Author's Note: Welcome to Chapter 10 of The New Student! It's been about ten weeks or so since I've started this story so thank you for staying with it this far. I hope you guys have been having fun reading it! As always, let's get right into it! Enjoy!
Warning: Shounen-ai (Boy x Boy), OC (Original Character), use of drugs, mention of suicide
Disclaimer: South Park Characters do not belong to me.
Summary: A new student joins South Park University but he isn't alone. Tweek makes his return after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital after his relationship with Craig declines. Can Tweek make a full recovery with the help of the "new student"?
Chapter 10: Discussions
Day 3, 17:13:
"Shit! I can't believe they got back together. I thought I'd have more time." Appearing frustrated, Thomas kept picking at his pasta. Noticing the whispers and stares around us, I peered at the other students out of my peripheral, quickly silencing them.
"So you lost to the former spaz? That's hilarious." Snickering, Eric began stuffing his mouth with some chips. Even though he lost some weight, his eating habits haven't changed that much.
"It doesn't make sense. There's no way Craig loves him that much."
"Or he couldn't handle you saying cock all the time while sucking him off." Hearing him laugh even more, I took a sip of my latte. "You really think because you stole him a couple of times, you'd be able to keep him? You're so fucking ignorant. No wonder you disappeared right after the spaz did."
"You still have quite a mouth on you, Eric. Do you mind toning it down a bit?" Staring at me, he quickly shrugged me off, looking in some other direction.
"Eh, sure. Whatever."
"Cock!" Overhearing a snicker from Eric, I watched him, causing him to stop. His maturity hasn't changed either. I wonder if I had more time with him back at the Institute, would he have turned out differently? Then again, if he wasn't as manipulative and cunning, he wouldn't have been able to leave as early as he did. "Craig belongs to me. That caffeine-addicted loser doesn't deserve someone as cool as him." Is that how you see Tweek? You're severely underestimating your rival. "Josh, what should I do?" Glancing to the blonde, he stared at me patiently, waiting for an answer. Cracking my neck, I peered my eyes towards my former patient.
"Before I answer that, Eric, have you heard anything?" Taking his phone out, I took another sip as he went through his phone.
"Let's see here. Well, it's official about Tweek and Craig." Eating another fry, Thomas quickly looked vexed with that confirmation. I hope Tweek made the right decision. It'd be very troublesome if something were to happen that would cause him to relapse. If that were to occur, we'd have to return to the Institute meaning the past two years would have been for nothing. "Stan's still having trouble with the jew. And Kenny is poking around in your business. I can take care of that for you. For a fee."
"Do you really think I need help?" Chuckling, he shook his head.
"After what you've dealt with, nah. You'll be fine. You know, since you're a witch doctor and all." Was that supposed to be an insult? Scanning the room, there were still a couple of students watching us. "Word's gotten around that you're like Kenny." Giving him an intriguing look, he drank his soda through a straw. "Sarcastic, knows everything, fucking overconfident, finds everything amusing, and so on."
"Do they also think I'm promiscuous?"
"Hell no. What the fuck? They'd have to be fucking dumbasses if they thought that about you." Hearing Thomas clear his throat, he began tapping his fingers on the table. "Does spaz number two need attention?"
"Screw you fat-ass. I actually have a question that needs to be answered. Fucking shit!"
"Just give up already. Craig isn't interested in you anymore." Turning red, Thomas muttered to himself, staring down at his food. Eric is still confrontational as before. It's the one trait that annoys a lot of people. Hmm, there's actually a lot of things that hasn't changed about him. I suppose it's not a bad thing. "Do you think he's actually interested in the spaz?" Glancing over to Eric, he gazed back. "You know, like for real."
"Unknown. He has strong feelings for Tweek but who knows if something will change that. Take Thomas for example." Raising his head, Thomas swiftly immersed himself in the conversation. "If Thomas continues to go after Craig, would his feelings change? Would he cheat again?" Noticing the blonde's smile, I closed my eyes. "It's not something I'd prefer to see but it's out of my control."
"Cold hearted as usual." Opening my eyes, Eric threw his empty bag of chips onto the table. "You're very black and white. Just like a doctor I used to know." Shrugging my shoulders, I looked up to the white ceiling above us.
"Having an emotional attachment isn't necessarily a good thing." Glancing to my new-found acquaintance, Thomas looked befuddled. "Why are you so interested in Craig?"
"How can I not be? Fuck! He's so sexy, cold, and does whatever he wants. Hell, he even asked to be my friend and do my laundry when we were kids. That has to be fate." Glancing back, Eric snickered at his response. Fate, huh? There's no such thing. Only events that happen to coincide with people's choices.
"Is there anything else you find interesting about him?" Thomas thoughtfully looked away but then shook his head.
"Bitch! Not really. I mean, do I need more than that?" Taking a sip of my drink, I closed my eyes. This boy has no idea what it means to truly love someone. Compared to Tweek, he barely understands the meaning. In this case, it really comes down to Craig. Will he choose to stay with Tweek or will he go with Thomas if he doesn't give up his pursuit? And if that happens, will Tweek be able to handle the consequences? Opening my eyes, I finished up the remainder of my fries. "Why do you look so unsatisfied? Fucker!"
"Don't bother asking unless you want to hear the run-around." Giving Eric a look, he merely continued. "But I won't say anything else. At least, not in front of this guy." Shaking my head, I also finished up my latte, standing up from my chair.
"Thomas, if there's anything else to say, it would be that you need something substantial. You may be able to tempt Craig but would you really be able to keep him? Can you stop him from going back to Tweek over and over again? Something for you to think about." Strolling away, I emptied my tray into the trash and walked out of the cafeteria. A lot of things happened today. It's odd that such an event can occur in such a small, mountain town. I wonder if it's a daily occurrence or is it because Tweek is back? But his file didn't mention that he was a big part of people's lives. If anything, he was a minor character. So what's changed since then? Sauntering down the hallway, passing a couple of students, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Slowly turning around, I was met with blue eyes.
"You're Tweek's friend, right?" Looking down to his hand, he quickly removed it. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Observing the teenager, this is the same person I saw twice today. "Stan, was it?" Nodding, he scanned the area around us. Looks nervous. Perhaps he doesn't want to be caught seen with me. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Becoming intrigued, I turned around to face him.
"Of course. Any boyfriend of Tweek's is more than welcome to speak with me." Quickly blushing, his eyes widened as he timidly stared into my eyes.
"What makes you think I'm his boyfriend?"
"Oh, you're not? I could have sworn you were with all the hugs, kisses, and hand-holding I've seen today. My apologies." Smiling at him, he coughed into his hand.
"Yeah, we're not together. I mean, it's not like I wouldn't be with him."
"But your heart belongs to someone else." Appearing surprised, he swiftly grabbed my arm and began pulling me with him. "May I ask where you're taking me?"
"Somewhere private." Passing the cafeteria, I stared at his back, wondering where he might take me. The parking lot? An empty classroom? Bathroom? Looking down a corridor, there were a couple of familiar faces. There's Bebe with a couple of her girlfriends. Passing another hallway, I found Clyde, which I briefly made eye contact with. And then, another one, where Tweek was standing behind Craig at his locker. Oh? That's very interesting. Glancing to Stan, we began walking up the stairs, passing a couple of lockers on the way.
"Hey Stan! Where are you going?" Suddenly stopping, I stared past him to see one of the most interesting people I've come across in South Park.
"Kenny? Oh we're just… going somewhere." Moving his eyes to his hand, Stan hastily let me go as a smile appeared on the blonde.
"I didn't know you two were together now. I'm so surprised that you could move on so easily from Tweek. I guess it couldn't be helped. He's too in love with the douchebag. Maybe if you were in his life about… let me see, eight or nine years ago, you would have had him."
"Move it asshole." Sighing, I peered down into the middle section of the stairs, only to see that we made it up two flights.
"Are you in a rush? Well, can I come with? I'd like to know what's happening too."
"This has nothing to do with you. Besides, you've done enough for today. Getting them back together like that. Did you already fucking forget what Craig did to him?"
"Trust me, I haven't forgotten. But all I did was give them a little push. If anything, I'd say Josh did most of the work in getting them this far, especially by asking Tweek to ignore Craig. That wasn't such a good idea." Feeling a smile crawl on my lips, I glanced back.
"You're very quick to pass judgment but perhaps you should judge yourself first. Things are always subject to change. They may be together but do you think it'll last? Do you really have faith in their relationship?" Shrugging his shoulders, he turned around and stared out the window.
"That part isn't up to me. All I had to do was get them back together. Anything after that isn't my problem." I began laughing.
"So quick to relieve yourself of the consequences. I wonder if that explains why your family isn't so close any more." Turning around, he wore one of the biggest glares. Grinning even more, I walked past Stan to reach Kenny's level on the stairs. "Are you upset? But why? They're not your problem anymore, are they? Isn't this what you wanted?"
"You just love talking about my family, don't you? Is this what gets you off?" Moving towards the window, I could see snow falling heavily on the ground below.
"Don't misunderstand. What's happened to your family is most unfortunate but your reactions are very interesting. I could delve into it more but I wouldn't want to drive you insane with the truth."
"You're really starting to piss me off. You think you know everything about me? You have no idea what it's like to be in my shoes." Raising my finger, I brought it to my lips to silence him.
"I don't have to be in your shoes to understand what it's like. All I have to do is gather the facts, analyze them, and move from there. Showing empathy isn't necessarily a strong point for me."
"But you can show empathy for Tweek and his stupid love for Craig? You're a god-damn hypocrite." Smirking, I turned back to him.
"Empathy? Do you really think I have empathy for him? Do you really think I care about their relationship?" Moving closer, I stopped when my face was mere inches away from his. I could practically smell something minty from his hair. "Love is just a chemical. We give it meaning by choice. And we all make choices but in the end, our choices make us." Taking a step back, I gave him the once-over. "You know, you'd be very attractive if your personality wasn't similar to my own. Blonde hair, blue eyes. It's no surprise you've slept around." Suddenly, I felt myself pushed to the wall, slowly raising my eyes to meet his.
"Would you like to find out how good I am in bed?" Even though Kenny was smiling, in his eyes, he looked desperate. As if he's trying to prove a point. Either to me or to himself. Sighing, I gently pushed him away.
"If you need an ear, find me at eighteen hundred hours." Gazing back to Stan, he kept glancing between us, unsure of what was happening. "I believe you wanted to speak with me? Unless of course, that's changed."
"No, no. It hasn't. Let's go." Walking past us, I followed him up the next flight of stairs, leaving Kenny behind. "I've never seen him like that."
"Like what?"
"He doesn't usually act like that, you know? Ah, forget it. You probably wouldn't tell the difference." Letting the subject go, he opened up the door at the top of the stairs, revealing a roof covered in a thin layer of snow. "Hope you don't mind talking outside." It's not like you're giving me a choice here, are you? Walking outside, I took out my blue gloves and wore them. I'm definitely not going to freeze out here. Shutting the door behind me, I followed him until he reached the other end of the rooftop, stopped by a tall fence. Interesting. Tall fences on school roofs aren't typical. "Do you think I could be in a relationship with Tweek? Maybe fall in love with him?" Feeling intrigued, I observed the teen as he stared back.
"Now what makes you think I'd have the answer to that?"
"Don't play stupid. I know you're smart and I've seen how you talk to people." Tilting my head, I wonder what gave him that impression. I don't recall having any sort of interaction with or around him except for this morning at Harbucks.
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
"You know everything that goes on in this town. I've heard the rumors. That you're like Kenny." So it's true what Eric said earlier. "But you're friends with Tweek so you can't be that bad." Smirking, I placed both hands on my hips.
"Even if that were true, that doesn't mean that I'd have the answer to your question. In reality, wouldn't that really be up to you?"
"What do you mean?" Sighing, I closed my eyes. Since when did I become the go-to person for relationship advice? Do people no longer know how to socialize anymore? Or ask one of their friends for advice instead of someone they barely know?
"You seem like a nice individual and I'd rather not have to dig any further into your history. You took care of Tweek when he wasn't feeling well so if anything, please accept this as my thanks. Could you fall in love with him? Yes, but that would require you to overcome your love for someone else."
"How do you know I'm not in love with Tweek?" Staring at him, I became a little annoyed by his interruption.
"Forcing yourself to love someone else isn't fair for yourself or the person you're doing it to. You need to move on and the only way to do that is to tie up any loose ends you may have."
"But we already spoke and I…"
"That doesn't matter. You don't feel any closure, do you?" Staying silent, he nodded. "Then you know what needs to be done. Please remember that this is the only piece of advice I'll give that's straightforward."
"Why?"
"It's better for everyone to learn for themselves. If I simply give the answer, then no one would learn and would be doomed to repeat their mistakes. It's happened more often than I wanted it to."
"Then what should I do? He doesn't love me because he's a Jew even though he admits that he could see himself with me. Tie up loose ends? Are you telling me to give up on him? I've known him for almost all of my life!" Clenching his fist, he stared down at it as I could see his breath from the cold air. "Tweek. I don't know what to do with him. He didn't push me away when we kissed." What? That happened? Smiling, I was happy that the teen was still looking downwards. I wouldn't want him to misinterpret my smile. "But he looked like he didn't know what to do."
"Did you expect him to?" Lifting his head, I walked closer to the fence, standing next to him. "I'm sure you're aware of his history. Imagine someone as attractive as your ex-boyfriend became romantically interested in you. Someone you've known since childhood. Would you know what to do? Or better yet, why are you doing this?" Glancing over, he looked confused. "Why pursue him? Because he's different than how he used to be?" Appearing guilty, he dropped his hand. "I'm not trying to suggest it's wrong. If you do actually like him, I don't mind it at all. But..." Forming a smile, I stared into his eyes. "If you're using him to make the one you like jealous, I may have a problem with that."
"That's not what I'm doing!" That's surprising. He seems annoyed by my accusation. "There are only a handful of guys in this town who actually like other guys. Kenny just sleeps around with anyone. Thomas just wants Craig. And Craig's taken cause he's in love with Tweek and vice versa." Understanding his logic, I looked down past the fence, seeing a couple of people walking through the parking lot below.
"Your options are limited. And if by chance, Tweek doesn't want Craig, you have an opportunity. But doesn't that also mean that Craig is available? Don't you think he's more good looking?" Hearing silence, I looked over to see him deep in thought. He's taking this conversation seriously. Interesting.
"He's sexy, yeah. And his personality is kind of douchebag-ish but Tweek is way nicer. I feel like I'd be happier with him because I know he'd love me. That he wouldn't try to leave me for someone else."
"If you know that, can you also put in the same effort as him?" This is quite unfortunate. The more I talk to him, the more irritated I become. "Which do you value more? Loyalty or honesty?" Looking away, he bit his lip, trying to hide his eyes behind his hair.
"Honesty."
"Then if he were to ever cheat on you, felt guilty for committing such an act, apologized and begged you to forgive him, would you be able to do it?"
"No."
"Why not? Didn't you say you value honesty more than loyalty? You didn't find out through a third party but Tweek himself." Breathing deeply through my nose, I looked away from him, opting not to pursue this any longer.
"You can't just pull these questions out of a hat and expect me to give you the answer you want." Smirking, I quickly peered back, seeing his eyes filled with confidence.
"The answer that I want? What makes you think I want one in the first place?"
"Because you're asking all of these questions! If I became his boyfriend, any issues we run into, we'll deal with them together."
"That's plain ignorance you're spewing out." Hardening his glare, I crossed my arms in response. "You look pissed off. I wonder why."
"Then what the hell do you value more? Loyalty or honesty?" Chuckling, I thought it was kind of cute how he was throwing my own question back at me.
"Loyalty. Meaning that I'd sooner tell a lie to protect a friend."
"Isn't that just as bad?!" Suddenly hearing the volume of his voice increase, he took a step forward, gritting his teeth. "Would your friend even want you to tell a lie for him? There isn't a fucking right answer to this question." Feeling goosebumps, I began laughing, holding my stomach with my arms. How have I not met this teen yet? He's almost as entertaining as my patient. "What the fuck is so funny?" Taking a deep breath to stop my laughter, I ran a hand through my hair.
"Aren't you a passionate one? Let me ask you this then. Would you sooner be boyfriends with Tweek or with the one you actually love?"
"You should know the answer to that."
"In that case, aren't you using Tweek as a replacement? Like I said earlier, forcing yourself to love someone else isn't fair to yourself or the person you're doing it to."
"He's not a replacement if I really do love him." Shaking my head, I covered my forehead in embarrassment.
"What's the name of this person you like?" Peering through my fingers, I watched as a snowflake landed right in the middle of his bangs.
"Kyle."
"Then if Kyle were to share your feelings, you wouldn't have loved Tweek in the first place, correct?" Noticing both his fists clenched, it seems too easy to get on his nerves. Almost reminds me of Craig but at least he's less violent.
"You're starting to sound like a psychologist or something." Smiling, I looked away as I lifted both hands above my shoulders.
"Who knows? Maybe I am one."
"Yeah, right. If you were, you wouldn't be in fucking college with us." Chuckling, I rubbed the back of my head.
"I suppose. Anyway, we're going in circles. No matter what you decide to do, take action. An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention. If you choose to be with Tweek and if he feels the same way, I'll give you my support. But if you choose to be with Kyle, don't involve Tweek in your affairs as nothing more than a friend. Understand?" Without waiting for an answer, I began walking away.
"Wait! Can I have your number?" Raising my right hand, I waved good bye.
"If you want my number, you'll have to ask Tweek for it. Think of it as a reward when you decide what to do." Lowering my arm, I looked up to see the darkening sky. He means well but he still has a couple of things to work through. I wonder what would happen if he and Tweek became a couple. It seems that would be one of the better options but if he doesn't want that, then that's his choice. I'll have to respect that. Opening the rooftop door, I quietly closed it behind me, stomping my shoes on the floor to remove any snow. Taking my phone out, I began opening up my messages.
Tweek: plz don't be mad at me
Tweek: can we talk later?
Grinning, I wonder how long it took him to send this message. I can see him twitching, trying to figure out if he should even send it or not.
To Tweek: Of course. When would you like to chat?
Token: Sorry about the mess earlier. I didn't think Craig would be so riled up.
This is quite the pattern with him. He never seems to expect what Craig would do. Odd if you think about it, especially since they've been friends for so long.
To Token: It's fine.
Eric: spaz #2 is looking for u
Thomas: where did you go? i wanna talk
Rubbing my forehead, I looked up from my phone. I'm surprised Stan hasn't come through here yet. Oh well. Walking down the stairs, I quickly glanced out the window, seeing the snow fall even heavier. Sighing, I wonder if anything else will happen tonight. With the way today's been going, I won't be surprised. Returning to my phone, I scrolled to the next message.
Clyde: u busy tonight?
To Clyde: Did you need something?
Probably wants to finish up that conversation from yesterday. He's very interested in hearing what I have to say but he doesn't seem to be that type of person. Maybe he's curious? Or perhaps there's something I'm missing.
Tweek: is after my math class ok?
To Tweek: Sure, do you need a ride home tonight?
Unknown Number: Harbucks on-campus at 6?
Oh? That was quick. And impressive. I wonder how Kenny got my number.
To Kenny: Sure
Clyde: maybe we can hang out for a bit?
To Clyde: It might be late when we can chat but maybe you'd like to sleep over tonight?
Tweek: yea, craig offered but i'd feel better if i was with u
That's interesting but a wise decision to make. It'd be best if Craig doesn't find out where he lives just yet. Continuing to walk down the stairs, I could hear a couple of students chatting as they were either walking to or from their classrooms. Feeling a bit bored, I stared at my phone again.
Clyde: awesome! i'll let tweek know
Director Black: Your proposal to change your daily reports to weekly has been approved. Please be aware that any and all information related to your patient must be included. That also includes his relationships with other people.
To Director Black: Understood. However, at this rate, he's becoming a normal, teenage boy. I'm afraid that everything you might receive would be mere relationship issues that people typically have.
Looking up from my phone, I found myself on the first floor already. It's much quieter now. Strolling down the hallway, I found a couple of students sitting in their classes. I guess I'll be missing english class this evening. Pushing the front door open, the cold air hit me again but it wasn't so bad. The snow, on the other end, was getting worse. At this rate, an inch of snow is going to accumulate every hour or so but I don't remember hearing about a storm today. Trudging through the snow, I found my car covered in it. It's going to be a pain cleaning that up later. Standing in front of Harbucks, I pushed the door open, feeling the warmth of the cafe.
"Josh? What are you doing here?" After pounding the snow from my shoes, I looked up to see Wendy, standing behind the counter.
"Hello Wendy. I'm meeting someone here."
"Don't tell me it's that guy." Pointing to a booth at the end, I found Kenny waving at me with a smile. So he's already here? I wonder if he immediately came to the cafe right after our little interaction on the stairs.
"Yeah, seems like he wants to talk."
"Please don't get yourself too involved with that guy. He's nothing but trouble."
"Oh? Is this from experience?" Rolling her eyes at me, she took out a nail file and began working on her left hand. "Try not to get any of that in our coffee."
"Yeah, yeah. You're starting to sound like Maria. Anyway, did you want something?" Patting my jacket down, I removed some more snow that stuck to me.
"May I have a grande latte, three pumps of caramel and vanilla, light foam, regular whipped cream and caramel sauce on top?"
"Sheesh. You're one of those?" Putting her nail file away, she got to work on my latte. "Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?"
"Yeah but like I said, I'm meeting someone."
"I didn't know you were such a bad boy. Well, it better not be because you're interested in Kenny. You won't believe how many people he's pulled the wool over their eyes. Pretending that he's actually interested in them."
"I'll do my best to avoid falling into his trap." Smiling at her, she closed the lid on my latte. "Also, do you mind making a tall latte with vanilla bourbon, extra short of espresso, 2% milk and caramel drizzle on top?" Placing the latte in front of me, she gave me a befuddled expression.
"You're getting a second one?" Chuckling, I shook my head.
"As if I could drink all that at once. It's for Kenny."
"Please don't tell me you're on a coffee date with him." Chuckling even more, I shook my head again.
"No, no. It's nothing like that."
"It better not be." She began working on the second latte as I took out my credit card to pay. "How's Tweek anyway? He looks a lot better when I saw him in computer science last night."
"I'm happy you think that way. And like you said, he's doing a lot better."
"Geez, can't share any juicy details?" Placing a lid on the second latte, she placed it right next to the first one. "Your latte is free but the one for Kenny isn't."
"As I suspected." Smiling, I handed her my card as she swiped it on the machine. "Thanks Wendy. Appreciate it."
"Anytime babe." Taking both drinks, I made my way to the blonde, who looked excited about what I was holding.
"Is that for me?" Setting his latte down, I took a seat across from him.
"Here. It's the same one you had yesterday." Very enthusiastically, he took a sip as I did the same. "Like it?"
"It tastes good but it's different than when you made it for me." Giving a suspicious look, I continued drinking my latte. "What? It's true you know." Taking my jacket off, I carefully laid it on the bench.
"I'm all ears." His smile slowly disappeared, giving a deep sigh before taking another sip.
"Exactly how much do you know about me?"
"I think you know the answer to that." Briefly grinning, he ran a hand through his hair.
"More than everyone else in South Park. Which brings me to this question, who the hell are you?" Relaxing in my seat, I cracked my neck.
"If this is where you plan on taking this conversation, don't expect me to stay any longer." Clicking his tongue, he stared out the window, holding his head up with a hand.
"Fine. Listen, I just don't know what to talk about right now."
"That's not surprising. After all, you're used to being on this side of the conversation, aren't you?" Giving me a dirty look, I smirked while taking another drink. "Why don't we start somewhere more recent? For example, why help Craig? Or if you don't wish to talk about that, why don't you start telling me a little about yourself?" Grinning, he turned back to me.
"Telling you about myself is a little too personal so I'll start with Craig. Remember how I said that I had a debt to pay? I was having issues and he was the only person who would listen to me. Everyone else was too absorbed with their own problems and they only spoke to me when they needed help. Craig would just sit there and listen but would hardly say a word. He was probably lonely without Tweek and all. Man, I'd probably would have gone for him if I didn't see how lovesick he was. It was disgusting seeing him like that." Taking another sip of my latte, he did the same. Mimicking me, huh.
"We would meet up every now and then. And he would just sit there, listening to all of my problems. Not that I mind. It was better having someone listen instead of telling me how to fix them. We were like that for about a year or so but everything changed suddenly. When you and Tweek showed up. Monday night, he actually asked me to help him. To try and find a way to get him back with Tweek. In the beginning, I wanted no part in shit like that. Especially after Craig cheating on the guy three times. But if you could have seen the look in his eyes, the desperation, I couldn't say no." Looking down at the table, he covered his eyes.
"It took me a couple of minutes to realize that the first words out of his mouth weren't words to help me but words, pleading me to help him. I didn't expect it. I thought that maybe, just maybe, he would forget about Tweek and think about me instead. In the end, it was all just a fantasy. We were just using each other because we needed someone at the time." Sighing, he took another drink. "That asshole better be happy. And I swear, if he does anything stupid that they would break up again, I'm going to beat the shit out of him." Letting his hand fall to the table, his blue eyes seemed soft, like he was sad. "It's hard, you know? Trying to connect with someone in a town like this. People thinking you're nothing just cause you're poor and live in a shoddy house. It's not like I wanted to be like this."
"And have you done anything to change that?" Glaring at me, I sat up straight. "I won't listen to someone telling me their sob story who hasn't done anything to break that cycle."
"You're heartless. You know that? And people tell me I'm bad." Quickly finishing his latte, he pushed the empty cup to the side. "Fine. You're right. I haven't done anything. Instead, I fell into that cycle. Doing drugs, drinking alcohol, sleeping around. It's what gets me to the next day. Not this stupid crap of going to school and thinking that I'm going to go somewhere better than all of this. What's the point in doing all that work? But I guess, I should be doing something but I don't know what." Laying his head on the table, I glanced out the window, seeing at least three to four inches of snow on the ground. This is definitely going to be an issue tonight if it keeps up. Hearing a loud roar, I turned my eyes to the entrance of the parking lot, seeing a truck with a plow beginning to push the snow. "So what? You have nothing to say after all that?" Turning back to the blonde, he watched me, even as he continued to lay on the table.
"I only offered an ear." Chuckling, he closed his eyes.
"That you did. But I'm sure it'd be interesting to hear what you have to say. After all, it might just be the thing I need to hear."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"Hey, wanna date me?" Grinning at him, his eyes opened as he removed himself off the table.
"I wouldn't want to be used in your silly attempt to get Craig jealous. After all, you and I know that wouldn't even work." Laughing, his lips changed to a smirk.
"You're right. He's too in love with Tweek, which makes no sense considering the stuff he did with Thomas. Isn't he a hypocrite?" Shrugging my shoulder, I covered my mouth as I yawned. "Don't tell me I'm boring you."
"Of course not. I'm just tired."
"All this snow sucks. It's going to make sleeping at night even worse." Raising an eyebrow, he began chuckling. "You know, cause I don't have a heater. Remember? My house is crappy. I don't think anyone could live in that shit-hole anymore. Good thing it's just me." Picking up a ringtone, he took out his phone. "Look who it is." Showing his phone to me, Craig's name was on the screen. Taking his phone back, he swiped across the screen. "He's asking where I am. Probably wants to talk to me or something." Tapping on his screen, I glanced out the window again to see that the parking lot was now plowed. However, the snow keeps on falling. I should find out if weather like this is normal. "He's on his way here. This should be fun." Glancing back, I began laughing softly.
"Is this your idea of fun? I'd have to say, we might have the same taste." Beaming at me, I took out my phone to see a couple of new messages.
Director Black: Isn't that a good thing for the boy? For him to be normal? Even though, you might be disappointed but don't you worry, we have more patients waiting for you back at the Institute.
Snickering, I swiped to the next message.
Tweek: uh… clyde texted saying that he's sleeping over tonight. he said u invited him
To Tweek: He said he wanted to hang out for a bit. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have him over again, would it?
Clyde: k i let tweek know. where should i meet u guys?
To Clyde: Meet us at Harbucks on-campus. Tweek should be meeting me at 20:30.
Kenny: hey cutie
Looking up to the blonde, he smiled at me. "You sure you don't want to date me? You seem like you would be a good fuck." Unamused, I put my phone away as I laid my arm on the table.
"As much as I'd like to satisfy your teenage hormones, I'm afraid it's not going to happen." Placing his hand over mine, he began rubbing it, causing me to grab his hand and tighten it.
"I didn't know you were so rough. I like that in a guy."
"I should warn you, being rough isn't necessarily a good thing."
"Not unless you're a power bottom. Then it's all in my favor." Chuckling, I let him go and pushed his hand away.
"You don't need to seek attention through this. If you ever want to talk, you have my number." Watching his eyes move away, I cracked my neck, taking the last drink of my latte.
"Craig! So nice of you to join us!" Looking up to see Tweek's boyfriend, his face remained unexpressive. Kenny stood from his seat, allowing Craig to sit closer to the window. Once they both sat down, I had to cover another yawn. This latte doesn't seem to be working right now.
"What the hell are we doing here?"
"I was having a nice little chat with my new friend here. Besides, I need to get to math class."
"You didn't tell me you had class." Sounding a bit peeved, I grinned as Kenny quickly stood up again.
"I didn't? My bad! Guess I forgot. Oh well, I'll talk to you another time." Before Craig could get another word out, the blonde made his exit, leaving him to give the middle finger through the window.
"Seeing as we don't have any business with each other, I'll be taking my leave as well." Moving to stand up, I stopped when I felt a firm hand on my arm.
"You're not going anywhere. It's a good time to tell you to stay the fuck out of my business with Tweek." Sighing, I sat back down.
"You're really determined aren't you? Are you afraid I'll steal him away?" His grasp became tighter, making me smirk at how easy it is to manipulate him. "There's no point in being so aggressive with me. You're just worried that you might lose him and you're not comfortable with that. But you wouldn't be feeling this way if you didn't cheat in the first place."
"Shut the fuck up. I'm getting tired of you talking like you know everything about me." Shaking my head, Stan would definitely be a better fit for Tweek than this guy.
"Let me ask you something. Can you talk to someone without being physical? Or even cursing? If you could do that, I'd be more than happy to listen to what you have to say." Watching him, he steadily let go of my arm. That's surprising.
"Fine. I don't like your relationship with Tweek. What are you to him?" Grinning at his behavior, this is quite the development. Why is he listening to me all of a sudden? Maybe it'll be entertaining to have some fun with him after all.
"Wouldn't the best person to ask this be your boyfriend?" Seeing his eyes widen, I grinned when he started to blush.
"How do you know about us already?"
"That doesn't matter. Just answer the question." Looking annoyed, he crossed his arms, staying quiet. "Let me guess. You don't feel comfortable asking him, do you?"
"Fucking know it all." Grinning even more, I rested both arms on the table.
"Listen, I'm not exactly fond of you becoming his boyfriend. In fact, I don't endorse your relationship at all." Appearing very angry, his mouth was about to open as I continued speaking. "However, if you are the person Tweek desires, then I have no issue with it. After all, it isn't up to me to decide if you two will stay together. That decision lies with the both of you. You two will most likely have a couple of things to hash out but if it works, then it's a success. And besides, if you really do love him, then it should work out in the end, wouldn't it?" Grinning, he narrowed his eyes, clearly unamused by my advice.
"As long as you're not doing anything to mess it up, then it'll be fine." Picking up my jacket, I stood from my chair.
"I think Tweek really loves you. I can only hope you won't do anything to betray his trust like you did in the past." Putting my jacket on, I began glowering at him with a smile. "If you do, I'll make sure you will never see him again." Giving me the finger, I zipped up my jacket. "You should take a picture of yourself. So that way, you can see this image if you ever cheat." Walking outside, I strolled to my car, unlocking the trunk. Time to get all this snow off. Taking the snow brush out, I closed the trunk and began wiping the snow off the side.
"You really think he loves me?" Surprised, I slowly turned around to see Craig standing a couple feet away. I didn't think he'd follow me. And he was quiet about it too.
"You must be slow on the uptake. Do you not remember your conversations with him these past few days? Think about that for a second." After removing majority of the snow, I walked to the other side. Hearing a tapping noise, I glanced over as he began taking some of the snow off with his blue sleeve. "You don't need to do that. I'll take care of it."
"If you're a good friend of Tweek's, then I want to help." Continuing to remove the snow, I couldn't help but smile. Is this really the same Craig I met two days ago?
"In that case, would you like some gloves? I have another pair in the car." He shook his head.
"I'm fine."
Author's Note: Personally, I really liked this chapter only because we're back to Josh's POV. It's always interesting to see how he sees things and the knowledge he possesses that even Tweek may not know about. I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter and I'll see everyone in the next one!