"It's nice to see you smiling again, Craig. I haven't seen it in years"
I blush.
"Yeah, i guess the old Craig blushed as well." Stan smiled
"Shut-up, Stan."
Stan's smile faded. "So, i still want to know why you couldn't trust me enough to tell me."
"Don't trust you? Stan, you and Ruby are the only people i DO trust."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how you would react. And i can see now, why i didn't."
"Craig, I could've helped, i could've taken you and ruby away to hide. Neither of you need that crap"
"I thought you'd look down on me for being weak and i don't need sympathy."
"Shit, dude. I don't think you're weak. I think your brave having to put up with that every day."
I sigh and look at the ground.
"Is that why Ruby went... Mute?"
I nod.
"Why don't you and Ruby come live with me for a while? i mean mum won't mind she'd enjoy the company of having another girl in the house, since shelly went to college. And you can have the spare room and Ruby can have Shelly's old room? It'll be good for her, Craig. She could get better."
"Stan, I dunno."
"Come on dude, think about Ruby, is that what she should have to put up with?"
I think for a while and decide...
"Well she could get better, i kinda miss her voice."
"Mum will take her to theopy and counselling to get her to talk again."
I smile a real one. A smile that says there could be a future for my baby sister after all.
That night i packed mine and Ruby's shit into 2 duffle bags and 2 back packs, a lot left behind. We walk past a passed out drunk, and out the doors, to Stan who is parked out the front.
"How'd you go with packing?"
"I couldn't pack everything."
"That's alright; there is a lot of stuff for you guys at home."
"Are you sure your parents are alright with me and be staying there?"
"Of course they are. Mum cried when i told her and said she's going to give you and Ruby the biggest hug when she sees you."
When we got to Stan's house, his mum ran up to us. Giving me and ruby the biggest hug.
I looked at ruby, she was smiling.
I haven't seen her REAL smile in ages.
And it saddened me that the reason she smiled wasn't because of me. My own sister… and I couldn't even make her happy.
I look to Stan.
"Is it alright if I go lay down for a while?"
"Sure. I'll show you your room."
"Ruby, would you like to help me in the kitchen?"
I heard Sharron ask as Stan and I walked up the stairs.
Walking in to what was going to be my new room for a while.
"Is everything alright, Craig?" Stan asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Stan looked at me for a second.
"Bullshit. Tell me what's up I'll try to help."
Stan walked up to me and rubbed my arms.
"Ruby..."
I sighed. `
"I've never seen her smile like that. I could never make her as happy in all these years after trying everything I could. Yet we're here for not even a minuet and she smiles like she's never been different."
I said as my voice cracked and a tear runs down my cheek.
"Hey, don't cry, you'll be alright." Stan said hugging me.
"Hey boys." Randy said from the door.
Ohh shit. He just had seen me hug Stan, a boy.
I start to panic.
"Stan, mind if I have a word with Craig."
"Yeah, sure dad" Stan smiles. Letting me go.
I grab onto his arm.
Stan looks at my hand and then at me.
"Umm, Can I just have a quick word with him myself first, please?"
Randy nodded in realisation and smiled.
"Come get me when you're ready, okay Stan?"
"Okay, Dad."
Randy left and shut the door.
When his footsteps were no longer heard Stan started talking
"It doesn't bother him, Craig. He doesn't care if we hug or even if we kiss. My family is different. My parent have never hit us, sure they've been disappointed a few times when I was a kid. But they aren't homophobes." Stan laughed.
"They actually were hoping me and Kyle would be a couple when we were young. So please don't be scared of my dad he won't do anything to you. He's actually a big softy."
I smile and bit the inside of my lip.
"Trust me, Craig." Stan said kissing my forehead.
Stan left the room to tell Randy I was ready. I sat down on the bed looking around the room.
I heard the door shut and my head snapped to the door.
"Okay" Randy said rubbing his hands together, taking a seat next to me.
I Gulp.
"Stan told me about your home life and I'm sorry. And I want you to know that if you need anything, Come to me or Sharron and we will get it for you, or give you the money to get it, the same goes for Ruby as well. I want this to feel like home for you and for you to feel safe."
I nodded still biting my cheek.
"Hey, don't bite your cheek."
I stopped suddenly, hoping I wasn't in trouble.
Randy eyed me for a second.
"You're not in trouble, Craig. I just don't want you to hurt yourself. Ohh and another thing, if you do something stupid, or something rebellious, there will be punishment or if it's something major, maybe even grounded. These are the same rules Stan has and when Shelly was here they applied for her too."
I nod.
Randy smiles
"Thanks for the chat; I'll go get Stan for you." He smiled
Stan walked into the room shutting the door.
I ran over to him and hugged him.
"Craig? What's wrong?"
Stan tried pulling me bad to look at my face but I tightened my grip around him and looked down more.
Stan sighed and sat on the bed, bringing me down with him.
Stan laid me down, lying next to me, stroking my hair.
I look up at him. And noticed his black eye he got today from Kenny. That was my fault.
My tummy turned. I stared at him with sympathy.
"Stop looking at me like that." Stan smiled.
I averted my eyes and roll over. He didn't sound angry but when someone says that it's usually in an angry way to be said.
"Craig, I didn't mean it like that." Stan sighed.
"All I meant was you don't need to pity me. If anything I should be sympathetic towards you."
Stan said kissing my temple where I got kicked by Clyde today.
I woke up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat. I noticed Stan wasn't next to me and I opened my bed room door. All the lights in the house were off and I tiptoed to Ruby's room, using my phone as light.
A nightlight was on when I got to her room.
I lay next to her, just like we did when we lived at home.
She turned around and smiled at me, I smiled back at her.
"Sorry, Ruby. I got scared sleeping by myself."
She gave me a quick kiss on the chin and put her arm around me.
"Go to sleep, Be. Sorry to wake you."
She smiled at me and closed her eyes.
The next morning I heard the door quickly open. I open my eyes in a panic and look up to see Ruby pointing to me and Stan sighing in relief.
"Thanks Ruby." Stan said.
Stan walked over to me and Ruby walked down stairs.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"You scared me man." Stan said shaking his head.
"I went in to wake you up and you weren't there. I panicked. Then Ruby grabbed my hand and led me in here. So why are you in here?"
I give stan an unsure look.
"I got scared. And when we were at home, we would sleep in the same bed so we were safe, you know."
I sighed and Stan nodded.
"If you get scared wake me up. Don't wake your sister; she won't be able to concentrate in school. Now get up, we have school soon."
Stan drove us to school. Ruby didn't tag along because today she has her first day of counselling and therapy.
As we pulled up to the school, Stan dropped me off at the gate and went to park his car.
I walked through the gates and looked up to see no other than Kenny.
"Craiggg! How are you this morning?" Kenny sang, putting his arm around my neck and pulling me into a hug.
I pushed him away.
"Piss off, Kenny."
As I pushed Kenny away, he grabbed my arm making me fall on top of him.
I tried to get up but Kenny had his hands around my waist.
"Aww hey there handsome." Kenny said in a seductive tone, kissing me on the cheek.
Everyone looked at us and giggled.
I felt tears prick my eyes.
"What's wrong babe? You look as tho you're about to cry." Kenny smiled.
"Kenny! You fucking asshole! Let him go." Stan yelled appearing through the staring, giggling students.
"Aww Staneee, your ruining my fun."
Kenny let go of my waist and I quickly got up, running past Stan.
"When did you turn into such a dick?" I heard Stan say to Kenny.
"Dude, wait up!" Stan
I ran to the nearest toilets and locked myself in the end cubical. A tear slipped down my cheek. Stan knocked on the cubical door.
"Craig?" Stan said just over a whisper.
I opened the door. He looked at me sympathetic.
"Here. You can use this for the day." Stan handed me his iPod. His 'one true love.'
I took the iPod with a smile. I walked out the cubical and Stan wiped the tears from my eyes with his sleeve.
"Aww pretty as a peach." Stan said with a goofy look on his face.
"Thanks Stan."
Stan gave me a hug as the bell went.
"I'll meet you at your locker after this period, alright?"
"Yeah okay." I smiled walking out of the restroom.
I sat at the back of my class. I look around and make eye contact with Kenny who was staring at me. The teacher still wasn't here and there is only 10 minutes left of class. So I put Stan's earphones into my ears and press play to the first song that was on.
Now I'm just one man, a grain of sand
in a trouble world I know
but I've got a problem right here at home
I've got a problem right here at home.
Problems at home…Thanks Stan… and Blake Shelton. I really needed to hear this song.
The earphone was forced out of my ear and I turned around to see Kenny giving me a shit eating grin.
"Naww well if it isn't the love of my life." Kenny fluttered his eyelashes at me and making a kissy face.
"What do you want, Kenny?"
I tried to sound strong but I was as nervous as Tweek.
"Don't sound too confident, there Craig." Kenny smirked.
I turned around, facing the window on the other side to me.
I felt something in my hand and looked down to see Kenny's hand in mine. I tried pulling away but he gripped it harder.
He yanked me from my seat and he whispered something to Kyle. Kyle gave a laugh and handed him a pair of keys then gave me a smirk.
"Have fun boys." He said in a stereotypical 'gay' lisp.
Kenny pulled me into the hallway and I tried pulling back.
Kenny stopped and turned to me.
"You fucking cooperate, or I swear, I'll fucking hurt you, Craig."
I looked at him in shock and he smiled at me.
"Atta boy."