Lights of the City
Chapter one: Late to Class
Tweek Tweak rolled over in his bed, squinting at the rays of sunlight that streamed through the cracks in his blinds. That's strange…the sun isn't usually up when he is. Shrugging it off, he sits up sleepily and rubs one of his neon green eyes. Sighing, Tweek swings his legs off the bed and gets up, glancing at the clock out of habit. He does a double take. "F-fuck shit!" He shouts, rushing to his closet and tugging on a light green button up shirt. It was already nine o'clock, school stared right now. He buttoned up the shirt hastily, missing a few and placing them in the wrong spots.
He pulled on his gray skinny jeans, hopping on one foot while slipping on the other pant leg. Tweek didn't wear skinny jeans because he liked them, although they did look rather good on him, he merely wore them because they fit better and he didn't have to wear a belt. Shoving his arms through the black blazer laying on his desk chair, he grabbed a pair of socks and jumped the last five steps on the stairs. Tweek's mother was in the kitchen, apparently not noticing her son was late for school. "Hello dear," she said sweetly, washing another bowl and setting it down to dry.
Tweek gave her an irritated look before sitting on a kitchen chair and reaching for his black high top Vans. "Coffee in my thermos please mom, and just a granola bar, I'm running late," He said, lacing up the shoes as quickly as he could. He had lost the stutter long ago, but still shook and twitched normally. His mother glanced at the clock on the stove and gasped. She poured a good amount of black coffee into his silver thermos and grabbed a granola bar, handing it to her son quickly. Tweek grabbed them, kissed his mother on the cheek, and then he sprinted toward the door.
"Are you sure you don't want a ride?" His mother called from the doorway. Tweek flinched, he may be running late but there was no way in hell he would get a ride with her. Mrs. Tweak was known throughout South Park for her insane driving. He decided he's spare an unfortunate cross-walker his life and run to school.
Waving, he called out "No, it's alright I'll walk!" His mother gave him a wary look before going back inside. Once Tweek was sure she wasn't looking, he started running as fast as he could. He arrived at his school several minutes later, panting heavily and gasping for breath, he glanced at the slim watch on his wrist, 9:13 not too bad. Smiling slightly, he walked into the office and signed a sheet of paper. The office lady handed him a tardy slip, looking rather bored. Tweek quietly thanked her and walked toward class, taking a swing of coffee before entering.
"Oh, Tweek, I thought you'd be absent," Mr. Rudder said, giving Tweek a grin before taking the slip of paper from him. Mr. Rudder was the coolest teacher on campus, only in his late twenty's and he was always cracking jokes, he was also very nice. Tweek took his usual spot next to the window and sighed, drinking more of his coffee thankfully. The coffee was smooth and bitter; it sent an electric jolt through him as it slid down his throat. A girl named Annie smiled and waved at him from across the room. Starting around the 7th grade, he'd become more popular with the students. Not that he wanted all that attention; it was too much pressure man.
"Alright everyone, I've got something you're all going to love!" Mr. Rudder said, sitting on the top of his desk. The students sat up straighter in their seats, excited about what the teacher had in store. He smirked at all the bright faces. "Were going on a field trip to New York City!" A few people gasped, others cheered, and some just looked confused. Tweek smiled to himself, holding up his chin in the palm of his hand. New York City, the city that never sleeps, the city of dreams, the city of adventure. Seemed good enough to him. There was one flaw though; they would have to take a plane there. Tweek was deathly afraid of airplanes, even more so than underpants gnomes, and that was saying something. The end product may be worth it, but the trip there would be hell.
"I've assigned your roommates and travel buddies for the trip already," Mr. Rudder continued, grabbing a file from behind him and opening it. He smirked down at the writing and shot a sly glance at Tweek. The blonde boy jumped, what the hell was that for? "You will be with this person at all times during the trip, no exceptions, you will be sharing a room, eating together, and going out into the city together. You are responsible for you buddy as they are for you. You'll even sit together on the plane." Tweek flinched at the word, horrible crash scenarios flashing in his mind. Mr. Rudder gave the class a wicked grin. "I've personally picked every pair," he said and chuckled. The class shivered in fear at the face their teacher was making.
"Wendy and BeBe, Clyde and Token, Stan and Kyle, Kenny and Butters, Cartman's by himself," Mr. Rudder read off the list, smirking at the fat boy as the classroom erupted in laughter. "Red and Annie, Pip and Damien, Christophe and Gregory, Jimmy and Timmy… Craig and Tweek." Tweek's eyes widened to twice their normal size. He was partnered with Craig? Craig Tucker?! The raven haired teen had never tried to hide his distaste for the blonde boy and he wasn't about to hide it now.
Craig raised his hand above his head, surprisingly calm. This was even worse than him being angry. Mr. Rudder attempted to suppress his laugh when he called on the blue hated boy. "Mr. Rudder, excuse me, but what the fuck. I don't want to be stuck with him," Craig said in a monotone, pointing a thin finger at Tweek who was cowering slightly in his desk. The teacher giggled quietly behind his hand.
"I'm sorry Craig, but you have to deal with in, for the whole week long trip," he said, amusement thick in his voice. Craig's eyebrow rose, and his hands clenched into two fists.
"Whatever," he replied meekly, going back to doodling in his notebook. Calm Craig was by far the scariest thing in the world. Even Clyde and Token, his best friends, did not talk to him for the rest of class, afraid of what might happen. The bell rang and Tweek hesitantly rose from his seat, walking up quietly to Mr. Rudder's desk.
"I'm sorry sir, but is there anything you could do to change these arrangements?" Tweek asked, hands clasped nervously on the buttons of his shirt. Mr. Rudder shook his head and patted Tweek on the shoulder, silently wishing the scrawny boy good luck. Even Mr. Rudder knew it was dangerous to fuck with Craig Tucker. Tweek's brow furrowed, but he nodded and walked out of the classroom. Craig was standing by the door, counting the remaining cigarettes in his pack. He stood, shifting from foot to foot and debating whether he should keep walking or try to talk to him.
"Craig, I-" Tweek said, getting cut off by a single raised finger and an ice cold glare.
"Shut your mouth Twitch, whatever you've got to say I don't want to hear it, now leave," Craig said menacingly. Tweek gulped loudly and run off in the opposite direction of his second period class.
***
Tweek stared at the big sign above the ticket counter, you know, the one that told you if your plane was delayed. He scanned it until he found the correct one. New York City Gate 213B, leaving as scheduled at 10:45 am. He frowned, hoping the flight would have been delayed. Sighing, he walked back to the bench where the rest of his class was waiting and sat, drinking deeply from his coffee cup. Craig glared at him from a few seats away, refusing to sit next to him until absolutely necessary.
Butters walked over and sat next to Tweek, rubbing his shoulder soothingly. "You're going to be fine Tweek, Craig won't be too bad," Butters said, glancing at the boy in question. Craig flipped him off and went back to his video game. Butters, Tweek's best friend, always knew what to say. He smiled up sadly at the enthusiastic blonde, nodding in agreement although he knew Butter's was wrong.
Mr. Rudder walked back to the class, a long sheet of tickets clasped in his hands. He grinned at his students, Craig looked pissed, Tweek looked like he was going to be sick, Butters looked happy, Kenny was looking at porn, and Stan and Kyle were holding hands anxiously. Perfect. "Alright kids, when I call your name come and get your ticket," he said, grinning wildly. Tweek shuddered, shrinking back into his seat. "Tweek and Craig come get your tickets," He said, holding up two skinny papers. He gulped, glancing at Craig nervously and stepping forward.
Mr. Rudder handed them their tickets and leaned in close. "You two will sit together, whether you like it or not," He said, pointing at two empty seats across the way. Craig clenched his teeth so hard that Tweek could hear them scraping together. He sat on the hard plastic seat, staring out the huge windows and holding his breath as another plane took off.
Craig stared at him. He watched the way Tweek's green eyes watered up when a plane's engine roared. The way his hands were clasped so tightly together on his lap that they looked whiter than they already were. Tweek blinked quickly, drying up the tears in his eyes. Craig turned away before Tweek could notice he was staring.
A woman in a uniform whispered something to Mr. Rudder quietly. "Alright, let's get going kids!" He said clapping. Butters squealed happily, grabbing Kenny's hand and tugging him toward the flight entrance. Tweek stayed glued to his seat, staring at the gate with a horrified face. Craig sighed and grabbed the blonde's skinny wrist and pulling him to the gate.
"Craig please, I don't want to go! I'm just going home, let go!" Tweek cried, attempting to release Craig's grasp on his wrist. The raven haired boy shook his head and shoved their tickets in the ticket woman's hands. She raised an eyebrow at Tweek, who was jittery and sweating, but put on a fake smile and allowed them to board. Craig glanced at the tickets, they were in the back.
"Take the window," Craig said, shoving Tweek in front of him. Tweek sat down, glancing at the window, flinching and pulling the shade shut. Craig laughed quietly to himself, watching Tweek as he buckled his seat-belt and clamped his hands on the armrests. The flight attendant went through the safety procedures and happened to mention the term "crash landing." Tweek went bat shit.
"God were going to die oh Christ we're going to crash and die and explode and there are terrorists and they want me dead oh god oh god oh god," He said in a rush, pulling his knees to his chest and clawing at his hair. Craig sighed and laid back into his seat, wrapping one arm around Tweek's shoulders. He froze, shaking and looking up at Craig through his bangs. Craig looked away, checking to make sure no one was watching. Tweek smiled to himself, and calmed slightly.
The plane began to take off, and Tweek tensed, breathing in ragged, short breaths. "Tweek, relax," Craig whispered fiercely in the blonde's ear. Tweek attempted to calm himself, breathing slower and closing his eyes. Finally they were allowed to remove their seatbelts. Craig took his arm off like it was on fire. Another flight attendant walked down the aisle, answering questions and serving drinks.
"Anything for you two?" she asked them, she looked at Tweek up and down and grinned wider. Creep, thought Craig irritably, glaring at the woman. For some reason, this lady looking at Tweek like that made Craig unbearably angry.
"Just a coffee, please," he said sweetly, smiling at the woman. Her grin grew even creepier, but Tweek was oblivious to it.
"Make that two," Craig said coldly to the lady, who nodded and walked away. Craig glanced at Tweek, who was happily drawing in a bright notebook. The woman returned, trying to hand Tweek his coffee. "I'll take it," Craig said, grabbing the two coffees and glaring at her until she left. He startled Tweek by pulling down the plastic tray in front of him.
"Here," he said bluntly, setting the coffee down in front of the skinny blonde. Tweek smiled at him, small pink lips curving upward.
"Thank you Craig," he said, wrapping his fingers around the cup. He tilted his head back, swallowing the coffee quickly. Tweek put the empty cup down, frowning at it slightly.
Craig smiled despite himself at Tweek's obvious confusion that his coffee was already gone. "Here," Craig said, placing the other in front of him. Tweek looked even more confused.
"But…but this is your coffee," he said, staring at the hot cup. Craig laughed, but lowered his voice when a few others gave him annoyed glares.
"I got it for you retard," he said, laughing quietly. Tweek blinked, and then gave Craig a huge grin. He sipped the coffee, smiling to himself. Maybe Craig really is going to be okay… Tweek thought.
A few hours later, Mr. Rudder walked up and down the aisles, taking pictures of kids who'd fallen asleep. He reached Craig and Tweek's seat and smiled. Earlier there had been a bit of turbulence, and Tweek of course freaked out. Craig grabbed his hands, intertwining their fingers to calm the smaller boy. They'd fallen asleep, hands still clasped. Tweek's head rested lightly on Craig's shoulder. Craig's head lay onto of Tweek's, and a blanket had been thrown over them both.
Mr. Rudder flashed his camera and walked back to his seat. These pictures were going to look great in the yearbook.
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Woot! Chapter one is done!
I worked pretty hard on this, I hope it's okay.
Review please?