School is weird now. Besides the constant staring and whispering, people act like they don't know how to approach me anymore. Some people act like we're closer friends than we ever actually were. Or like they suddenly know me. Some people don't approach me at all. A few people don't have any reaction. Which I'm kinda thankful for. Tweek really did skip practice- without telling me so I showed up. Coach told me he was proud of me and gave me a lecture about what it takes to be a real man. I skipped the next practice as payback.
And today, when I got to school, I found the guys talking to Tweek.
This is the weirdest thing yet. I don't believe what I'm seeing but as I get closer it's undeniable. I wonder if he talked to them or if they talk to him? Why are they talking at all? What are they talking about? The only common denominator here is me.
I feel a bit light headed as I approach them. "What's going on?" Tweek's face gives away nothing. I scan it anyways, for anything. He avoids my eyes. He's holding a coffee. That's interesting.
"Tweek was looking for you," Kenny says, flashing his eyebrows at me. "Since you weren't here, I suggested he hang out with us."
Tweek looks uncomfortable, I get why he's avoiding eye contact now. "I thought you didn't drink coffee," I say, referring to the cup he's still holding.
He shoves the coffee into my chest. "I don't." I take it from him, slowly and stare at it. It looks like it's from his parent's shop but, I'm confused. Why is he giving me this? "What are you doing?"
"This is super weird," I say. "Are you okay?" Maybe it's poisoned. I sniff it.
"Alright, well, you're fucking welcome, you piece of shit."
I laugh, taking a sip. It's like what his dad gave me but less bitter, without being too sweet. It's smooth. "Thanks," I say. "It's good." Tweek's already annoyed so he doesn't respond. I think he's embarrassed that the guys are here. "Is that why you were looking for me?" I feel like I can use it to get back the upper hand.
"Yeah, that's it," he says. "So, goodbye-"
"Why don't you just hang with us until the bell?" The guys are right. Since everyone knows anyway, it's kinda odd that we don't hang out at school. "It's only a few minutes anyways. We can walk you to class."
"Everyone's gonna stare at us if we're walking together," he says.
"People are gonna stare anyways." Tweek looks apprehensive. I feel like his usual response would be to scoff like he doesn't want to hang out with me. Instead, he's just nervous about being stared at? "It doesn't matter."
"That's easy for you to say," he glares.
"There's protection in numbers," Kenny says. "So, if you're with us, doesn't that make your chances better?"
Tweek gives him a look. "Protection from what?" he says. "I don't need protection, especially not yours, jackass"
Clyde starts cracking up with Token. "I like him, Craig. He's not at all what I was imagining and he's fucking funny."
"Don't talk about him like he's not here," Token scolds, doing the exact thing he scolded Clyde for. "You should hang out with us," he says, to Tweek this time.
"Not like anyone's gonna mess with him. Would you?" Clyde says.
"I didn't mean for protection, dude."
"I don't know…" Tweek says.
Token nudges me and gives me a look. This happened too fast for me to decide whether or not it's a good idea. The guys and Tweek. Token's one thing but Kenny… and Clyde. But we did all hang out as kids so it should be fine. "C'mon." I stare at him again. "Just today."
Tweek rolls his eyes. "Fine. Just, stop fucking staring at me."
With that, we start walking. "Hey," I say. "You wanna study for the final together?"
"When?"
"After practice today?"
"…Sure," he says. Then he looks like he wants to say something and stops.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What?" I repeat
"I'll tell you later."
I glance to the guys, all of whom are openly staring at us. "Guys," I say. "You're being creepy."
"Look who's talking," Clyde says.
"Shut up, Clyde," Kenny says.
"I think it's sweet," Token says.
"If you're jealous that Craig's flirting with Tweek, I can flirt with you," Kenny says. "You're very pretty today." Token snickers.
Clyde glares at them. "I'm not jealous. I said it was creepy. Have you ever seen Craig genuinely like anything? It is creepy."
"Asshole," I accuse. Tweek looks like he's getting flustered luckily, he can hide behind me as we walk. I don't know what he's so embarrassed about. Then I realize we're being hardcore stared at. It's probably that…
The first to point it out is Kenny, who says, "Everyone's staring."
"It's kind of cool," Clyde says. "I feel like a celebrity."
I flick off a group we pass that's ogling us. Clyde and Kenny 'Oh!' and Token shakes his head. Tweek's unimpressed.
"I can't wait to be out of this place," he says.
"Tell me about it," I agree.
The bell rings and we walk Tweek to class since his is the closest. He acts like he doesn't want us to but I think he was happy we insisted. Even though he was pretty quiet, I think he at least was comfortable with the guys.
When we get to the room, the guys fall back. Tweek takes the opportunity to say what he hadn't before. "My parents are gonna be home so we actually have to study if you come over."
I can't help but laugh. I thought it was something more serious. That's cute. "Yeah, well, that's what I meant when I asked you to study."
"Whatever, asshole… I'll see you later." Tweek goes in the room.
I regroup with the guys. "You two are a power couple," Token decides. Clyde and Kenny agree.
"There's something about it," Clyde says.
"It's 'cause they're both hot," Kenny says. "And Tweek looks like a girl… somehow?"
Clyde hums. "I can see it."
"Put him in a dress, put his hair up. From behind, he'd totally look like a chick. I bet he's fit 'cause he does boxing too."
"Okay. Enough." I flush.
"Seriously, man," he says.
"We're not even dating," I mutter.
"Huh?" Clyde says. Everyone besides Kenny looks astonished. "Why the hell not?"
"We didn't want to complicate things."
"But y'all are practically dating anyways, right?" Token asks. I shrug. "Why am I so disappointed?"
"That's pretty lame of you, Craig," Clyde tells me.
"It was agreed between both of us but, it was more his idea than mine."
"Sounds like bullshit," Kenny says.
"What part?"
"I don't know," he says, thoughtfully. "That he would want that type of relationship from you."
"Why do you say that?" Kenny's in sleuth mode. I never thought about how he could be helpful in this situation once everyone found out.
"Seems like he really likes you."
I scoff, "Are you kidding me? He outwardly acts like he hates me."
Kenny laughs. "He's cold but if that's normal for him, he obviously likes you the most of everyone else," he points out. I never thought about it like that. "And isn't it like, a thing? For guys to pick on their crush?"
"You haven't known him long enough. He called you a jackass so you can't say he calls me names 'cause he likes me."
"Craig, are you stupid?" Token says. "Of course he likes you."
"Yeah, it's sweet in a gross kind of way," Clyde says.
"If I asked him out, he'd probably start fighting me."
"But I don't think he'd say no," Kenny says and shrugs. We're quiet. That's… I mean… Hm.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering what's holding me back. I don't think I've ever genuinely pissed Tweek off despite my shenanigans and him saying so. The only thing I can think of is talking to his parents but after I bought him food, he didn't seem to care anymore.
"School's ending soon…"
"So? What's Tweek doing? Have you figured out what you're doing?" Token says. "That doesn't have to be an excuse." I don't know what Tweek's doing- Or what I'm doing, for that matter. Hm, I wanna change the subject.
"Anyways," I say to drive that point across.
Token rolls his eyes. "Okay, fine. Moving on."
A/n man... can someone write me a better summary lol
