Paralyzed
His sleep went better than what Tweek expected, he feels almost okay if his stomach wasn’t containing burning, bubbly lava. Thankfully, he doesn’t puke any of it and he makes his way out of the room. His phone barely has any battery left so he quickly replies to his father’s text reminding him about his shift before turning it off; at least it held on to wake him up on time.
A lot of people actually came to sleep in the room. He recognizes Kyle who cuddled himself into a blanket right, someone with dark hair has their face glued against his back. Tweek opts not to pry but he does look around to deduce that it could be Stan. Kenny, his head falling from one of the edges, got the bed with two or three other people by the number of limbs. Cartman brought his own air mattress like the usual.
The saliva burns him, forcing a groan out of him as everything that he drank tries to jump back out. His bladder is also killing him so Tweek makes his way to the bathroom first. He has to be careful to not kick into someone and not make much noise but he gets out.
It feels like he is the only living soul in the house but he still tries to keep his footsteps light as he gets down the stairs. One of them slightly creaks and he freezes but nothing else moves. He is pretty sure the girls crashed in the basement since Bebe doesn’t want any drunks in her room after losing her favorite carpet to vomit. Waking her would be his death sentence, even though he doubts he could make enough noise to reach the basement, but he keeps himself on his tip-toes. The stairs are weirdly louder than yesterday.
Tweek is surprised, if not freaked out, at the mess of shoes before the frontdoor. It’s obvious no one cared when they walked past it last night - he hadn’t paid attention either. What bothers him is that only one pair of shoes is still together, up right, tidy, right next to the door. It’s his. He can’t help but frown at it because there is no way they could have landed like this by themselves. The laces are even stashed inside.
He doesn’t have another pair and there is no way he is going to walk to his shift with only his socks on. Stopping by his home will make him late to work and his father will definitely make a comment about his lack of shoes. When he turns the shoes upside down, nothing falls from it - no whipped cream or sticky stuff - but he still cautiously sticks his hand inside just for a second to check there is nothing else.
His relief is only short because he still doesn’t get how they could have ended up like that. Maybe sheer luck. Kenny would tell him to stop thinking that much for something like this but who knows if there is a bear trap inside. He is also too tired for this and he glances at the entry of the kitchen. Bebe has one of those annoyingly loud coffee machines and he doesn’t want to look through her stuff to check if there is another way to prepare coffee. It would help him to relax but it’s probably better that he waits to go to the coffee shop.
He can see several people sleeping in the living room. Jimmy is sleeping under the coffee table and Tolkien has used someone’s coat as a pillow, looking unbothered by Clyde’s foot digging into his back. Jason has his face against the seat where Nichole fell asleep with her mouth open. There is only one person on the couch and Tweek can’t help but take a look to see that it’s Craig. He is all curled up but still taking all of the space and his hat has slightly slipped off.
Tweek wants to touch his hair. Ever since they were kids, Craig has always had the best and most beautiful hair ever made in this world - no one would blink if he showed up in one hair shampoo addvertisement. He wouldn’t be surprised if he has a whole big hair routine, like he has for laundry. Tweek only knows about it because girls used to swoon about the time he mentioned that he likes doing laundry; that is before one girl saw him picking at his nose.
It’s true that Craig smells a bit soft like warm laundry. Tweek still shouldn’t smell him but he puts it on checking if he spilled something on him or whatever. The view is fantastic and it’s only when he starts to lean over the couch to have a closer look - there seems to be a beauty mark somewhere near Craig’s collarbone but he can’t be sure - that he realizes he probably spent too much time. He might start drooling or do something illegal so he quickly leaves Bebe’s house. Though he hadn’t managed to hold himself back from taking a picture; one of the whole room with a good view of Craig and it could pass on as a ‘picture to mock people’s hang-over’ if anyone asks.
Once he gets to the coffee shop, he easily goes back to his usual chores without thinking twice. Even when he is tired he has no trouble doing his chores - probably too used by it to question anything. Maybe he could do it in his sleep, which would be great for him, but he should be able to sleep in the first place.
The usual crowd of customers show up around 7am without any problem. It allows him to quickly return to his mindless chore at the back but it doesn’t last long before he hears the bell of the door. Tweek blinks at the new coffee ground he is supposed to try and separate in smaller bags to sell them before sighing and walking out to greet the customer.
He is happy to see that it’s a dead-tired Stan despite not expecting him.
“Hey dude,” Tweek smiles and takes a cup out to prepare him a coffee - he obviously needs one by his face. “What are you doing up? And out here.”
“Kenny rolled on me and I almost died,” Stan sighs out as he rounds the end of the countertop to plop there with a chair. He takes off his hat to shake off the snow before slipping it back on. “And I didn’t want to wait for someone to wake up.”
“I get,” he says and takes a cup for him too as he realises that if Kenny rolled on him then it must have been Davíd sleeping against Kyle. “Er, slept well?” He asks to not think too much about the possibility.
“Yup, thanks.”
Tweek hands him his cup with a smile before focusing on his, taking a quick look outside to be sure no one is coming before taking a sip. They are the only two who understand the pure and intense love for black coffee without anyone judging their taste.
“How was it after I went to sleep last night?” Tweek wonders, leaning against the countertop before frowning. “Or this morning? I don’t know what time it was.”
“Less fun, Kyle disappeared somewhere and Kenny was busy playing a game on his phone with Heidi braiding his hair,” Stan mutters, “and Cartman was being a loud bitch… The usual.”
“Glad that I went to sleep then.” Tweek is curious how long Kyle and Davíd spent on the roof but Stan would probably not be happy about the news.
Actually, he doesn’t only look like he has a hangover but almost sulky. He barely snorts before promptly focusing on his coffee with an angry frown.
“Did you see how Davíd was last night?”
Oh Jesus– Tweek isn’t ready for that conversation. He expected Kenny to be here. What should he say? The truth?
“Well, yeah I saw him. I talked with him a bit, he was cool.” He opts to say as he sips his drink.
“Cool?”
Stan’s troubled grey and blue eyes dig into Tweek’s face but he keeps his naive facade up. He obviously doesn’t agree with his words. If Kenny was here he could figure out what to say because he has no idea what the best options are. Stan already dislikes Davíd for no reason, or at least he doesn’t realize, but if he spills the beans then he is literally throwing a gas station into a chimney.
“Yeah, uh well, he told me something funny that happened– stupid things,” he explains, finishing his coffee too fast, “I mean we were both drunk. I don’t remember.”
Any other day, Stan wouldn’t mind if Tweek likes to hang out with Davíd but he can be pretty unreasonable once he gets upset. It's not a flaw - he is the last person who can judge how anyone handles emotions.
He warily watches him mumbling something before washing his empty cup. Stan is already in a bad mood and if he knows that Kyle is dating Davíd it will make things worse, no matter what Kenny’s voice in his head says. There is a big chance he won’t know how to handle the news, nor how to react, and Kyle is a short fuse on most days; with how much he cares about Stan, and what brought him to even date Davíd, he will probably explode. Tweek doubts it’s in a bad way.
It’s probably because of his mood but Stan’s eyebags just deepen under him. It’s almost cute for a ‘typical next-door boy’ to stay awake all night to watch sappy movies or animal documentaries, not what most people expect of him, and even less believe that he writes poems. When Tweek has been slowly getting to know their gang, much closer and honest than when they were kids, he has been mostly surprised about Stan. It’s not like he actually hides how he is but most people think that he is that type of guy that plays football and is King of the prom. Stan isn’t boring per se, but he does remember that one or two girls dumped him for not being ‘funny’; though his reputation took another high when they properly formed their music band. He isn’t a broody guy nor a jock - Kenny says he is a furry, promising Tweek to trust his opinion and to not google it.
“Isn’t he– he looked at Kyle’s ass,” Stan splutters as his nails keep chiming against the cup. “Is he into Kyle? Isn’t that disrespectful?”
Tweek coughs around his saliva and tries to keep his calm. Was Stan also looking at Kyle’s ass to notice it? He doubts if he tells him the truth that it would change whether it’s disrespectful or not.
“Urh, maybe he was too drunk to realize where he was looking,” he inquires. “I zone out a lot too.”
Stan scoffs and crosses his arms, looking all grumpy. “No, he was definitely being a pervert. Probably thinking of kissing his Kyle’s ass or something.”
“Uh-huh.” He should better not say anything about it.
“Definitely, yeah,” he agrees with himself.
Okay so Tweek can probably confirm that he realized that Davíd is into Kyle - very astute of him for once but still missing the major mutual pining Kyle and him have been over the last years.
“You can’t be sure-”
“He was always trying to be near him!” He accuses, startling Tweek by the sudden volume. “Always sitting next to him or just talking to him, even going to take another drink whenever Kyle was!”
“They, uh ngh, are friends,” he says with the hope that it soothes him. “I’m pretty sure you’re thinking too far.”
“I’m pretty sure he wanted to be the one with Kyle in the closet,” Stan darkly mutters at his empty coffee.
“I don’t think you can… guess that-“
“I’m sure.”
“Well, they have more classes together than we do so Davíd probably stuck to him because they are close! Close friends you know?” Tweek throws in an awkward chucke but Stan doesn’t look one bit convinced at one of his twitch.
“They slept together, on the floor.“
“No -ngh- space anywhere else.”
“Why are you taking his side?!”
Tweek anxiously glances at him. “T-There is a side?” Holy shit he hasn’t thought that far–
“Spanish is a fucking stupid language,” Stan mumbles before crossing his arms to lay his head next to his empty cup.
He cautiously takes it away to wash it as he tries to come up with something to say. Is there even a way for him to help Stan and Kyle? Tweek can’t think of one and he doubts telling Stan that Kyle is trying to move on from him is going to help. If they could just speak to each other– who cares if they kissed once! It doesn’t mean they talked about their feelings in the first place!
“Look, uh, Kenny would know better than me if someone is into Kyle or not.” He could throw his friend under the bus– not like it’s going to kill him. “I didn’t see them kissing or anything.”
Stan groans against the table. “I don’t know… It looked like Kyle didn’t mind.” Tweek makes a doubtful noise as he wipes the cup clean, looking at him. “Do you think he likes him?”
He freezes. “Oh– uh, well, you mean Davíd? Liking -ngh- Kyle? Is it important?”
“What? Of course it is,” Stan says, looking up. “It’s Kyle! My super best friend!”
Tweek is going to have constant whiplash at this point - he is worried about Davíd getting into Kyle’s pants while also pushing Kyle back into the friendzone when he isn’t even here. Does Stan even realize it?
“I don’t get it,” he articulates with a quick look around but no customers in sight. “Kyle and Nichole went out like last year and you didn’t mind.”
Stan can’t be that oblivious to his feelings but it’s the best plan Tweek can figure out for now - it’s weird but he could just need to realize he wants to be the guy Kyle kisses.
“That’s— That’s different, they are just friends now,” Stan argues. “Did Kyle talk to you about Davíd?”
“No,” Tweek articulates and hesitates to go back to tidy coffee beans, “nothing.” Stan just groans out in worries and his eyes get all puppy-sad like. He could call the impound on him. “Is-is it because Davíd is a guy?”
“Dude,” Stan shoots him a disbelieving and accusing look, “I don’t care about that… and Kyle would have told me if he prefers boys and he didn’t so–”
He is this close to just telling Stan everything but he bites on his tongue. There is still no customer coming in despite his feverish prayings and he feels his chapped lips starting to hurt.
“Maybe uh he— maybe he only realized not a long time ago and -ngh- don’t know how to tell us? It’s crazy but maybe he told Davíd and that’s why they look close!”
Stan shoots him a mocking look. “You think Kyle would tell this guy first before me? Or us?”
“Maybe,” he squeaks out without any idea how to continue this idea. “Maybe because of his parents? Who knows!” Tweek actively hopes it isn’t the case because he really likes Kyle’s family; they make him feel pretty warm and cared for whenever he hangs out there.
“Uh.”
Tweek glances at him, worrying his chapped lips with his teeth before taking in a big breath. “You okay Stan?”
“Just thinking about a lot of stuff,” he says. “Urgh– we almost didn’t even play music this week.”
“True, it sucks,” he immediately agrees to have a safer subject.
Tweek, to his surprise, really cares about them - though he would have never believed that he would stick with them since they always got into crazy stuff. It’s easy for him to care but he also knows when to quit a sinking ship. He doesn’t know what to say to ease Stan’s mind though. Maybe something about his life at home but that could also bring out the Randy subject - which he also doesn’t want to know about. Since Shelly left for university, it has improved though, Stan and her actually grew closer with the distance. His parents are ongoing for a divorce and Sharon has mostly kicked Randy out of their house. Stan told them his mom doesn’t want to 'disturb their son to properly grow up without emotional scarring'. Stan prefers to talk about these kinds of heavy and sad things by texts though; Tweek better texts him later.
"Tweek, son, what are you doing?"
They both turn to see Richard just walking in with his usual business smile on.
"Hi sir. I came for a cup of coffee," Stan says with one of his friendly smiles.
"Ah don't worry Stanley, you are a friend," he reassures but everyone could guess what he is going to add, "but you should have also taken something to eat. We don’t want our customers to see you in there all sad with an empty cup after all."
"The rush already came," Tweek argues, plus he doubts it’s going to change anything for a customer. “Where is mom?”
"Oh, she is resting at home. She came down with something," he explains with the same smile. "Tweek, do you mind going to the grocery shop and buying what she wanted to buy herself? I will stay here."
"Does she -ngh- have a cold?" He asks with a quick look at Stan before following his father in the back room.
"She has the start of a fever. Maybe she got worried sick because you weren’t home!” His father laughs, completely ignoring his horrified look. “She made a shopping list. You do remember that what’s written in blue is what we need for home?"
"Yeah, yup, I know,” Tweek sighs and takes off his apron. “Hum, I also saw we need more some -ngh- flour for the shop. If I do cupcakes today I will -argh- finish what we have left," he comments as he reads the list.
"That’s a great idea," Richard agrees and takes out his wallet, "you can take my card." He jerks it back when Tweek grabs it with another of his smiles that gives Tweek the chill. "Don't go all crazy with it– we don't want to live in the streets, alright?"
"Ngh I know.” He violently twitches before he catches the credit card and walks out.
Grocery shopping will definitely give him at least thirty good minutes of peace if not more. Stan looks up from his phone and offers a small smile as he leaves his stoll to push it back under the countertop.
"Kenny is awake and texted me. He said he will join us."
“Well, I gotta go to the grocery shop.”
“He has nothing to do so he will probably come and I don’t either so let’s go.”
Tweek smiles but tries to hide it so his dad doesn’t see it. The streets are quiet, almost making it seem like everyone has a hangover and stays at home. It’s a weird kind of apocalypse mixed with the eeriness of fresh snow that it bites your cheeks at every breeze. He likes it - not the hypothesis of an apocalypse - but each of his breath makes a little fog that makes him think it’s not that hard to live.
“So uh– no headaches?” He asks to give him a chance to whine about Davíd again; not that Tweek doesn’t want to help him but he isn’t sure the truth will help.
“Uh? Yeah, I’m good,” he says, with a smile and stuffing his hands inside his jacket pockets. “It’s starting to get really cold though.”
“I like it,” Tweek admits, not even noticing he didn’t take a jacket but his sweatshirt is fine.
“Well you are one of these weird guys that prefers cold over warm.”
“It’s not my fault I get sick when it’s too warm,” he argues. “It will even be colder during the ski trip, we are going up a mountain and all.”
“Oh right, I forgot about it. I thought it was cancelled since nobody mentioned it again.”
“It’s on,” Tweek says before frowning, “I think? Maybe we should ask Wendy, she should know.”
“I hope so– no school and we have a whole weekend to hang out and go skiing. Dude we will share a room, it will be amazing.”
Tweek is excited until he remembers that he never learnt how to ski since his parents never went on any ski trip–if they got any vacation. What if he can’t control it and ends up in a ditch or something? No one will find him there! He can’t bring his phone or he will break it when he falls and it will be useless. They look for people with a helicopter or something up there and then they tie them with a rope so they can bring them back; the rope is definitely going to snap once Tweek is up in the air. Maybe he shouldn’t go.
Stan grabs him by the elbow when Tweek almost passes the grocery shop, too lost in his head. It’s calm if not dead, but they are playing a weird music for background that Tweek is pretty sure he heard in that horror game they played during a sleepover. The cashier, around their age, looks ready to give up altogether as they slap the pages of their magazine.
“The list is long,” Stan comments after he takes a basket, he looks startled at his own volume which he lowers. “Do you think your mom ditched?”
“I doubt it. I think they would actually be sick if they didn’t go to the coffee shop.” Tweek dryly says as he picks a bag of pretzels that he fully intends on hiding it at home so he can keep it to himself. “Do you want to split?”
Stan arches an eyebrow and offers a conspiracy-like grin. “We will take more time if we stay together, right?”
“You’re a genius.”
Most customers that they cross pass with don’t look sober but they pay no mind. They slowly stroll through the shop, chatting and walking back when they realize they missed an item or two. Tweek is comparing cream and milk when Stan greets and signs at Kenny who showed up at the end of the aisle. He happily jogs to them, wearing his usual orange and black jacket.
“You look like shit,” Stan comments, nudging him back when he is barreled by him.
“I wanted to look like you today,” Kenny retorts with a small kick, lazily smiling at Tweek. “How is life Tweek? You drank a lot.”
“What? I didn’t.”
“Dude, you drank at least two bottles by yourself,” Stan agrees despite his offended face.
“Shut up, you guys did. I only had— eight drinks,” Tweek realizes with wide eyes. “Jesus.”
“Yeah and you told me only six,” Kenny mocks, badly copying his voice, and cackles as he avoids a kick.
“Is Kyle still sleeping?” Stan asks as anyone would expect.
“Yup, only Jimmy was awake but I think he just wanted to drink water. What do we need to buy?”
Tweek offers him the list and tries to not think of the picture of Craig sleeping he took. They slowly wander further, listening to Kenny's gossip about his part-time job. It’s even more calmer than before as three people are at the cashier; Tweek doubts there are more people at this time. They are almost at the end of the list, reaching another aisle– that is if Kenny hadn’t suddenly jumped, losing his footing like a newborn doe, before sprinting in the other direction and elbowing him and Stan without caring.
Stan huffs, almost finishing into a shelf. “What the fuck?!”
Tweek feels a bit breathlass and warily touches his stomach to check if his lungs didn’t fall there. He is pretty sure that Kenny’s face completely lost his colour in a split second but it all happened pretty fast. There are no traces of Kenny except the sudden brouahah of cans falling somewhere in the shop. They look at each other for a second before a small exclamation reaches their ears.
His body dreads it before he even realizes that it’s Mrs. Stotch standing there in surprise and a basket in hand.
“Oh,” she breathes out, again, before offering her polite creepy smile. “Hi you two. I’m surprised to see you up at this time.”
“Uh, hi Mrs. Stotch,” Stan says as Tweek weakly squeaks and waves.
He has already straightened his back without realizing it, as if he is on trial but then the Stotch always appeared to play judges. Even if he glances back, he doubts he would see Kenny. Tweek hopes he ran before she noticed him because he never saw Kenny that scared before. He doesn’t remember any reason why he would do that, especially once Butters pops up next to his mother with another basket already full.
Butters mutedly gasps at them, his mismatched eyes smile and the one still healthy sparkles.
“Heya fellas!”
Stan is as surprised as Tweek - the general rumor about Butters not returning this year is that he died. “Hi Butters,” he finally says.
He looks healthy with his hair looking fluffier than ever; his cheeks are slightly red and still the same chubby as usual. Tweek isn’t the best person to judge on who looks healthy or not with how his veins break his pale skin and with his obvious ribs. Though Butters seems better than ever.
“Young man, who are you talking to?” An obnoxious and over-authoritative voice booms from behind them. Butters quickly makes space for his father and turns more sheepish as his eyes shift to the ground.
“It’s Butters’ friends,” his wife answers with her smile still on.
“Ah, good morning,” Mr.Stotch greets but his eyes quickly travel around.
Tweek nods and tries to discreetly see what he could be looking for. Butters also looks to be expecting something or someone else – he doesn’t want to think crazy but there is a big chance that it’s about Kenny. The two of them were pretty close. If Butters is disappointed, he doesn’t show it.
“So, uh, Butters,” Stan says. “Long time no see. Did you quit highschool?”
His grip on the basket tightens and he tries to discreetly hit for even daring to ask. They could have sent Butters on the freaking moon like it’s normal. He has no idea how Stan isn’t scared of them because he had a lot of nightmares about them since he was a kid. Not that he knew much about them but he has seen and heard enough to guess the Stotch are crazy.
“Oh, well, I am! I come back each week e-“
“Butters, don’t talk in the middle of an aisle,” Mr.Stotch cut his excitement raw. “You don’t want to bother the customers, do you?”
“Hum! I -ngh- I have to buy some milk,” Tweek blurts out, surprising everyone and himself. He glances at Butters, hoping he gets the hint, but he is quickly overwhelmed by a series of twitches. “If you need any, maybe we can walk there together and -argh-, hum.”
Linda looks at him puzzled while Stephen is downright suspicious but she turns to him with a short glance at her son.
“We do need milk. Butters go pick two bottles for us, alright?”
“Oh boy, alright!” He beams, dimples out as he eagerly steps to them. Tweek realizes that somehow Butters is taller than him now.
“Don’t chat too long!” His father warns. “We won’t wait for you.”
He hasn’t lost his cheerful aura as they walk toward the milk shelf, a few aisles down. Stan and Tweek have the same reflex, looking around for Kenny but they only notice the bunch of cans that fell and the tired worker trying to clean it up.
“Geez, who did that?” Butters wonders and Tweek can’t help but wonder how he could have kept his innocence like that.
“You seem— fine, Butters,” Stan articulates, stopping in front of the milk shelf; “How is the other high school?”
Tweek glances at him before taking his phone out to text Kenny.
Tweek - 8:21am
WHERE AREYOU
“Oh, it’s really great. I made a lot of friends and there are a lot of schoolclubs you can try!” He chirps, looking torn between the milk and their company. “I’m staying at the dormitory, it’s really comfy and my roommate is really smart and nice! We hang out a lot– well, at school mostly.”
“Whoa sounds much better than ours,” Stan says and nudges Tweek to join the conversation.
Tweek - 8:21am
KENNY WHt hapelened
Kenny - 8:21am
hapelened
“Still I miss Dougie,” he muses with a pout. “But of course, you too! Hamburgers– are you still playing? I really loved watching you guys play. I think you’re great.”
Tweek has no idea how to chat with Butters; even before he left, his overall positivity freaked him out from time to time, and he was afraid to say the wrong thing that would make him snap. He looks like he has a lot to say by how much he fidgets.
Tweek - 8:22am
Fuck You eherw are you
Kenny - 8:22am
Outside
“Yeah uh,” Tweek says, “we are still rocking.” Stan doesn’t seem to like his phrasing, mouthing him ‘what the fuck’ but Butters does so it’s fine. He has picked two bottles of milk but they don’t fit in his basket so he keeps them against his chest. “So -ngh- why did you stop texting us? We thought you, hum, ended up in a correction camp or something like that,” he confesses. It’s not like they had any better theories about his whereabouts.
Butters just laughs and he would appear fine if his eyes hadn’t snapped to one side. His hand holding his basket almost comes up to probably rub his knuckles against one another but it doesn’t happen. “It’s just highschool! And I got a new phone but I couldn’t put my SIM card in the new one and I didn’t think of memorizing any numbers before I threw my old one– well I did remember City Wok’s number because I like their sticky rice.”
Tweek - 8:23am
Why did you run?!
Tweek - 8:23am
We arewirh Butters
“You could have used Twitter, Discord,” Stan reminds him, “or Twitter I don’t know.”
This time, he looks sheepish. “I,uh, forgot the passwords. I had no idea how to tell it to you guys and during the weekend I study at home. It’s been a long time I went grocery shopping, my parents say I should stay focus on studying but they needed another pair of hands-”
“Okay Butters,” Stan cuts once he catches on that he is rambling.
Kenny - 8:24am
Long story
Kenny - 8:24am
How is Leo looking?
“Hum, ho-how is Kenny?” Butters blurts out with a blush, quickly looking down with lips pursed as if it was a forbidden question. “I-I mean Kyle and Eric too! How are they?”
“Uh… Fine. They are fine. PC is still a pain in the ass so school sucks in general.”
They stay here in the middle of the shelf of milk and another loop of this unnerving music starts again. Tweek wants to know why the hell Kenny ran away and also if Butters is believing his own lies and all. Back when they were kids and Tweek learnt more about Butters’ family, he tried to compare their lives - which one is worse. It’s probably stupid but Tweek had no other idea how to comfort himself when his parents drugged him and would rather hug bags of coffee beans than him. He also did that with Kenny’s life and Tweek is probably the luckiest one at this life’s lottery.
“Butters, give us your number,” Tweek exclaims, mindful of his volume to not get the Stotch breathing down his neck. “Like that we can put you back in the chat group when you -ngh- find back your password. Or at least text you.”
He doesn’t really know what to do other than that. There is nothing that Tweek actually wants to talk about with him but Kenny probably does—actually he is pretty sure Butters is his favorite.
Butters gasps. “Hamburgers! You’re right!” He cheers with a big smile and takes his phone out. “You can share it with everyone!”
Tweek tries to return the smile but he can feel it’s an ugly one because he doesn’t know how to do the cute one like Butters. He can’t look honest like him. Stan also registers his number, just before Mr. Stotch’s voice booms at the other side of the shop. Butters tells them goodbye and hurries away - he probably hasn’t realized that Tweek hadn’t even looked at any milk.
They stay quiet and Tweek swears he can hear Mr. Stotch grounding him somewhere in his mind. “... I don’t think he is supposed to talk to us anymore,” Tweek whispers.
“Dude, his parents are nuts.” Stan nods, also careful with his tone. “I’m pretty sure they broke his phone.”
“Do you think Butters is alright?” He mumbles but he only gets a vague dubious shrug as an answer. “And did Kenny just run away when he saw them?”
“He did.”
They don’t know if the Stotch family is still in the shop but they opt to just rush through the rest of the list and to get out of here before their luck runs out. Kenny has stopped answering to his text but they find him behind the shop, resting against the wall. It surprises Tweek to see that nervous, especially when he legit startled at the sound of their steps. Kenny is usually the one with the best senses out of everyone.
“Dude, what the fuck happened?” Stan asks.
“Are they still in there?” He is taking quick glances around them before making quick signs to walk away.
“No idea.”
“Kenny!” Stan hisses. “What’s going on? Aren’t you and Butters all cozy and stuff?”
“I can’t explain right now,” Kenny insists, taking a look at the grocery bags they have. “Look, let’s drop this off and once we are far away I will explain.”
Tweek lets him take one of his bags, just like Stan’s, as they try to follow him. “You promise?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
It’s obviously a sour spot but Tweek is more worried about what could bring his friend to act so violently and all. They don’t talk except for warning Kenny, almost jogging, to not shake the bags too much. When they reach his home, they probably broke a record for their time, his mother seems to be sleeping and they quietly put the groceries in the kitchen. Tweek quietly peeks in his parents room to check if she isn’t dead but she is breathing. They always have coffee running but Tweek feels like he should still prepare something for her so he leaves a glass of water and meds on her bedside table.
When he returns to the kitchen, he doesn’t expect to walk in one of the most awkward stares down he has ever known. Kenny and Stan are at the opposite of each other with the kitchen table between them. If one steps right or left, the other does so too and Tweek probably contemplates the scene for a second too long.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
Stan points at Kenny and looks at him like it’s their child. “He is being a bitch. He doesn’t want to tell me about what happened.”
“Stan is being a real bitch,” he accuses back. “I don’t have anything important to say!”
“Volume,” Tweek warns with a worried hiss.
“If it’s not important why don’t you talk about it then?”
Kenny’s face scrunches up into a big grimace that definitely holds on to the worst slur ever made but he settles on just flipping him off.
“Look, let’s just go before my mother wakes up. We can talk outside,” he says and signs to stay quiet to walk to the door.
At his relief, they tip-toes out of here and only then does Kenny start to stomp and kick at snow. Stan and him continue to follow him but leaves him some space before he loses his patience.
“Dude, you ran away when you saw them,” Stan points out after he walks up to him. “What happened with Butters?”
“You were so bummed out when he didn’t come back this year,” Tweek agrees because he is pretty sure Kenny would have been really happy to talk with Butters - more than him actually.
“Tweek, you don’t have your shift?” Kenny interrupts with the smile he puts on when he doesn’t know what else to do.
“It’s fine, I want to know what’s going on.”
“Come on, explain why the fuck you are weird.”
“And I don’t care about my shift,” Tweek confirms and the stress is starting to get to him because his hands pick at each other.
Kenny sighs like they ask him the end of the world. He is frowning which is pretty weird for him - his face isn’t suited for that in Tweek’s opinion.
“Let’s just go to the junkyard then— I promise I will tell you everything there,” he promises when Stan is about to argue again.
For an anxious teenager, especially when your name is Tweek Tweak, the junkyard is one of the least attractive places in his mind to ‘have fun’. But over time it became one of the places he could deal, despite all the diseases, danger and possibly rabid people - which is not the best way to meet someone - in this environment. It’s probably because Tweek realized that he enjoys breaking stuff a lot which he has never done before; he has been more into construction things as a kid with legos and all, which he never wanted to destroy.
He has often seen the junkyard from afar since Kenny lived right next to it up until last year. That’s him who got Tweek to go into the junkyard and the first few times have been crazy, but he still doesn’t understand how he sort of managed his fear. Nevertheless, it gives him a rush to just think about it and he is pretty sure it means they are going to break stuff. At South Park you have to deal with the crazy at some point and one way or another, you have to let all of this turmoil out.
Kenny noticing Tweek having a terrible panic attack in front of a spilled packet of meth has been a big turn-about for his life. It makes sort of sense for him to adapt to this hellish hole where everything could hurt you and decides to destroy it in return– not that Tweek would ever hurt someone or any animal living there.
Instead of letting everything explode inside, Kenny advised him to do the opposite and Tweek has done almost every day for the first years of their friendship. It has surprised him a lot, even making him believe that he is secretly a psychopathe. Kenny had laughed a lot at this idea and promised Tweek that he is the furthest thing from a psychopathe.
There they are walking through endless masses of junk. Tweek thinks back of the things he broke or smashed with them. It only feels like minor fragments of his resentment at his parents, some drops of his sadness that no one listens to, a part of this obnoxious shadow above his heart that tires him from surviving.
It’s liberating and he itches to grab something to break it. But he doesn’t have his gloves on him for it.
“Remember the possum? I think it got a bunch of babies,” Kenny mentions, climbing onto a broken car without tires.
“Really?” Stan gasps, totally caught on the news and looks around. “You know whe-”
“Kenny, don’t change the subject man. Not cool,” Tweek chides, avoiding stepping on a smelling trash bag as they continue to follow him.
Their friend quietly groans at his reply, obviously disappointed that they haven’t forgotten why they are here. They reach one flattest zone, far away from the entrance to not have any prying eyes or ears, and Kenny confidently reaches for a stack of empty bottles laying next to a broken bookshelf.
Tweek purses his lips and waits for him to throw two bottles at once before speaking. “Sooo, what happened?”
Stan swings his arms and kicks a mattress not far that looks almost clean before he sits on it. A deep sigh fills the empty morning and Kenny throws another bottle.
“I fucked up Leo’s life.” He juggles a bottle between his two hands, looking like he could break it just like that, before he throws it the furthest away.
“What do you mean?”
Kenny’s nose whistles and he just takes another bottle as he avoids their eyes. “I’m the reason why Le— Butters was transferred!” He shouts suddenly and throws the bottle far too close to not be hit by the shards. “It’s–” he throws another bottle- “my fucking! Fault!” A broken tv rings when a bottle hits it.
“What? How?” Stan asks with a frown.
“Because–!” Kenny takes in a big breath and flips a bottle in his hand before throwing it away. “I’m in love with Leopold fucking Stotch, alright?!”
Tweek, speechless, watches him kick at the last bottles on the ground before he really understands what he says. “Wait— what?”
Kenny groans out and almost screams before he just bites on it, rubbing his hands over his face with no delicacy.
“Dude, explain.”
”Yeah, why would that mean he has to change schools?”
“Because—! Because..,” Kenny tsks and bends over his knees before he gives up and falls on his ass. “Urgh, I— you know how Kevin has this great job and for once we could eat something every day?” He doesn’t wait on their answers. “Well it’s just— projects but with my job and Kev’ maybe we managed to get an apartment that’s not so bad. Away from our parents and this place. It’s… Everything looked like it was going to be better, you know? So I thought ‘hey you know what would be great? If I confess to Leo because I’m pretty sure he is into me!’.”
“Dude.”
Tweek isn’t surprised that Butters could be into Kenny, but it feels weird that Kenny hadn’t talked about it before. “Did you?”
“What do you think?”
He wets his lips and glances at Stan who looks lost. “When?”
“I don’t know, some weeks before we have classes. Look, I just wanted to confess because I mean— maybe I’m not going to end as shitty as my parents. Who knows, maybe. So I wanted to try because I want to be better and if I want to make Leo happy. Trying my stupid luck,” he mutters inside his hands, still sitting on the cold ground. Stan walks up to his side and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. Tweek hears the choked breath behind his hands. “But his father came in, just when I was about to kiss him.”
“Wait, he said yes?” Stan asks incredulously, glancing at Tweek who just shrugs in disbelief as he joins their side.
“No. He didn’t say anything,” Kenny moans out and ruffles his hair in all the ways possible. “I think he was too surprised but like he didn’t seem disgusted or anything. His eyes were all sparkly and all excited, you know?” Tweek absolutely doesn’t know but refrains to comment when he sees how red Kenny’s eyes are. “So I thought– hey it’s like these romantic shows that Leo loves where they get straight to kissing! I’m totally up for it!”
“Oh my God,” Stan says.
“Hum, I do think you’re right though,” Tweek admits. “Butters always loved to spend time with you over anyone else. I noticed that. He could like you back– but maybe you shouldn’t have gone right to kissing?”
Kenny groans before he sniffles and looks at him all teary-eyed. “It’s not like I pushed my dick right into his mouth! I waited, he seemed into it and I swear he could have stopped me at any point.”
“Still,” Stan mutters.
“I didn’t even get to kiss him okay! Who cares?!” He snaps at Stan who offers a confused sad smile.
This time Kenny starts to sob but holds it as much as he can. Tweek joins the hug they start, awkwardly bending to do so. He quickly calmed down and gently pushed their arms off. They are still stuck in the silence and they watch him rub his tears and snot away.
“His dad interrupted before Butters could say anything?” Tweek feels useless and he hopes prying isn’t a bad thing.
Kenny shakes his head. “No. And I really, really, looked at his lips so I would know– they are so cute you know? Just makes you want to kiss them-”
“Dude, TMI. TMI.”
Tweek softly settles down against both of their backs. His anxiety is overwhelmed by the urge to help and be here for his friends— the ground looks pretty okay without any violent disease if he sits on it.
“His father came in and saw us when we were at—at this, this close to kiss,” Kenny tells and showing what must have been the distance with two of his fingers, almost touching. His hand drops on his thigh and he looks up to the sky.
Stan clears his throat. “So you, uhm, like Butters? As in Professor Chaos? This Butters?”
“Yeah.”
“The guy who started a bitch business in elementary school?”
“Yes.”
“The Butters who-”
“I love him.”
Tweek peers at him but Kenny keeps his eyes closed.
“So, his dad saw you two about to kiss and you think that’s why Butters changed school?”
“You tell me,” Kenny gurgles, “he screamed at us well at Le— Butters and shoved him against the closet while he called for his wife to bring the fucking shotgun. They probably tried to send him away or something, I don’t know.”
Tweek can’t help but start to sweat at the implication; they are lucky that Butters is just one highschool away. Probably no other places free for him or whatever. He is pretty sure that Butters had been sent to a creepy camp like that before.
“They sent their son to a school in a dormitory to not— so he isn’t–”
“Kissing a guy,” Kenny concludes with a sigh before he lets his whole body fall against the ground.
Stan twists to look at him before opting to lay down too, placing his head on Kenny’s chest who gives a small grunt.
Tweek looks at them, hesitating for a moment. “Jesus,” he mutters, moving a bit so he can properly lie down next to him with his head on his stomach.
“I’m not surprised. They were always crazy..,” Stan points out, glancing at Kenny who adjusts his hood to have something under his head. “They even destroyed his phone and probably blocked everything else…”
“Did he look beat?”
“He looked– alright.”
“Butters gave us his new number now. He asked me to give it to everyone,” Tweek tells Kenny who just stares at the clouds.
“I don’t want it.”
“Dude, you know that’s not your fault, right? That’s his fucked parents.” Stan says and Tweek hastily nods in agreement.
Kenny doesn’t answer. His eyes are glued on the sky. Tweek decides to also do it and looks at the clouds filling the greyish sky with one or two strikes of sad blue.
“How did you get in?”
“I climbed the tree and he opened the window.”
“You often did that?” Stan’s head turns a bit toward him.
“Sometimes,” Kenny whispers as he crosses one of his legs over his knee. “Not that often but when I knew his parents weren’t here I tried to come all the time. Though I stayed away as much as I could. Because I didn’t want to jump right into temptation.”
“... At least they didn’t shoot you…” Tweek barely hears his own sentence,
“I don’t care about that. That asshole must have beat Butters after I left or worse,” Kenny argues.
“It’s not like you could have saved him if his dad was ready to shoot you.”
Kenny takes a beat to answer. “I’m pretty sure the first shot was not to scare me.”
“He tried to kill you, Kenny!” Tweek exclaims, slightly lifting himself up to look at him.
He simply sighs back and closes his eyes. “Yeah, well, I destroyed Butters’ life. I don’t care anymore. Hope he is better over there.”
“You didn’t destroy his life, you just— you just wanted to tell Butters…”
“Look, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have thought that maybe, for once, I could have the good stuff.” Kenny’s tone is dripping in pain and a twisted resolve. Tweek remembers that most of the things he has ever said to him were the opposite of this, never letting yourself down by some supposed fate.
“Butters is the good stuff?” Stan whispers before he loudly winces and slaps him back. “What the fuck, dude? You are a dick.”
“Me? I am the dick?! From you Mister I-love-my-super-best-friend-since-I-am-ten-but-can’t-manage-to-realize-it,” Kenny exclaims and smashes his head another time but Stan hits his hand away.
“Shut up I’m-”
“Fuck you Stan,” he bluntly cuts while Tweek straightens to watch, “you watch porn with redhead guys and you drool behind Kyle’s ass every time we are in the locker room! So shut the fuck up because you two should just kiss and fuck because I’m going to lose my mind with you two!”
Stan stares at him, opening his mouth a few times. “Du-”
“I’m going to break your nose if you try to lie to me, Stan.”
Stan looks away with a glare and appears to ecide the sky is more interesting now. Kenny too goes back to watch the upcoming raining sky. Tweek’s eyes follow the mood, tasting the full promise of the gruesome sky without an idea of what to do or say.
His fingers pick on each other, lazily lying on his chest where the used hoodie is getting too stretched. He is also pretty sure it smells like sweat because he has been wearing it since yesterday.
“High school sucks,” he says when an ugly cloud swallows another.
“Life fucking sucks.”
“Just go be with Kyle.”
“Shut up Kenny.”
“Just so you know, everyone in high school thinks that you guys are together. Bebe asked me this week,” Tweek comments with an impromptue smile and glances at him.
“What? Seriously? Why should that be their problem?” He groans out and sits up.
“I think it’s everyone’s problem when you two look ready to jump on each other in the middle of the corridor,” Kenny argues with his usual sly tone slipping back.
“That’s the guy who almost made a move on the one guy who may have never watched any porn?” Stan barks back before avoiding a punch until they start to hit each other.
“Hey! Don’t start!” Tweek exclaims and tries to separate them. “This isn’t going to help when you are both disasters!”
They do settle back down, either with a loud exhale or a groan, and the three of them turn back to the depressing sky.
“I don’t like Kyle.”
“Yeah, you love him.”
“No,” Stan whines out and rubs his face until his hands slithers under his hat to tug at his short hair. “I can’t say it.”
“You show enough,” Tweek admits, not quite understanding what he means. Kenny hums at his comment.
Staying in his place with his fingers locked under his hat, Stan wets his lips before he opens his dark blue eyes to meet the overwhelming distance of the clouds.
“If I say it then I can’t take it back…”
Him nor Kenny appear to have a reply to this. Stan’s pleading tone doesn’t really request further comment so they keep quiet.
“I will send Butters’ number to everyone… Except Cartman,” Tweek decides and licks his chapped and damaged lips. He should stop biting them so much, his teeth are sharper than he thought. It takes him a tense pause to remember that he has responsibilities. “My father is going to kill me for being this late.”
Still, his mind doesn’t ask for his body to budge his ass so he stays put.
“He is an asshole.”
“Everyone in this town is an asshole.”
“You guys are,” Kenny jokes and that brings a faint snort from the rest of them.
“Who is in to fuck life before it fucks us?” Stan offers as a cheer and Tweek can’t help but snort, refraining his mirth when he sees that he flips off the endless void above them.
“Why not be an emo ass like you, at this point it’s not like it could get worse, Raven,” Kenny muses.
“Dude, I’m trying to fucking help.”
“We need an emo name, Tweek,” Kenny says and ignores him, patting Tweek’s hair.
“My soul is already as dark as coffee,” he replies with the lowest tone he can muster.
“Oh my God,” he lightly laughs, ”it’s terrible.”
They stay like this far longer than they need to and Tweek almost falls asleep.
He is still pretty tired from the party and his shift hasn’t helped but he still drags his tired ass to school the next day.
You were added in the group: Craig you owe me a taco
-TheMAN: IT’S NOT LIKE SOMEONE IS LISTENING THE CLASS
-Breath Gucci: Clyde why can’t you wait lunch
-Kyle: Clyde what do you want
-TheMAN: SEE?
Even Kyle is on his phone!
-RedRacer4everInmyass: why cant u make another group for godsakes clyde
-Kenny: CLYDE
Also wtf is that name craig you deviant
-Breath Gucci: Oh no
-Tweek: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DICK RULE
THEY CANT BE TOGETHER
-TheMAN: KENNY
-Kyle: no
Don’t fucking start
Kenny sent a picture
TheMAN sent a picture
TheMAN sent a picture
TheMAN sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
TheMAN sent a picture
-Stan: WTF
TheMAN sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
Kenny sent a picture
Breath Gucci muted TheMAN
Breath Gucci muted Kenny
-Cartman: Why the fuck did I get a hundred of dick pics
-Kyle: So many you right
-Big Dick Energy: LMAO BURNNNN
-Cartman: Fuckyou stupid jew
-Breath Gucci: Clyde give Jimmy’s phone back
-Big Dick Energy: :((( but you muted me
-Stan: why are we in this group chat?
And seriously how do they send so many random dicks in no time
-Tweek: google
-RedRacer4everInmyass: nobody wanted you in here
clyde just can’t stop being dumb
-Stan: fuck you craig
-Tweek: Kenny wants to be unmutte
-Kyle: In the first place Kenny and Clyde were never supposed to be in the same group chat AGAIN
I had to erase more than 250 dickpicks because of the “incident”
-Breath Gucci: Clyde was supposed to ask during lunch and not do a group chat
Breath Gucci unmuted TheMAN
Breath Gucci unmuted Kenny
-Kenny: YEA
-Breath Gucci: One pic and you are out
-Kenny: okay mom
sorry mom
-Cartman: what do you guys want now
-Big Dick Energy: You aren’t even supposed to be here
-RedRacer4everInmyass: clyde
-TheMAN: isn’t he in their group?
-Kenny: the fuck no
-Kyle: He is the cancer, none of us wanted him
-Cartman: SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU TWO
-Stan: Yea its only Kyle, me, Kenny and Tweek
-Kenny: Tweek is the last member of the team
-Cartman: YOU FUCKERS
THE SPAZZ DOES NOTHING
-Breath Gucci: It was always kind of obvious Cartman
-TheMAN: where is Tweek
I can’t talk without him
-Kenny: he ran at the toilet after he bite on his pen
-RedRacer4everInmyass: he what
-Kenny: he chew on his pen before it actually broke and he bite on the ink
-Kyle: Again?
-Cartman: fucking spazz
-TheMAN: AGAIN??
ISNT THAT POISON
TOLKIEN
-Breath Gucci: I don’t think he ate enough for it to be poison
Hope so
-Kenny: he only realized it when drops fall on his paper
was funny to see him realize it
-Cartman: anyway Clyde just tell everything
-TheMAN: but I want for Tweek to be heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere
-Kyle: I turn my phone off now
-TheMAN: NOO
YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE
JUST LIKE CRAIG
-Cartman: CLYDE FUCK TALK
-TheMAN: K alright
who wants to go see the new spiderman movie tomorrow
across the spider-verse
-Stan: all of this was just for that?
-Tweek: TEH mefM
-Big Dick Energy: yeah, he was supposed to ask during lunch
-Kyle: hey Tweek you okay?
-Tweek: I want to see tht movie
yeah
-Breath Gucci: We are going at the 6pm movie today
-Kenny: fuk yes
-Stan: sounds great
Kyle?
-Kyle: I’m free I just have to ask to my mom
-Cartman: the fuck it’s not even a real spiderman movie
-Big Dick Energy: it is dumbass
-Cartman: the main character is not spiderman
-RedRacer4everInmyass: no one invited you
-Cartman: SHUT UP CRAIG YOU FAG
-Kenny: give me admin rights so I can kick him
-RedRacer4everInmyass: fucking don’t Clyde or you are dead
-TheMAN: wHAT
-Big Dick Energy: why didn’t you create another group?
-RedRacer4everInmyass: you are asking that to the dumb guy
-TheMAN: IMG OIGN toO CRUY
-Breath Gucci: Anyway, tell us
Maybe we can even eat together after that
-Big Dick Energy: Not Taco Bell again
-TheMAN: TACOS
HWTA
JIMMY
-Big Dick Energy: If you want me to vomit tacos on you then we are going there
-Stan: pizza??
-Cartman: at tolkien’s place
-Breath Gucci: No
-Cartman: what?
You are so selfish seriously
You sleep on dollars
-Breath Gucci: Something you could never do even when your mother has slept with everyone in America
-Kyle: omg
-Tweek: ishshanxaik
-RedRacer4everInmyass: Clyde just got kicked out of class because he laughed too hard
-Kenny: OMG BLESS YOU GUYS
-Big Dick Energy: He KILLED Cartman
Tweek barely holds it together in class. His teacher almost catches him on his phone - which caused the pen accident - but he manages to survive up to lunch time without being grounded. Or poisoned.
His mind, even though it should focus on school, is still trying to warp around everything that was Sunday. Particularly with the whole Butters situation and Stan sort of accepting his feelings but still being a stubborn ass about it, at least it’s a step toward the right direction.
Tweek has done his part by texting Butters’ number to Kyle and Kenny, who still insist that he doesn’t want it, and more. He thought Kenny was the more mature of their little group but he is also not exactly surprised that he is wrong. Tweek told him to at least apologize to Butters if he feels that guilty - it’s the right thing to do, right?
But hell no.
Even that sounds too dangerous for Kenny.
“You just text him to ask how he is doing and apologize,” he insists one more time, following Kenny toward a table with their trays.
“Butters probably doesn’t think you did anything wrong,” Stan chimes in, “it’s Butters.” He settles down at a free table with them.
“I should have never told you anything,” Kenny groans out. “Look, it’s better if I don’t ever talk to him at all, alright? I know what I’m doing.”
Tweek is about to disagree and to remind him that he isn’t the source of bad luck that he believes he is, but he gets cut by a discreet chime. He easily guesses by the smirk appearing on his lips who and what the text is for.
“Kenny, it’s lunch.”
“I can eat with my booty call,” he says as he grabs his tray to stand up.
“You better not skip history class!” Tweek exclaims to him.
“You know it’s never a quickie!” Kenny smirks back with one of his famous ‘I’m a sex god’ look. Stan merely laughs as Tweek lightly gasps at his response.
“Kenny– you have to come or I’m all alone!” He complains and his friend takes the time to turn around on his walk out to flicker his tongue between two of his fingers, showing clearly what his plans are. “That excuses nothing!”
Stan laughs and shakes his head as he finishes his bite and ignores the angry huff from Tweek. “Didn’t he stop this sex thing during summer? I’m pretty sure he didn’t have texts or calls for a while.”
“Yeah, because he was working,” he vaguely recalls before his eyes widen when he remembers Butters. “Maybe because of Butters too.”
“He really likes hi– Kyle!”
Tweek has the kind heart to not roll his eyes at the sudden cheer in his friend’s mind. It’s the same reaction Stan has everytime he sees a pet - Tweek shouldn’t be able to know the comparison.
Kyle stops with his tray and Davíd at his side, who smiles at them in the friendliest way possible when he spots them - Stan doesn’t return at all. Tweek can’t read Kyle’s face. “I’m eating with Davíd today. I will see you guys later.”
Stan obviously doesn’t understand his tone; probably not registering that he is being kindly told off that they aren’t going to eat together today. They don’t always eat together since their schedules don’t always match but Tweek can easily guess that it feels like a nasty betrayal to Stan— he really is the only mature person here.
They walk up to another table without waiting on a reply. It should be a big sign that it’s a sort-of lunch date and he glances at Stan to check if he caught that as he munches a piece of meat. The awkward silence only lasts for a blink or two before Stan stands up with his tray, leaving a surprised Tweek behind and walks up to their table. He waits on the upcoming disaster as Stan settles down next to Kyle with no delicacy. Davíd simply smiles at Kyle like they are having a neat secret and Tweek wonders what is wrong with him to not look as constipated as Kyle.
With Cartman declaring that he has a business deal during lunch, Tweek is left alone with his lunch. He is happier like that now that he thinks about it - especially with how each of his friends have their heads stuck in their butts. To ignore the chatter around him, he digs for his earphones and warily glances around to check if someone plans to get a seat at his table. He is focused on solving the mess of his cables and finally gets to put one in; he doesn’t dare to put both if something happens and he can’t notice it because his ears are covered. There is Craig still in the line for food with Tolkien and Tweek is almost at the end of the first song when he realizes that he has been staring at his ass. He opts to focus on his distasteful plate and he listens to a few songs before the bench shifts at a new weight.
“Hi Tweek!” Wendy has an excited tone, startling him, and she sits next to him with a big smile. Other trays find their place at his table and she quickly leans her head to speak to him. “So I thought about what you asked-”
“Jesus– okay,” he blurts out with a panicked look as girls sit down. “Forget about it!”
Bebe chuckles and sits in front of him, Tweek is pretty sure she knows what’s this about but she doesn’t offer any help.
“Hi Tweek,” Nichole chirps and digs into his plate.
“Hi.”
Wendy gently grabs his elbow with a frown and continues to whisper. “You know there is a club to talk though, right? Or even the counselor-“
“No I don’t ne-“
“Tweek, it’s alright. A lot of people are starting to think about their sexuality and everything-“
“Wendy,” Bebe says and they share a look with pursed lips and squinted eyes.
“Why are you eating alone Tweek?” Heidi asks with a curious glance at the other table with the couple and third wheel. “Is everything okay?”
Stan actually seems to talk with Davíd, somewhat, but Tweek can recognize that Kyle is pretty frustrated.
“Kenny had something to do. Er, well, Kyle said he was going to eat with Davíd,” he explains with a last look at them, “and well…”
The girls all look at the trio, not really trying to hide their curiosity - Annie, who has been busy texting, seems to pay attention to the silence before realizing what’s going on. Tweek stashes his earphones away to be polite.
“Oh my God.”
“Davíd third-wheels?”
“No, Stan is.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Not gonna lie, Kyle and Davíd? Hot.”
“Can’t believe this,” Wendy sighs and takes her phone out.
“Are you really surprised?” Bebe comments with a snort and plays with her pasta. “It’s been seven or eight years, it’s not today Stan will get his ugly head out of his ass.”
“Bebe,” she softly argues with a frown.
They quickly find another subject to jump on, Tweek can’t really follow as he tries to avoid gossips - he wouldn’t like to be at the target of paparazzies so he hopes avoiding them would help his karma. Nichole points out that his hair is getting long, wondering if it’s on purpose, and Tweek doesn’t have the heart to admit that he is scared of scissors. He would like to try to have shorten hair, especially with how the sweat climbs on his neck, but it would also mean he needs to find another spot to dig his nails in when he is overwhelmed.
Tweek isn’t surprised that Kenny is nowhere to be seen in history class.
Tweek - 1:02pm
I swear you better show up
Tweek - 1:02pm
I’m going to die alone in this class and you know I will kill you before I die
Kenny - 1:03pm
You up for a threesome?
pussy or dick my friend
ur choice
Tweek - 1:03pm
Oh my god fuck you
Though the more he thinks about it, the better the idea gets– their history class is one of the worst. It’s not his favorite or worst subject, sometimes it gives him hope about human nature and other times gives him the desire to buy a lone farm somewhere far away. Depending on the quality of this class, he will decide whether to get revenge or not. With Garrison, once again here, as their history teacher - there are not many chances for not going straight to murder. Actually, it’s always torture, especially once he starts rambling that he never wanted to be a teacher and deserved way more.
He furiously beats his pen against a blank page as he lists all the things he could do without getting worse from Kenny in return. Bebe texts him with a big thank you for sharing Butters’ number - Tweek feels bad that he forgot to tell the girls about this before. Maybe he could send her after Kenny’s ass… She owed him for talking to Wendy.
Tweek - 1:05pm
I will say to Butters that you have his number
So you better text him something
Tweek - 1:07pm
You know you can talk to me about that
It’s not like it can be more embarrassing than Stan’s love song about Kyle
Tweek - 1:07pm
Don’t ignore me Sshole
“Hey Tweek.”
His fingers abruptly crush against his screen, almost sending a mess of letters. Tweek tries to stay as natural as possible as he casts a quick glance at the stoic figure of Craig, who puts his backpack on the empty table next to him.
“Hey -ngh- Craig,” he greets, clearing his throat after he glances back at his phone and the front of the class. Garrison still hasn’t shown up.
Well, now he is almost grateful for Kenny's booty call if it forces Craig to sit next to him. Still doesn’t cross the vengeance idea out of his mind.
His heartbeat climbs up several notches which worries him that one of his veins doesn't explode because of it. He isn’t even looking at Craig and tries to focus on the cloudy sky behind the windows. Never would he have expected that Kenny ditching him in history class would bring something that good. Tweek tries to breathe and ignore the loud thumps of his blood as he plays with his bitten pen.
He can’t manage to calm down his excitement and he hopes it’s not obvious– still, he can’t help but try to look. By easing his head onto his palm, trying to be as natural as he swallows down a tornado of thoughts. Tweek peeks at Craig, watching him type on his phone; probably talking with his gang and Tweek can’t help but check if it isn’t the group where Clyde put them all earlier that day. His disappointment is huge and pretty stupid but Tweek can’t be surprised - they never really texted in the first place.
Garrison has come in sometimes before and Tweek only realizes it because of the shrieking scribbles on the board. He can’t bring himself to even try to understand what is the subject and returns to playing with his pen. His phone discreetly shines with a notification but he keeps his curiosity under control to check to not check right away. Once he finds an opening, he unlocks his phone. Tweek has to bite down a wild grin at the text and he shifts on his chair.
Craig - 1:10pm
you’re going to die of boredom too
Tweek’s eyes jump to Craig, widening when he meets his pupils, and his neck snaps back to stare at his phone. There is absolutely no way Craig is staring at something else. He is starting to get a little faint from all the attention. His throat forces down his nerves but his teeth keep scraping his tongue to blow off some steam. Tweek winces when he accidentally bites himself but he can feel his eyes still on him.
Tweek - 1:10pm
Yeah
That is a terrible response; the worst ever. Tweek wants to smash his head against the table but he settles on picturing it. Craig must have seen him do it before but he really doesn’t want to prove that he is a freak.
Tweek - 1:10pm
Can’t believe he is still our teacher
It’s a better answer. He could see in the corner of his eyes that Craig is typing on his phone. Tweek internally cheers at his save. Maybe he could chit chat with the handsomest guy of the whole school, of the whole universe, if he doesn’t blow his chance up.
Craig - 1:11pm
He is an ass cant even sleep in class with him
‘Haha lmao right’ sounds too stupid compared to how cool Tweek wants to be. Nothing interesting is going on in their classroom to help him to write something funny and witty. Craig has the cutest laugh ever, all deep and silly that leaves Tweek all tingly. Maybe he could quickly google something - maybe something about guinea pigs. Wikihow might have tips to look cool.
Craig - 1:13pm
Are you going to the ski trip?
Tweek - 1:13pm
Yea
Tweek - 1:13pm
I think so
Craig - 1:13pm
Cool
Tweek - 1:14pm
you too?
Craig - 1:14pm
ya
Holy fuck Tweek is going to die - his brain is already there because he can’t recall any words. It isn’t going well. He hasn’t started the conversation though; Craig is the one who texted him first. Tweek is at a disadvantage. During the break, he hasn’t heard or seen Craig at all during the holidays which he realizes is probably why he can’t get used to the feeling of being near him again. He probably needs therapy or something.
He realizes the left corner of his lips pierced once he tastes the blood. The copper and anxious flavor stays on no matter how long he sticks his tongue there. His hand immediately comes up to cover it but one of his legs starts to bounce. His lungs tries push his nerves out with a deep breath but it doesn’t help at all since he catches on to Craig's scent. It’s a clean scent that probably surprises some people and Tweek likes to wander in the aisles of laundry products because it smells similar.
Despite how long Tweek stares at his phone, he doesn’t get any other text. He quickly turns his phone face down when he fears that Craig might notice the picture folder hiding in several folders dedicated to him; Tweek isn’t a creep! They are pictures very much public and he doesn’t look that much at them.
A creep would probably convince himself that he isn’t a creep, which would make them a real creep and so Tweek might be an actual fucking creep.
“Tweek, is my class so boring that you need to smash your head against the table?” Mr.Garrison exclaims.
He barely groans as an answer and he keeps his arms around his head as he feels all eyes on him. Tweek hasn’t realized his reflex but he is sixteen, almost seventeen, years too late to not be the guy who smashes his head against a table. Some people snicker but it doesn’t seem to be coming from his right, so he peers at Craig under his arm. Craig looks deep in his thoughts, looking all sexy and broody, and he rolls a pen under his palm without even looking at it. Tweek has never wanted more to kiss him right now - except two days ago when he saw him at the party, and also when they fumbled at the toilet’s bathroom a week ago by stepping to the same side at the same time. He also wants to hold his hands. His fingers are probably less rough than Tweek since he doesn’t play an instrument but they seem bigger.
He jolts when his phone beams right into his face but he still doesn’t leave his cave of thoughts. His curiosity wins and he slips a hand to unlock and read the text.
Craig - 1:20pm
Want to bet how many time scott yawn in one hour
Tweek is waiting for the ground to crumble under his feet. Not waiting as in eager for it to happen, but he can feel it coming. Ultimately, it’s the ending he will have. The day has been too perfect for karma to not backstab him. Tweek can’t help but feel more than in danger after he spent a thirty minutes hour with Craig, texting and joking around. Fucking hell, he is going to get crushed by a bus now. There is a big chance that his parents might have sold him on Craigslist too - probably should check that before going home.
There are no predators to rip out his overhigh heart but he is pretty sure there is something lurking. He has goosebumps during his shift and the more it goes, the worse it gets. His parents agreed for him to finish a bit earlier so he can go watch the movie, without making any unfunny and mean comments. There is also no homework for tomorrow and despite the moderate amount of customers, not one of them has been a bitch. The small puddle in the back room that they still can’t stop from appearing didn’t show up today and Tweek hadn’t almost slipped into a split like the usual.
Maybe his organs are slowly dying and he just doesn’t feel it. He better not close his eyes today or he will never wake up again. Though if his heart stops during the night then at least he dies peacefully. Hopefully, he will manage to watch the movie and only die after. He doesn’t want to miss the chance to watch a movie with Craig.
Tweek leaves the coffee shop as soon as he can after he checks himself out in the bathroom’s mirror. His hair is a mess and maybe he should have asked one of the girls to cut his hair like they so wanted to. He only finds Craig’s gang waiting in front of the movie theater.
“Hey Tweeker,” Clyde warmly greets, completely ignoring the quick frown from him.
Tweek ignores the irritating nickname to check if they are really the only one here. They can’t have forgotten about it, right?
“Hi, uh— where are the -ngh- others?”
“Kenny texted us to say they are going to be late,” Jimmy explains and takes popcorn from Clyde’s box.
“Maybe we should take the seats already, we text them where we are,” Token suggests. “We might not have good ones anymore. There are already people inside.”
Craig doesn’t appear to care about it, swiping on his phone with his free hand. Tweek isn’t surprised that he is that popular to be always on it but damn.
“Okay,” he mutters and goes to buy his own ticket.
Tweek hesitates to take a box of popcorn too but he decides to not try his luck. With Craig right next to him, he won’t be able to stomach much of it anyway. He wonders if he shouldn’t wait for his friends outside, but it would probably be rude to ditch the others - Tweek just has to not stare too much at Craig. He should have his fill today after sitting right next to him but he has never been that good at stopping himself. Still, he texts the three assholes to hurry up. Tolkien was right since most seats in the middle are taken, which appears to annoy him but he quickly turns to find others.
“Tweek you want to be at the end?”
“Uh,” he clears his throat and glances at Clyde after Tolkien’s comment, he looks hurt that he would even offer this. Clyde shakes his head with a pouty look at him until Craig kicks him in his shin. “No, it’s fine.”
Without waiting, Clyde takes off his famous red varsity jacket to throw it at the seat against the wall before sprinting at it.
“Clyde, don’t spill the popco-popcorn,” Jimmy hisses and follows him close behind.
“I know,” he loudly whispers and crashes in his seat, balancing his popcorn quite alright.
Tweek waits for them to settle, checking his phone one more time, only then realizing that the only seat left is right next to Craig. He worries about his bottom lips and hopes the movie is very interesting so he forgets about the setting. His breathing is too loud, almost wheezing, as he sits down and mourns that he never did any squats to have a good-looking ass– not that Craig would look at it but just in case. They don’t talk as Craig puts his box of popcorn between them on the seat handle and Tweek wipes his sweaty hands on the left side of his pants so he doesn’t see it.
He watches them as Craig seems to half-listen to whatever Clyde’s rambles about the previous movie and what he expects from the trailer. To not intrude, Tweek glances at the entry of the room but there is still no signs of the rest of them despite the influx of people. Kyle has the worst fashion sense ever so usually Tweek picks them in a crowd like that. Kenny says it’s Kyle’s breed of gay.
When Tweek shifts back to look at the screen, he doesn’t check where his elbow ends up–striking right into Craig’s box of popcorn. He has the reflex to bite on his lips to not scream an apology as Craig catches it without any loss; Tweek wants to kiss him again.
“Fuck— I’m sorry,” he croaks out, grabbing unconsciously the box. His fingers just brush on Craig’s before he squeaks and takes them away.
“It’s cool,” Craig says with his eyes focusing on Tweek after he glances at the popcorn. “You okay?”
“Uh— what? Yeah -argh- I’m- am fine,” he articulates with twitches between forced chuckles.
That’s it– the world is crumbling. Yup, his comfortable bubble exploded and he sort of accepts this fate.
“Do you need to drink water? Or something?”
“No, no, I’m good -ngh- sorry again.”
“Tweek, it’s fine.”
“I’m fine.”
Tweek easily guesses that he looks like he is having a heart attack; not an unusual effect around Craig but this time it seems ready to jump out of his skin. At least the brouhaha of his heartbeats cover his anxious thoughts.
Craig doesn’t add anything other than a furtive glance at him. Tweek checks his pulse on his wrist, just to be sure if it is literally his body vibrating or the seat started to do it by himself.
“Hey.” His guts tells Tweek to gulp up his tongue but it doesn’t work. He glances up, just when the first ad starts on the screen. “Popcorn?” Craig offers.
He clearly hears the ad but somehow he only sees his dark eyes, they would be dusky green with better lightning - Tweek really likes this colour. Just the idea that he is in the center of them brings a rush of high and vicious butterflies up his guts. He hopes Craig doesn’t notice his blush because he is sure can see it in the reflection in his eyes. The heat is too much for him and it creeps to parts of his body he has never felt before. It’s impossible but for a small second it feels like he is the only thing for Craig Tucker.
Fuck me please.
Tweek forces his eyes to look down at the offering but he can’t but quickly return to his stoic face.
“Uhm, if I start I will try to eat the whole thing,” he confesses under his breath. It’s all fuzzy to him and his lips buzz with too many feelings at once.
Tweek needs to get rid of these butterflies and smothering them with popcorn sounds great.
Craig blinks at him and looks at his popcorn. “I thought you were only addicted to coffee,” he comments and a small smile appears on his face. “There is enough for two so I don’t mind. I’m not that hungry.”
He took the biggest popcorn box available even though he isn’t hungry but Tweek supposes with his height he eats more in general. Another ad starts in the background, making him realize he has been dumbly staring.
Tweek tries to retrieve himself with a snort and glances down at the small opening between their seats; a thin line of abyss where he throws a long list of reasons that he could die right now, before he has the courage to look back at him.
“Wish I was,” he whispers to not say he is addicted to him and takes a small hand of popcorn after whipping his hand on his pants, “thanks.”
“Sure. Don’t eat everything, though,” Craig says with faint amusement, softly placing the box back on its initial spot.
“Can’t -ngh- promise.” His twitching has been steadily coming back, with a fierceful energy after he got blinded by Craig for a small moment.
Soon after Tweek forces himself to watch the ad, he recognizes a group of footsteps overwhelmed by an obnoxious voice. He doesn’t have to turn to recognize Cartman walking toward them and his friends start to settle down, not quite discrete. Kenny literally bumps into Tweek with a big smirk when he falls into his seat. Tweek spots Ike looking at the rest of the row before he sits down next to Kenny, followed by his brother, Stan and Cartman.
“Miss me?” Kenny purrs and crosses his legs with his knee bumping into his.
Tweek wants to agree but he doesn’t want to feed his ego and decides to sarcastically laugh. At least, he is a distraction from the tall teen next to him. He needs to catch his breath.
“What happened?” Tweek asks, keeping his volume in check.
“Cartman was still trying to fill his jacket with stuff and Kyle’s mother called us right before we were in the main street to tell us to bring Ike with us,” he explains, deepening in the seat with a satisfied sigh.
Tweek smiles at Kyle who glances at them, waving at him. He hears whispers on his left, ultimately Craig mutters back but he can’t understand any of it. Kenny needs to be his focus because Tweek is pretty sure he has a huge mark on his bottom because of how much he sweated.
“Did you text Butters?”
Kenny frowns at him, all better than thou. “Seriously? Now?” He snarls.
“I wouldn’t ask if you would have done it yesterday,” Tweek points out, not letting him have the chance to make him feel bad. “Butters asked about you, which means he doesn’t hate you.”
“I’m not going to text him,” he repeats.
“You’re stupid. Maybe he will-“ He winces at a rapid punch on his shoulder and it freezes him.
Kenny gives him a look, not changing it even when Tweek returns it. “I know what I’m do-“
Tweek pinches him and Kenny does the same. They continue to bother each other with punches or tugs and they dig into each other’s ribs.
Kenny has never been a coward, fairly reassonable and a nice and fair guy which is why Tweek can’t accept for him to become a little bitch. He is pretty sure he won’t move on from Butters even though talking would help him to decide what to do.
“Fuck off McCormick,” a rich rumbling voice interrupts them. Tweek snaps around to look at Craig, realizing that in his fight he hit his popcorn - again.
He has taken off his hat, which is probably only noticed by Tweek, because Kenny immediately focuses on the box of popcorn.
“Share Tucker,” he requests and extends his arm to grab the side of the box.
“No.” With that, Craig puts his popcorn on his thighs before he glances at Tweek, still staring at him but he quickly looks at the screen.
“You are an asshole, I’m starving here,” Kenny whines out and sticks his bottom lip out. Craig hesitates but at last he sighs and puts the box back between him and Tweek, allowing Kenny to grab a handful of popcorn. “Thanks fucker.”
Tweek is surprised by the gesture.
“Shut the fuck up, it’s starting!” Ike almost shouts at them, obviously at them before Kyle shushes him.
All of us quiet down. Tweek still doesn’t forget to get his revenge on Kenny and he decides that insisting with Butters is the way to go.