Karkat plops down into his seat unceremoniously, tossing his bag on the table. Folding his arms with his chin resting in his hand, he glances up to the clock on the wall. It reads 6:39, a full twenty-one minutes before class starts. After high school ended, the brunet had thought his days up waking up at the crack of dawn for class were over. Apparently not, seeing as how he's now sitting in his College Anatomy class before the sun even had the chance to peek through the dark, winter clouds.
Sighing heavily, the boy let his other arm fall to the table, burying his face in the crook of his elbow. By now, a few other students are filing in and taking their seats. Ten minutes before class starts, a familiar face skulks into the room and drops down into the chair beside Karkat.
Dave Strider, the most infamous, lackadaisical student in the class, sets his bag and coffee cup on the table, his slender fingers running through his blond locks. Karkat watches from his peripheral vision as he unzips his bag and pulls out a Monster. The smaller male now tilts his head to look at the other, watching as he opens the can and pours the entire energy drink into his coffee. He screws the lid back onto his cup, gives Karkat a sideways glance, which he can see clearly due to the blond's shades being down on the tip of nose, and mutters under his breath, "I'm going to die," before downing the whole thing.
Karkat snorts, wrinkling his nose. "Why do you even need that?"
"So I don't fall asleep," Dave replies simply, rubbing at his eyes.
College isn't much different from high school. You have the try-hard's who are actually smart but like to show it off. You have the know-it-all's who are the real comic relief of the class. They act like they have all the answers when really they're just suck-up idiots in disguise. There are a few of the quiet smart kids, a few wannabe class clowns, and a few kids like Dave who act like they've got better things to do then be here.
"But you sleep during every class," the smaller counters. "You set up a recorder to record lecture while you nap."
"But it's not like I don't try to stay awake," Dave responds, taking a moment to explain. "I go to class ass crack early and then head to work right after for as long as they'll keep me. Tack homework at the end and in between breaks, and you've got my life in a nutshell. College ain't cheap, and I don't have mommy and daddy dearest to pay for it. I'm not smart enough for scholarships. Hell, I had to dig through hundreds of them to find one I qualified for. Wanna know which one that was? A scholarship for being left fucking handed. Yeah, that's a real thing."
Karkat quirks an eyebrow. "Huh. Well, listen, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'd rather not see you die. If you need some help with all that shit, you and I could study together sometime. This is a one time offer, and honestly it might be a bit much, but I've been looking for a roommate. If you're interested, I mean. Or I could just make you food every once in a while so you don't starve. Whatever. Doesn't matter to me."
The half asleep blonde perks up a little in surprise. "Seriously?"
Karkat nods. "Sure." He jots his number down in his notebook and tears out the page, sliding it over to Dave.
He takes it gratefully and puts it in his bag. "How do you know I'm not some creep?" The Strider questions skeptically.
The brunet scoffs and rolls his eyes. "I watch you sleep through class when I get bored. You seem pretty harmless."
"You watch me sleep?" Dave repeats.
Karkat shoves him and frowns. "Not like that! I just mean like... I don't know. You've sat right next to me all year. I've gotten to know you pretty well, even if you're asleep most of the time. But yeah. Every once in a while, I look over to see if you're still out and to make sure your shit is still recording."
The other chuckles lightly and raises his hands in defense as the professor walks in. "I was kidding." The professor begins his lecture as Dave's gaze softens. "Thanks, Karkat."
He smiles to himself and hums, "Yeah. Don't mention it."

~~~

Thisisterribleohwell.