The rest of the week flies by in a blur of makeup work and continued attempts at ignoring the rumor mill. Craig is happy to find that the rumors have quieted down by the time the weekend rolls around. The happiness is short-lived though when he figures out that Token and Tweek had made plans to ambush him and drag him to the first game of the season (only finding out after they had gotten him in the car and driven half way to the school.)

"I don't know why I agreed to come here," Craig sighs, blowing into his hands, the sneer on his face having stuck there since he first figured out where they were going. He's nestled between Token and Tweek near the front row, shivering slightly in the cold.

Token nudges his arm. "You can't spend the rest of your life avoiding Clyde, man." He cheers as the football team starts to file out, doing their run of the field.

Tweek claps along, looking at Craig. "He's right. It's not healthy to avoid your problems."

Craig rolls his eyes, giving Tweek a look of disbelief. "You do that all the time!"

Tweek only shrugs, giving him a little smile. "Yeah, but we're not talking about me. We're talking about you. Besides, look at how I turned out." Craig doesn't know if the little twitch at the end of his sentence is real or not, but he laughs anyway. He only laughs harder when Tweek flips him off.

"Which one is Clyde again? Maybe I can throw something at him." Craig huddles in on himself, watching as the team groups up.

Token sighs. "Twelve, and no."

Craig frowns at him. "Boo."

Token laughs, standing up. "Tweek, keep an eye on him. I'm going to go get nachos." Tweek nods at him, sitting closer to Craig.

Craig scans the jersey numbers until he spots number twelve, startling a bit when he sees that Clyde is already looking his way. Craig averts his gaze, looking back at Tweek instead, who gives him a small smile. He smiles briefly in return before focusing his gaze on his lap. He only trusts himself to look back on the field once he hears the team begin to move to their starting positions.

Token returns with his nachos after the first down, taking a seat on Craig's other side. "Did you behave yourself?"

Craig rolls his eyes. "Yes, mother."

Craig never considered himself to be someone with an overwhelming supply of school spirit. He hardly ever attends any games, and he spends most pep rallies out back smoking. Even so, he finds it difficult to not cheer along with the crowd when the team makes a good play. He claps with Token and Tweek and tries not to feel like a complete tool.

He dips out for a bit once the cheerleaders take the field. He can't summon enough school spirit to watch that shit. He huddles under the bleachers with his cigarette, keeping an eye out for any wandering teachers. He's looking up at the people sitting above him, trying to see if he can recognize anyone by their shoes, when he's startled by a hand on his shoulder.

He whips around, choking on cigarette smoke, only to find Kenny standing with a smile on his face. "What's up?"

Craig scowls, wiping the stray tears from his eyes. "What do you want, McCormick?"

Kenny swipes the cigarette from between his fingers, ignoring Craig's protests as he slips it between his own lips. "Hostile, aren't you? I was just seeing what you were doing." Kenny shrugs his shoulders, blowing smoke out his nose. "We haven't really talked at all this week."

Craig rolls his eyes, digging his pack out of his pocket. He lights up a new one, moving to lean against one of the metal beams. "Maybe I've been avoiding you."

Kenny moves closer, leaning against Craig's side. "Why would you wanna do that?" He glances up at Craig from under his hood, tossing the cigarette butt into the snow.

"I'm not. I said maybe I was." Craig turns his gaze back to people's shoes. He thinks he sees a pair of green high tops that he's sure belong to Kyle.

Kenny sighs, nudging Craig in the side. "Are you okay? You know, with everything?"

Craig looks back at him, an eyebrow raised. "Yeah, why?"

"Are you sure? Because, I mean, if people are giving you trouble or anything, I can throw down," Kenny says with a smile. He moves away from Craig's side so he can stand in front of him instead. "I know I don't look like much, but I can kick ass." He mimics some really awful karate moves that leave Craig doubled over in laughter.

"Dude stop. I got it." Craig stifles the rest of his laughter as Kenny moves back to his side. "I can handle it, man. Don't worry about it."

Kenny doesn't look so sure, but gives him a smile anyway. "If you say so. I'm here for you though. If you need anything, you can always call me."

Craig smiles back and nods. In spite of everything they've been through, he does know Kenny has always had his best interests at heart. He's one of the most selfless people Craig knows. Craig of course would never tell him that, but he thinks Kenny knows anyway. "Thank you," he says giving Kenny one last smile before flicking his cigarette butt. "I should get back."

Kenny nods, giving him a brief wave. "Yeah, me too. I'd be surprised if Cartman and Kyle haven't killed each other yet."

Craig waves him off before heading out from under the bleachers, making his way back to the front row. He stops dead when he sees the big white number twelve hovering in front of Token and Tweek. He considers going back under the bleachers or maybe finding Kenny instead, but no. Tweek is right. He can't run from his problems forever. He can't run from Clyde Donovan forever, so he swallows hard and steels his nerves, walking straight back to his seat. He brushes past Donovan without an apology, dropping himself down onto the unforgiving metal.

Clyde doesn't even look at him. He goes right back to his conversation with Token, a conversation Token doesn't seem all that interested in. It's only after Token brushes him off that Clyde turns his attention on Craig, an unreadable look on his face.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Craig scowls, crossing his arms over his chest. "No."

Clyde rolls his eyes but backs away a bit. "Just for a second," he says, nodding his head in the direction from which Craig came.

Craig huffs, shoving himself to his feet. "Jesus Christ, fine." He storms off before Clyde can say anything else, going back behind the bleachers instead of under them. The last thing he needs is to be spotted going under the bleachers with Donovan.

Clyde fidgets once they get there, looking past the fence at the woods behind the field. It's only once Craig has almost lost his patience that he finally speaks. "What are you doing here?"

Craig raises an eyebrow, leaning back against the fence. "Watching the game. What the fuck else would I be doing here?" He crosses his arms again to keep them still. He has an unfortunate habit of gesturing too much when he's angry.

Clyde sighs, shaking his head. "You know I'm with Bebe now."

Craig shrugs. "Congratulations. What the fuck does that have to do with me?"

Clyde merely gives him a pitying look, stepping closer. Craig can feel his hands balling into fists already. "Well, I know you like me, and I'm just gonna tell you, whatever you thought was going to happen between us, it's not. It would never work."

Craig is completely silent, dumbfounded. "Are you fucking for real?"

Clyde sighs again, patting Craig's shoulder as Craig continues to give him a confused stare. "You don't have to pretend, you know. I know what happened at the party, and-"

Craig cuts him off with a raise of his hand, the confusion only growing. "I don't think you do remember what happened at the party. YOU sought ME out. YOU kissed ME first. And you fucking told me you loved me. I didn't make that shit up."

Clyde shakes his head again. "Look Craig, I know you're just trying to pretend nothing happened. Like you weren't at fault for anything, but it happened. And now I'm with Bebe, so you have to let it go."

Craig let's out a sharp laugh, moving away from the fence and taking quick strides past Clyde. "Dude, you are seriously fucked in the head. I don't want you. I never fucking did. Honestly there is no one in this school that I hate more than you right now."

Clyde looks hurt for a second before trying to cover it up. "Craig…"

Craig silences him again. "Fucking save it. I don't want anything to fucking do with you, so please, just leave me the fuck alone." He turns away before Clyde can say anything else, leaving the field completely. He knows Token and Tweek will probably be upset he ditched them, but he can't bring himself to watch the rest of the game.

He sends Token a quick text to let him know he's not coming back as he walks home, his head swimming with anger.

He doesn't know what the hell Donovan is thinking. He couldn't have been so stoned that he doesn't remember anything at all. Not to mention the fact that he seems to think Craig is in love with him, even with the bruise from their earlier confrontation still standing out starkly on his cheek. Craig fights the overwhelming urge to break something, digging out a new cigarette instead and lighting up. He purposefully ignores his phone's buzzing the whole way home.

By the time he makes it to his front door he's freezing and worn out enough to not feel anything at all. He kicks his shoes off and throws his coat on the floor, going straight to his room and locking the door behind him. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and tosses it on the bedspread, ignoring the messages from Token and Tweek in favor of crawling under the covers.

He hears a knock on his door a few minutes later but ignores it, sighing when he hears the lock pop open. He doesn't even know why he bothers locking it. Ruby has been able to pick the lock since she was seven.

He glances up at her from under his blanket nest, trying not to look too miserable. He can tell he's failed when Ruby sighs, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. She crosses her legs under herself and swipes a pillow from him, hugging it to her chest. "What's wrong?"

Craig shrugs. "Nothing."

Ruby gives him that look she gets when she knows he's lying about something, and Craig knows she won't stop giving him that look until he fesses up.

He sighs, rolling onto his back. "Fine. Long story short, I hooked up with Clyde at Token's party. He told me he loved me and now is pretending like he didn't do anything and that I'm some ultra gay succubus who threw myself at him in an attempt to turn him gay. I don't know if he just has a really selective memory or if he's in denial."

"Wait, Clyde Donovan? Weren't you guys best friends?" Ruby is resting her chin on the pillow, and Craig doesn't know if he should feel disturbed or not at how enthralled she always is by his problems.

"Yes. The one who lives next door, and yeah, we were," Craig says, rubbing his face harshly.

"Do you love him?" Ruby shifts backwards so she can lean against the wall, stretching her legs out in front of her.

Craig laughs humorlessly. "Fuck no. I don't even fucking like him at this point."

"Do you think he loves you?" Ruby swipes his phone from off the bedspread, unlocking it. Craig doesn't protest.

"I don't know. He said he did, but he was stoned at the time. And now he's back with his girlfriend." Craig shrugs, burrowing beneath the covers again.

Ruby clicks her tongue, scrolling through his texts. "Maybe he's gay but doesn't want anyone to know. He's probably just scared of being found out, so now he's backtracking."

"Or he's a fucking asshole who was just looking to get his dick sucked." Craig laughs at the disgusted look Ruby gives him. "What? It's probably true."

Ruby sticks her tongue out at him, tossing his phone back on the bedspread. "So did you like run into him at the game or something?"

"Yeah, I mean, he's on the team. I kind of expected him to be there. I just didn't expect him to confront me about this shit, or to try and throw it in my face that he's back with his stupid girlfriend." Craig huffs, sitting up so he can lean against the headboard. "I mean, why the fuck should I care that he's back with her? I don't give a shit."

Ruby gives him a knowing look, an eyebrow raised and everything. "Craig."

Craig stops, giving her a sharp look. He knows what she's trying to insinuate here. "No. Fuck no. I'm not jealous."

Ruby merely stares back, crossing her arms over her chest. Craig wants to hate her for it, but he knows she learned everything she knows from him.

Craig sighs, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling instead. "Fine. I hate his fucking guts, but I also... don't, I guess."

Ruby raises an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"Meaning I don't know," Craig says, staring at the stars still stuck to his ceiling. He registers somewhere deep in his mind that Clyde was the one who stuck them there. "I still miss being his best friend, I guess. I think about all the shit we've been through as kids, and I miss it. But then I think about the shit he's pulled for the past week, and I want to knock his teeth in."

Ruby stays silent, grabbing his phone when it buzzes. "Do you think you could ever be his friend again?"

Craig shrugs, looking down at his lap instead. "I don't know. Not right now. I just want to know why he did this. I mean, why did he kiss me in the first place if he's not gay? Why did he say he loved me if he was just gonna get back together with Bebe a few days later? I don't get it."

Ruby sighs, patting his knee. "High school sounds complicated." Craig grunts noncommittally as she turns her attention back to his phone. It buzzes a few times in sequence, and Ruby perks up a bit. "But hey, looks like you might be able to get an answer to your questions after all." She holds the phone out to Craig, so he can see who's calling.

Craig barely registers the name lit up on the screen before he snatches the phone, answering the call. "Hello?"

'Hey Craig. Uh, it's Clyde. I didn't think you'd answer.' Clyde is speaking quietly, but Craig can't hear anyone else in the background, meaning Clyde is hopefully at home and not at some stupid post game party.

"What do you want, Donovan?" Craig motions for Ruby to beat it, and she does, grudgingly, but not before flipping him off.

Clyde clears his throat, and it's only then that Craig hears wind howling in the background. 'Are you at home?'

"Maybe. What do you want?" Craig grips the blanket tighter, already feeling irritated.

'I'm outside. Can I come in?'

Craig let's out a brief laugh. "No."

'Craig, please. I want to apologize.'

Craig can hear Clyde's teeth chattering and sighs. "Fine, I'll be down in a second." Craig hangs up the phone before Clyde can say anything else, heading downstairs and purposefully ignoring the fact that Ruby was perched outside his door the entire time and the little thumbs up she gives him as he passes.

He throws the door open, finding Clyde standing right outside, a sheepish smile on his face. Craig gestures for him to come inside, leading the way up to his room without a word. He can hear Clyde shuffling up the steps behind him and tries to think of the last time Clyde was even in his house.

He closes his bedroom door behind them, not bothering to lock it this time and takes a seat on his bed, watching Clyde fidget in the middle of the room. "What do you want?"

"I talked to Token," Clyde says, his gaze trained on the floor. He keeps clasping and unclasping his hands in front of himself. Craig is annoyed just watching him.

Craig grabs his cigarette pack off his nightstand, leaning over to crack his window. "And?"

Clyde sighs, moving to sit next to Craig. Craig scoots away a bit, but doesn't protest otherwise. Clyde is still staring down but eventually looks up, looking at the cigarette clasped between Craig's fingers. "Can I bum one of those?"

Craig tosses the pack to him, leaning closer to the window so he can blow the smoke out. He's smoked through more than half before Clyde finally continues.

"Token told me the shit you guys talked about. He told me I was acting like an asshole, and that I should start taking responsibility for the decisions I make. And something about how I shouldn't use other people to figure myself out," Clyde says and takes the ashtray off Craig's thigh, ashing his cigarette in it. "He's clearly a lot smarter than me when it comes to this stuff… And so are you. And I'm sorry." Clyde finally looks up at Craig, his emotions written clearly on his face.

Craig just shrugs, not trusting himself to say anything at the moment and also not really trusting Clyde's sincerity, but Clyde keeps talking before he can start thinking about it too much.

"It wasn't fair to you at all. I just kinda got caught in the moment, I guess. I'm not gay though, and me leading you on like that was unfair."

Craig scoffs, rolling his eyes and stubbing his cigarette out on the windowsill. Of course he had to ruin it. "Let's get one thing straight here. You didn't lead me on. I didn't pursue you. I don't even like you." Craig stands, pacing the room in front of his bed. "I don't understand what you're not getting here. I mean, what was your motive even? What made you seek me out in the first place?"

Clyde is sitting up straight, watching Craig pace, his hands gripping his knees. "I told you. I missed being your friend and wanted to reconnect."

"Yeah, but that was obviously bullshit," Craig spits. He feels the angry gesturing coming on and wants to scream. He's never met anyone so infuriating in his life. "What was all that shit in the kitchen then? You telling me I've always been something. You fucking kissed me man! Let me tell you, that's not something a fucking straight guy does."

"I didn't think you remembered that conversation," Clyde whispers, his face pale. He stands up quickly, setting the ashtray back on the dresser. "I have to go."

Craig glares at him and moves to block the door. "No, fuck that. Tell me what the fuck that was, and then maybe I'll move."

Clyde stares back at him before getting up in his space, trying to pull the door open in spite of Craig's weight pressed against it. "Fucking move."

"No." Craig presses back against it even more, thankful he at least has a few inches over Clyde.

Clyde gives him a hard stare as he backs away a bit only to spring forward again, his lips pressing to Craig's before he can even blink.

Craig feels his brain short circuit just like the first time, barely registering the feel of Clyde's palms pressed to his cheeks. Just as soon as he's there, however, he's gone, backing away to stand in the center of the room.

Clyde wears his inner turmoil plain on his face, gripping his hair hard. "What the fuck is wrong with me?"

Craig can hear Clyde's voice crack and knows he's going to cry before the first tears even make an appearance. He's still angry as he shuffles over to Clyde's side, but he buries it for now in favor of resting a comforting hand on Clyde's shoulder. "Nothing's wrong with you."

"You don't get it! I'm not supposed to like guys. I'm supposed to like girls. I'm supposed to love Bebe and marry her and have kids. But I can't do it. I don't love her." Clyde sinks down on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. "I love you," Clyde says, and Craig knows this isn't how love is supposed to be.

He takes a seat next to Clyde, watches the tears fall down his cheeks and wonders if he'll ever know how love is really supposed to be. He's never loved anyone in his life, and as far as he knows, Clyde is the only one who has ever loved him. He wraps an arm around Clyde's shoulders and lets Clyde cry into his chest.

Clyde sobs, his grip on Craig's shirt tight. "You ruined everything."

Craig sighs, snuffing his anger and pulling Clyde closer, his chin resting on Clyde's head. "I know."

It takes a long time for Clyde to calm down, but it's always been this way. Clyde always had a hard time getting himself to stop once he started. He wipes his eyes roughly, pulling away to look at Craig. He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it again, swallowing thickly.

"I'm sorry about your shirt," he says, pointing out the large wet spot near Craig's collar.

"It's alright. I can change," Craig says, shrugging as he awkwardly disentangles himself from Clyde so he can grab a new shirt.

Clyde stays seated on the edge of the mattress, staring down at his lap as Craig changes. "Craig."

Craig turns to face him again, tossing his soiled shirt in the hamper.

"I'm so sorry," Clyde says, his voice cracking again. He shakes his head and clears his throat. "For everything."

Craig takes his spot next to Clyde again, sitting a little closer than he normally would. "What are you gonna do?"

"Stay with Bebe, I guess," he says, his fingers messing with the hem of his shirt. "I mean, what else am I supposed to do?"

Craig raises an eyebrow, turning slightly so he can face Clyde. "I don't know. You could try not forcing yourself to be in a relationship with someone you don't like."

"It's not that simple." Clyde grips his shirt tighter, looking up at Craig. "No one can know that I like guys."

Craig crosses his arms over his chest, a frown on his face. "Why not? People know I like guys, and they don't really give me shit for it. Usually."

Clyde sighs heavily, looking away. "It's not them I'm worried about. Just please don't say anything," he pleads.

"I wasn't planning on it," Craig says, moving so he can lean against the headboard.

Clyde looks back at him, a small smile on his face. "Thanks, Craig."

"Don't mention it," Craig says, leaning over to grab the remote off his nightstand, flipping the tv on to some old black and white movie.

Clyde watches Craig for a while before snapping out of it. "Is it okay if I stay here tonight? My dad isn't home, and I don't really like to stay home alone."

Craig shrugs, turning the tv up louder. "I don't care."

Craig watches as Clyde kicks his shoes off, shedding his jacket before joining him. His shoulder bumps Craig's as he settles, but Craig tries not to focus on it. He leans over to flip off the lamp instead and pulls the covers up over their legs.

He still remembers the last time Clyde stayed over at his house. They had lain awake all night watching movies and talking about anything and everything, the only light in the room coming from the tv and the stars glowing above their heads. Craig wishes he could go back to that time where he didn't have to worry about love or sex or anything else. He misses how simple everything used to be.

"Craig?"

Craig startles at Clyde's sudden whisper, turning his head to look.

Clyde is still sitting right next to him, looking like he is about to ask the most difficult question of his life. He grips the blanket tighter but never looks away.

"Can I kiss you?"

Craig knows he should say no. Every fiber of his being is screaming at him to say no. It wouldn't be fair to Bebe or himself, and just look at what happened the first time.

"Okay," he whispers instead, trying to block out the guilt and regret he's sure he'll feel tomorrow.

Clyde leans in almost immediately, their lips meeting more gently than they had earlier. Clyde keeps everything gentle. His lips move slowly as his fingers trail over Craig's collar and down his arm.

It's only when Clyde moves his lips to Craig's neck, his breath ghosting over the skin there, that things start getting more heated. Clyde pushes Craig down against the pillows, his lips pressed to Craig's throat, and Craig knows now he doesn't want this to stop. He wants to stay right where he is with Clyde's mouth on his neck and his hands moving over his ribs.

Clyde doesn't seem intent on stopping anytime soon, his hands slipping under Craig's shirt, pushing it up his stomach. His lips find Craig's again, his tongue sliding past lips and teeth, and Craig swears he could melt through the bed with how hot his skin feels.

Before he knows it, they're both naked, curled together under the blankets. Craig has his hand wrapped around both their cocks, moving slowly. He watches Clyde move his hips, watches him thrust into his hand and wonders if he's lost his mind. He knows everything about the situation is a bad idea, but he can't bring himself to care. Especially not now.

He feels lips press against the skin behind his ear and turns his head, letting Clyde trail his lips down his neck and over his shoulder. Craig bites back a moan, the fingers of his free hand making their way into tangled brown hair, tugging gently at every knot they find.

Clyde pulls back a bit, looking Craig in the eyes, and he smiles when he sees Craig looking right back at him. They kiss again, their lips moving together perfectly.

Craig still doesn't know what love is like, but he can't help thinking this is the closest he'll ever get.

His orgasm washes over him suddenly, nearly taking him by surprise. He almost doesn't recognize his own voice as he moans Clyde's name into the darkness.

Clyde keeps moving with him, his lips pressing to Craig's cheek. He moves to nuzzle his face against Craig's neck, whispering things into his ear that Craig can't quite make out. Craig pulls back a bit, turning his head so they can kiss again. He keeps moving even as Clyde hits his peak, his whole body tensing with the feeling of it.

Clyde looks at him once he's settled, his eyelids heavy. He reaches up to brush some hair out of Craig's face, a smile forming slowly.

Craig stays silent as he watches Clyde roll over, settling against his side. Neither of them make any effort to grab their scattered clothing, pulling the covers up over their chilled skin instead. Craig's mind races with feelings of guilt and regret and a multitude of "what now"s that he knows will still haunt him in the morning.

But then Clyde presses his lips to Craig's temple, settling a little closer, and that's all it takes to quiet Craig's thoughts for the rest of the night.

The first thing Craig sees when he wakes up is the empty stretch of bed next to him, his stomach plummeting as he takes a quick look around and sees that his clothes are the only ones left scattered on the floor.

He rolls over and sighs, his gaze finding the old stars on his ceiling again, and he starts thinking about how he should really take those down. Especially now with his bed still smelling like Clyde and a feeling of deep guilt settling in his chest like a stone.

There's a knock on his door and Craig groans, getting out of bed to grab some clothes. "Hang on!"

He throws on some sweats and an old T-shirt before throwing open the door. Ruby stands in the doorway, a half smile on her face. Craig knows exactly what that smile means and feels even angrier at himself now that he knows his little sister is concerned.

"Are you okay?" She says, and Craig shrugs, taking a seat on his bed again.

"You probably think I'm an idiot," Craig finally says, his head dropping back against the headboard. He hears Ruby pad across the carpet and climb onto the bed next to him.

"Clyde told me to give you this," she says, and Craig's head snaps up.

He snatches the paper from her and unfolds it, his eyes scanning the words quickly.

"What does it say?"

Craig sighs and crumples it up, tossing it into a far corner. "Like you didn't already read it."

Ruby smiles, a shining beacon of innocence, if Craig didn't know her better.

Craig stands, grabbing his jacket and hat off his desk. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Ruby nods and hurries to her room to grab warmer clothes.

Craig grabs his cigarettes and shoves them in his pocket, glancing at his phone before deciding against it.

He heads down the stairs quickly, picking his coat up off the floor and pulling it on as he shoves his feet in his boots. By the time he's ready, Ruby is at the bottom of the stairs, bundled up in her coat and scarf.

Craig gestures for her to go ahead of him and follows close behind as she leads him down the street. Ruby stops once they're a block away and waits for Craig to catch up before continuing on, her arm snaking around Craig's and holding on loosely.

Craig nudges her with his elbow and laughs when she does it back, the nudging quickly turning into pushing and shoving and trying to knock each other into the snow. They're winded when the impromptu shove match ends, from laughter and physical exertion, but Craig notices how quickly Ruby's smile dissolves and knows she's about to drop some serious talk on him. Craig sighs and lights up quickly, thinking about how he'll probably need it in a minute anyway.

"Look, I did read what he wrote you, and I think he was telling the truth," she says, and Craig rolls his eyes.

"Of course you do."

"I do! I know you're angry at him, but what reason does he have to lie about all of this?."

Craig stops walking, pulling his arm out of her grasp. "Well, what fucking reason does he have for jerking me around for a week? Because I couldn't seem to find one in that bullshit letter."

Ruby sighs deeply and looks up at Craig, her eyes sad and her mouth drawn into a thin line. "I didn't say that he had a good reason for him to do the things he's done to you, but I understand why he's scared. Don't you?"

Craig glares at her half-heartedly. He knows she has a point, and he knows he fleetingly thought the same thing. His glare falls flat, and he sighs. "I do, I guess. It's just hard to not be angry about this shit."

Ruby nods and takes his arm again, pulling him back in to motion. "You should still be angry. What he did was shitty, but..."

Craig glances at her again, an eyebrow raised. "But?"

"Just take care of yourself, okay? I just want you to be happy," she finally says, and she gives Craig a little half smile.

Craig smiles back and ruffles her hair in spite of her protests. "I know, Rubes. I will."

They walk a while longer until they're almost too cold to move, Craig having pulled his hat down over Ruby's ears when he noticed how red they were getting.

They come back to an empty house and spend the rest of the afternoon watching cartoons and drinking hot chocolate. It's partway through a Spongebob marathon that Craig realizes how much he's missed days like this. Days spent playing outside with friends, afternoons spent huddled in front of the TV, warming his hands with his mug.

He nudges Ruby with his foot and waits for her to look, her eyebrow raised in a nearly perfect imitation of the way he does it.

"Thank you," is all he says, all he needs to say.

Ruby smiles and leans in, pulling Craig into a big, embarrassing family hug, but for once, Craig doesn't mind at all.


A/N: For anyone who got the joke about Clyde's jersey number, you're pretty cool. For anyone who didn't, that's okay it was a dumb joke anyway. The next chapter might take a bit longer because I haven't spent as much time fixing it up lmao. Thanks for reading!