Wow, it's Friday already. Before I rant about my problems, I want to thank everyone who has commented: Stripe Number 4, , EvilPopcorn, and NarukoSon. I hope you guys don't mind me calling you out like this, but I've read all your comments and I have to thank you because they're all so nice. Why am I doing it here instead of replying you ask? It's because I'm so un-tech savvy that I can't figure out how to reply. Unless I can only reply by PMing, but I felt like I'd be harassing you guys and I didn't want to do that. (I realize now this is basically harassment anyways).

I'm moving on from my awkwardness now, I swear. This chapter has been the hardest to write, I kinda immediately lost all ideas right after finishing chapter two and didn't know how to continue. And I procrastinated a lot. But I scrapped the bottom of the barrel and produced this, I hope you guys enjoy. I didn't have a lot of revision time, so there will probably be glaring mistakes. Like always I enjoy knowing what you think, and even if I can't figure out how to reply I swear I'm still reading them and slightly(majorly) freaking out with happiness.


Tweek was one hundred percent correct in his assumption that today was not going to go well. He hadn't had such a bad anxiety attack since he was a child. Now he was lying in the nurse's office while his parents were being consulted on the phone. He curled up tighter, what would his parents do with him?

"Yes, he's resting." The nurse was speaking quietly at his station across the room, but Tweek could still hear everything. "Do you want to bring him home? …Okay, yes. I can do that."

Tweek's eyes flicked to the nurse, he stood up and brought the phone to Tweek. Tweek forced himself to sit up, his bruised side ached even more after his fall.

Tweek reluctantly took it, his hand barely managed to hold onto it. He would've been calmer if the school was allowed to give him medicine.

"H-hello?" Tweek said softly.

"Tweek? Is that you? Are you okay?" His mom's voice crackled over the phone. The shop would be packed by now. The soft hum of music and chattering voices in the background confirmed that.

"I'm f-fine, mom." Tweek lied. "It wasn't t-that bad, I'm feeling better now."

Mrs. Tweak breathed out through her nose, she obviously didn't believe him but more customers were streaming in. The lunch rush.

"Honey, if you want me to come pick you up-"

"No, mom." Kenny was right, this wouldn't go away. Tweek would have to do something about Craig. "I'll b-be fine. See you after school."

"I love you, Tweek." Mrs. Tweak's voice was already being drowned out by ordering customers. "I love you too." Tweek responded as the line went flat. He glanced up at the nurse who had stayed right there and watched him.

"Geez, ever heard of personal space." Tweek held out the phone for him. "Can I go back to class?"

The nurse sighed and nodded; he walked back to his station glad to be alone. By the time Tweek managed to stand up the nurse was reading a Time magazine.

"Do I need a pass?" Tweek ground his teeth together.

The nurse shook his head, "They know where you're coming from. It's fifth period."

Tweek's cheeks heated up. All he wanted was to be out of the way, yet everyone loved keeping an eye on him. He was the local freakshow afterall.

He grumbled a thanks and left the nurse's office. The hallway was abandoned, but Tweek knew hall monitors roamed around and searched for kids trying to skip class. Tweek hurried on to his class, he wasn't in the mood for human interaction.

Algebra had ended, so had three of his other classes. Now he was headed for physics. The class was advanced and only housed a few juniors. Wendy Testaburger, Kyle Broflovski, and Token Black were the only other juniors in that class.

Tweek opened the door and avoided the obvious staring. The teacher muttered a hello and told Tweek to join his lab group with a brief glance upwards. Tweek nodded and glanced around the classroom. Even the seniors in his class knew him, it was a small town after all, but most of them had their own problems and would leave Tweek alone.

Token turned and gave him a small wave from their lab table, Tweek hurried over. He slid off his grey backpack and sat on his hard, plastic stool.

The only other member of their group was Kyle; Wendy had once sat with them, but apparently she and Kyle had gotten into a fight. Tweek guessed it was over Stan.

"I heard you got into a fight, are you okay?" Token pushed his lab paper away and turned his full attention to Tweek.

"It w-wasn't a fight." Tweek explained. It was a misunderstanding.

"It looked like a fight." Kyle interjected, he'd been staring at his paper but now his green eyes looked at Tweek. His flaming red hair gave him a wild, unpredictable look, but Kyle was actually all about learning. He was just roped into crazy antics by his friends.

"It wasn't!" Tweet hissed. "It was just a m-misunderstanding."

"No one will believe that." Kyle sighed and looked back to his paper. "They'll just believe what they want to."

Tweek didn't know how to respond, he had a feeling that wasn't directed towards him. He glanced to Wendy across the room. Wendy was class officer; she was also president of the student council, captain of the volleyball and cheer teams, and performed in the school plays. She was a model student, and as far as Tweek knew, a model friend.

Tweek looked away when she glanced up.

"Did you ever sort stuff out between you and Wendy?" Token whispered across the table.

Kyle shook his head no. "I don't care anymore." His voice harbored bitterness.

The bell rang for lunch, releasing them from carrying on this conversation any further. Kyle shut his binder and pushed away from the table.

"Bye." He barely muttered before he was out of the classroom.

Tweek gathered his stuff slowly and allowed the room to empty before heading towards the door. He turned left, hoping to sneak out the front.

"Hey, wait up!" Token jogged up to Tweek and pulled him towards the cafeteria. "We're going to eat lunch." Token stated.

Tweek was tempted to protest, he had planned to hang out with the goths, but all the smoke from their putred cigarettes might just make him throw up. In the end he allowed himself to be dragged along.

"We finally got a fourth member at our table." Token said with a smile.

"Bad idea, bad idea." Tweek thought and pulled away slightly, there was only one person who that could possibly be.

"Y-you know it's Craig who I fought!" Tweek hissed as they maneuvered through the crowded hallway. There was no way he didn't know it was Craig. "This isn't a good idea."

"I thought it wasn't a fight." Token responded slyly, giving Tweek a smug grin. "Besides, let bygones be bygones. Bury the hatchet. Let it go-"

"Okay, I g-get it!" Tweek bursted, this was going to end badly.

As the cafeteria door drew closer Tweek peaked out the large windows that lined the hallway. The snowy mountains in the distance looked like colossal harbingers; the dark storm clouds from the morning had only gotten heavier and now loomed in the distance. In the sunlight they had a vicious red tint, Tweek frowned at them. They were so powerful it almost looked like they were swirling.

The chatter of the cafeteria could be heard even from the hall. Everytime the door swung open a cacophony of voices burst out, Tweek cringed at the loud noise.

Their normal table was void, except for one body. Tweek recognized the slumped form; a blue hoodie and black hair.

Token practically dragged Tweek to the table.

Craig glanced up from his disappointing lunch as they approached, his eyes met Tweek's with surprise.

Tweek looked away as he took the seat by Token. Usually he sat across from Token and Clyde, but there was no way he was going over there.

"Craig this is Tweek." Token said as he unzipped his backpack. He pulled out a blue lunch box and began looking through his food.

"We've met." Craig shrugged and laid his head against his hand. He peered at Tweek.

Tweek fidgeted with his backpack and pulled out his sack lunch. The eyes watching him caused him so much anxiety he couldn't zip his bag up properly and just threw it back under his legs.

"Look, Tweek's a cool guy. I don't know what happened, but you can't hang with us if you're gonna try and fight him every morning." Token explained through a mouthful of pizza.

Craig scowled, "I wasn't trying to fight him. Besides, he hit me first."

Token glanced to Tweek and was met with a shameful nod.

"I… I'm sorry?" Tweek swallowed down one of his chips. He wasn't entirely sure he should apologize after Craig's performance in Mr. Mackey's office, but he did want this fued to be over. Having an enemy was way to much pressure.

"Why are you saying it like a question?" Craig retorted, his lips tugging up into a smirk.

"Can you just a-accept my apology before I rip out my own h-hair." Tweek muttered through his teeth.

Craig looked away, thinking deeply. "I don't know, maybe."

"Wow, this is more of a three year old fight than a high school one." Token laughed.

"S-shut up!"

"Wow, what's up dudes?" Clyde set his tray down besides Craig. "Another fight?" He grinned at Tweek.

"No, stop." Tweek sighed and fumbled around with his baby carrots.

"Oh, did I hear someone's going to fight!" Tweek's head snapped up, Cartman was standing by the end of their table. Kyle stood on one side of him, ignoring Stan who stood on the other side. Stan looked worse every time Tweek saw him. Today there were dark circles under his eyes, he swayed slightly on his feet as if drunk or sleepy. "I came over to see if poor little Tweek was okay, but here he is getting into another fight." Cartman leaned on the table and grinned at Tweek.

"F-fuck off…" Tweek growled, his patience was wearing thin. All the voices in the cafeteria were swimming through Tweek's ears, he wanted to shut them out.

"Yeah, let's see a fight!" Cartman's eyes nervously shifted to Craig, he remembered his last encounter with the guy. Craig watched silently.

"Oh gosh, a fight!" Tweek wrapped his arms across his body as another voice joined in. Where had Butters even come from?

"Yes, a fight." Cartman turned to Butters, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Why don't you go rally up a few spectators?"

Butters ran off, glad to have something to do. Glad to participate. Glad to be part of Cartman's 'gang'.

Tweek heard him at the next table, "There's going to be a fight! Cartman said so!" His soft southern twang carried over.

Token was saying something to Cartman, but Tweek couldn't understand him.

Heads turned. The air riled. Slowly a chant started building up, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

A yell was building in Tweek's throat as he pressed his hands to his ears. Craig met Tweek's wide eyes, his pale eyes sent a shock of panic through Tweek. He slammed his eyes shut in an attempt to block out the world, to block out those piercing blue eyes.

"Shut it!" Craig stood up and slammed his hands down on the table, his voice carried clear to Tweek's ears and throughout the whole cafeteria. Tweek peaked open his eyes, he could only hear his own erratic breathing now.

Everyone was still, their eyes looked glazed over like plastic dolls. Craig sighed and wiped his hands.

Tweek gasped and pulled his hands back from his ears.

Craig's hands were glowing with a soft greyish light. He gazed at Tweek and then stepped away from the table.

"I'm guessing you can still comprehend what's happening." Craig closed his eyes in concentration.

"What… What are you doing?" Tweek asked in a small voice.

"Humans love conflict so much, how pathetic." Craig sighed and clenched his fists. A powerful sensation hit Tweek. For a moment he saw the cafeteria, but it was different. Token, Tweek, Clyde and Craig sat at their table talking about basketball; smiles across all their faces, Craig looked completely human. Across the lunchroom Cartman was at his usual table surrounded by Kyle, Stan, and Butters. Many kids were standing with trays, or walking to seats, but no one was chanting or screaming.

The illusion lasted for a second before Tweek snapped back into reality, the teens around their table had begun to move to their positions in the vision Tweek had seen. Tweek blinked and caught his breath, he looked back to Craig. The edge of his vision swam for a moment.

"I'm just making them leave us alone." Craig opened his eyes and took a stumbling step back to his seat. He looked at Tweek, his pale eyes searching Tweek's face.

"H-how?" Tweek stuttered, he leaned away from Craig in terror. He had never met anything, or anyone, this powerful.

"I'm good at manipulating what people see, what they believe reality is." Craig explained with a roll of his eyes.

"Magic?" Despite all the fantastical creatures in South Park, none of them were actually magical. The most magic Tweek had witnessed were nymphs disappearing.

"I guess you could call it that." Craig knit his eyebrows as Tweek leaned further away, slightly cowering.

"I'm also good at manipulating… emotions. You're really nervous and scared, I could help." Craig held out one of his hands.

Tweek stared at it. The small patterns of ice and snow still creeped up his fingers towards his palm. Tweek wondered if it'd be as cold as snow and ice.

"E-emotions?" Tweek kept his hand withdrawn. "Would that even work on m-me?"

"It'd be child's play on any normal human, but you're not normal." Craig narrowed his icy eyes. "If you don't fight my aura I should be able to."

Tweek swallowed and shakily held out a hand. On any other day he would have refused and probably sprinted out of the room in terror, but today he felt worse than shit. No sleep, nerves, empty stomach. Everything was stacked against him, and he needed to last through the rest of the day. At least until school let out.

Craig closed the rest of the distance and clasped Tweek's hand in his. Craig's hand was more like polar flesh than a human hand. The sensation sent shivers down Tweek's spine and he nearly pulled away.

"Calm down, that's just my skin." Craig seemed annoyed by Tweek's reaction. The strange glow from before was back, and this time it was surrounding Tweek's hand as well.

"Why are y-you so cold?" Tweek asked drowsily, he could feel his anxiety slowly easing away, replaced by a tranquil clarity.

"You don't know much about fey, do you?" Craig laughed softly. "Despite being able to see us."

"I've never had a name for you, and no one else is any help. If you hadn't noticed everyone th-hinks I'm insane." Tweek huffed defensively.

"It's crazy, I've never heard of a human being able to see fey. Have you ever considered that you're not completely human?" Craig asked, raising one eyebrow.

Tweek ignored Craig's question, "Everyone can see you, not just me."

Craig tightened his grip slightly, "That's because I'm a very powerful fey, I can make them see me."

Tweek flinched and pulled at his hand, Craig let go.

"But it's not just me you can see." Craig kept his eyes trained on Tweek.

Chatter began rising up around them as everything returned to normal, or as normal as it could be. Tweek felt calmer, his hands had stopped shaking despite the loud laughing and banter happening all around him.

"Thank you." Tweek responded shyly as Token and Clyde began talking about the other night's basketball victory.

"We should talk sometime after school, I think you could be helpful." Craig responded while turning his focus to his tray of greyish cafeteria food.

"Tweek, helpful? I guess you aren't talking about math then." Clyde interjected.

"H-hey!" After years and years of unease building in his stomach he'd nearly forgotten what calm felt like, now the cafeteria seemed different. Maybe he'd never really known calm. "Says the person who got a 57 on our last test."

"Parabolas are hard, man!"

Tweek laughed, the noise bursting out of his chest. Clyde joined in with a smile. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

Lunch ended without any fights, Kenny had been absent the whole time much to Tweek's dismay.

Tweek was walking to his final class when a body pushed itself next to his. Tweek glanced down. Craig was walking him to class.

"You don't have to… Be friends with me, you know." Tweek stammered after a silent minute. "We can just ignore each other."

"Something bad is going to happen, we need to talk." Craig ignored Tweek's words.

"I… I don't want a-any part of whatever is going to happen." Tweek stated, blatantly honest.

Craig scowled at him. "I'm not asking."

"Well I'm saying no." Tweek hissed, a few people were glancing at them. Tweek saw the woodshop classroom up ahead and took longer steps.

Craig struggled to keep up. "Meet me after school, at the back. I'll be waiting."

Tweek ducked into the woodshop room, leaving Craig behind.

Because of his nervous ticks Tweek wasn't allowed to actually use the saws and sanders, but he could design stuff. He pulled out his notebook and began to nervously sketch out designs for the legs of a chair.

Class flew by, the sounds of saws gave Tweek a small sanctuary. The bell interrupted that sanctuary and forced him outside.

Tweek somehow ended up standing out back. The goths all had cigarettes. Hazy smoke plumed up around them like a dark veil.

"Waiting on your boyfriend again?" Henrietta asked after a few minutes.

Tweek shot her a glare, the air was bitter and cut through Tweek's thin shirt like a knife. He didn't enjoy being here, and was even more unhappy that Craig was making him wait.

"I don't h-have a boyfriend." Tweek ground out.

"I told you he's in denial." Michael's apathetic voice sighed out in a puff of smoke.

Tweek grumbled and buried his hands under his armpits to keep them warm.

A few more minutes passed before Craig walked around the corner. His black slacks and blue hoodie were gone, replaced by basketball shorts and a dark blue T-shirt.

"Wow, it smells back here." He muttered as he walked over to Tweek. He gave the goths a passing glance.

"Who're you supposed to be?" Pete brushed back his red streaked hair.

"Craig."

"What a conformist name." Michael breathed out. "Do you smoke?"

"Are you asking if I purposely poison myself to look cool?" Craig asked flatly.

"I liked the other one better, Twitchy." Henrietta glared at Craig.

"Kenny is still m-my friend." Tweek absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't fuck this guy, fuck the other one." Henrietta stubbed out her cigarette with her foot.

"Fuck?" Craig asked with an eyebrow raised.

"It's when you-" Firckle started explaining.

"Ahg! We're leaving!" Tweek huffed and hurried away from the goth's den. Craig jogged to catch up to the stormy blond.

"Hurry up and t-tell me whatever you wanted to, I have to get home." Tweek turned onto the path that led to main street.

Craig grabbed the edge of his sleeve to stop him, "I want to show you, in the woods."

Tweek shivered at the thought of going back into the woods so soon. The sky looked ready to pour down and Tweek wasn't in the mood to get wet.

Tweek ignored Craig's hand and kept walking.

There was always people walking around Main street on account of South park being so small. Why drive to the store when it's five minutes away by foot?

Tweek recognized some of the people, parents mostly. He turned at the familiar coffee shop and opened the door. He wasn't going home without an espresso.

"This is where you live?" Craig asked as they pushed themselves to the counter. "I should've dressed up to meet your parents. Isn't that human custom?"

Tweek gave him a funny look.

"Next please!" Mr. Tweak called out as he handed a customer their change.

Tweek stepped up to the counter.

"I didn't see you come in, Tweek!" Mr. Tweak laughed. "Are you here to work? I've got a new shipment of coffee in the back."

"I actually w-wanted an espresso and a orange cranberry muffin." Tweek muttered as Mr. Tweak rang up the order.

"Anything else?"

Tweek glanced at Craig. "Do... Do you want anything?" It'd be rude to not ask.

Mr. Tweak seemed to notice Craig for the first time. "You're the new boy. Tweek never brings friends to the shop."

Tweek groaned and rolled his eyes. Not this again.

"It's nice to meet you." Craig held out his hand. "This is a lovely home."

Mr. Tweak shook his hand with a funny smile. "Uh, thanks?"

Craig nodded.

"Would you like a cup of coffee? We have the best beans in town!" Mr. Tweak handed Craig a small menu.

"Coffee?" Craig muttered and skimmed the menu. "He'll have an iced vanilla latte." Tweek interrupted and took the menu from Craig's hand.

"Coming right up. Be sure to tell your parents about our shop!" Mr. Tweak called after them as Tweek pulled Craig away from the counter. He spotted a free table by the window and quickly sat down.

"This isn't the forest." Craig complained as they waited.

"I don't want to go into the forest. It's gonna rain." Tweek huffed and looked away from Craig.

"This is important." Craig argued.

"Then you can tell it to me anywhere." Tweek hissed. Mr. Tweak called out their order and Tweek went to get their drinks.

He shoved Craig's small cup into his hand and headed for the door.

The cold air felt even worse after being in the Tweak Bro's warm, comfy coffee shop. Tweek avoided stepping on the slick snow patches that littered the sidewalk and headed towards his house. Both his parents were at the shop, so Craig and him could easily talk there.

Craig's crackling footsteps followed him down the street. He must've given up on trying to drag Tweek to the forest.

Within ten minutes Tweek was unlocking the door to his house and desperately scrambling inside to escape the cold. He stamped his feet on the door mat as Craig creeped inside.

"This is your house?" Craig asked as Tweek shut the door.

"Y-yes. Do you not have a h-house?" Tweek took a large bite of his muffin and shuffled to the kitchen. He motioned for Craig to sit at the table.

"I live in a castle at the court of Algrid." Craig said blandly as he stood by the table.

Tweek decided to ignore the several questions that were rising up inside his chest. He took another bite of his muffin.

"Please j-just tell me what you wanted to." Tweek sighed. He wanted to go up to his room and work on the many pages of homework he had to catch up on.

"My home, Algrid, is connected to South Park. This town sits right on the edge of my world, that's why there's so many creatures here. And why it's constantly snowing."

Tweek frowned and looked down at his drink. This conversation looked like it was going to be unpleasant.

"Yeah, so. W-why are you here?" Tweek asked. "A… p-prince isn't a random monster." Wasn't that what all those monsters were chanting in the woods, the Dark Prince.

Craig narrowed his eyes. "I'm not just a Prince, I'm also the general of my fathers army."

Tweek subtly leaned back against the counter.

A powerful, barbaric aura emitted from Craig. Bloodthirst hit Tweek, the feeling snaked through his veins with an uncomfortable shiver. Tweek had to fight the urge to grab a knife and beat up the nearest person. Unfortunately the nearest person was Craig, and Tweek didn't see that ending well. The urge grew stronger and Tweek dug his hands into the counter. Craig watched him with cruel curiosity.

"I get i-it! You're powerful!" Tweek heaved in desperation. The feeling slowly faded away leaving his bones to ache.

"My father's even more powerful. Can you imagine any other human trying to resist him, or even me?" Craig spoke softly once Tweek had caught his breath.

Tweek glared at him softly from his slightly curled position. "Is that why you're here? To make us slaughter e-each other?"

Craig looked away from him. "No. My job is-" Craig stopped and glanced into the living room. "Someone is here. I told you we should've gone to the forest."

The doorbell rang and Tweek, grateful for the interruption, quickly went to open the door. He limped across the living room, his body still aching from Craig's intrusive powers, and leaned against the door frame as he peeked outside.

"Kenny?" Tweek whispered.

The rugged blond gave Tweek a smile, showing off the small gap between his front teeth.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. I brought you a coffee." Kenny held up a mug he obviously brought from home. Cold, black coffee nearly spilled over the edge as he handed it to Tweek.

"T-thank you." Tweek took a sip of the coffee. Apart from being extremely bitter and cold, it wasn't bad.

"Can I come in?" Kenny asked, attempting to peek in.

Tweek glanced back to see Craig leaning his head out of the kitchen. "I have c-company? I guess." Tweek muttered.

"Really? Who? Is it a girl?" Kenny looked over Tweek's shoulder with an excited grin. His eyes fell flat when he spotted Craig. "Are you sure that you're not being held hostage?"

Craig appeared next to Tweek and glared at Kenny. "You… You're weird."

Kenny crossed his arms. "I'm the weird one?" he scoffed and took a step backwards.

Craig narrowed his eyes and attempted to shut the door. Tweek held it open with a sigh.

"Craig this is Kenny. My friend." Tweek said the word with apprehension. He wasn't used to calling people his friend.

"Ah yes, I heard Cartman talking about you." Craig held out his hand and attempted to grab Kenny. "Can I try something."

Kenny slapped his hand away and retreated down the sidewalk. He looked rattled and rubbed his arm where Craig had nearly touched.

"Screw this. I'm going home. I'll see you later, Tweek." Kenny muttered, he wouldn't meet Tweek's eyes as he briskly walked down the path to the street.

Tweek slammed the door and wheeled on Craig. Coffee sloshed out of the cup and splattered on Tweek's arm and shirt.

"W-what was that?!" Tweek crossed his arms, spilling more coffee, but he was too angry to care.

"I don't think you're the only one in South Park with special abilities."

Tweek blinked, Kenny with powers? Tweek had known Kenny for years and had never once seen him do anything strange.

"What do y-you mean? Kenny can't see strange stuff." Tweek regretted his sharp motions, the cold coffee was leaking down his torso.

"No he can't, but I could feel power radiating off of him." Craig rubbed his chin.

Tweek quirked his mouth. "I need to change really quick." What Tweek really wanted to do was text Kenny, but he didn't have his phone. "I'll be right back." Tweek abandoned the nearly empty coffee mug on the coffee table and headed up to his room.

He locked the door incase a certain someone attempted to come up and talk to him.

Tweek pulled his soiled short over his head and tossed it into his hamper. He quickly grabbed the first thing he touched out of his closet, a green hoodie with 'Tweak Bro's Coffee' plastered across the front in fading white letters.

He tugged it on and ran downstairs; Craig could be down there smashing the TV or burning down the house.

Tweek tripped over the last stair and caught himself on the banister. Craig chuckled from the couch.

"I can't believe I'm asking for your help." He sighed with a small smile.

"W-well then don't ask me!" Tweek sat beside him. "Ask literally anyone else."

Craig rolled his eyes, "As far as I can tell you're the only one who can resist fey magic. It has to be you."

"D-damn it." Tweek crossed his arms. He didn't want to be apart of whatever this was. Three days ago life had been completely normal and he'd taken it for granted.

"My father wants to invade South Park. I'm here to make it easy for him."

Tweek curled up against the side of the couch and stared at Craig. Craig stared at the ground guiltily. He fumbled with his hands and avoided looking at Tweek.

"I don't want to. I actually like being here." He smiled softly. "That's why I need your help. I have a plan to stop him, but you're essential."

Tweek furrowed his eyebrows and stood up. His mind was racing and his body was reacting appropriately by freaking out. He paced back and forth in front of the couch.

"N-no, no, no. That's t-too much pressure!" Tweek muttered half to himself and half to Craig. "I can't help you! M-my parents-"

"Stop it, calm down and I'll explain everything to you." Craig stood up and grabbed Tweek's arms, which certainly wasn't an easy feat as Tweek was waving them around sporadically to his words.

Tweek flinched as the cold slightly seeped through his thick sleeves. Craig had a firm hold and Tweek couldn't force his legs to move anymore, he was forced to stop moving.

"Look at me, Tweek."

Tweek couldn't meet those pale, enchanting eyes, instead he let his gaze wandered across Craig's face. Over his heavy lashes, the occasional freckle that spotted his cool skin.

Craig moved his head to meet Tweek's eyes.

"I know you can do it. You won't be alone."

Tweek's breathing slowed slightly. He couldn't tell if he was actually be calmed by Craig's words or if Craig was forcing him to calm down with emotional manipulation.

Tweek moved his arms in an attempt to get away causing Craig to hold them tighter. The cold touched Tweek's skin, softer than it had been at school.

"Do you hear me?" Craig's sonorous voice smoothed over Tweek's ears and moved down his spine.

Tweek nodded erratically and blinked to avoid Craig's glittering eyes.

Craig dropped Tweek's arms just as the door opened.

"Tweek you didn't lock the door." Mrs. Tweak was standing in the doorway, her keys in hand and her purse hanging off her wrist.

Tweek took a step back from Craig. He hadn't realized how close they were standing.

"Mom, you're h-home early!" Tweek pushed some loose hair out of his eyes.

"I was worried about you." Mrs. Tweak's red lips drew up in a large grin. "I didn't know you had a friend over. You're that new boy. Craig Tucker, wasn't it?" Mrs. Tweak strutted over to Craig.

Her eyes beamed as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders in an awkward half hug that closely resembled the type of hug you give distant relatives at a family reunion. She squeezed him to her side and smiled at Tweek.

"Why don't you stay for dinner? Tweek has never brought a friend home." Mrs. Tweak patted Craig's shoulder.

Tweek groaned inwardly and stumbled for an excuse. Craig had to go home to feed his pet snail? No, that was rubbish. Craig was vegan? Maybe. Craig hated tables with a passion and would force them all to eat standing up? No again. Tweek sighed in frustration, coming up with an excuse right on the spot was hard.

Craig chuckled nervously. He gave Mrs. Tweak an awkward smile. Tweek had seen Craig show a lot of emotions; apathy, boredom, sadistic pleasure, but never embarrassment. It made him look human in a boyish way.

"I can't stay-"

"Oh nonsense, I'll ring up your parents and ask." Mrs. Tweak released Craig from his social responsibility of being polite and enduring awkward human contact and walked over to their wall mounted phone in the kitchen. Yes, a wall mounted phone that you actually have to dial. The Tweak's were old fashioned.

"Why didn't you tell her I can't stay?" Craig asked in a quiet hiss once Mrs. Tweak was out of earshot.

"M-me? You're the one with magic. Just use it!" Tweek yell whispered in response.

Craig flattened his mouth in annoyance. "Okay, fine. Meet me out back during lunch tomorrow. And bring your friend Kenny."

Tweek stood there, his bones aching and his feet rejecting the thought of walking up stairs to his comfortable bed while Craig went into the kitchen. A minute later Craig walked out and gave Tweek a small nod.

Tweek watched him walk out the door and down the darkening street; he stood there staring at the closed door for minutes afterwards while his mind tried to process his upcoming task of toppling a Fey King with the help of an angry Prince and a poor teen who's biggest talent was skipping school unnoticed.

"O-oh, boy. I can't wait." Tweek muttered to himself with quiet resignation.