Across a Sea: Chapter Seven


Tweek stared at the calendar, his eyes tired despite the wideness to which they were stretched.

It had been a full week since Clyde's uncanny disappearance. There were thus far no leads, and somehow, Tweek couldn't help but believe that the police were doing nothing to find him. That simply was how law enforcement was in the town of South Park. Something horrible happened, and everyone had this attitude of 'there's nothing we can do about it', so they didn't lift a finger. Tweek cursed the corrupt justice system. They'd done nothing to help Ruby Tucker, and now they were doing nothing to help Clyde Donovan! It disgusted Tweek, making him never want to trust cops (which was something he had trouble doing anyway, what with his wild theories about the government).

Clyde was something that refused to leave Tweek's mind.

"I'm just scared," he'd explained to Craig as they walked to first period that Tuesday morning. "I'm just scared of what could happen to him. Wh-what already might have happened to him. Oh Jesus!"

"Me too," Craig replied, although he didn't sound so worried.

"I don't get why someone would take Clyde. Clyde! He's s-so nice... Why would someone do that? Unless they really hated him? I don't get it man, I don't get it! It's frying my brain!" Tweek pulled at his hair. "Who would hate Clyde? I can't think of anyone!"

Except for that person who was harassing Craig, the person who had left a message threatening his friends, but Tweek thought better than to actually mention that, especially in public.

"Stop thinking about it." Craig told him. "Everything will work out for the best, Tweek. Just stop thinking about it."

Something made Tweek feel like there were more to his words than he was letting on, as though perhaps that had been Craig's own coping method for getting over what had happened to Ruby. Once again, he didn't voice his thoughts on the matter, knowing that some subjects were incredibly touchy with Craig.

"I can't," he whined as they seated themselves at their desks. "I just- I can't! He's one of my best fr-friends."

"Mine too." Craig's voice held a tinge of annoyance to it now. "Just think about something else."

"Like what?" Tweek sighed as he traced some scratches in his desk. "Everything else just makes me worry!"

"Then think about something that makes you worry less." Craig sighed.

"B-but I just can't stop thinking about him! I-I don't want anything bad to happen to him," Tweek released a dreadful groan from the back of his throat.

"Are you guys talking about Clyde?" Piped up Stan Marsh from the desk beside them.

Craig glanced over, his gaze darkening. "What's it to you, Marsh?"

Stan frowned. "Hey, I'm worried too. Clyde's a good kid."

Kyle seemed to take this as his opportunity to chime in as well. "Yeah, Clyde's not bad. I hope they find him soon, and in one piece."

Tweek shrieked at this. "Wh-what do you mean? Of course he'll be in one piece... Oh my God! You don't think that someone dismembered him, do you? Oh Christ no!"

Kyle looked a bit taken back, and Stan elbowed him before speaking up. "Uh, no dude. Probably not."

"Or sold him into prostitution?" Tweek yanked at his hair and squirmed in his seat at the terrifying thought. "Oh Christ!"

"Stop worrying about it," Craig's voice was a bit harsher now.

The teacher glanced up from his book before sighing and allowing them to continue on. Tweek bit his lip and Stan and Kyle exchanged a worried glance.

"Don't worry dude, it'll be okay," Kyle attempted to reassure him.

"What if it isn't, though? What if Clyde isn't okay? Good Lord! I don't know what I'd do without him!" Tweek cried out.

"Just stop!" Craig snapped, his voice cracking on the second word with it's volume. "Stop thinking about Clyde!"

All eyes were suddenly on Craig, and his gaze immediately turned from the scowl it had adopted into an expression of remorse. Tweek stared up at him in shock, his mouth open just slightly as his brows creased, attempting to register the fact that Craig had just yelled at him.

"Mr. Tucker, is there a problem?" The teacher's condescending voice droned from beyond the desk, receiving a sharp shake of the head from the student he was addressing.

"Damn dude, what's your deal?" Stan glared at him.

"I'm... Sorry, Tweek." Craig ground out, looking away. His face heated up in embarrassment at having to publicly apologize.

Tweek blinked rapidly. "Craig..."

"I'm just worried too," Craig muttered, before he cradled his head in his arms on the desk.

Tweek gazed down at him, and his shock dwindled away, skipping over sadness and directly into pity. He realized that this was clearly hitting Craig a lot harder than he'd initially assumed.

And the police were doing nothing to remedy the situation.

Tweek's brows lowered into determination and he pulled out a paper to form a list of things to do, deciding that he'd have to take the Donovan investigation into his own hands.

He thought of all the things he could do - going to the police station and attempting to find clues via Clyde's phone, which was considered evidence, attempting to connect the dots with Craig's sporadic stalker, and going back to the scene of the crime for anything suspicious. They all seemed like viable options to him, actions that he would act upon as soon as he was released from school. Craig remained in his curled up position for the remainder of their study hall, while Tweek devised his plan, and he felt a sudden urge swell within him. The urge to find the truth.

Don't worry Clyde, Tweek thought to himself. I'm going to find you.