Chapter twelve: What a Rainstorm could lead To
Today, the weather was gloomy. Dark clouds had brewed over the sky, pouring rain down and causing a storm with lightening. Wind was creeping inside the cracks in the house, and water dripped from the ceilings-we had remedied that by sitting bowls under them. We had originally planned to beg for money today(meaning me), but Craig advised we'd do it tomorrow.
In spite of my severe paranoia and my grandparents' warnings, I love rainstorms, or when it rains at all. That fresh spring smell which spreads across Earth, makes me feel light. I could smell it before the rain comes, during, and after. That rhythmic sound of the raindrops hitting the surface, calms me. To me, the sky looks beautiful with the grey mixing in with the blue, especially when the lightening combines with it. The boom of the thunder doesn't scare me either. I could practically sleep in a pitch black room, with a nice dream. I wish it would rain everyday.
When I told Craig about this, he shook his head disapprovingly. The raven doesn't like the rain very much. It's too sad, believing it means death. He says if you stay out too long in it, you'd get sick. Craig called rain, nature's revenge, by giving us the common cold since we cut down their trees and pollute it's grounds. I laughed at his strange, yet unique point of view of the current weather.
At the moment, we were lounging on each other on the couch. With Craig reclined on his back, me between his legs. My back was pressed against his chest, head angled to rest on his shoulder. The raven's arms snaked its way around my body, coming downwards to stroke both my hands within his. We took the blanket from upstairs and had it over us. I felt so warm and safe, cuddled under the cover with Craig from the cold, felt so loved. I couldn't keep the blush off of my face, especially since I could remember we were in this same position the last time he had sucked my neck.
Why does he have to do that? Always making me tense and heart beating a new tune? Or making me do things like stutter more, blush more, and swoon more? I had recently discovered that I would catch myself staring at him for seconds too long. My thoughts are filled with him, to the point where I would not blink for hours. I'm aware that the raven could easily control me, just with a simple caress of his hand. I never knew that anyone could make me be that way, like a rag doll or puppet to manipulate. Except Craig doesn't have to manipulate me, at the least all he has to do is utter certain words and I'll be putty. He could always take me guard down, in spite of my alertness.
I can be myself with him, even when I'm self conscious. But, I am glad that it's only Craig who can control me. I smiled and closed my eyes, allowing myself to go limp on him. In response, my teammate began kissing at my shoulder through the gothic clothing(I'm getting used to the black fabric).
I wonder why I can't tell Craig how I feel. Clyde had confessed to thousands of girls at school, boasting that 'I can get any gal in town!'. Butters had even admitted to someone he likes her. So why can't I, am I that shy? Regardless of whether Craig rejects me, I should be able to say it. Though, oh boy! There is too much pressure. My voice would choke up before I could start the sentence, I'd probably faint from the intensity. It would be swell, if he knew how much he makes me happy. Still, what's the need in liking someone you can't have? It's only painful. He abruptly spoke up, stopping his kisses.
"GS is outside, do you think he's all right?"
"Ngh, y-yes he should f-find some kind of sh-shelter." I answered, with a hint of grunting. I hadn't forgiven the feline for violating my Robert. I also didn't enjoy that Craig had ceased to touch my shoulder with his lips. The current thought made me blush. Luckily, he nibbled at my ear.
"You really don't like GS, uh?" The raven chuckled. "You and that cat are arch enemies, dude."
"N-not really!" I mumbled, eyes still closed. "H-hes okay.."
"Why did you agreed to keep him?" Craig suddenly had nipped my ear, I flinched and sighed.
Stripe came to mind for the question. I recalled him telling me about how his mom gave her away, since she was jealous of his dad's gift. The story was completely cruel.
"B-because I w-wanted t-t-to make you h-happy..."
A pause.
"You're too kind, to someone like me." Craig finally said. I instantly went flustered, fidgeting. I didn't mean to upset him.
"N-no! Ngh y-you are j-just as good!"
"...Precious, you're putting my hopes up. A bit too much."
"Wh-uh? What d-do you mean?" I opened my eyes, trying to turn in order to see his face. Craig simply moved my head back, chuckling,
"It's nothing. Pretend I said nothing." I nodded and closed back my eyes, but not acting as if it was nothing. What did he mean by 'I'm putting up his hopes'? For what? It was like two days ago, when I had that bad dream and he wasn't there when I woke up. Craig asked me if I ever liked someone, I thought I couldn't have. Then said he knew exactly what I meant, by how hard it is. What is he trying to say?
After a minute of laying there, with us snuggled together under the warmth of the blanket, constant sound of thunder and rain, I almost drifted asleep. Eventually, Craig whispered for me to open my eyes. I did as told, obediently and reluctantly.
"If you love the rain so much, why don't you want to play around in it?" He asked, I hesitated.
"Gah, m-my grandparents t-told me that r-rain is God's t-tears of s-s-sorrow and a-anger," I mumbled regretfully. "so t-they forbidden m-me from ever g-going out when i-it rained."
"The heck?" Craig exclaimed. "You've never felt the rain before?"
"Ngh, not e-exactly." I smiled. "I used t-to sneak and hang m-my arm out t-the window." The rain was something else I love and couldn't have, when I was still younger I blamed God for this. But my grandpa quickly fixed that by multiple holy water bathing and whooping. I think it's actually society's fault.
"Crap, what else did they keep from you?" He asked, with a roll of his eyes for sure. "I bet you couldn't even play regular kid games."
"Uhm..." I fumbled. "I-I couldn't.." Another pause.
"Fuck, that's it." Craig unexpectedly gotten from under me, standing beside the couch stretching. "You and I are gonna play some games."
"A-are you sure?" I asked. The room temperature seemed to gotten colder, with Craig gone I noted.
"Damn straight." Cripes, that was the third time he said a bad word. Indicating, he means business. I gulped. "I'm growing pretty sick of your grandparents."
"Erm-well-uhm..." I sat up, fiddling with my fingers. "What are we going to do?" Craig's face cracked with an insane, huge smirk. It scared me.
"Oh, you'll see."
"18...19...20...ready or not here I come precious!" I heard the raven called out, from somewhere in the house. Jesus Christ and all mighty! Here he comes! He's coming for me! Just calm down Tweek, relax your breathing, keep quiet, it's just a game. JUST. A. GAME!
Craig suggested we should start with playing Hide and go Seek. I never played that, grandma believed it was the Devil trying to catch the hidden angel. But now, oh now, I'm hiding under the bed (of the second room) and Craig's trying to find me! The suspense is seriously killing me. My heart raced, though in a good, exciting way. I never knew games like these could make you feel so exhilarated inside, so alive. This was what kids at school considered, 'fun'. The joy of hiding and giggling stupidly until someone catches you. I think I'm lik-
"GOT YA!" Craig yelled in my face, bent down to peek under the bed. I screamed and jumped, colliding my head to bang against the bed. I went back down, muttering an ouch. Of course, my partner had to roll around the floor laughing his head off.
"You are such an idiot!" Craig snickered. "Why'd go under the bed? That's like, the number one place to look! Then the look on your face when I caught you!" I slowly started laughing with him at my fails.
"Okay, now it's your turn."
"17...18...19...20...r-ready or not h-here I c-come!" This wasn't going to be easy, the tables were turned! Since I was downstairs, I decided to check the kitchen.
"C-Craig?" I opened the lower cabinets that are under the sink, they were large enough for him to squeeze in. Although when I opened them, the wanted raven was in no sight. I slapped my forehead, why would CRAIG hide there?
I went up the stairs, under the bed was already off my list of where he should be. So I headed to the bathroom, searching behind the shower curtain. Empty. I checked each all the other rooms that weren't ours, still empty. I was becoming hopeless, maybe Craig had actually left the house, leaving me? But I realized if he wasn't in all the other places, that concluded to one thing. Craig was in our closet.
Nearly skipping inside our room proudly, I opened the door. Inside, he stood smiling.
"I f-found you!" I chirped relieved, Craig ruffled me head.
"You had fun?" I nodded. "Great, now to the other game."
"I w-want to e-eat cat f-fur." I said angrily. Our next game is 'Simon Says'. My grandparents didn't approve of this game because, they affirmed it was a way of playing god; making other people do as you say. Obviously, Craig is Simon
When he explained the rules, it seemed enjoyable enough, tricky. But I never wanted to say, 'I want to eat cat fur', ever! Craig grinned at my pouting face.
"Aw, I'm sorry precious. Simon says, do five jumping jacks." I did so.
"Simon says, touch your head." I did so.
"Now Simon says touch your nose." I did so.
"Simon says, stand on one foot." I did so.
"Stop touching your head." I did so, then regretted it. "Ah! Simon didn't say so."
"Hehe, that was nice." I laughed. "Okay, m-my turn. S-Simon says, p-put your hand on your h-hip."
Craig shook his head amused and did it. I smiled, this certain power I temporarily had was nice. Just think, I could make the raven do mostly anything I wanted. As long as I said the magic words, of course. I cocked my head, pondering what I should order for him to do next. Out of nowhere, GS came into the room, all wet from the rain.
"Meeoow."
"Uhm, S-Simon says...m-meow?" Craig's midnight orbs gave me an 'are you kidding me' look.
"Meow." He did it in a monotone, lousy way. I shrugged apologectically. I have to get faster, the more speedier I am, the higher the chance of tricking Craig.
"Simon s-says pull your e-ears." The raven laughed, doing as told. "Simon says s-stop." He stopped.
"Simon s-says, c-call yourself g-girly." I giggled. Craig's face was devastated.
"I'm...I'm girly.." He acted as if he was choking, as though the word was poisonous.
"Say you're manly, then."
"I'm manly." Craig said happily, "Oh shit."
"You lost!" I announced, pointing mockingly. At my punishment, he tackled me to the bed, tickling all over to keep me down.
"Q-quit i-i-it! Hahahaha!" I burst, wiggling from his rapid, prodding fingers. My skin tingled, I was afraid that I was overly thrilled.
"I can't," Craig informed, "you have to stop me. This game is called a Tickle War."
"Well I h-h-hate this g-ga-hahahaha!" His hands went the sides of my stomach, I'm going to die. "Y-you're k-k-k-killing m-m-me hahaha!" Tears seeped its way out my eyes, I was certain my face was red.
"Oh? I'm going for the armpits!"
"God F-Forbid! N-not the a-armpits!" Too late. Craig's fingers started to tickle in a frantic manner under my arms. I couldn't catch my breath, heaving and inhaling sharply between my shrieks and cackles. I attempted weakly to push him off, only causing for him to tickle more.
"C-C-Craig! Please! Hahaha!" I didn't want to die by the death of laughing too much, so I retaliated by tickling back. He chortled and dropped his hands. I took this advantage to gain my breath back, I never felt so energized. The raven, still leaning over me, smiled with teeth.
"Tweek, I didn't know you could laugh so much. Or that you were so ticklish."
"Ngh, y-you nearly k-killed m-me!" I accused, panting.
"But, you had fun right?"
"..."
"Right?"
"...y-yes." I answered. The most fun I had all day, or my life.
"Good."
Gazing up at Craig, in his midnight orbs, the courage came to me. The moment seemed nearly too perfect. With the rain and thunder in the background, him on top of me in this way, my heart pounding and his happy face. Life was balanced, everything was right where it was suppose to be. I was overwhelmed by the random emotions inside of me, constructing into something I could not stand. I wasn't conscious of anything else in the world except the rain, thunder, Craig, and me. Only those four things were my world, at that moment. I didn't need anything else. With a twitch of my lips, I was about to whisper my confession. But he spoke up first.
"Hey Tweek, how could you tell, when someone likes you?"
"Erm, I-I w-wouldn't k-know?" I stuttered, shocked and confused.
"Oh, yeah, sorry." He got off me. "I've just been wondering lately."
Why does Craig keep doing that? Why is he torturing me? And more, who does he like and why is that person keeping him from me?