Tweek had just finished picking off the rest of his weekend nail polish and rubbing the blurriness out of his right eye when he heard an all familiar knock on his door. It was a Monday, and Monday meant that Craig was going to walk with him. His taller, deadpan once-best friend always walked with him on Mondays, mainly because it meant that Tweek's parents would have made hot chocolate, and not coffee. Stowing away his glasses, grabbing his bag and throwing it over his shoulder, Tweek grabbed the two full cups and opened the door. Surprisingly, he wasn't greeted by Craig.
« Hey, dude, got a minute? »
A voice asked, as Tweek realised who it was. The average height male, dressed in all black with silver studs except for a white button up, hair still sporting a red splash onto the black fringe; this was Pete. Tweek nodded, and handed his friend the other cup of hot chocolate, looking around as he exited his house and stepped down the stairs. Down the street, Craig was turning the block, but the blonde knew that the boy wouldn't catch up to him with Pete walking with him.
« What's up? »
Tweek replied, his taller friend usually didn't talk to him at school, or walk with him. The other goths must be mad at him, he thought, that's why he's walking with me today. Pete ruffled his hair and took a sip of the beverage, sighing before he replied.
« Euhhh…I've got it bad, man, »
The blonde looked him over, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. The goth noticed this, and chuckled softly.
« My crush on Michael, it's getting really bad. I walked past his house and saw him with that chick he's been with, and I got anxious and angry… How do you deal with your crush on Craig? »
So that's why Pete came to him, he realised as he heard his friend let out a small laugh of embarrassment. It was rather well known that the short blonde boy was gay, though not everyone knew it. Tweek was close friends with the girls and even though he was kept around by his other friends, him being so well accepted by Wendy Testaburger and Bebe Stevens is what outed him to most people. Even at seventeen, few boys were truly good friends with the girls. Unless they were dating one, flirting with one, or gay, the women of South Park High barely paid the guys any mind. Tweek also had himself to blame for being outed, him occasionally wearing rainbow stickers on his cheeks didn't exactly say « I'm straight! »
« Maybe you should spend some time apart from him, » The blonde began softly, « You can always hang out with me, you know. »
The reassurance helped the goth boy smile. They don't hang out in school because of the whole goth, and gay, thing. Pete didn't want to seem like he was actually friendly. The pair smiled and kept walking, eventually making their way to the school's entrance. Pete ushered his friend inside the school so he could smoke, and to let Tweek have ample time to separate himself from the goth.
Tweek adjusted his shirt slightly; he hated button ups yet wouldn't dare wear his favourite outfit at school. The first time he wore cut-offs and a tank top with a large zip-up hoodie over it, he got called a faggot at least seven times, and got beat up by the seniors and Cartman. No matter how much Wendy and Red told him he looked cute and that he shouldn't listen to what the other guys have to say, he still wouldn't put it back on. The only time you'd ever see the blonde wearing his true style was if he was going out on a date, going somewhere with the girls, or at home. All other times, he was on guard. It wasn't without merit, however, as he was often the target of manipulation at the hands of Eric Cartman.
The boy had mellowed out over the years, thanks to the medication his psychiatrist prescribed to help control his anxiety and paranoia. It wasn't just the medicine, however, as he finally felt comfortable with his group of friends and he trusted them all, so he didn't need to be so worried. Still an insomniac, though, he would occasionally get so tired that his medicine didn't have an effect, and he would shake like an earthquake and breathe like he'd just sprinted through a marathon. Luckily enough, his friends were always there for him, no matter how ridiculous the situation.
As he entered his homeroom he spotted Bebe, another blonde and taller than him, sitting at his desk. In a red shirt and black leggings, she reached towards him and plastered a rainbow heart sticker onto the blonde's cheek as he approached. Tweek smiled as one of his closest friends hugged him and switched to sit on the top of his desk instead of in the seat. Despite being happy, the lack of caffeine in his body was causing him to shake, and he knew Bebe would think he's anxious.
« So, what's new Tweekers? »
Bebe asked, checking her phone as the vibrating teenager downed the last of his drink and tossed it about a foot into the trash can.
« Pete might sit with us today, » Tweek began, « He's having it rough. »
As they were the only two in the classroom, they didn't mind talking out loud for once. No one knew Bebe was bi, and no one knew Pete was also gay. This connection made the unlikely trio great friends, despite the very different cliques they all came from. Bebe tilted her head, eyeing up the boy.
« Did he do it? »
« Nope. His crush is dating someone now. »
« Poor guy, » Bebe sighed, « I'll try to get him to sit with us at lunch. »
She hopped off of Tweek's desk as the first bell rang, telling everyone to go to their homerooms within five minutes. Their teacher hated when desks were sat upon, so it was her duty to get to her seat before she'd get caught. Someway, somehow, their teacher had followed them into high school, but he wasn't any better at teaching. Homeroom was a bore, but at least it took care of thirty minutes and allowed him time to recheck his homework.
An incoming text from Wendy broke his focus as he noticed his screen light up. ‹ How are you? › Tweek smiled softly, Wendy always asked him that, every morning, since the day two years ago that he told her that he was suicidal. She was deeply worried, and of course, would always ask him for his true feelings. ‹ i'm doing alright today, › he sent, pausing before typing again ‹ nothing new, nothing old. i think craig is a bit upset that he didn't get his hot chocolate today. › He saw the read receipt pop up, and he could practically feel his friend laugh through cyberspace. ‹ And why is that, Tweek? › her response was swift. ‹ a different friend was walking with me today, had some stuff he needed off of his chest, and craig didn't bother trying to catch up to us. › The boy replied, trying to not spill Pete's cover, after all, the goth had an image to keep up. When no reply came, he drifted back off into his work.
As the class filled fuller and fuller with juniors, Tweek nearly missed when he tossed a note at his fellow blonde across the room. The note was crucial to their day tomorrow, and if he missed…well, he might get beat up…again. Bebe grabbed the crumpled paper, read it, then stuffed it into her pocket, nodding at him from four seats away. And with that, their day tomorrow was planned.
While the day went on, Tweek found himself more and more eager for tomorrow. Instead of on the weekend, him, Bebe, and Pete were all going to fake sick and congregate in Tweek's basement for their weekly club meeting. The GOTU, also known as Gays of the Underground, was their secret, three person club where they could be as open as ever. Talks about sex, crushes, experiences, nudes and fashion were guaranteed. Half the time, the trio would just sit and talk about things, ranging from their week to their fantasies, the other half was filled with dancing, nail painting, and covering songs from their childhood years. Being in a small mountain town, the people wasn't very accepting of other sexualities, no matter what they told others.
The GOTU is their escape, where they can be themselves to the audience of three. Without the GOTU, Tweek didn't know how he'd survive or suppress his urges of dressing like, acting like, and talking about what he wanted to. Their little club was the best place for them to release everything that would normally get them pummelled. It also was a great place to bond, eat food, watch porn together, and talk about their crushes without the pressure of anyone else knowing. Pete liked it for that reason, he could go outside of his restrictive goth label then return as he walked out the door. Bebe probably liked it for the same reason, she could enter and leave without worry of any word escaping.
Lunch came swiftly as it ever could've, and Tweek had his usual choice of foods. It's always two apples, a few pretzels, a thermos of coffee from the cafeteria line, and his mom's fruit sandwich. He took his seat next to Red and across from Bebe and Wendy, as Heidi and Nicole sat down as well. Almost on cue, Kenny McCormick approached the table, and started attempting to flirt with Heidi and Red. He could feel the guilt coming from Kenny, yet when they made eye contact, Tweek pulled away instantly after seeing the other blonde boy frown. He lost his trust, he wasn't about to give in again for no reason. Tweek bit into his french toast-fruit sandwich and breathed away his stress.
« Hey, coffee cake, » a familiar voice cooed, tapping Tweek on the shoulder and sitting down next to him. « Mind if I sit here? »
The smaller boy smiled and scooted over a bit to let the goth have more room. Bebe and Wendy started striking up conversation, as Tweek retreated to his phone. The feeling of two piercing eyes made him look around, but he didn't find anyone looking at him. A small sigh escaped the blonde as his mind wandered to places he normally didn't let it. Was Craig looking at him, angry about this morning? Could it have been the other goths looking for their friend, only to see him sitting next to the twitchy blonde who used to give them free coffee? Was it just his paranoia coming back? Shaking his head slightly, Bebe caught his eye and snapped him back into reality.
« Tweeeek, you okay? »
Bebe's sing-song tone was only used if she was worried about him.
« Yeah, yeah I'm alright. »
He replied, smiling softly. Bebe knew him better than this, though, and smiled, tilting her head to direct his attention to the goth next to him. To his surprise, Pete was beaming and laughing, and he saw his friend's brown eyes light up gold. Success, Tweek thought, Sweet success.
As the school day dragged to a close, Tweek started his journey home. He had to…prepare. Tomorrow was a day where he had to fake sick in order for it to work, and with his straight A- and B average, his parents would let him stay home. With a headphone in, the blonde played some of his favourite songs as he walked, only to close his eyes for a moment and ran straight into a warm, soft wall. He darted back and apologised immediately, before he could even get a look at who it was.
« It's okay, Tweek, » a nasal, monotone voice reassured the flustered blonde, « I shouldn't have walked into you, but you dropped something. »
« Uh, » Tweek looked up at the six foot and four inch tall boy towering over him, a slight blush running up his cheeks, and took hold of the item. It was a small journal with a skull printed on it.
« This isn't mine, did it fall out of my backpack? »
« Yeah, when you left the school, I thought I'd catch up to you, » Craig started, putting his hands in his jacket's pockets. « if it's nothing, then.. » The taller boy trailed off, Tweek wondered why as he opened the journal; it was Pete's.
« OH I know who's this is! He must've put it in my bag by mistake, » Tweek smiled, hiding his blush under the embarrassment of running into his taller friend.
« Can I ask you something? » Craig said, instantly as Tweek started to walk away.
« Yes? »
« Are you gay? »
The taller boy gestured to the rainbow heart sticker on Tweek's cheek.
« I thought you knew that. »
He covered the sticker with his hand, bits of pastel purple nail polish near his cuticle.
« I wasn't sure, but I heard that goth boy call you ‹ Coffee cake › and thought I'd ask »
Tweek blushed harder, Youth by Troye Sivan hitting his ears through the one headphone.
« Yeah, Pete's a good friend of mine, he always stops by the coffee shop, »
By that point, though, Craig had started walking away. Tweek looked back, but blew it off. He probably had to go back to the school for football practice anyhow, and it's not like he ever was one to be friendly.
When he got home, Tweek took off his button up shirt and threw on a large black hoodie with the Denver Zoo's logo on it and put on navy blue shorts to just relax in. He had to make himself sick somehow, or at least appear sick. He went back downstairs and made some coffee after telling Pete that he found his journal. After relaxing for about thirty minutes and playing on his 3DS, he heard a knock at the door and approached it, nervous about random knocks during the day.
« Tweekers… » A brown-eyed blonde in an orange winter jacket was standing at the door, his hand on his neck as he avoided eye contact with the boy in the house.
« K-Kenny, what's up? »
Tweek honestly didn't know why Kenny would be stopping at his house, unless he was here to offer him drugs or try to get back together. It was really the poor boy's fault, no matter how much Kenny asked to get back together, or how genuine he was, he still had accepted a bet and entered the relationship for money.
« I know I'm an asshole, dude, I know, » he started again, « but I wanted to come by to just…apologise, again. You're one of the sweetest people I know, one of the most loyal too, and I don't know why I ever took that for granted. »
The shorter blonde had heard it all before, Kenny said the same thing when they originally broke up about three weeks ago. A two month relationship started because of Cartman betting Kenny that I would date him, the boy remembered. Kenny stood with his hands hidden, and he waited patiently for Tweek to speak again.
« I don't really think I c-care, whether you're genuinely sorry or not, that really stung, man, »
Tweek stuttered, trying to keep himself from getting pulled back into the sadness that accompanied the betrayal. Kenny sighed and his eyebrows drooped, before walking back down the steps of the porch. He watched him leave, before returning to his coffee and couch. He was playing Super Mario, but he couldn't use the 3D due to his eye issue. Perhaps he'd finally beat Bowser this time, before he got a headache.
The night drove on as the blonde waited for his parents to return home, but when he got the normal « We're running late! » text, he knew he would either have to cook for himself or order something. Not even two years ago, he would't've ever set foot in the kitchen with the intention of cooking something, he was far too jittery and anxious. One of the plus sides of his medication, he believed, was that he could now learn to cook. The boy wasn't the best at cooking, but everything he made was edible and Pete always complimented it. He decided to throw together some vegetables and ranch, as opposed to actually cooking, but it would curb his hunger.
Tweek decided to watch his favourite Norwegian drama, Skam, and go on twitter to end his night. Clyde's contact lit up his phone as he received a text from his friend. ‹ Hey, dude › it read, as he wondered why Clyde would be texting him at eleven at night. ‹ hi, what's up? › there was a small pause as the boy noticed the three dots popping up. ‹ Well, Bebe told me you're a virgin? › Oh mother fucker, Tweek hissed to himself, he had told Bebe that during last week's GOTU meeting, and it was supposed to stay secret. It's not that he was embarrassed, he hadn't been dating anyone seriously, but she shouldn't have told him. Tweek nervously typed back, ‹ yeah? what about it? › and braced himself for the laughter of his chubbier brown-haired friend. ‹ I wanted to ask if you wanted to try something with us, like you know, a threesome or something. › His face lit up like a christmas tree and he took a few seconds before replying back. ‹ i'll uh, › he typed, ‹ i'll think about it. › He could practically feel his friend smile, after all, Clyde was one of the biggest perverts in the class. ‹ Alright, HMU if you decide. ›
Tweek quickly realised tomorrow would be more than just scrolling through porn on twitter and singing along to whatever Taylor Swift album Bebe would bring.