hopes of warmth. He didn't react much, more moving so she could find somewhere he'd actually have something to offer. Louis' face twisted from an offended to a pissed expression.
