Chapter Text
Ok, John knows that not every parent or guardian is like his dad. He knows that some of his friends have had the worst kind of parents ever. I.e. Rose’s mom is an alcoholic who doesn’t know how to pick her own battles. But honestly this went way past the line of cruel.
Right now, he was completely taken in for a loop when his best friend, his platonic soulmate, his homie, his brother from another mother, Dave Strider, said that his older brother wouldn’t let him go on a summer getaway with him.
Their last year together before they went to college, and Dave's Bro wouldn't let Dave come?
It was outrageous, and John couldn’t believe his ears after Dave repeated it for the umpteenth time.
“Dude, it’s not a big deal. I--”
“Dave! Yes! It is a big deal! I thought your brother loved me! How could he do this to you?!”
John wailed dramatically, interrupting whatever Dave was about to say. Dave mumbled something about John not believing what else Bro would do to him. But he waved it off, before John could ask, like usual.
“Mr. Egbert, is there a problem?”
The impatient tone of the chemistry teacher stopped John from whining any more.
His head whipped her way. He swallowed hard. Better not get detention right before summer. “N-No Ma’am.” John lied and faced downwards at his desk. She eyed them both before stuffing her nose into a stack of papers. John assumed those were the finals they’d taken the day before.
John shook his head for a second to get his thoughts in order. “But it’s not fair! Like, ok, I get that he’s strict. I understand that. But the fact that he won’t let you come, with me, on a dumb road trip! I-It just… I’m… It’s not!” He was rambling, he knew that, but it was just way too much for him.
Ever since he’d met Dave’s oldest brother he just assumed he liked him. I mean, if Dave wanted to go to a party John had to be there too. Like, John was sure that Dave's Bro trusted him. But apparently that assumption just went out the window.
“John, listen. Bro said I couldn’t go—” John slumped on top of the desk and let out another loud whine, which was met with an impatient sigh from his blonde friend. “—unless Dirk comes with me.” He finally finished and went back to that grey chunk. He should really wear some gloves while handling that.
John sigh— wait hold on. John’s eyes darted to his friend as he sat upright. His previous pout morphing into the widest smile Dave’s ever seen. “DAVE, OH MY GOD, WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THAT?! JESUS CHRIST, SO YOU CAN—,” John snapped out of his pre-mature celebration and furrowed his brows. A few students shushed him harshly for the outburst, but he ignored them.
“Wait. Dirk? Like, as in, your weird other brother Dirk? The one with the pony thing?”
Dave chuckled dryly. “I mean, I don’t got any other brothers that’re also named Dirk, so…” Dave’s soothing country twang audible through each syllable. “Yeah, that Dirk.” John didn’t even bother to hide a cringe. He knew Dave wouldn’t mind.
It’s just, he’s heard about Dirk Strider before. Especially from Caliborn, who loved telling stories about Dirk and his robot-making shenanigans. Some teachers would say how much Dirk would interrupt classes to correct teachers or whatever. Dave would just tell him about the usual anime shit he draws or how his long ass showers would make the water bill go through the roof. John’s not the type of person to make assumptions about what other people say, but either way he does take it into consideration.
He was so wrapped up in his head that he didn’t even hear the final bell ringing. John made an attempt at cleaning up the desk, emphasis on attempt, and scooped his obnoxious Ghost Busters backpack off the floor. Dave slid off his goggles from his forehead and crammed them into his backpack. “I’ll tell Bro that you’re cool with Dirk comin’ too.” He bit his pierced lip, then looked at John for a moment.
Even with the dumb aviator shades, John could pick up a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. “Uh, is your old man aight with it? Cuz I don’t wanna get you in trouble.” He added quickly. John smiled and shook his head. “Nah, dad won’t mind! Hey, I’ll be at the front of your apartment at, like, eleven. You better be down there or I’m leaving you!” He joked. Dave looked oddly distraught but forced out a chuckle.
“Look at that, the Dynamic duo is at it again. You two better not get into trouble.” A calm voice chimed from behind them as they left.
John looked over his shoulder to find Rose looking smug, like usual. He held the door from the outside for her. “I’m not bailing you out like last time.” She added as she walked with them to their lockers.
Dave rose a brow at her. “What’s that’s supposed to mean?” Rose shot a look at him, a smirk on her dark lips. “I mean, that I have plans of my own. So, don’t come asking for a ride home if you guys are drunk or anything.” She unlocked her locker in a flash and checked her hair with the mirror inside it.
John scoffed. “Hey! It was once! And admit it, you liked our drunk singing.” He swelled with pride. Rose snorted and put a very lady-like hand to her equally lady-like mouth.
Rose could deny all she wants but John was 100% sure that she’d heard her sing along to the trashy rap songs that Dave insisted on putting on the drive back to John’s house. There was photographic evidence of the moment and witnesses! Ask Karkat and Jade, they were there.
John closed his locker and looked over at Dave, who was putting on his left earbud. “What plans do you got, Rose? Read at home or somethin’? Stay inside packing for, where's it that you're goin', Harvard?” He teased. Rose scoffed and rolled her eyes, shutting her locker.
“Ha ha. No way to talk to your family, Davey.” Dave rolled his eyes from under his sunglasses.He stuck out a pierced tongue at her, too. “Anyways, I do partake in other things other than reading. For example, Kanaya and I are—”
“Kanaya?! As in, Kanaya Maryam?!” John’s outburst earned him weird looks from passerby students. Even Rose cringed at his loudness. Dave was unaffected, as usual.
“John don’t yell. And yes, she and I enjoy each other’s company. We’re going to California to her aunt’s house for a few days.” She explained calmly.
John was dumbfounded. His mouth kept opening and closing like some kind of broken puppet. Dave chuckled at the sight. “Yeah, y’all enjoy each other’s company very much. Isn’t that right Rosie, dearest?” He shot her a knowing look, which made her blush furiously. John rose a brow at Dave, then looked at Rose. He was about to ask until she cut him off. Mental note: ask Dave about Rose and Kan. “Do not.” She locked the padlock on her locker angrily. Her glare was full of poison. Dave looked pretty unaffected, but John saw his fingers shaking.
Rose heaved a heavy sigh. “You two enjoy yourselves. Say hi to Dirk for me, Dave.” She walked off, but before reaching the corner of the lockers, she stopped and looked over her shoulder. “And please stop yourself from saying things like that!” She ran off before saying anything else. John looked at Dave, who shrugged nonchalantly.