"Mom….."I whine. Mom is hugging me tightly as dad walks around my room. I can't help but notice how he seems to be taking in everything in the room. I'm not being paranoid, he is looking at everything!
"I can't help it!" she exclaims before kissing my cheek. "You're only 18 years old and on your own. I thought we would have some time." Dad pats mom back as she tries to control her tears. I must say I really like my room. It has 2 windows allowing in the perfect amount of light. I have navy blue curtains up otherwise it is really bright in here. My room is also at the end of the hall with my two best friends Clyde Donovan and Token Black. I swear renting a house together is the best idea they have ever had. The room is a 12 by 14 with me even having my own bathroom which I really like. The closet is a small walk in which is perfect. I don't have that many clothes in anyone but I still had to purchase organizers for it.
"Hmmm….." says dad picking up my clock radio on my nightstand. "Some of this stuff doesn't seem like you….." The radio isn't mine. I use my phone to wake up. I walk over taking the clock radio out of his hand.
"Gah….can't I experiment in peace!" I exclaim trying not to freak out.
"Of course you can sweetie," coos my mom rubbing my blonde hair. "Where are Clyde and Token?"
"Clyde is picking up his textbooks," I explain. "Token is over at his parents."
"Did you need any dinner?" asked my mom. "I can cook for you. Anything you have in the kitchen I can turn into a meal!"
"I got it, mom," I replied wrapping my arms around myself. I'm so ready for them to leave. Otherwise, I would be happy to have one of mom's meals. I watch dad open the closet door causing me to catch my breath.
"Alright," she says pinching my cheek lightly. I walk over closing the closet door before he can peer inside.
"Dad….my private stuff…"I mutter leaning back against the now closed door.
"So proud to see you handling business instead of chasing behind that boy," says dad placing his hands on his hips.
"His name is Craig and I'm not chasing him," I reply. "You guys may want to head back before you get stuck in traffic." Take the bait.
"That would be terrible," sighs mom. "I wish you weren't so far from us."
"I know mom but it's easier living here," I reply. "It's closer to school remember."
"We will be fine hun," smiles mom. "I'm hoping the traffic won't be as bad as we think. Let's go home." Mom walks over wrapping her arm in my dad's arm leading him out of my room. I follow close behind them walking them to the front door. Mom turns to look at me so seriously. "You can come home at any time. You still have your key."
"Yes," I reply holding the key up for her to see. My parents both hug me one last time before they are out the door. I lock it breathing a huge sigh of relief as I lean my forehead against the door. They are acting like they will never see me again. I hear footsteps behind me causing me to turn around. I look up at Craig at the top of the stairs holding Stripe his pet guinea pig.
"Man, they really don't like me," he chuckles. Craig looks less tan as he didn't spend this summer at the beach. I take in my boyfriend with his hair messy and a hat was thrown on top of it. He looks good in his summer flannel shirt over top of his white tee and skinny jeans. Still toned with the right amount of muscle and leanness that I love so much. He is wearing some Superman socks on his feet currently.
"I try to tell them you're a good person but they won't listen….." I mutter as Craig comes down the steps. He leans over kissing my forehead causing me to swoon.
"I appreciate you trying babe," he replies. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah," I reply following Craig to our kitchen. "I want ramen." Craig can fix store ramen like it is real ramen, so delicious.
"Alright," says Craig. "I can prepare it for you if you hold Stripe."
"Gahhhh, not ready!" I squeal. Craig laughs.
"Stripe likes you," he replies. "You should relax more around him. Isn't that right Stripe." He is holding Stripe up close to his face as if he is going to give him a kiss. Nothing against his guinea pig, I'm afraid to feel his claws in my hand. What if I might drop him or what if he poos or pees on me. God way too much pressure. I would rather avoid any of that and forgo holding him. Craig walks out of the kitchen to go to put Stripe back in his cage that he was hiding in Clyde's room while my parents visited. We shouldn't have to worry about them showing up too often since we are almost an hour away from South Park. I go and grab two packs of noodles thinking about how this past summer has been awesome. We weren't at the beach but moving into this rented house with my friends is the best thing we could have ever done.
I met Craig Tucker my boyfriend at a beach in Texas where my parents invested in a timeshare at. Craig is from New York but his aunt won the lottery purchasing a beach house. We only got to hang out one week a year in the summer. We went from being friends to best friends to boyfriends. He surprised me 3 months ago showing up here to live. I feel like my life is complete. I love that guy more than life itself. I smile to myself thinking about how he had to live with Token and sneak around town avoiding my parents until we moved into this house.
"What are you smiling for?" asked Craig walking into the kitchen.
"Nothing," I reply. "I'm just really happy." Craig smiles at me.
"I see," he says walking over to the sink to wash his hands before handling the noodles. "God I don't want to work tomorrow." Craig installs security systems in people's homes. It is not what he wants to do but he really liked the pay they advertised. He was more surprised when he interviewed and found out that was the pay wasn't bait. Me, on the other hand, I still work at my parent's coffee shop.
"Me neither," I reply. "At least you don't have to drive almost an hour to get to work. Totally worth it though." I like working in my parent's coffee shop. I know all our customers, how everything works, I feel comfortable in the shop as I did at home before dad started acting crazy.
"Agreed," says Craig grabbing a pot. "Do you think my style is so different from yours? Your parents seem to know that everything in that room is not yours."
"I'm rather plain if you can't tell," I reply. "You tend to dabble in a lot of colors." Craig smiles as he starts on the food. It doesn't take long to prepare which I am super happy about. Craig already prepped some egg and pork to add to the ramen. We are sitting down at the table when Token comes through the door.
"Hey guys," he greets. Token just recently died his hair a light brown color. I hate it because it makes him look weird to me.
"Sup," says Craig before blowing on his noodles.
"How did the visit go?" asked Token stopping front of the table.
"Good," replies Craig. "I hid out in Clyde's room with Stripe." Token chuckles before turning to look at me.
"You're not living at home now Tweek," says Token looking at me. "You should tell your parents that you're in love, your dating Craig and he lives here."
"No," I replied shaking my head no. I would never hear the end of it from dad. I start to shake a little just thinking about it. Craig's hand on my leg calms me a little.
"Sorry," apologizes Token. "I just know I would hate hiding my relationship at this point in time."
"Just because Nicole wanted to hide the fact she was dating you doesn't mean you should take it out of me," I reply. I see hurt flash in Token's eyes.
"Whatever Tweek," he mutters before heading out of the kitchen. I feel a little bad because I know I hurt him.
"Whoa….." says Craig. "Who is Nicole?" I sigh feeling really bad that I said that.
"That is his ex," I reply. "Her dad didn't want her dating African American guys."
"Are you serious?" asked Craig. "Like what is she?"
"She's African American," I reply. Craig scoffs.
"The hell?" he questions. I shake my head.
"I long ago stopped trying to understand it," I replied. "I know Nicole said her dad didn't mind her dating guys of the same race but thought she was only dating him because he was."
"That sounds retarded," drones Craig. "What the fuck is wrong with the people in South Park?"
"I don't know," I reply before getting some noodles on my fork. "He really loved her though. She had them sneaking around and he got tired of it. Nicole didn't want to tell her dad that caused Token to end the relationship."
"Oh….." says Craig. "Well, I can see how this would be hard for him with me kind of sneaking around."
"You're not sneaking around anymore," I reply. "W-we have our own space now." Craig smiles.
"That we do," he agrees. "And your parents are far away." I smiled nodding my head in agreement. This is going to work. I just need a little more time to get my parents to see Craig is a great guy.