KYLE

A FEW WEEKS LATER

I'm on my way home. I have a craving from some cold tea. I stop by Tweak Bros as it has been forever since I stopped in. I head inside with that familiar scent of strong coffee. I'm surprised to see there is a line since it is summer time. However, they do have good stuff here. I gloss over the menu deciding I would go with their almond honey milk tea, cold, large. I wonder if Stan will want anything. I hear giggling that catches my attention. I turn around to see Heidi and Red.

"You want to do what?" asked Heidi smiling hard. Red leans into her ear whisper something pleasing as she starts laughing lowly before noticing me. I turn away quickly feeling like an idiot. I hope she didn't see me. I really don't feel like talking to her. "Kyle…." Here we go.

"Hey," I say turning around. I put a fake smile on my face. "How is going?"

"Pretty good," she replies. "Did you find an internship?"

"Not yet but I'm close," I reply. I have had 2 interviews. I liked the one job but the other one the guy interviewing me was a total asshole. I don't want to go into too many details with Heidi though.

"That's great," she replied.

"Glad things are going well for you," says Red. I turn around with the line moving deciding to grab a tea for Stan. He says he doesn't care for them but he really does. I place my order stepping to the side. I pull out my phone pretending to surf it so Heidi won't say anything else to me. I sigh looking at Facebook seeing so many of my old school mates happy, enjoying life. Must be nice. I grab my two teas gunning for the door soon as I get them in my hand. Heidi tries to say goodbye to me but I'm much too fast for her. I breathe a sigh of relief as I glance up being greeting by a familiar patch of blonde hair. I drop both tea's in the process with them splashing all over of the front of my shirt with the rest hitting the ground.

"Goddamnit," I say looking down at myself.

"Gah…Kyle, I'm so sorry," says Tweek. He is shaking visually upset. "I will have them fix you some more tea. Oh god, your clothes!"

"It's okay, relax," I reply slowly trying to get him to calm down. He is already freaking out. I certainly don't want to add to that. "I can wash them."

"Tweek!" yells Craig. Craig in the parking lot by his car. "Get back here." Tweek eyes get wide before I see a flicker of anger.

"You stay the fuck back!" says Tweek balling up his fist. Jeez what did Craig do this time?

"You're overreacting," says Craig starting to walk closer. Tweek shakes more the closer Craig gets.

"Come on Tweek," I say grabbing him. "Let's get you inside so we can get my replacement tea."

"G-good idea," says Tweek turning heading into the shop. I can hear Craig yelling like crazy. A few people in the shop are watching us but Tweek ignores it going to fix my tea. I can see Heidi wanting to ask what is going on but Red stops her by grabbing her hand. Thank you Red, thank you. Tweek is so miserable and twitchy that I'm actually worried. He doesn't stammer or twitch unless he gets worked up. I can see the unleashed tears in his eyes.

"Tweek," I say softly. "Let's take a walk over here." Tweek has both of my new teas in hand. I'm glad the cashier told him what I had order. I'm impressed he moved so fast. I only got smalls but it appears he upgraded me to larges. Craig comes into the shop. He stomps over to us. I don't like his aggression stepping in front of Tweek. "Craig you need to give him so space."

"How are you going to tell me what to do with my boyfriend," says Craig. "Move,"

"You're making him worse," I reply. "Look at him. You're embarrassing him in his place of business." It's like Craig forgot where he was. He looks around seeing everyone watching him. He looks back at me and Tweek before frowning.

"Fine," he replies. "I'll see you at home." Tweek doesn't say anything as we watch Craig leave. I know Kenny said their fighting was bad but this…..

"Thank you," whispers Tweek. "I just…."

"It's okay," I reply. "You don't have to explain."

"I don't know what happened," whimpers Tweek. "One minute we were happy and the next thing I know everything is falling apart. God, it hurts so bad." Stan and I are not the ones with our hearts breaking.

"I don't know what is going on Tweek," I say softly. "If you love Craig make it work, talk to him, see what the issue is."

"That's just it!" he exclaims twitching. "He keeps changing it. I mean I don't know what to do. One day he got upset because I moved his toothbrush. His toothbrush!" Why would Craig care about that?

"Maybe you should see a counselor," I suggest. Tweek looks at me like I said something astonishing.

"W-would they see us?" he asked. "I mean we're not married…."

"Of course they will," I reply. "You're a couple like anyone else." Tweek smiles with his shaking calms down.

"Thanks, Kyle," says Tweek. "I'm lucky to know someone as smart as you."

"Oh, you give me too much credit," I reply. "Thanks for replacing my tea." I take the two cups from him.

"If I'm on shift the next time you come by let me know," says Tweek. "Your order will be on me."

"You don't have to," I reply.

"I have to!" exclaims Tweek.

"Okay, okay," I reply trying to keep him calm. He sounds like he was about to flip out again. "Thanks, I will see you next time." Tweek nods before running into the back. I guess he needs to get himself together. I head out of the shop once again making it home. I notice Stan isn't here so I put his tea in the fridge. I busy myself with a nice shower before getting comfortable in my room.

I begin to fill out for some more internships because I want to keep my options open. I don't have much time left seeing as August is almost here. God this is stressful because I really need this. I managed to get 3 applications done when I hear Kenny and Stan voices. I get up heading into the living room.

"Hey," laughs Kenny. "I hope I wasn't too loud."

"No," I reply. "It's kind of late. What are you doing here?"

"I was actually about to go crash at Bebe's," he explains. "Tweek and Craig are at it again."

"I know," I sigh as Stan walks past me to his room. I can smell sex and the other man's body spray coming off of him. I know he hasn't been talking to TC. Did he just have a random hook up? Stan doesn't strike me as the type who would do that.

"How do you know?" asked Kenny sitting down at our small table. I sit down across from him.

"On my way home, I went to Tweak Bros to get some tea and saw them arguing," I explain. "Tweek was trembling he was so upset. I haven't seen him that distressed since the whole Trump situation."

"I told you it was bad," he says leaning on the table.

"I know but that is crazy," I reply. "Sounds like they aren't communicating properly."

"From someone on the inside Tweek communicates well," says Kenny. "It's Craig that is the inconsiderate asshole. I mean he is out and about. He has times when he dotes on Tweek. Other times he acts like he can't stand him. I'm starting to think the dude is bipolar or something." I lean on the table leaning into my hand.

"Yeah," I reply. "Like Stan's boyfriend is always working or whatever." Kenny looks towards Stan room as he comes out. I stop talking because I don't want my beat friend to hear what I really think about his boyfriend.

"Kenny how long are you staying?" asked Stan. "I'm about to take a shower but I can hang if you want."

"I won't be here long," says Kenny. "Bebe has to be at her job early. I don't want her locking my ass out." Stan nods heading into the bathroom. Kenny chuckles. "Stan so got laid tonight."

"Right," I agree. "Thank god he is showering. I mean I thought him and TC broke up."

"Oh please," says Kenny. "You know how forgiving Stan can be. If TC apologized and begged for forgiveness his ass pretty much would give gave in."

"He said that?" I asked. "Did TC apologize to him?"

"He doesn't have to say it," replies Kenny. "I think he might love this guy."

"I don't like him," I say flat out hearing the shower come on.

"Awww are you jealous?" asked Kenny poking my nose. I slap his hand away. "Someone else taking up all of Stan's time."

"Whatever!" I exclaim. "He is barely around Stan. He just rubs me the wrong way. I haven't been able to pin this guy down yet." Kenny looks puzzled.

"How is that possible when Stan lives here?" he asked.

"Fuck if I know," I replied. "It's like he purposely avoids me. I could be making this up but I don't think I am."

"Um hm," says Kenny standing up. "I agree, something is not right but I'm sure you will figure it out. Stan is a goner. He is in love so I doubt he even cares to hear anything negative about the guy." I nod in agreement knowing when you're completely in love with someone you can ignore everything else around you. "How are you holding up though?"

"I'm fine," I lie. I'm still hurting from being dumped although Heidi had a good reason to end the relationship. It still hurts.

"All right," says Kenny making his way towards the door. "I will see you later man." Kenny leaves out I lock the door sighing. God, I need a serious vacation. These past couple of weeks have been so taxing. I head back to my room getting online since I'm doing applying to internships. The first thing I see is Heidi is in a relationship with Red. Like seriously? I shake my head feeling like an idiot. She broke up with me so she could date Red. Now I'm beginning to wonder did she fuck Red while we were dating. My head is totally spinning as Stan walks into my room. I look at him in my doorway appreciating that he smells clean now.

"You look pale," he notes coming to sit on my bed.

"I'm good," I sigh. "Just tired. Uh how was your day?"

"It was okay," he replies. "Not looking forward to working tomorrow."

"Do we ever look forward to working," I chuckle. I stare at him deciding to ask that question I really want to know the answer to. "Are you back together with TC?" Stan looks surprised that I asked. He shrugs.

"I don't fucking know," he sighs. "Like I'm so tired of this. Like we are young. This guy is totally stressing me." Stan pinches the bridge of his nose. "I feel like an ass because I went back to his place knowing damn well I would end up on my back." Stan finally looks at me. "You think I'm stupid for seeing him?"

"Seeing him, no," I reply. "Fucking him is something totally different. I mean I know you have been talking to this guy on and off for two years. You need to let him know what you're not willing to put up with. It's always important to make that clear from the beginning of the relationship. Sadly, you seem to have given off the vibe that you're a doormat." Stan sighs heavily.

"I feel like I'm being walked on," he says. "I told him I love him for the first time ever."

"That is a pretty big deal," I note looking at him in shock. Kenny was right. Stan is in love with this guy. "How did he react?"

"He smiled and kissed me," says Stan folding his arms. "I didn't miss the fact he didn't say it back."

"It's all right dude," I said patting his shoulder. "Maybe this is a sign that maybe you two don't need to be together." Stan glares at me as if I lost my mind.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "I love him. We went through a lot of shit together. Why should I walk away because he doesn't love me? Some people just take longer."

"Dude you know I have your best interest always," I reply seriously. "I don't like how he can't make time for you. You're more upset than you're happy. Don't get me started on the fact I still haven't met him yet."

"You don't know shit!" screams Stan standing up. He walks away without another word. Goddamnit, I think as I put my face into my hand.