You don't speak to anyone for two days. Not even Gamzee, who had been blowing up your phone so much that you had to turn it off in order to keep yourself sane. It's been lonely and upsetting and horrible, but it's all you can do anymore; stay away until they forget about you. And right now, that seems like it's going to take a while.

You've gotten word via the news that the police are looking for you, instructed by your father no less. Slick has always had his ways, but in this town, he didn't have connections. Despite how dangerous it was for him to get involved with police, he seemed to have deemed you running away worthy of such a risky move. You beg to differ.

3:50 a.m.

Around three in the morning the third night, you grow tired. And not the kind of tired that you come home from school with everyday; no, this is pure exhaustion from all the stress and depression and lack of sleep all in itself catching up to you.

If you don't find a place to sleep soon, you're going to end up reeling in the streets until you pass out completely, and then it'll be game over.

You call John.

"uh, hello?" It rang once before he picked up, and you're honestly shocked. Your friends must have been waiting near their phones 24/7, shooting you texts and pesters and calling you, even though your phone was off and most likely dead altogether. Pay phones, however, are barely even standing anymore and it's a relief you found one, because you're not ready to deal with the voice mails you have.

"It's me." You're so tired that your voice doesn't sound like you, and you quickly correct the statement encase he can't recognize you on the end of the line. "It's Karkat."

"Karkat! Where are you? Jesus fuck, are you okay? I'm coming to get you, give me th-" He's rambling; excited and worried and so confused on what to do that he's never going to shut up unless you say something.

"No, no, stop. I'm coming to you. I just need a place to sleep tonight, that's all."

"Yeah, yeah man no problem, okay."

"Hey, John?

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Don't tell Dave."

You hang up before he can protest. As much as you care for the biggest douche in the city, you don't want to deal with what he's feeling on top of what you're feeling; and just the realization of that makes your stomach churn.

You puke twice on the side of the road on your way to John's.