South Park © Matt and Trey.
General Warning:
This story includes slash pairings, as well as heavy eating disorder content and may be triggering to some viewers. Please take care while reading.
Clyde's POV:
"Hn." I let out a grunt, dropping my dead weights back onto the equipment bench. I've been doing a good job with using the gym lately. Having Craig as a work out partner motivates me.
Baseball season is starting soon, and after waiting through my freshman and sophomore years of high school I finally have been okayed for the South Park varsity team. I'm proud, to say the least, but now I have to live up to their expectations.
"Shit." I say to myself, wiping sweat off my forehead and waving to Craig, who is zoned out to his IPod on one of the treadmills.
Craig goes hard when he works out – using the cardio equipment from the second we arrive until I have to practically force him off so we can go home.
When is becomes apparent that he hasn't seen me, I shout "Hey!" and he looks over. Without popping his earbuds he holds up a hand, asking for five more minutes.
I shrug, and watch as he taps the speed button a few times and begins to sprint.
Bending down and drinking from one of the water fountains, I see my reflection flash in the mirror perpendicular to where I'm standing.
I look up, brushing the messy mop of hair out of my face and examining the definition I'm starting to gain in my arms. I look better than I have in years. I pull my sweat soaked t-shirt up and over my head, dropping it onto the floor as I touch my stomach, kneading the muscle that it now shows.
"I'm ready."
I spin around to see Craig, looking disgruntled and sipping out of his water bottle.
"Sorry." I say, picking my shirt up off the floor, "I didn't see you finish up."
He waves dismissively and turns towards the gym's double doors. I tell the woman at the reception desk thank you and goodbye, and then follow Craig down into the parking garage below the building.
He's standing on the passenger side of my car, looking pissed and pinching at his hips.
I walk up to my mom's old 4Runner and hit the "unlock" button, opening the door. "Dude, you alright?" I asked as I adjust my seat and Craig slips into the car.
"Fine." He says curtly.
"How was your run?" I say, tossing my shirt into the backseat along with my towel and water, and then starting the car. It's not unusual for Craig to be in a shitty mood after a workout. I think he pushes himself too hard.
"I could have kept going." He leans back in the chair, picking at his hips again.
"Hey man, knock that shit off—" I reach over blindly and swat at his hand as I pull up the ramp and onto the street, "It's fucking weird when you do that."
"Sorry." He says gruffly as he pulls his hand out of reach and stuffs it into his pocket.
Reaching into my own pocket, I grab my phone and toss it onto Craig's lap. "Can you check my messages for me? We're supposed to meet Tweek and Token."
He swipes his thumb across the screen and taps the little green speech bubble icon.
"They're at the pizza place by my house." He says, setting it up on the dashboard.
"Sweet. I'm really hungry after that workout." I smiled, stepping on the gas a little. There are no cars on the road. There are never any cars on the road in South Park.
I see Craig make a twisted face out of the corner of my eye, but he says nothing.
When we pull up to the restaurant, I park right in front. I can see Tweek and Token chatting on the other side of the large glass window.
I slip a clean new shirt on and we get out of the car. I leave it unlocked; we'll be sitting right within viewing distance anyway. Craig opens the heavy wooden door and gestures for me to hurry up. It's still early spring in Colorado and it's freezing outside in gym shorts.
Rubbing my hands together for warmth, I drop down next to Tweek who lets out a startled "Gah!" and Craig joins Token on the other side of the booth.
"Hey guys." Token says, raising his hand as a hello, "Did you just finish at the gym?"
"Yeah," I laugh, "Why, do we smell?"
"Ah—a little!" Tweek smiles, quivering in his seat.
"We just ordered two mediums." Token waves to the waitress, who brings over two glasses of water for Craig and I, "I hope that's alright."
"That's perfect." I take a swig of my water, "So what do you guys think? Am I looking good for baseball season?"
"Y-yeah!" Tweek stammers out, "They were idiots not to take you before."
Token gives me a quick glance over, "You're looking really healthy." He smiles, "You really kicked it into high gear."
"Had to." I smile, "If I didn't whip my ass into shape, they were going to do it for me."
Token chuckles, and our waitress reaches down in front of us to place a metal rack on the table.
"Careful." She says, setting the pies down, "They're straight from the oven."
I have a hard time controlling myself, and grab a piece right away, burning my fingers. Tweek and Token wait until it stops steaming, but by the time it does I'm already on my second slice. Craig waits a while longer, drinking all of his water, refilling it, drinking all of that, reaching for a slice, then changing his mind, before he finally grabs a piece of the pepperoni and takes a bite.
Between the four of us we finish everything. I ended up eating three slices, because I'm always starving after I weight lift. Tweek had two, I know because he always eats slowly and with a fork and knife. He says if he doesn't that he ends up throwing his food. I don't know how much Token had, but I'm pretty sure Craig is on his 5th piece. He always acts so reluctant to start, but once he does he can really pack it away.
When we finish, he drinks three more glasses of water and looks like he might be sick.
We split the check four ways, and I cover Craig's quarter of the bill because he lets me piggy back off of his gym membership. Token says that he has to get home to finish an essay, and Tweek has to get to his evening work shift at Harbucks, so we all head out and I drive Craig home.
"See you at school tomorrow." I tell him as we pull up to his house only a few blocks away.
"See ya." He says briskly, before grabbing his stuff from my backseat and rushing off into his house.
I stare after him, watching as he slams the door behind him before I drive away. He's been running off a lot lately.