Chapter Text
Your name is John Egbert and you're currently sitting in math class. You know you should probably be paying attention but your lack of sleep doesn’t really want you doing that. So you’re basically blankly staring at the teacher, not listening to a word she’s saying. You’re only a month in your last year at high school and you’re already half dead. Oh god, why can’t your school be selling coffee. It’s probably the only thing keeping you alive at this point. You don’t understand how you can have so much work so early in the semester. It’s like the teachers are trying to destroy their students. You’ll have to drop by that small cafe that’s on your way home. Their coffee isn’t the best you’ve tasted but it isn’t the worst either. And you should also get a job soon-
Someone on your right nudges you and brings you back to reality. You look their direction and see Jade who’s staring you down. She’s trying to hint you something. Suddenly you are fully awake (or as much as you can be) and understand what she’s trying to hint. “-a first class student and I’m sure that he knows what I was saying today therefore will be able to recite it word to word.” You hear the teacher saying and you turn your head back to face her. She’s now standing right in front of your desk. “Am I right, Mr. Egbert?”
“Uh...” You look up to meet her gaze but decide to look away. “I don’t think I could recite every word you said.”
“Mr. Egbert. I am no fool. It was clearly visible that you weren’t paying attention for most of the class.”
“That…is not true-“
“Mr. Egbert.”
You sigh. You would continue arguing with her but she doesn’t look like she’s going to back off and you don’t really have the energy for a fight. “Okay, I admit it, I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“I sure hope so.” She says just as the bell rings. “Okay, class’ over. See you next week.” She says even though most of her students are already up and about to leave the room. She gives you one more look, then turns and walks back to her table. “You really should’ve been paying attention, John. She was saying some important things.” Jade says as she gets up and picks up her backpack.
“Well sorry that I’m lacking sleep, and if you hadn’t noticed it’s my grades, not hers.” You snap but instantly regret it. You quickly continue. “I’m really sorry Jade, I’m just really tired and stressed and…” You close your eyes and let your head drop on the desk. “They can’t expect me to pay attention in every class.” You feel a hand on your back giving you a reassuring pat. “I know John, but you really shouldn’t space out in class. If I weren’t here who else would you ask for notes?”
You straighten back up and look at her. Even though you talk with a lot of people, she has a point. “I’m really glad I get to be friends with you, Jade. Thanks.” You say while taking your bag and getting up. “What do you have next?” You ask as you’re leaving the classroom.
“Geography. You?”
“Biology. Then I’m free.”
“Lucky. I still have two more classes after that. I guess I’ll see you later.” She says as she smiles. You think you saw worry in her eyes for a moment but you’re probably just seeing things.
“Yeah, see you.” You give her a tired smile and separate ways with her so you can go to your next class. You don’t understand where she’s taking that energy from and why she hadn’t shared her resources with you yet. You take out your earphones, plug them in and click on the shuffle button. Suddenly you aren’t surrounded with unpleasant loudness of the school and you can at least kind of relax. You get to your next class only to find out that the teacher isn’t there yet and therefore the room is locked. You let your bag slide off your shoulder and watch it as it hits the ground. You sit next to it, music blasting in your ears. You close your eyes and rest your head against the wall behind you. Couple of minutes later you feel another body slide down to sit next to you. You open your eyes and look that way, only to see Karkat who looks about as tired as you are. You pause the music and take out your earphones. “Hi Karkat. How are you doing?”
He looks at you as if you just asked him if chickens were pink. “What the fuck do you think, Egbert? I’ve barely slept the past week, so I can say that I’ve been doing great, thank you very much.” He says with familiar anger in his voice. You‘ve known that guy for over three years now and you know that there’s basically anything that can set him off. “Well, that makes two of us. Do you have anything after biology?”
“No. Why.”
“I was wondering if you want to go grab lunch or something. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, sure. We can do that.” He goes silent for a moment. “Have you studied for the test yet?”
“We are writing something?
“Yes, Egbert, we will be writing a test.”
“Fuck. When?”
“In two days. Good fucking luck.”
“You’ve already studied?”
“Kind of. I don’t exactly have this thing called time.”
“Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about."