'There may be trouble ahead, but while there's moonlight and music and love and romance, let's face the music and dance.'

Howling at the Moon

The school gym was almost unrecognisable. Graceful banners of deep purples and midnight blues hung from up high, contrasting perfectly to the pure white of the walls. Pink roses, placed in the middle of tables, let a beautiful yet not overpowering scent into the air. An elegant ice sculpture of a swan was sitting by the punch bowl, it's slowly melting beak somehow only heightening its beauty. It was the type of simple elegance people strive for but rarely achieve. The committe needed credit; they had done a fine job.

It was the time of night promised to the slow dancers, the ones who had learnt to Waltz in a sophisticated bid to impress their dates. They held their partners close as the classical music flowed; even those who were not naturally gifted were bravely giving it a go. Stan Marsh and Wendy Testaburger slid charmingly across the floor, a breathtaking couple with a remarkable knack for ballroom. Kyle Broflovski, although in possession of two left feet, managed to slowly lead his date around the floor with a grin on his face. Kenny McCormick held Tweek Tweak close as they gently swayed. Perhaps if he'd known it would be their penultimate dance, he'd have payed his boyfriend more attention, rather than letting his eyes roam restlessly around the room.

Craig had arrived as planned with Georgina. They'd arrived to such a mixed response. There had been faces of shock, glares of envy, some guys had grinned at him, and others eyed him with suspicion. Many felt relieved, believing that now their girl's would stop obsessing over him, others were more pessimistic, believing that the girls would obsess even more. When someone thought of as incredibly sexy in a beat up hoody and a chullo, their appearance in a suit was something beyond compare. Craig's clothes finally did justice to his striking face, it looked so effortless. It was effortless, all Craig had done was take a shower, towel dry and then throw on an old suit he found in the back of his closet.

Slow dance with your love in the moonlight. One poster from a day that seemed so long ago, yet Craig could feel the harsh sting of the words, words with the promise of magical, wonderful romance or terrible, crushing pain. He didn't choose the pain, but like so many other things in his life, it seemed unavoidable, a blinding pain that drew silent cries of help, he wasn't dancing below the moon, he was howling at it. He watched as Kenny pulled Tweek close, picked him up, and spun him round. The red that flushed the coffee lover's cheeks, the smile that lit up across his face. Craig's eyes fixed onto light blue as Kenny smirked at him, showing off his happy boyfriend. If only they knew how well Tweek had perfected his fake smile.

Georgina had left Craig for a while to dance with some of her friends. After having a brief conversation with an incredibly happy Clyde, Craig had found Christophe slouched back in a chair, feet up on another one, fingers positioned around an imaginary cigarette.

"Where's Sally?" asked Craig sitting down beside him.

Christophe turned to him lazily and waved his hand dismissively. "She's wiz some of her friends at ze moment. I told her to see zem. I don't think she's having much fun wiz me." He laughed, "I'm being too grumpy." He paused and smirked. "But at ze same time she seems to like showing me off."

"Aren't you enjoying showing her off?" Sally Turner did look stunning in her backless black dress after all.

Christophe tilted his head to the side and debated the question. "I suppose so, but she doesn't thrill me zat much." Craig nodded, he understood. "I see zat you're here wiz a girl, Tucker."

"Yes," replied Craig stiffly.

"Where eez she?"

"Like yours, she's with some friends."

"So you left her wiz ze ozer girls, so zey can stare holes in her and interrogate her till she squeals?"

"You know, I think they were just going to do some dancing."

"Oh come on, you instantly made her ze most wanted and popular but most hated girl in school."

Craig sighed and shot Christophe and annoyed look. "How?"

"Because zees girls are like a pack of Hyenas! Zey see you as interested in zem now, ze claws will be out."

Craig rolled his eyes. "They don't love me that much."

"Zey'd still love you even eef you ate a baby rabbit in front of zem. Zey'd probably claim you were 'saving ze grass' or some other stupid shit."

"That's a bit grim."

Christophe continued, ignoring Craig. "Eef zis was a strip club you'd have hundred-dollar bills shoved ferociously down your pants, and wiz one unfortunate trip from ze stage, ze crowd would tear you to pieces." Christophe observed Craig physically shuddering at this. "Eef you're not absolutely excited and turned on by ze thought of a bunch of girls all desperate for some action and pleasure, zen ze girls are not for you."

Craig looked as if he was about to protest, he opened his mouth and then closed it again. He dropped his head and sighed. "Maybe not. Girls don't interest me, I get that now."

"Oh praise ze faggot lord up zere, Tucker az regained control of his brain."

Craig furrowed his brow. "Why are you sounding so annoyed at all of this?"

Christophe let out an exasperated moan, the fed up type, the one you use when you're at your wit's end with someone. "Because you eizer need to go back to your girl and talk to her, be wiz her or you need to go and declare your feelings for Tweek." He pointed towards the blond and then he turned his finger accusingly to Craig. "Get out of ze exit only world and join us in the land of acceptance!" Christophe knew what he'd said and the implications before he'd fully said it, but he couldn't stop himself.

Craig's eyes shot wide open, he stopped the gasp, but shock was clear on his face. "What do you mean 'join… us'?"

No more lies, thought Christophe, they only make everything worse. "I'm in love wiz Damien!" he blurted out, subconsciously clenching his fists. The shock on Craig's face was nothing compared to the shock Christophe felt in his own heart. Up until that moment he had been unaware of such an obvious fact. "Zat's right, I'm in love wiz Damien," he repeated firmly, "and you, you are in love wiz Tweek." Before anymore could be said, Christophe bolted up and quickly but silently raced out the gym door.

Craig stood up, staring after him, unable to control his thoughts, unable to make sense of the revelation. He felt like he'd been hit in the head with an anvil, like he was standing under Niagara Falls. He felt the strain and pressure on his brain of those two simple statements… two simple facts. Yes, Christophe loved Damien and yes, he loved Tweek. It was blindingly clear.

"I love him too," spoke a composed voice behind him. He slowly turned around to face Damien. Damien smiled before striding over to the gym doors and calmly opening them, walking in the direction of Christophe.

Out in the corridor, two blonds were kissing. It was tender and loving. The taller of the two held the smaller with protective warmth, like he so desperately wanted to shield them from the hurt life could bring. But the look in his eyes seemed to suggest he couldn't, that there were so many things in his way which he couldn't stop. Maybe if this kiss hadn't have been seen, everything would have stayed the same. For now everything was bound to change, now that Kenny McCormick and Butters Stotch had been caught kissing by Craig Tucker.

After his talk with Christophe, Craig had found Georgina, offered her a dance. They'd danced gently, one smiling knowingly, the other completely dazed. She'd thanked him for the dance. Leaning forward she'd whispered, "You'll make Tweek a very lucky boy one day."

Craig had been stunned. "How could you possibly know…?" he'd gasped breathlessly. He'd felt like he was in a whirlwind, with everyone having figured him out, long before he did himself.

"You've been staring at him all night. You've never looked at a single girl, and so many look amazing." She'd looked sincerely up into his eyes. "It was obvious you were asking me to be your date so that you had one. You like Tweek, maybe even love him, I don't know, but you can't have him because he's with Kenny?"

Craig had nodded, sadness filling his eyes. "I do love Tweek. I think I've loved him for a very long time."

Georgina had leaned even closer to Craig, whispering into his ear. "Then don't give up hope." She'd moved her lips and kissed his cheek, before pulling away from him and smiling.

He'd reached out his hand and took hers, bending forward, he'd placed a small kiss on it. "Thank you." He'd turned and walked away, towards the corridor, aiming to get some fresh air. He was unaware that he was about to see something that would completely change his night forever.

Heidi Turner was fuming. Annie's face had been green with envy. Georgina just smiled smugly at them, before casually walking over to where Kevin Stoley was sat, alone, a boy not blessed with popularity. "Care to dance, Kevin?" she'd asked smiling genuinely at him. His eyes had filled with such shock and happiness at being talked to, let alone being asked such an incredible question by a now very wanted girl.

Craig hid around the corner, unseen by the kissing pair in front of him. He held his breath and clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in an attempt to fight the rage. Barging over there was going to accomplish nothing. He was going to watch and wait, maybe then he'd have more chance at figuring out what was going on.

Kenny brushed Butters' hair with his lips and mumbled, "I have to go back now."

Disappointment washed over Butters' face but he nodded. "Okay." Kenny kissed him again, squeezing him tight. He whispered promises, which Craig couldn't hear.

The black-haired boy backed away as he realised Kenny was going to be heading towards him. As Kenny rounded the corner, Craig made it look like he was just walking down the corridor at that moment. Kenny glanced at Craig in shock, thinking that if Craig had arrived a little sooner, he would have seen him and Butters. He felt relieved as he believed this hadn't happened. Kenny smiled smugly, stepping closer. Nothing had changed between the two boys. The hatred was there as strong as ever. Craig still carried scars on his wrists and faint grazes on his cheeks. Kenny had a bad cut on his forehead, but it was hidden under his hair.

"Ahhh Craigy boy, grown tired of the ladies' attention have we?" sneered Kenny, choosing not to pass quietly. "Although, you've never enjoyed it have you?"

"No," replied Craig, looking Kenny dead in the eyes. "I haven't."

Kenny seemed momentarily baffled by this. "Are you after the male attention instead?"

"Sure." Craig wasn't after any attention, but to see the look of shock and suspicion in Kenny's eyes was so entertaining.

"Oh that's right, how could I forget? You're so desperately pining after Tweekers."

Craig narrowed his eyes. "I'm not pining after anybody."

"You do like him though?"

"No." Craig looked innocently into Kenny's eyes. "I love him." He stepped backwards, his instincts telling him to create space. Kenny stared into Craig's eyes, not blinking, just running over what he'd heard. His eyes contained a cruel glint, a scheming harshness usually masked by the entrancing oceanic blue. Only, Craig wasn't mesmerised by them, he could see past the charm to where the ocean turned to ice.

Kenny laughed cruelly, a cold smile on his face. "That's just perfect." He ran his hand through his blond hair. "I didn't think my night could get any better." He moved forward, close enough that Craig could smell the hint of beer in Kenny's breath, and feel the cold hands grasping his shoulders fiercely. "Well I'm off to go and dance with the boy you love. I'm going to hold him close and sway, our bodies pressed together." Kenny moved his hips closer to Craig's. "I'm going get him all bothered and excited... and the sweetest part is there's nothing you can do about it." He viciously pushed Craig away from him and grinned sadistically as the black-haired boy stumbled to the ground.

"We'll fucking see about that, you motherfucker," growled Craig as Kenny walked away.

A/N: There may be teardrops to shed…

Review and I might just upload the next chapter.