AN: I cannot believe it's been nearly three months since I've updated. I just-?! Honestly life was just being life. I was stressed and lost motivation to write. I took some time away from doing pretty much anything/everything but I'm going to try and get back on track now! I can't promise to know when I'll update next but do know I have no intention on ever dropping this fic. I'll update when I can :)

Chapter Sixteen

Issues

Much to everyone's surprise I actually enjoy school.

If I was anyone else I'd be surprised that I like school too.

People are somehow convinced that I'm the type who's failing all my classes and skipping ninety percent of the time. Granted I skip about half the time, I actually have some pretty damn beautiful grades. It's the one thing that keeps my parents from getting on my ass about my poor life choices.

The trick is to take easy classes.

Token always gets angry that I'm in standard classes. He likes to think I'm smart enough to take AP or CP classes with him, but I don't know. I could probably take those classes and get Cs if I'm lucky and work my ass off.

I enjoy standard classes. They're filled with either dumb or lazy people and I usually get along pretty damn peachily with those kind of peoples. Standard classes often consist of screwing around and joking with classmates. Considering I'm fulfilling "my duty" by going to school, getting decent grades, and messing around; I actually enjoy school.

Unfortunately the first day of senior year left a bitter taste in my mouth. The sight of a straight faced, red eye, zombie-like Tweek at school made me feel sick to my stomach. I didn't like it.

On impulse when I asked Tweek if he'd promise me to not ever get high at school again, I honestly expected Tweek to give in and agree. The blonde is usually a push over like that. But then again ever since that mall run in he's been acting weird. It's concerning and scary.

I've been obsessing over that afternoon and I still have no idea what any of it means.

In homeroom Tweek and I sit next to each other while Token and my cousin Red claim the two desks in front of us. Tweek is pretty much silent through homeroom. He's obviously still high and weirdly enough he isn't shaking at all. My boyfriend is always moving and for once he's not.

Instead he sits silently as he creates small elaborate doodles of smiling plants in his notebook. Most of them are marijuana plants.

He even draws a pill with a smiley face. Just like the ecstasy pill Kenny gave him. The doodles make Tweek smile as he continues to etch away with his purple mechanical pencil. I try to pretend I'm not interested in what he's doing but I can't take my eyes off of him.

Every few minutes he'll pause long enough to take a drink from his thermos. Then he'll set down the container, give me a small smile, and get back to doodling.

He seems to be at peace and it's almost like our awkward exchange that took place less than an hour ago has never even happened.

Token doesn't address Tweek once. I know Token knows Tweek is high. Our studious friend takes school very seriously so I know he's silently disapproving Tweek. Red tried asking Tweek a question once during homeroom and the blonde smiled at her but never answered the question.

When class finally ends Token and Red leave together. Token gives me a sharp glare that I know is him silently telling me I need to fix this problem. I stand patiently as Tweek packs up his notebook and then we're silently walking down the hallway.

"What class do you have next?" I finally ask as we slowly trudge through the loud school hallway.

"English." Tweek abruptly stops walking and stops in front of a classroom. "Right here." He points at the door with wide eyes.

"Damn. I have PE." Tweek doesn't say anything. "Well I don't know if we have any classes together so I'll see you at lunch at least. Okay?"

"O-Okay." The blonde smiles and turns away from me and walks into his classroom.

When I finally turn and start walking towards PE I see Kenny leaning against his locker talking to Kyle. At the sight of the drug dealer an intense wave of anger rushes through me.

I'm so surprised by the heated emotion I don't know what to do.

So I just go to class.

I find out that I have third period, graphic arts, with Tweek because the teacher calls out roll call and has to say Tweek's name about five times before she finally accepts that he's not there.

I'm pissed.

When the class ends I meet up with Token, Clyde, and Tweek for lunch.

One look at Tweek and my suspicions are confirmed. My boyfriend was ditching class to smoke more weed with Kenny Fucking McCormick. I'm so frustrated when I look at the blonde that I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

"I volunteered to help my last teacher to grade papers or whatever. I gotta go."

"That's bullshit Craig. It's the first day of school and you never volunteer to help teachers." Token is always first to call me out on my bullshit. Usually I get annoyed but right now I don't even care.

I'm so upset with Tweek.

"It's for extra credit. I guess. Just drop it Token." This entire time I've refused to make eye contact with Tweek but before I turn to leave my eyes meet Clyde's.

His rich brown orbs are wide with worry.

I bypass all jackasses crowding the school hallway and head straight outside for a much needed cigarette.

I don't have any more classes with Tweek. Or if I do Tweek doesn't show up to any of them. Despite the little conflict at lunch I still meet up with the guys after school. We're all silent as we pile into Token's car.

Only when we're speeding down the road does Clyde start to talk excitedly about all his classes and Token starts complaining about his Calc 2 teacher.

Tweek remains silent. He looks sad and tired. And it's all because he's no longer high.

I completely forget about going over to Tweek's after school so when Token pulls over in front of Tweak residence and my boyfriend is trying to pull me out of the car I'm confused.

"What are you doing?" My voice is sharp and makes Tweek recoil slightly.

"You s-said you'd come over after s-school."

I feel trapped and look around nervously. I don't even realize I'm trying to look for an excuse to not hang out with the blonde until I accidentally make eye contact with Token. He gives me the same look he gave me earlier in homeroom. That look he always gives me when there's something I need to fix.

I look back at my trembling boyfriend and try to smile.

"Right. How could I forget?" I grab my backpack, say bye to the others, and slide out of the car.

"Do you w-wana watch Red Racer?" Tweek offers as we walk into his house. I know we're home alone because his parents are never home. The heavy nausea returns to the pit of my stomach because I know as soon as we get to his room he'll just want to get high.

"Uh, sure." I expect Tweek to make a detour to the kitchen for coffee but instead he's leading the way straight up the stairs and into his room.

I stand in the doorway as the blonde dutifully goes straight to his small TV. He turns the channel to 77 and flops face first onto his bed. Hesitantly I sit down beside him.

He wastes no time in grabbing my arm and draping it over his slender shoulders. He curls into my side and within minutes he's fast asleep.

I'm left confused and concerned.

Work is a silent endeavor. To my immense relief there is no mention or involvement of getting high. The small talk is kept to a minimum but at one point Tweek does bring up the fact that his dad is going to hire Bebe.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

By the time our shift ends and it's time to close up shop I'm exhausted. It was hours of standing around playing on my phone and yet I can't wait to fall into bed and sleep for an eternity.

Tweek's mom shows up at 9:20 to pick us up but at last second I turn down the ride in favor of walking to Clyde's.

My boyfriend looks a little hurt when I wave him goodbye but I stick to my impulsive decision of paying my best friend a visit.

By the time I arrive at the Donovan's it's ten at night and neither resident is aware that I'm coming over. I impatiently ring the doorbell several times and wait for someone to answer. Two long minutes later Roger Donovan answers the door with a puzzled expression.

"Craig. What are you doing here?"

"Clyde didn't tell you? He said I could come over after work." This is a total lie but of course Mr. Donovan doesn't know this.

"Oh really? Well then, come on in. Are you staying the night?" I shrug and toe off my tennis shoes and kick them into the messy pile of mens shoes. Of course the family that owns a shoe shop would own a fuck ton of shoes.

"I dunno."

"Alright well you boys have fun. Don't forget you have school tomorrow." With a raised hand the single father turns around and heads towards his bedroom.

Before making my way downstairs to the basement where Clyde's room is I walk into the kitchen and help myself to a dr Pepper. My original instinct had led me to the coffee maker and I had flipped on the machine before I realized there was no Tweek to make coffee for.

With my cold soda in hand I finally head into the basement to eagerly surprise the shit out my friend.

I want to just obnoxiously burst into Clyde's room and give him a heart attack, but right before I grab the door handle I realize that I also really don't want to walk in on Clyde jerking off. That kid likes porn way too fucking much.

With a reluctant sigh I knock.

"Come in dad!"

I smile to myself and open the door. "Clyde, what did I say about calling me dad?"

The brunette is lying on his bed as he plays his xbox. When he sees me enter the room he screeches and practically jumps a foot into the air. The controller goes flying across the room before it hits a dreamcatcher hanging on the wall. Both items fall to the floor with a loud crash.

"Craig!" The ditz exclaims baffled.

"I'm serious dude. What did I say about calling me dad?"

"Cra- haaah? What! Hey now-! It was one time! Okay? One time! It was an accident!" I roll my eyes and kick the bedroom door shut.

"Whatever son." I peel off my sweatshirt and flop down onto the bed. Clyde scrambles off his bed and dives across the room to pick up his controller. Before he manages to get killed in his current game of Call of Duty he picks up the controller and pauses.

"What are you doing here dude? It's like midnight!" I ignore the brunette in favor of opening my soda. Fizzing noise fills my ears and then I'm chugging the bubbly liquid. Dr Pepper is alright but it's not my favorite. I don't understand why the Donovans only drink this stupid soda.

"It's not midnight."

"It's like eleven then!" Clyde throws his arms up in the air and I half expect to watch the xbox controller to go flying through the air again. To my surprise it doesn't.

"It's ten."

"Well that's still late." Clyde sits down on the bed and crosses his legs. He turns and stares at me patiently.

"I just wanted to come over dickwad. Fuck. Chill out." I try to pull the hood of my sweatshirt up but when I reach behind my neck I remember that I've already taken off my jacket.

And I left my hat at Tweek's.

Fuck.

"You never just want to come over. Either you wana use my xbox. Or you want to copy my math homework. Or you wanna complain about Ruby. Or you want-" I groan and wave my free hand in the air to cut Clyde off.

"Alright asshole I get it."

"Why are you calling me the asshole!? You're the one who just wants to use me! So what is it? What's going on?"

"Nothing. Bug off." Clyde makes a sour face and crawls across the bed so that he's sitting directly in front of me.

"Who says 'bug off'?"

"Fuck you." I deadpan. I pull out my cellphone half hoping Tweek would have texted me but there are no new messsages.

"I just want to help you." Clyde goes silent and I have no motivation to say anything. After a couple minutes of silence I'm surprised Clyde has yet to say something. I think he really does want me to talk to him. And for some reason I actually want to talk to him.

After several deep breaths I speak.

"You remember last week. At the mall?"

"Yeah dude. Of course. Something happened with you and Tweek, right?" I nod and try to think of what to say.

"Tweek saw some chick and he just flipped out. He won't tell me who she was."

The brunette frowns thoughtfully and shrugs. He raises his arms high above his head and casually stretches. "Maybe she's his ex-girlfriend or something." A twinge of something rushes through me and after a moment I realize that I'm jealous at this thought.

"No way. She's probably almost thirty and she has a kid. Besides, I don't think Tweek has any exes." At least I'm pretty sure Tweek doesn't have an ex.

"Have you tried asking Tweek about it?"

"Of fucking course!" My words come out sharper than I intended and Clyde looks slightly offended. I sigh and as I exhale my best friend seems to no longer care. "He won't tell me anything. He's been acting really fucking weird all week and I don't know what to do."

I watch as Clyde's neutrally happy expression falls into one that's darker.

"Token's not very happy at Tweek. Like I know we all just became friends again but Token really doesn't think it's right to get high at school." Clyde pauses and shrugs halfheartedly. "I kinda agree with him. Like... I like weed man. I smoke lots of the Mary-Jane but school's school."

"I know." I run a hand through my hair and slouch backwards until my back hits the wall. "I don't like it either. I asked Tweek if he'd never do it again but he said no." Clyde's jaw drops. He stares at me incredulously.

"No way. Seriously?" I nod and Clyde whistles. "Shit man! But Tweek's so agreeable!" The brunette grows quiet and thoughtful. "I think you just really need to talk to him dude. Obviously he's got some serious issues."

"You don't got to fucking put it like that!"

It takes me a little while to realize I snapped at Clyde. The brunette looks just as surprised as I feel.

"Woah. I'm sorry. You know I don't mean anything bad by it." Clyde says slowly and carefully.

I feel bad for yelling at my friend but the heavy pressure in my chest has yet to be lifted. It's difficult to swallow and I don't understand why I feel so sick. All Clyde had said was … he's got some serious issues.

I wonder what Clyde had said about my own 'serious issues'. Did he complain? Did he think I'm weak? Pathetic? Dirty?

"It's fine." Mechanically I slide off the queen sized bed. Clyde is silent and staring after me. I pull on my sweatshirt and chug the rest of my soda before I toss the can into the garbage.

"Are you leaving?" I nod and open the bedroom door.

Clyde suddenly scrambles of his bed and runs over to me with a desperate look in his eyes.

"Are you pissed at me? I'm sorry Craig. You know what I meant, right? You don't have to leave. You can stay the night. We'll stay up all night and play video games!"

I smile through clenched teeth.

"I've got shit to do. I'm not angry though. You're right. Tweek's got some issues and I need to talk to him." I tear my gaze away from wide brown globes and I don't look back once as I leave the Donovan house.

The next morning I wake up an hour earlier than planned and despite my trouble sleeping the night before, I feel wide awake. And determined. I fell asleep and woke up with Tweek on my mind.

I'm set on helping Tweek through whatever it is he's struggling with.

By the time I'm dressed and ready to go there's still an hour before school even starts. I take my time walking downstairs as I shoot Token a text telling him Tweek and I don't need a ride.

My dad is in the kitchen, bent over and rifling through the fridge. I make a beeline to the coffee maker and get the pot going. When it's on and starting I turn around to see my father staring at me blankly.

"What?" I never mean to get snappy when I talk to my parents but it comes out that way anyways. It's never good when dad pays any attention to me. Only bullshit comes out of his mouth, I swear.

"Why you up so early boy?"

I shrug finding that there's no real reason to lie to the gargantuan standing before me. "I'm going to Tweek's before school."

Dark eyes narrow as my dad continues to stare at me. I don't want to back down from whatever weird staring contest we're having but I also want to hurry and make this coffee and get out of here. With much reluctance I turn around retrieve a coffee thermos from the cupboard.

"You've been spending an awful lot of time around that kid, Craig."

"So?" I grab the coffee pot and carry it over to the sink where the thermos is waiting. I hear shuffling behind me as I carefully pour the hot liquid into the portable container.

"He better not be turning you into a faggot."

My blood runs cold and I automatically stiffen in response to the unexpected harsh words. My eyes are fixed on the steaming glass pot in my hands but I don't really see it as the kettle slips out of my grip.

The sharp sound of glass breaking ends our conversation. I'm so shocked I barely feel the pulsating burn of coffee backsplashing onto my hand.

"God damn it Craig. Can't you do anything right? Clean this up. I expect there to be a new coffee pot by the time I'm home from work."

His fading footsteps is the only thing that tells me that my father has left.

It's not like I expected my parents to be happy that I'm gay, or whatever I am. I didn't expect to come home to wide open arms when, or if, they found out I'm dating Tweek. I expected harsh words and disappointment.

But it still hurt.

I don't want to take his words to heart. I've never even really cared for my parents as a child properly should. They raised and fed me, while they did do a shitty job, I respected that.

But it still hurt.

"Craig." I slowly turn to the sight of Ruby cautiously walking towards me. She looked sad which makes me realize she must have overheard what dad said. "I'll clean this up. Why don't you go to Tweek's?"

I swallow thickly and shake my head.

"It's fine Ruby," I bite the inside of my cheek and fight against the pressing anger bubbling inside me. "I got this."

"Would you stop it already!" I glance back over my shoulder at my sister surprised that she was suddenly shouting. Despite being a brash, annoying little shit she tends to be a pretty quiet kid. "You're allowed to feel you know? I don't understand why you're always fighting your feelings. You can like a boy. You can hate your douchey father. You can be upset. You can be sad, angry, happy. You're allowed to feel Craig."

By now I've fully turned around to stare at my flushed and huffing younger sister. Her words render me speechless. She's gnawing on her lip nervously. She doesn't want me to get angry at her. I'm not angry though. I'm honestly just so surprised that I feel nothing.

"Dad is full of shit," Ruby's voice is softer and has a breathless quality to it now. "You're fine how you are. Now let me take care of this mess and you go to Tweek's."

I nod stiffly and turn the cold tap water on to rinse the coffee off my hands. When I finish Ruby gently nudges me out of her way so that she can take over. She get's straight to work but I hesitate to leave the room.

"Hey Ruby?" Strawberry blonde hair flutters around a delicate face as she turns to look at me. "Thanks."

A smile paints her features.

"Get out of here Craig! You're making the room reek of cheap body spray." My sister winks and turns back to the sink.

I leave my house with a soft laugh and head straight to Tweek's.

As I cross the grass of my boyfriend's yard the front door swings open and his parents are stepping outside to leave to work. Mrs. Tweak looks pleased to see me as she waves eagerly.

"Craig, dear! It's such a nice day today, isn't it?" To justify her point the flaxen haired woman looked up at the sky and grinned.

I know Tweek's mom is kind of loopy but this really confirms it for me. The sky is full of dark clouds that hide any sign of sunshine. The weather report claims it's supposed to rain before noon.

"Uh, yeah. It's nice."

"Dear, we must be going. Coffee can't wait!" Richard Tweak calls out as he climbs into his car. Tweek's mom stares at her husband for a moment then looks back at me.

"You came at such a good time sweetie! I made Tweek his coffee for the day but he doesn't seem to want it! Perhaps you'll drink it?" Immediately I'm worried to see what state Tweek might be in. The blonde lives for coffee. In what state would he have to be in to turn down coffee?

"I can do that," I say with a light shrug.

"Fantastic! Well you have a good day. Summer's almost over! Make sure to have fun." I keep smiling as the woman turns and climbs into her car. It's not until the vehicle pulls out of the driveway do I let my mouth fall into a frown.

Did she really not realize school started yesterday?

I push off any negative thoughts and enter the house. I woke up and told myself today would be the day I'd talk to Tweek and I was not gonna change my mind. I make a stop in the kitchen to retrieve the hot thermos full of a dark liquid then head up the stairs to my boyfriend's bedroom.

As I climb the staircase I hear the same music that plays everyday in the coffee shop coming from the bedroom. Usually I knock on doors before entering but at the moment I don't even care. I push open the door to the sight of a frail blonde standing in the middle of the room.

Floppy strands of pale hair sway back and forth and it takes me a long moment of watching Tweek entranced to realize he's dancing.

My boyfriend is dancing to slow creepy music in his bedroom at seven in the freaking morning.

"What the hell are you doing?" The teenager stops swaying and turns around to stare at me puzzled. A few seconds pass and I'm confused to see the blonde suddenly smile.

"Craig! Hey!" Tweek skips across his room and throws his arms around my waist. I stare down at him confused.

"Are you okay?" The blonde rolls his eyes which are darker than usual. But in the dim lighting of his bedroom I shrug it off.

"Yes, I'm okay. Jesus man I feel great." Tweek pulls away from me but I reach out and grab his hands so that he doesn't go anywhere.

"You're not shaking." I realize with a start. "And you're not stuttering."

Tweek blushes and pouts slightly. "I don't stutter that badly!" It'd seem that the teen is back to his usual self and this makes me happier than it should. "But seriously Craig! I'm fine. I got home last night and I passed out. I slept so much. I haven't slept that well in ages."

Tweek's eyes are darting around the room as he talks but once he finishes he glances up and our eyes meet.

I don't understand why his eyes are so dark but I trust him and I'm happy he's feeling better.

"That's good Tweek. I've missed you." The blonde's smile doesn't falter as he edges up on his tippy-toes and presses his lips against mine for a short and sweet kiss.

"Don't worry yourself Craig-o. I'm out of my funk and feeling better than ever."