The lights in the gym are already on. It's not uncommon for Tweek to get here earlier than me but it still makes my heart beat a little harder.

I take too long to collect my things and head inside because I'm stalling. I hate how he makes me feel like a pussy. Tweek's already working out so I hurry and change and when I come back out He's wrapping his fists. "Hey," I say, setting my bag on the bench.

"Hey," he says, without looking up. It's good because I know if he did, I'd have shit myself. But it also reminds me we're about to be looking at each other a lot. I already knew he wouldn't say anything about yesterday. Still, for some reason I don't know if that makes me relieved. I also don't know why it wouldn't.

From the bat, I get punched dead in the face. And if you thought I could only go up from there, you would be wrong. No matter how hard I try, I can't get him. I can't focus and he keeps hitting me. He hits me in the side in the stomach in the face. I barely feel it but I know I will later. I just try my best to dodge but honestly, I'm never this bad and it's pretty bad.

I don't think Tweek's mad today because he isn't taking advantage of an opportunity to beat me up. I actually think he's getting mad because I'm doing so bad. Every time he hits me he sighs like he's annoyed with my incompetence. I wonder what he's thinking.

That being said, we didn't box very long. After a particularly painful shot to my face, Tweek calls it. I'm doubled over with my hand pressed hard to the forming bruise.

He wipes the sweat from his brow and says, "Alright, I'm done."

In my head, I laugh because I hear I'm done punching your face in. But I don't laugh. We walk out of the ring even though it feels like we just walked on- well, Tweek walks off. I stumble between the ropes. And even though it feels like we've just walked on, a whole hour has passed- well, a solid fifty minutes. We grab our stuff and head to the locker room. I feel like a ghost. I feel like I'm on autopilot or something. I just don't know what to say, and so if I did say anything it'd be obvious I was just trying to talk. But maybe, that's what I'm always doing...

When Tweek finally does say something it startles me. I don't even catch his words which I instantly regret once I stupidly say, "What?"

Tweek says, "I asked if you were sick. Since you didn't come yesterday and you didn't really try today."

My face crinkles up because I did try today. And why do I feel like he said that just to piss me off? But I say, "Yeah, a little."

Tweek hums. I'm worried he doesn't believe me because that sounded like a I can't tell you're lying hum. But Tweek wouldn't say anything if he thought I was lying or not. Why am I even trying? I didn't come yesterday because I felt weird about Wednesday. I felt weird about bailing on him while we both had boner because my feelings. I didn't come in fear that he'd bring it up and we'd have to talk about it and then maybe for the first time ever it'd be awkward. I didn't come because I was scared it would happen again or maybe something even worse would happen.

When Tweek says something else it startles me further not because of what he says but because he's saying anything at all. "Your cheek looks bad."

Upon mention, I reach for my face. If I concentrate I can feel the bruise throb. I don't try to do this. "Yeah, well, thanks a lot." He says it like it's a bad thing, but I feel like he's bragging. He's just happy he got revenge for his nose. I frown.

Tweek laughs. He says, "You can't be mad, because I wasn't mad!"

"Whatever," I grumble. "I'm not mad." I like when Tweek laughs because he doesn't do it often but it's less enjoyable somehow. Because I wish I didn't like it as much as I do.

"Oh yeah?" Tweek mocks. "You sound like a child."

"You hit me in the face on purpose."

"You left yourself wide open," he counters. He follows this with another laugh. Then he starts undressing.

I narrow my eyes at him but then turn back to my locker, undressing myself. When I glance at Tweek, he's looking at me. I've never caught him looking at me but he doesn't say anything so I don't say anything.

He pulls his shirt over his head, tossing it in his locker. Then he shoves his shorts off and kicks out of them. I try not to watch but I feel like he knows I am and wants me to.

Tweek slips his fingers underneath the elastic of his boxers and I swallow hard. He drops them and I struggle to undress myself, pretending to not be extremely flustered. He's acting so weird.

He takes too long to go to the shower and I end up changing into my towel in front of him which, I guess isn't a big deal anymore. Still.

Tweek takes a warm shower. If I thought something was up with him before, I know it is now. And after he had turned the knob he glanced to me and then back very quickly. Did he not want me to see that he's taking a warm shower? Should I tell him, it's okay, I don't care how cold your shower is?

We get dressed, which was even weirder than getting undressed. I've never been so mesmerized by him. I wondered if he had always gotten dressed like that. Is that something I'd notice? It should be. And I knew he was doing it on purpose because of how blatantly obvious it was that I was staring.

But the strangest thing by far was when we were finally leaving. Since Tweek had been lagging all day he was still next to me when I asked, "Wanna ride?"

"Sure."

"Alright, see you t-" I stop. "Oh," I say. "Okay."

Tweek's never been in my truck. It's weird and I can smell him. It makes my stomach flip. I've been trying really hard all night to not kiss him or anything but it almost feels like he's... trying to make me do just that.

But why. Why would hedo that? It kinda makes me angry.

We ride in mostly silence. The only noise is the wind blowing through the open windows and the radio faintly playing in the background.

The only words we speak are about the weather and even though that sounds cringey, it was a nice exchange of words. Casual. Effortless. It makes me wish we hung out more at school. But thinking about Tweek hanging out with me and the guys is odd. I don't know what he'd do to our dynamic. But Kenny's with us now and it's fine.

We get to his house and he leaves without a goodbye which I'm thankful for. If he had turned to me and said goodbye and I saw his eyes, maybe I would have kissed him.

I don't know what would've happened after that.