Only in Time // Dirk x Jake

A Basic

-Dirk's P.O.V-

I could hear the late bell ring from the school, my feet now picking up the pace in realization I was now late. I always acknowledged the fact I could be late, but my schedule was now behind. I have no time. Ironic, isn't it?

I turned the handle to Mr. Davis' first period class, the door creaking open. Great, now thirty-one pairs of eyes were all on me. I gulped slowly, turning my attention towards Mr. Davis, who's arms were crossed over his chest and his black loafers tapping against the polished tile.

"Mr. Strider, I hope you have a good excuse for interrupting my lecture." I scoffed, whipping a piece of blonde hair out of my eyes before side-stepping to the back of the room.

"I never do." He heavily sighed, closing his eyes for a few short seconds before re-opening them and continuing back to the whiteboard. He continued to drone on about the Greek and Roman wars, which I never bothered to take part in. Instead, I found myself doodling stupid little drawings that I found in Dave's room. Whether it was of one of my smuppets, Cal, or even my infamous anime shades I let him borrow from time to time. In the middle of one of the doodles, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced in the direction it came from. None other than Jake English was there, smiling his dorky smile like always. I gave him a short but small smile back before returning to the unfinished drawing.

"Um... Dirk?" I could hear English whisper as quiet as possible. At this point of the year, I couldn't tell whether the kid was too shy to talk to people, or his was such a goody-two-shoes, he didn't want Mr. Davis to catch him talking in the middle of one of his lectures. I never really bothered to learn now.

"Yeah, English?" I could see Jake blush a bit at the pet name, what was even up with this kid?

"Um... I was wondering if you wanted to borrow my notes, considering you don't seem to be paying attention..." He spoke quietly and slowly, like he was trying to piece together the sentence as it was forming in his mouth. I gave him another thin smile and shook my head.

"Nah, English. You see. It's May. May 28th, to be exact. Meaning that we have exactly thirteen more days until we are out of this hell hole, but that's also counting weekends. So technically we only have nine more days. Meaning, this shit is pointless to learn. We are <I> seniors, </I> English. Time to start acting like it." I gave the kid a small smile before returning to my doodles. In the back of my head, I prayed he wouldn't take it offensively, but physically, I didn't give a shit.

-x-

The final bell rang, causing me to basically jump a mile high into the air and sprint out the door. I didn't bother to get my books, I never did my homework anyway. I continued to sprint out the school's front doors and halfway down the block. I slowed my pace as I passed the cafe Dave and I ate at on rare yet frequent occasions, a strange window painting catching my attention. I backed up until I reached the window. A broken record was painted on the glass, reminding me of the shirt Dave always wore. It wasn't until I read the black bold letters when I began to silently break down.

In Memory of Dave Strider. A Hero to Everyone But Himself I wiped the single tear that fell down my cheek. No, you can't cry anymore Dirk. Dave doesn't cry, therefore you don't cry. Striders. Don't. Cry.

I took a deep breath before pushing the door to the cafe open, a gust of wind blowing over me. The cafe was nearly empty, as it always was, but today Molly was working.

"Dirk!" Her voice sounded tired and scratchy, but she seemed as vibrant as ever. Her gray hair fell around her shoulders, as her petite, tiny frame came hobbling towards me. She gave me a fragile hug, as if she was afraid she might break me. Honestly, I could be broken at any time, a single memory of Dave could break me into pieces.

"How are you, darling?" I nodded slightly as if to say yes. Molly was like mother to Dave and I. She treated Dave like a little kid, even when he was growing up. He claimed he was too cool for old ladies like her, but as soon as we entered that cafe, he was a completely different person. She brought the real Dave out of him, something I could never do.

"I saw the window painting. I decided it was time to pay a visit." Like everything else in the world, I completely neglected the cafe since Dave's funeral. The saddest part of this all was, Dave told me he didn't want me to ignore old, nostalgic places like these. He told me he wanted me to embrace them, yet despite all my efforts, I couldn't bring myself to it. The first few days were the hardest, every day I would pass his room, and I would pretty much just break down right then and there. No seconds thoughts, just tears.

"I'm glad. The cafe has been so lonely without you or Dave in it."

"I bet." I laughed a bit at this, something I haven't done for a long while. It was nice to do it again, to be able to make a joke about something relevant to either me or Dave without shedding a tear or letting a sob erupt from my mouth.

"Just remember that he hasn't really left. You still have all of his memories, the photos, the sense, the remembrance. Dave hasn't left, and I doubt he will until it's your time. Then, he'll know he could be with you again." I nodded at Molly. I wish I could say more. I wish I could hug her and cry onto her shoulder and just vent to her, but I couldn't. Instead, I smiled, gave her a tight but short hug, then left.

"God bro, I can't wait until my time is up." I whispered, glancing up in the sky for a short period of time.

"Who you talking to, Strider?"

-x-

woah cliffhanger :o

~ara