"Tweek, wait! Let me help you. You can't do everything by yourself in that condition. Don't walk so fast!" Mr Tucker chases after me. It's his fault for being a slow walker.
"I think I can freaking walk by myself! I'm fine! Jesus." I shove Mr Tucker away and walk out of the hospital doors, happy to finally be outside again. I've been in the hospital for two weeks, from that goddamn gunshot. NO ONE visited me, not even Ruby or Craig. Oh wait, Butters did once, all by himself, but it was nothing special. He just seemed to come because he wanted to get away from South Park. But, to show me she was thinking about me, Ruby sent me a mini stuffed bear every single day, a different colour each time. I've never been one for stuffed toys, but I totally refused when one of the nurses offered to throw them away. She thought they were annoying me. Good of her to offer, though. It was cool to have nice staff around. Anyways, back to the topic…
Craig didn't send me anything.
I've been really moody for the past few days, most likely because I haven't seen Craig nor Ruby for so long. What's more, Mr Tucker thinks that I'll die if I take a step at the moment. True, my chest still hurts a little, but I won't freaking die. Maybe he's acting so worried because he's trying to convince me to be his adopted son again. Well, technically, I still am, but I sure as hell don't want to be. I have a real father, and a real mother. That's all I need. Even if they're dead.
Mr Tucker watches me as we walk, looking surprised. He suddenly smiles and grabs my shoulder. Crap, he's come up with an idea. Knowing him, it won't be pleasant. His ideas never are.
"Hey, how 'bout I race you to the car? You should be ok to run, right? I'm sorry for being so worried. So you wanna do it?" I glare and shake my head, even though I didn't expect his sudden change of heart. I'm really not in the mood for racing. Or anything for that matter. I just want to see Craig. Things were a little uncomfortable the last time we saw each other. I just want to make things right. Maybe tell him I like him. Officially. Maybe.
Even though I clearly said no, Mr Tucker takes off running to the car, that's about 100ft away. Not that I fucking care. If he wins, he wins. Doesn't matter.
…
He's getting closer.
…
He's about 40ft away.
…
I'm starting to damn twitch.
…
That's it.
I throw my bag (full of Ruby's teddies) on the ground and start sprinting towards the car as fast as I can. I'll show him. I can totally beat anyone in a running race, even if I'm from a nut house. I'm like… what's that superhero's name? The Flash? Yeah, that. I'm like The Flash.
I soon run past him. The poor dude. He's getting old. I turn as I run, just to see his expression. When I see his look of horror, a big smile spreads across my face, for the first time in weeks.
"TWEEK! LOOK OUT!" Mr Tucker yells. I look back around in confusion. I immediately notice I'm only about 5ft from the car. I try to stop, but my feet slide in the stupid snow, sending me face first into the window. I think I just broke my damn nose. I shakily put my hands on the window and push myself away from the car, and then rub my face. Serves me right for being childish. Something like racing to a car doesn't matter, like I said. Just after I pull away, I hear something in the distance. I turn around and realise it's Mr Tucker ROFLing.
Literally.
He's literally rolling on the floor laughing. At his son faceplanting into a car window. Nice. I glare as I walk towards him. He sees me coming and, once he notices my angered face, immediately stops laughing. As I get closer, he rubs the back of his head and smiles sheepishly.
"Sorry, Tweek. But you've got to admit that was really funny. You faceplanted!" I ignore him, walk to my bag swiftly, and pick it up. I instantly realise most of the stuffed toys inside are soaking wet from the snow. I slowly turn around and start walking back to the car. Mr Tucker notices me shaking in anger.
"What's wrong?"
"They're wet." Mr Tucker takes a while to understand I'm talking about the teddies. Typical. Once he does, his expression turns to one of guilt and regret. I've never really seen an adult with an expression like that. Maybe Mr Tucker's different. Or maybe I've just not been fortunate enough to meet a kind adult until now. Probably the second answer.
"Look, Tweek, I'm sorry-
"Let's just go." I say flatly, not caring about my dark mood, and childishly stomp to the car.
Honestly…
After about five minutes into the journey, Mr Tucker finally speaks, after spending an eternity glancing at me every few seconds. Good thing too. The glancing was really getting on my nerves. I doubt he would want me even more angry than I already am. No one would.
"There's something wrong with you, Tweek. You definitely don't act like you used to, before the gunshot incident." I scowl at Mr Tucker for a second, then sigh, finally giving up the hard and dark personality. I might as well try to be nice. At least for a second.
"I'm sorry. I've been such an ass lately. Forgive me."
"Is it because you havent seen anybody in so long?"
"…"
"I see." He doesn't give me a reason why, so I guess I'll have to ask.
"Why couldn't they come and see me?" Mr Tucker stares straight ahead at the road.
"Who?"
"You know who! Ruby and Craig." I see Mr Tucker stiffen, which is a bad sign.
"Ruby's not well enough to see you right now, Tweek. She keeps asking to, but she's just not in the condition to go anywhere other than her room."
"Is… Is she alright?"
"… We actually don't know yet. We took her to the doctor the other day, but he's so stupid he wasn't even able to tell what she had. We're going to take her to the hospital you've just been in the day after tomorrow."
"Is she really really sick?"
"She can't see you, Tweek. That much I'm sure of." Mr Tucker snaps sternly. "She can barely even walk. Every time she tries, she takes a few steps and falls. Craig has to help her everywhere."
"Speaking of Craig, why can't he come?" I ask, while making sure to keep my eyes on the window. I really don't want to see Mr Tucker's face when I ask somehting like that. Anything really involving Craig and I makes him annoyed. I'm sure Craig knows that as well as I do, by now. I hear him sigh, as expected.
"Tweek, it's not that he doesn't want to see you. It's just that he … well he sort of can't."
"What the hell do you mean he can't? The Craig that I know would come to see me no matter what. Have you forgotten the escape incident?"
"No, I remember that." Mr Tucker replies, smiling slightly as he thinks about it. "But, like I said, he seriously can't."
"Why?"
"Tweek, just drop it. You're starting to act childish."
"Just tell me! I have the right to know! He's my… brother!" I can tell I struck a nerve.
"…"
"…"
"…Tweek, something happened at his school. There was an incident."
"What was it?"
"…"
"Tell me!"
"I can only say this. It involved Craig and Eric Cartman. They've both been expelled because of it."
"…So Craig's been grounded by you? Is that why he can't come?"
"Partly." I look at Mr Tucker, waiting for a reason. He keeps glancing at me, and flinching when he realises I've still got my eyes on him. Eventually he talks.
"He… won't talk to anyone. He just won't. He hasn't said a word since the incident. Not even to Ruby."
"Then how the hell do you know he wants to see me?"
"I saw him looking at his phone. I snatched it away and saw a photo of you. I think thats pretty convincing."
"…"
"He loves you, you know." I jump. Oh crap. Here we go.
"No, he doesn't." I state. I see, out of the corner of my eye, Mr Tucker frown.
"He does. I heard him tell Ruby. The day before you woke up in hospital."
"… He doesn't. He's just confused. I know he's straight as an arrow. It's a childish crush. It's not real."
"You are children."
"Do you honestly think I have the personality of a child? I tried to kill myself with safety scissors for God's sake." Mr Tucker stays ssilent for a long time.
"… Did you know, Tweek, that ever since he's met you, he's been so much happier? He almost never stops talking about you. Even his friends, who've never met you, like you as well. And so does Eric Cartman's group. They're all so fascinated by you."
"I know that. But… like I said, he's just confused. He thinks he likes me, but-
"Tweek." Mr Tucker says my name so coldly and firmly, that I immediately shut the fuck up and turn to him. He glares at me with the infamous Tucker glare, so long that he forgets about the road. I feel the car starting to swerve to the side.
"THE ROAD YOU MOTHER FUCKING RETARD!" I scream, pointing in front of us frantically. Mr Tucker shrieks and quickly pulls over. The tyres make a loud screech as we slide off the road, causing both of us to flinch from the pitch. Mr Tucker sighs in relief as the car finally stops moving, and then resumes glaring at me. I glare back this time. Perhaps I've inherited the glare, now that I'm 'part' of the family. I think I haven't. After about thirty seconds, I waver and finally speak.
"W-What's with the glaring? I just don't agree with you about Craig liking me romatically. There's no need to go insane…" I trail off for a few seconds at the mention of the word. "…There's no need to get angry about it." Mr Tucker lets out a huge sigh (for the millionth, literally millionth time today) and rubs his forehead. Maybe because he can't face the fact that a crazy kid likes his son. Or maybe he's worried about his kids, and the situations they're in. Or maybe he's purely worried about me. Well, for whatever the reason, he sure as hell isn't happy.
"Tweek… Craig and that kid, Eric Cartman… put a kid at their school in the hospital. That's why they were both expelled. Not suspended. Expelled." I stare at my adoptive father with wide eyes. Craig… did that? That's crazy. I know Craig's a bad kid (I just can't picture him paying attention in a classroom), not to mention Cartman, but I never thought they could do something like that.
"Wh…Why did they do it?"
"I don't know. Eric and Craig both refused to tell us. Ruby knows, since she's the only one Craig told. She was the last person he talked to before he went silent. I asked her about it. She also refused to tell me. Everything except one thing."
"And what's that?"
"It… had something to do with you. That's all I know. Nothing else."
Later that day, after lunch, and huge greetings from everyone who hadn't seen me in a while, I take advantage of my keys and go to Mr Tucker's office. I know no one's gonna be there, but I have a feeling I have to go. Mr Tucker will be with another patient this time of day, since lots of kids go with appointments with their psychologists right after lunch, to finally get them over with. I'm not unique. No one likes appointments.
As I open the door, out of nowhere, I get tackled by something. Deja vu…
"YAY! TWEEK'S HERE!" I shove the person off me in fear. They topple to the floor giggling, quickly standing up again. I'm shocked to see Ruby. She's smiling and swaying happily, just like four year olds are supposed to. Though, I do notice, she looks pretty pale, her nose is running, and she can't balance herself. She's also sweating a lot. I quickly grab her shoulders to prevent her from falling. She giggles.
"Oops. Ruby lost balance." She smiles sheepishly and starts to chatter about stuff that's happened. I look her up and down shakily.
"Aren't you supposed to be home, in bed?" She stiffens and closes her mouth, setting her lips in a thin line. It's amazing how she can change her moods and emotions in a split second.
"Ruby wanted to see Tweek really badly. Between you and Ruby, Daddy doesn't know Ruby's here."
"Ruby, you need to go home. You're sick."
"Ruby's not THAT sick. She just has a cold. Besides, Ruby wanted to see you. Its been so long. Craig wanted to as well. Say hi Craig!"
"What do you mean? He's not here." She starts laughing loudly. Ok, I'm starting to think maybe she belongs here.
"Yes he is! He's there." Ruby points to the counter, where Craig taught me how to make coffee the first time we met. I slowly walk over there and look behind it. I gasp when I see Craig sitting on the floor, with his head in his arms. I remember my conversation with Mr Tucker earlier.
"He… won't talk to anyone. He just won't. He hasn't said a word since the incident. Not even to Ruby."
"So he won't talk to anyone?" Ruby gasps from behind me. I half-turn to her.
"Wh-Who told Tweek that?"
"Your dad did. So I guess it's true." I say, keeping my eyes on Craig.
"There's nothing wrong with Craig, Tweek." I fully turn and stare at Ruby from the sound of her voice. She's giving me one of the Tucker death glares. Second time today.
"Of course there isn't. But, I still think he needs help-
"CRAIG DOESN'T NEED HELP! I SAY SO!" My mouth drops open at Ruby not speaking in third person. It just sounds wrong. She's… like me. She has a freaky dark side that even changes the way she speaks.
"A-Alright. I'll try to reason with him." I smile nervously and slowly sit next to Craig.
"Hey. Hey, Craig." I shake his shoulder gently. He doesn't respond. My heart sinks at the fact. I give a small sigh and relax myself. I can take my time with this.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter if you don't talk. You're here, and that's all that matters." Craig finally sits up, though he just looks straight ahead. Ruby stares, mouth wide open. "Hey, when I get released from here, I'm gonna go all over the world, and make the most of my life. No more wimpy, shaky Tweek, who gives up over everything and doesn't trust anyone." I grin happily. Ruby finally smiles and spreads her arms out.
"Yeah! Ruby and Tweek are gonna go all over the world! And go one big roller coasters and feed elephants! Craig can come too! And Stan and Kyle! And Cartman! And Kenny! And Clyde! And Token!" I smile weakly as I watch Ruby list literally everyone she knows. That she can remember, anyway. A few minutes later, we both hear sniffling. Ruby immediately stops talking in mid-sentence. I turn my head next to me. Just as I thought. Craig's crying.
The… The apocalypse is near.
"Hey! Hey Craig! W-What's wrong?" I ask worriedly. What the hell? Ruby and I are meant to be cheering him up, not making him start crying. Really silent and barely noticable crying, but still fucking crying. I'm about to comfort him, but then I get the biggest fright of my goddamn life.
… Except for when that gunshot scared me so much I fell over.
"GUESS WHO~"
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I push the hands (over my eyes) away, quickly stand up and turn around, wanting to see who did it.
… Stupid Kenny's sitting on the countertop smirking. I notice Stan and Kyle in the standing in the doorway giggling. Cartman's greeting Ruby, who's giving him an identical radiant smile to Craig's. Must run in the family. Like the glare.
"Kenny… what the fuck is wrong with you?" Kenny blinks, looking confused.
"Never thought you were the type to be pissed when you get scared."
"In case you haven't noticed, Craig's crying." Kenny frowns and looks behind my shoulder. He snorts and looks back at me.
"He's fine. Just a little breakdown. Don't worry so much. That's how he is. What he does, right, is he keeps everything bottled up, and at the end of the month, he goes somewhere private and lets it all out. This time he just couldn't hold it in long enough." I glower.
"What makes you so sure? Are… Are you a stalker?" All the boys laugh except Craig.
"Dude, Kenny's special. He knows everything. Everyone knows that." Stan grins. Wow, he can be good looking when he wants to be too. Despite what he just said answered my question, I'm slightly angry that he used the word I hate most. Special.
"What're you all doing here?"
"We're having a meeting later."
"What?"
"A meeting. All of us boys are having a meeting. Clyde and Token are coming later. The rest of the boys in the class are coming too."
"Why are you having a meeting here? A mental institution!" They all laugh again. Ruby joins in this time. Craig even looks at me.
"'Cause it's about you, dummy!"
"About me?"
"Yeah. I told you. We're getting you out of here." Kyle says.
"I'm not attempting an escape again." Seriously, I'm starting to get creeped out by the laughing.
"Don't worry. We found something that'll prove your innocence. We wanna show it to everyone."
"W-Why'd you need to invite so many people?"
"'Cause we all wanna free you. You're one of us! The boys in our class are like bros. We work together with everything. Stan, Kyle, Cartman and I just happen to be a little~ bit more independant."
"… So when is it?"
"8.00pm."
"How're you guys gonna stay that late?"
"We're staying over. You know. Where doctors sleep. There's heaps of rooms, right?"
"But what about all your parents?"
"They don't care. We're always away doing God knows what. They've gotten used to it."
"… Well then, where is it? The meeting?"
"Secret." Kenny grins and puts a finger to his lips.
"But it's somewhere in the building, right?" I catch the five of them exchanging glances. None of them look sure what to say. Kenny eventually speaks again.
"You could say that."
So I'm sitting in class, minding my own business, tuning out some teacher droning on and on, whispering to Bradley (they've decided to join all the classes now, in a bigger room) every few seconds, when Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny come strolling in, like they're freaking royalty. They all climb over a bunch of desks and jump in between Thomas, Bradley and I, giggling. I redden and give them all an angry look for making everyone stare, including the teacher.
"Uh… who are you?" The teacher asks awkwardly, in the middle of writing something on the board. Kenny takes off his hood, making some girls (we have female patients here on the opposite side of the hospital) squeal.
"The name's Kenny. Kenny McCormick. These are the dudes, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh, and Eric Cartman." I quickly realise Kenny's not talking to the teacher. He's talking to the patients. "Now I hear you guys haven't been very nice to my buddy Tweek here," Kenny puts his arm around me and roughly pulls me towards him. "And that's unacceptable."
Kenny's talking about when the patients all said they hate me. Cartman must've told him about it. Jesus Christ, way to make a big deal of it. Cartman probably exaggerated. Besides, Bradley and I are getting along now. I don't give a flying fuck what the others think of me. Not anymore.
"Seriously, you kids need to leav-
Kyle shoots the teacher a venemous glare, making him wince and reluctantly step back. I hear Cartman give a barely audible snicker. Kenny continues speaking. His tone is confident, but slightly more threatening than I usually hear.
"So if you all don't shape up and start worshiping him like he's meant to be, then I will personally grab a butcher knife, cut all your limbs of, one by one, wait for you to bleed to death while hammering nails on every square inch of your body, and then gauge your eyes out. And I'll prabably burn the remains and sprinkle it on your families at night. Any questions?" I let out a small, nervous laugh, hoping everyone won't hate me more now. I know I said I don't give a flying fuck anymore, but still… I don't want death threats. Everyone quickly shakes their head at Kenny's last question. The girls just stare, a few whispering to their friends.
"That's great. Now we can enjoy the lesson in peace." Kenny retrieves his happy, high, bouncy voice. Now everything's fine. Wait, what?
"You… You guys are staying…" It's meant to come out as a question, but it ends up sounding like an unhappy statement, with the tone that sounded like I really don't want them to stay. I silently hope they'll all be dumb enough to think it's a question anyway. They are. Oh wait, Kenny's not. He narrows his eyes and grabs the back of my shirt, pulling me under the desk.
"Why don't you want us to stay? Be honest. You scared of us or somethin'?" He whispers, glowering.
"No, I'm not. You guys just… make people uncomfortable."
"How?" Man, he looks so puzzled.
"You're from the outside. Not to mention you just gave everyone death threats."
"I'm sorry, the outside?" Oh yeah. I had this same problem with Craig.
"It's like… like the word we use to describe… outside this institution. Patients who've been here so long eventually think like anywhere outside here is an alien planet."
"So because we're from the 'outside' everyone hates us?"
"I wouldn't say that. They just don't trust you."
"So if we were patients here, they'd trust us?"
"Yes but - Whatever you're thinking Kenny, don't do it." Kenny flashes me a smile and quickly makes a move to stand up. I'm trying to warn him, but it's too late. His head crashes really hard on the bottom of the desk. He curses and stands up properly. I sigh and get out from under the desk as well. I immediately see Kenny talking to his … his 'gang'.
"Alright, GO!" They all start unbuttoning their shirts. Thomas and Bradley both lean away from the four of them. They've got… oh thank you Jesus. They've got shirts underneath. Man, they look familiar. Wait, holy shit. Kenny, you…
"OK! NOW WE'RE PATIENTS HERE! LET'S ENJOY THE LESSON!"
… bastard.
They're wearing the fucking patient uniforms. They even have numbers on them. (on every uniform there's a set of black numbers. My number's 0242)
"Kenny, where the hell did you get those?"
"The store room you silly!" Kenny laughs, along with the other three guys.
Now I know what Craig meant. They're trouble. All four of 'em.
As we're all leaving the room, Kenny stops me, gesturing for his friends to go on ahead. They nod and leave, shoving each other playfully. Kenny's trying to push away a bunch of girls that… I swear that they have hearts in their eyes. When he's finally got them off him, and everyone's left, he finally looks at me, smirking knowingly.
"What now, Kenny?" I ask tiredly, watching the nurses guide all the kids away. I'm really not in the mood for his shit, after all that's happened today.
"I thought you would need this." He produces a credit card in his hand out of nowhere. How'd he do that?
"What for?"
"You'll know when the time comes." Kenny laughs and tosses it at me. I quickly catch it.
"I'll see you later, Tweek." Kenny gives me a quick wave and runs off towards the elevator. I stare at the card for a second, then shake my head and put it in my pocket. If Kenny says so, then I should definitely need it. He's like Ruby, that dude. He's practically telepathic. Maybe he actually is.
I might as well go back to the cell room. I need to relax. Too much has gone on today, and I seriously doubt my brain can handle it. I guess I'll take the long way, just because. I put a hand on my forehead and start walking. As I turn into a hallway, I hear yelling. I frown and walk to the edge of the hallway, peeking around the corner of it. Crap, it's the Tuckers. I quickly turn back around, hiding. New equation.
Tuckers + fighting = PURE TROUBLE.
"What the hell are you doing here? You're meant to be in bed! Look at yourself, you can barely even stand!" I immediately understand Mr Tucker's yelling at Ruby.
"Craig couldn't come alone! He needed me!" Ruby says defensively, pointing to herself.
"How would he need you, Ruby? He's almost eleven! He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself." Ruby stays silent, as well as, of course, Craig.
"And you, Craig! You could've told me she was here, talking or not! It isn't that hard to point at her! What am I going to do with you two? Tweek's never like this. He's well behaved!" Yeah, right. I stare at the white tiles on the ground, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with guilt. I cause this family too many problems. If I didn't exist, they'd be fine… they'd be fine…
"We would not be fine." My head snaps up and my eyes grow wide. "We would not be fine at all. We would be unhappy like before." I shakily turn and step around the corner, revealing myself to my 'family'. Ruby's looking right at me. She's been the one speaking. "Craig would still be lonely and emotionless. Father would still be away for most days. Mother would still fight with him. I would still cry often." She's… she has to be fucking reading my mind or something. I stare back into her eyes, quivering. It's like… she's looking into my damn soul or something. Mr Tucker and Craig are both frozen, staring at her with wide eyes just like I am. Ruby starts walking towards me. After three steps, she stumbles and almost falls, due to her sickness. Both Craig and I lean forward and are about to run and help her, but she quickly recovers and stands up straight. She lifts her head up and looks straight at me again. I wince. She keeps stepping slowly until she's right in front of me. She holds out her hand, obviously wanting me to take it. I shake my head and step back, silently telling her I'm too scared. She narrows her eyes and leans forward. She seriously wants me to take it. We look at each other for about fifteen seconds. Craig and Mr Tucker both watch us intently. I eventually give her a small nod and lift my arm up. I hesitate, but then take her hand. It's like… like a jolt of freaking electricity running through me.
I seriously stop seeing Ruby in front of me. I instead see Craig standing outside with two boys. I think they're Clyde and Token. They're all pointing and laughing at Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman, who are sitting/kneeling on the ground, covered in dirt, rubbing their heads (looking pretty dazed). They're most likely all injured from one of their 'adventures'.
"Can't they just be normal?" Token asks, in a rhetorical question.
"What idiots. They need serious help." Clyde remarks, smirking. I helplessly watch Craig look at the four coldly.
"Nothing could help these pathetic excuses of human beings. Let's just go." He says, before turning and walking away. Clyde and Token quickly exchange glances, then follow him, leaving the famous four glaring. Cartman stands up, brushes the snow off his knees and gives the finger.
"FUCK YOU ALL! WE'LL SHOW YOU ONE DAY!" Craig, Token, and Clyde stop and half-turn around.
"Oh yeah? What'll you do?"
"I'LL BET YOU RIGHT NOW! I'M BADASS ENOUGH TO GET MYSELF INTO A MENTAL INSTITUTION!" Stan and Kyle look at each other worriedly. Kenny smiles knowingly, as if he can tell what's going to happen. He probably can.
"Right, right. Tell you what. Let's bet ten dollars. If you somehow get yourself into an institute, I'll pay you that amount. If you don't do it in a week, you pay me that amount. Deal?"
"HELLZ YEAH!" Craig nods and continues walking with Clyde and Token. I flinch as he walks past me. I feel no senses. I don't even have to breath. I'm basically a hollogram.
When he \brushes against my shoulder, he shivers and looks at me. He obviously can't see me, but he somehow gets scared and runs away nonetheless.
"Whoa dude! What's wrong?" Clyde yells, running after him, along with Token.
I turn around and watch the other four. Kyle's telling Cartman off for something. Stan's trying to shake the snow off of his hat. They must've landed harshly on the ground or something. Kenny's still sittinng in the snow, looking straight at me understandingly, nodding his head. He can't possibly see me.
He swiftly stands up and gives me a big wave. "HEY TWEEK!" He shouts loudly, making sure probably the whole town can hear. Ok, he can see me. But that's wierd. How does he know me? This has to be in the past, so he hasn't even met me yet. But wait…
"Dude, Kenny's special. He knows everything. Everyone knows that."
Stan was sure as hell right about that. Damn.
Kenny's three companions stare at him like an alien.
"You saw someone, Kenny?" Kyle asks, looking at the space where 'I' am.
"Yup."
"Who?"
"No rush, no rush. You'll meet them soon. A week and a few days to be exact."
"Thank you, Kenny." I say suddenly in front of him. Kenny gives me one of his killer smiles.
"Your welcome. I look forward to officially meeting you." Everything disappears.
…
I'm no longer in the snow. I'm in the kitchen of a house. I spot Ruby sitting on a counter crying, and Mrs Tucker yelling at someone on the phone. I can guess who it is.
"NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME! I'M SICK OF YOU NEVER BEING HOME! IT'S TAKING A GODDAMN TOLL ON THE KIDS AND I WANT YOU TO DAMN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"
…
"I DON'T CARE THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR SHIFTS! QUIT YOUR FREAKING JOB IF YOU HAVE TO! EITHER WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HOME MORE OFTEN, LIKE IT OR NOT! GOODBYE!" She slams the phone down, puffing. I hear footsteps and glance at the doorway. It's Craig, looking annoyed. He walks through me this time.
"GAH!" He shrieks, running to the counter and turning around. The noise makes Ruby jump and Mrs Tucker drop a plate that she's washing.
"CRAIG TUCKER! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU MADE ME DROP A FUCKING PLATE!" Ok, I can see why Mr Tucker's scared of this lady.
"I SWEAR TO GOD, SOMETHING'S WATCHING ME! IT'S RIGHT THERE!" Craig points to where I'm standing, trembling. I smile sadly. I wish he could understand. It hurts me to see him so scared, to not know it's me standing here. Ruby gets up and casually strolls towards me. She stops in front of me, looks up, and smiles.
"RUBY, GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Ruby ignores him and reaches out her hand.
"It's time to go, Tweek." She says. Oh, I get it. She wants me to return to my real time.
"WHAT THE HELL, RUBY? WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING TO?" Craigs shouts.
"Your special person." She replies to him, keeping her eyes on me and smiling knowingly. She probably knows the future just like Kenny.
"Special wha… " Craig trails away as Ruby takes my hand. Wow. I, a hollogram, can actually feel a human being.
Everything fades away. I suddenly feel human again… and still like I'm being electrocuted. I quickly get a hold of myself and shove Ruby away. She crashes to the floor, panting. So do I. That… literally took out all our energy. I feel myself. Am I seriously human again? I should be…
I shakily put a hand to my forehead, just as Craig gets to me. He kneels down and puts his arms around my shoulders, making sure I don't collapse on the floor. Dear Lord. My dreams have come true. He's actually touching me again.
I guess I'll tell him then. Before I lose consciousness from exhaustion.
"Craig, I gotta tell you something." He looks at me both sympathetically and questionably.
"You… You know that time when you made that bet with Cartman? And the time when Ruby was talking to something in your kitchen?" Craig hesitates, but then nods. "And you know how you always felt like someone was watching you, and you felt cold everytime you walked past it?" He nods again, looking extremely confused.
"Well… that was me. I was standing there watching you." Craig's eyes widen, and his jaw drops open. I smile. "I would've had the same reaction."
Then, God chooses the perfect moment to make me pass out.
I wake up in a way comfier bed than in my cell, so I immediately know I'm not in the cell room. I sit up and rub my chest. It's still pretty sore from the gunshot. I look around. Well, the bed's pretty big. And I can see there's a bathroom some feet away from me. There's even a closet. I must be in one of those many rooms doctors sleep in. I hear movment beside me and I quickly turn the opposite way I'm looking.
… Kenny's leaning back in a chair smirking at me. Jeez, he does that smirking thing a lot. No wonder girls like him. Not that I care. I'm not exactly playing for that team.
"What… are you doing here, Kenny?" I facepalm.
"Is it so wrong to visit my best buddy when he collapsed in a hallway?"
"Not unless there's a reason." Kenny feigns a look of hurt. I glare. I'm seriously not in the mood for his shit right now. I know I've said that already, but now I'm really not. Like, life-threatening really. He finally wavers.
"Alright. I wanted to check something."
"What?" Kenny's face suddenly turns serious.
"You saw it, didn't you? Craig and his friends making fun of us and Cartman & Craig making that bet. I spoke to you."
"… Yes, I saw it."
"Well that's good. Just tell me, why did Ruby do that to you?" He asks like it's a quiz question, not out of curiousity.
"To prove a point. She wanted to make sure I knew how much… how much I've 'helped' her family." Kenny nods, as if I've answered his 'question' right.
"Then I'll be going. Stan's probably having a hard time separating Kyle and Cartman. They seriously get physical when they fight." Kenny gets up and brushes himself off. He was eating a cake or something. I can see the crumbs on the floor. Great, I'll probably get blamed for it.
Just as Kenny's at the door, I remember.
"WAIT!" Kenny pauses and half-turns to me, looking irritated.
"What is it? Stan's really struggling, so I need to hurry."
"That's what I want to ask about."
"What? Stan struggling to separate the fatass and Kyle?"
"No! You knowing stuff like that. How do you know?"
"I saw it."
"But how?"
"Look dude. God gives random people gifts like that. Ruby and I just happened to be two of them."
"So I could ask you a question, and it would always be right?"
"If I told you the truth, then yeah."
"Then tell me… how will this all work out? Will you guys really get me out of here?" Kenny nods.
"Yup. Everything will turn out perfect."
"Like hell it will."
"Oh, so now you don't believe me?"
"How do I know you're not lying like you said?" Kenny sighs and quickly strides up to me.
"Get ready."
"WHA-
He grabs my hand without warning and sends me into that same dream world, where I'm just a hologram. I see the entrance to a school, and many kids standing, staring at something. Lots of girls are screaming like fangirls.
Right in front of me, I see Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Cartman, Clyde, Token, Craig and me walking up to the entrance. I'm in freaking normal clothes. Craig's… Craig's holding my hand.
…
Ok, Kenny's right. Everything should turn out fine. I stiffen when the future me suddenly stops walking. It says something like for the others to go ahead, then turns around and looks straight at me. When it sees me, it smiles. I swear to good, that smile makes everything glow. It's just so happy.
It then says something I can't hear. It must be something good. It… no… I can definitely see me. 'I' then turn and run to catch up with Craig.
Next thing I know, I'm sitting in a bed holding Kenny's hand. He lets go of me and stands up. He doesn't look tired at all, unlike Ruby. Maybe he's mentally/physically stronger or something.
"Now do you believe me?" I quickly nod.
"…I have a question though."
"What now?"
"What did the future me say to me when he turned around and saw me?" Kenny smiles.
"You'll know soon. You'll say it yourself."
"Do… you ever get sick of knowing everything? Do you ever curse God for giving you all the stress?"
"Never. I have no right. I didn't create this world. I just happen to live in it."
A/N: Seriously, I think this is one of the last chappies. But still…
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