Motivation

"Pal, are you listening?"

Ah yes. Homework. Goth's house.

Palette zoned out as usual. For the past 10 minutes Goth was explaining a solution to a math equation that Palette didn't understand. He... didn't hear anything. At this point, Goth was used to it already - that his best friend's attention span was... not the best. That's why school was kinda difficult for him, and paying attention to something so boring was horrifying. Palette loved school, loved his friends there, he actually loved studying! But he couldn't control his stream of thoughts distracting him, so Death's son, as one of the smartest students, wanted to help. No no, he of course didn't want to spend more time with Palette! Only help. For his best friend's sake.

And now they're here, at Goth's house on the Olympus. Palette has never seen a house as fancy as this one, and he always loved spending time here, examining every corner and every room. After all, Gods love luxuries, and this house was definitely something a God would love - shiny, tremendous and comfortable. It was hard paying attention to some math problems, when different interesting statues and things that Palette has never seen in his life were around! Actually, he sees them every day for almost 7 years.

"Ah, Stars... Haha, sorry, i wasn't!" said Palette and scratched his head. Feeling guilty is also a challenge for Palette, so all he can do is apologize.

"God, why... Okay, nevermind, I'm actually tired already." Goth collapsed on a couch and threw a notebook with math problems on a table.

"I hope... I hope I'm not bothering you with the school stuff? After all, its my problem, not yours... and I'm kinda fine with my grades like that." Palette's voice sounded kind of down. "I mean, im sure its hard to deal with me and my attention" he grinned. 

Goth stared at his best friend for solid 20 seconds. Palette looked like a sad puppy. "Oh, you ARE a douche bag. Still, i do really want to help you. Isn't that what friends for?" he smirked softly. "Now come here." he spread his wings, making it look like arms waiting for a big hug. 

Palette adores Goth's wings. He didn't have them as a kid - no one really expected him to have one. As the time passed by, they started growing bigger... and bigger... just like Reaper's! Although Goth complains about feathers falling out and them not being comfortable to sleep in, that is Palette's favorite thing in Goth. Besides personality, of course! What a bliss it is to lay in them, embracing your best friend and thinking about nothing but how you would never want this moment to end. Palette didn't want to come back home, as no one was waiting for him there. Both of his parents are multiuniverse's saviours, protecting it from evil, and Palette completely understands the difficulty of this job, as he is, in fact, a saviour of some kind. Still, he felt lonely there, in his own house. But here, in Goth's arms... wings, he felt loved. What a great thing it is - a best friend! Who knew you could feel so much with such person near? 

Palette was ready for a hug! His star shaped eyes got bigger and Goth could have sworn he saw some spark in there. Before he could even take a step, Goth wrapped in his own feathers, looking at the other skeleton deviously. 

"Not so fast. First, tell me the theorem we just learned."

"...Huh?" 

"You know...the one we learned 20 minutes ago?"

"You like to see me suffer, don't you...?" 

"Maybe just a little." he chuckled. "Tell me the theorem and then... you can have a hug."

Cruel!

But Palette didn't remember anything. Goth knew he didn't. 

Maybe, that'll be some sort of motivation for Palette to remember anything from their lessons. For a hug.

"Okay, okay, relax. I know you don't remember it. From now on, you'll get a hug if you memorize things we talk about on our lessons. Got it?" Palette shook his head. "Now go home, it's getting late and my father will come back from reaping soon. You know how mad he can be after work sometimes..." cold sweat broke out on their backs. "A-anyways... See you tomorrow, Pal." Goth waved his hand. 

"No... hug?" Palette looked at Goth with confused eyes.

"No hug."

"Ah... See you then...!"

3 in the morning. Palette's bed. He lays awake still thinking about Goth not giving him a hug. Very cruel! So so cruel! So he decided to give it all he's got, to try as hard as possible to achieve his best friend's hug! It was really important for Palette. From now on, he's the memory machine! Yes! Yes!!!!!!

"Palette Roller."

What.

Oh. He's in class.

"A-ah... Present?" He stood up from his chair. Some monsters in class chuckled.

"...No, not that. I want you to solve this problem." the teacher tapped the blackboard with chalk.

"Oh! Sure?" no no no no no not that!!! He wasn't prepared!!! 

Palette's shoes became heavy. Every step he took felt like he was walking straight right to his doom. He felt dizzy. Did he even eat today? Why doesn't he remember basic stuff? He's close to the blackboard. Fidgets with his fingers. He turns around to find Goth's eyes to calm down. God damn it he's sleeping! Okay. Well. It can't be that bad, right? He should atleast remember something from lessons with Goth. 

...Does he, though?

"Um...I..."

The bell rang.

"Oh. You got lucky there, Roller." he sure did. "Fine... You'll solve it next class." 

Palette stood there speechless. Then ran straight to Goth.

"GOTH THE BELL!!! IT SAVED ME!!!" he shook Goth with tears in his eyes.

"What the...? Math is over already? Man, i had such a good sleep..." he yawned.

"Goth, that blackboard almost got me! Thank god it's the end of a school day and i can head back h..." Goth raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, "...and can go study with my best friend..."

"Way to go! Now grab your backpack and let's go eat something. I'm starving, school is draining my energy."

"But all you do is sleep!"

"Still drains too much energy just by its vibe! Now come on. Did you even eat anything?"

Palette grabbed his backpack with a penguin charm and slung it over the shoulder. "Yyyyyes..."

"...So you didn't."

"....Yyyyesss....."

"Sigh... Let's get you something."

***

"Beep beep losers."

As Goth and Palette walked out of school, all they were talking about is their food choice in a store. Who would've known, if Goth said the word "jam" someone familiar would appear... 

Now they're standing on the school stairs, looking at a bright pink car. Not that it was a brand-new car... Looked like it was stolen fom someone. Palette doubted that he would lend money from his parents or even earn it himself. 

"Whatcha looking at, Palette? Your big bro is here to pick you up from school." said a skeleton in a car smiling mischievously.

"Get lost, PaperJam, we didn't call an economy class taxi." said Goth with an annoyed voice and walked past the car.

"Well I don’t remember opening a charity case for emos either. Doesn’t your daddy send a carriage to pick you up from school or something?”

"And you can't even afford one. Where did you get that car from? Stole it?" 

"Atleast i have one and don't ask for money from my daddy for the emo clothes that only people without taste wear."

"Atleast I'm not living in poverty because my parents don't love me."

Paperjam opened the car door, got out of it and rolled up his sleeves getting totally irritated, "Atleast I'm-"

"STOP FIGHTING!" Palette got between two of them. Both went silent, "Are you gonna fight every time you meet? Come on guys, we all need to be friends! Now hug each other!"

"Do we really need to...?" said Goth with an disgusted grimace, "he kinda stinks...feels like the last time he saw showers was decades ago..."

"Yeah, do we? I don't really want to hug freaks. What if i get infected with an emo virus and become a loser?"

"I said hug."

Both Goth and Paperjam awkwardly hugged each other and pulled away immediately, making an "ewww" sound. Nobody knows why they hate each other so much, not even themselves. They believe it started in their childhood, so they went along with it. Maybe they get bored so much that insulting each other is some kind of entertainment, they don't even mind it. As for Palette... he doesn't like fights and doesn't like when two of his closest people act like a stray cat and a dog in the middle of a street, so he tries really hard to improve their relationship.

...Doesn't really work, though.

"That's more like it! I don't need a ride, PJ. I'm going to Goth's today!" 

"Are you two, like, dating or what? You go with him everyday. Be careful, Pal, i don't want you to turn into emo." said PJ and glared at Goth.

"Dating...? No, why would we? He helps me with math!" Palette didn't really react on PaperJam's question. Goth's cheeks, on the other side, flushed and eyes opened wide.

"A-alright, Palette, let's go! It stinks so much here i feel like im on a dump!" Goth grabbed his friend's hand and rushed from PaperJam's car.

"Ah- Bye PJ! See you laterrrr!" shouted Palette, as they were getting farther and farther.

"...This guy sucks!" Paperjam put on his sunglasses and drove away on a full speed.