Chapter Text
Chapter One
First Glances
⇒ Be the new girl
you sigh as you sit down at your vanity. you pull your long black hair to the side and brush it. it’s too early to give much effort but today is your first day at your new school, and to make matters more awkward it’s the middle of the school year so you are sure to stand out like a sore thumb. you sigh pulling your hair back into a ponytail with a blue ribbon, your favorite color. you adjust your glasses, black framed and a tad too large for your face but hey it’s what you got. you stand up and adjust your sweater and skirt. you wanted to wear a different outfit but the school you're entering is a private one so that means a pleated skirt and sweater. but since you're entering late the sizes are awkward, so you got stuck with a sweater that’s a tad too large for you, so it just means you look comfy. you can work with that. being comfy will hopefully help with your nerves.
nerves or not you have school. so you collect your bag and go downstairs to the breakfast bar and take a seat. not surprised at the note your father left you next to your breakfast of eggs and cheese.
Good Luck on your first day. I am very proud of you and how you're taking this move. i know you will do amazing things today
~ Dad
you chuckle and place the note in your bag and check the time. oh god you're already running late. you chug your juice and grab a slice of toast and run out the door. good job there girl. but no matter you're driving anyways, a nice pickup truck. making you stand out more in this preppy city town. as you drive you look around. these palm trees and shops are not what you’re used to. man Florida is a lot different than Washington. but no matter you had to move and that’s that.
you get to the school soon enough and after finding a parking place you stand outside the school. you hold your books and look around. you were told to wait for a guide. which you do on the bench bored, well not bored, you're very much aware of the looks people were giving you. you guess you’ll be keeping to yourself here at this school.
or so you think till someone taps your shoulder and you look up to a (cute) blonde kid with shades.
“hey I’m Dave, and I’m guessing you're the new girl?” he asks of you as he looks at you, but then again you can’t be sure with his choice of eyewear. but no matter you nod and stand up, you're shorter than him but then again you're shorter than most, but you still can keep up as you walk alongside him.
“so like i said, I’m Dave, Dave Strider the one and only heh. and I’ll be your guide for Skaia high till your adjusted. so first things first, may i know your name?” he smiles a bit at you and scratches the back of his head
“I’m Joan, Joan Egbert. thanks for this Dave” you look at your books shyly. you have always been shy with guys, too many non-reciprocated crushes to even think otherwise.
“it’s no problem. so let’s begin?” he walks you around pointing out places. it really is a nice campus. fountains and gardens to study and an awesome library, which calls for the nerd in you but you can’t go now, not while you're talking with a cute guy. who even makes a few jokes to ease your mind a bit? Dave strider huh…. nice to know
⇒ Dave, Karkat is waiting on your lazy ass
you know you know. you adjust your tie and sweater vest with the school crest and smile at yourself in the mirror. well dam bro has taught you to clean up good, and good indeed. so once you're prepped and your hair is placed you rush out the door to Karkat and his car taking the passenger seat as he drives
“man took you long enough” he complains
“yeah sorry, I’m not used to getting up this early” you take the bagel from him and enjoy it.
“well you're fault, they asked for a volunteer and your freak ass did volunteer”
“i need the community service hours. and it should take a day or two max; show her the school and bam back to normalcy.”
“sure whatever” he says as he rolls his eyes
this is normal for you two, it has been since you two meet in middle school. you both had the same bully, and two against one is a better odd. no needless to say, you and he kicked ass and a friendship was born.
After enough taunts and teasing you arrive to the school with him, punching his arm teasingly as you get out slinging your back on your back and mocking Karkat for his ‘fabulous’ messenger bag. he punches you back and heads off to the library. ok now it’s time to find this new girl.
you go to the front of the school; this was where they told you to go. you look around and your eyes fall upon a girl. petite, with long black hair flowing behind her tied up in a perfect blue ribbon, and then her fair skin with the shadow of her glasses upon it. god she was breathtaking. who haven’t you noticed her before-oh shit. she’s the new girl isn’t she? god you told kar two days, well sucks to be him because you may extend the guide. you don’t waste any time and walk over tapping her shoulder. and then she looks up at you with such deep blue eyes it takes you a second to respond
“hey I’m Dave, and I’m guessing you're the new girl?” wow lame strider. that is not how you pick up the ladies. but hey she nods and stands up. still quiet though, god Dave fill the awkward silence “so like i said, I’m Dave, Dave Strider the one and only heh. and I’ll be your guide for Skaia high till your adjusted. so first things first, may i know your name?” you smile at her as well. god you're already gonna give off a nervous vibe. not cool strider. not cool at all.
“I’m Joan, Joan Egbert. thanks for this Dave” she looks down to her books, shyly you think. god don’t scare her. “it’s no problem. so let’s begin?” she nods so sweetly and some of her curls bounce and gosh Dave stop staring.
you lead her along walking closely but not too close. you point out the simple things. the mess hall, the English wing, and then when you pointed the library she lit up and it was the cutest thing. you got so distracted by her you trip almost landing in the fountain. SHIT not cool strider now you’ve gone and embarrassed yourself and she’ll think she’s stuck with a dweeb- wait. you look up to see her giggling. you bounce up and apologize and she just gives you that smile and you can tell you're still ok.
the rest of the tour goes off without a hitch and since you are her guide the school gave the both of you a similar schedule. so you take her to your biology class, which you share with Karkat. but for now the room is mainly empty since you did arrive early. but of course Karkat is there too, with his nose in a book. you smirk and go over towards him dropping your bag on his desk startling him
“wha?- DAVE WHAT THE FUCK MAN?” he shouts, as is the norm, and shoves your backpack off and Joan giggles taking a seat near you two. kar hears and you watch him turn to her and no...he isn’t thinking what you thought is he? “oh hello. are you the new girl Dave is guiding?” he asks calmly. oh sure now be a calm fuck ass you retard.
you turn to your desk and open a book as they chit chat. if this goes the way you think it may. no way in hell are you gonna let him win.