Tweek

Lunch had always been frightening.

That first ring of the bell had never signaled freedom, it had only ever signaled loneliness and sometimes, if he was unlucky, torment. Tweek had never had a friend, he'd never had anyone to talk to. Just Kenny. Only ever Kenny.

The idea of a friend had been foreign to him. And yet suddenly, things had changed.

After spending a week talking to Craig, Tweek couldn't help but wonder if he now, somehow, had a friend. He'd spent most of the morning thinking about it, going over and over the events in his mind until anyone else would be sick to death of them. He wasn't though. They played like the most vivid of movies, each scene so carefully detailed, each word, trapped in Tweek's vice of a mind.

The time at the hospital had been like another world to him. Tweek had talked with Craig about anything and everything. He'd shared every one of those suspicions that haunted him and the boy hadn't laughed. Tweek was used to that. Laughter, and then avoidance. Sometimes downright rejection of his ideas.

But Craig had nodded, he'd understood, and then he'd talked about space till Tweek might as well have been there, seeing the stars and planets as Craig led him through the inky void. For a week, Tweek had been happy, felt accepted.

Then they'd gone back to school. Tweek had worried that Craig wouldn't speak to him again, seeing as they were out of the hospital. His usual fears overwhelmed him and told him that of course, someone like Craig wouldn't want to hang out with a twitch spaz like him. Who would? Who in their right mind would be caught dead with him? That had been his mindset when he'd gone to school, eyes downcast, trembling just as bad as ever.

Except Craig hadn't just forgotten him. He'd come over and talked to him and gone so far as to invite him over after school. Maybe I do have a friend… Tweek had been allowed to hope. With that tall boy standing over him, his eyes sparkling with emotion even if the rest of his face never changed, Tweek had felt happy once again.

Of course, then the whole thing with Cartman had happened. Tweek had been in the middle of checking to make sure his wounds on his hands weren't getting infected with some horrible thing that would rot away at his skin when he'd first heard the screams. His first instinct had been to run and hide, but then he'd heard the name Craig and instantly he was running towards the melee.

He'd probably never forget that image of Craig, holding Cartman aloft by one hand, his eyes and face completely devoid of any emotion but rage. For a moment, Tweek had thought that he looked like a monster, but then he'd heard the words This is for hurting Tweek! and there hadn't been another choice. All he'd been able to do was grab Craig's arm and beg for him to stop.

Miracle of all miracle's, the boy had listened eventually, allowing himself to be pulled away from the crowd. Allowed himself to be hugged by Tweek because no matter how scared he was, all the blond felt was amazement and joy that someone cared enough to stick up for him, even if it was in a violent and terrifying way.

Craig had said that he'd protect Tweek. He'd promised that no one else would hurt him. Tweek believed him. He couldn't help it. They were words he'd been subconsciously hoping to hear for years, and then they'd come out of the Noirette's mouth and Tweek could hardly believe it.

He'd spent all of class thinking about it and he still felt like it must be a dream.

But whatever he'd been thinking about, the moment the bell rung, Tweek was snapped out of his thoughts and flung back into the real world. JESUS, I DIDN'T LISTEN AT ALL! Yanking at his hair for a moment, Tweek quickly dropped to the floor and struggled to stuff everything into his backpack. This was one race he couldn't afford to lose. Every moment spent not getting out there first was another that he risked getting in the way of someone who wanted to hurt him.

It was a gut reaction to the bell, nothing more.

"You're going to pull those stitches."

Suddenly, Tweek remembered. I'm not alone anymore, am I? Movements stuttering to a halt, Tweek twitched and glanced up at Craig, who loomed over him, his hands in his pockets. He hadn't bothered to change his jacket so it still had bloody spots on his arm where his stitches had popped. At least he'd gotten them looked at, Tweek wouldn't let him get away with not getting them checked. The boy had a blank expression on his face, but Tweek didn't feel as intimidated by it as he used to.

"Rrrr! I- I'll be fine!" Tweek insisted, blinking twitchily before returning to putting his stuff away. People who would have usually shoved past him swarmed around them now, seemingly unwilling to evoke Craig's wrath. Everyone had heard his proclamation, after all, everyone had seen him fight Cartman. It wasn't like people didn't know what was going on.

The whole school knows about it. What if they tell? What if Cartman tells? What if Craig gets suspended?! OH JESUS, THAT'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE! "GHA!" Dropping his calculator, Tweek yanked on his hair and suddenly yelled, "GOD, CRAIG! DON'T GET EXPELLED!" I'll be all alone again and then Cartman will definitely kill me!

Craig simply reached for something over Tweek's head before kneeling down before him. Very calmly, he offered Tweek his thermos, his expression unchanged as if the idea of expulsion fazed him about as much as anything else did. "I'll be fine dude." That was it, no asking for context, no confusion, just simple reassurance. You don't know that!

But Tweek still pulled his hands from his hair and reached forward, grabbing his container of coffee from Craig with trembling fingers. As he took several large gulps of coffee, Craig calmly finished packing Tweek's backpack. Why is he helping me like this? He has no reason to. Does this mean we really are friends or is he just taking pity on me? I can't tell with him! I WISH HE'D JUST TELL ME!

Looking again at the blood stains on Craig's coat, the blonde's stomach rolled. "Jesus man," Tweek squeaked once he found his voice again. "You really hurt Cartman, what if you get sent to prison!" He could just picture Craig, locked up in a jail with a bunch of scary people who were way bigger than he was. He'd look so tiny behind those thick iron bars, it was terrifying!

Rolling his eyes, Craig got to his feet and said, "They can't send me to prison." Shivering, Tweek hoped that Craig knew what he was talking about as he struggled to pick up his backpack with trembling fingers. Oh god, they'd probably kill him if he went to prison! I'd never see him again! "Come on, let's go to lunch Tweek."

Looking up, Tweek suddenly realized that they were the last people in the classroom. His eyes widened as he thought, I'm never the last person! That means the hallways will be packed and I'll be- He'd be fine, right? Because Craig had said that he'd protect him and Tweek wasn't sure exactly what that meant but he was pretty sure that it included not letting Tweek get knocked around in the hallway. Swallowing the lump of terror that had instantly formed, Tweek twitched and agreed, "Y-yeah."

With that, Craig walked out of the classroom, clearly expecting Tweek to follow. Squeaking, Tweek startled and hurried after Craig, not wanting to be left behind. As he'd predicted, the hallway was packed with students. South Park Elementary might not have had the largest number of students, but that was directly reflected by how small the building itself was. There are so many people! I CAN'T BREATH! OH, GOD I'M GOING TO SUFFOCATE! Screeching, Tweek got as close to Craig as possible, hiding behind his body as though that would make the other kids go away.

Craig didn't complain, he just ambled to his locker, unable to be swayed by the people who bumped into him. When he got to his locker, he opened it and when Tweek almost got pushed off his feet by a swell of chattering fifth-grade girls, Crag grabbed his arm and yanked him closer. Tweek let out a yelp at that, but meekly stood as close to Craig's locker as possible while the boy put his stuff away.

Pulling out his thermos, Tweek took several sips while he reflected that this whole day had been one big first for him. And though he could separate it into many individual pieces, Tweek decided that it could all be summed up by one thing. There's never been someone at school who's there for me. As he examined Craig's stoic expression, the way the boy did everything with a sort of single-minded purpose that Tweek wouldn't have been able to manage if he tried, Tweek marveled at the warm feeling bubbling in his gut.

This is what having a friend feels like. If Craig was indeed his friend, Tweek was still too nervous to ask. He desperately wanted Craig to be his friend, to be willing to call himself Tweek's friend, but he felt like that might be too much to hope for. After all, Craig and he were so different, they were from opposite poles of the universe, what made Tweek think that he'd ever be able to be friends with someone like that?

I'm being so stupid, Craig would never want to actually be friends with me. He's got friends already. He's just keeping me safe cause he feels like he has to. That's probably what this is, he doesn't even want to do it, he just feels guilty because he hurt me. Oh god, he doesn't even like me. Feeling sick, Tweek let out a soft moan that caught Craig's attention.

One of the things about the boy was he never asked what? It was clear from his eyes that he was trying to figure out what was running through Tweek's head, but he never said a word. Why is he acting like this? I don't understand! Shutting his locker, Craig's eyes cleared and he said, "I'm not going anywhere." Tweek wasn't sure if this was in reference to what he'd said earlier about Craig getting sent to prison or if he'd actually read the blonde's mind and seen his thoughts about Craig not wanting to be around him, but the words still served their intended purpose. Tweek managed to draw a shaky gulp of air and calm down somewhat.

I'll worry about it later. If Craig really doesn't want to be around me then he'll tell me, right?

Seemingly satisfied, Craig said, "Come on." Before Tweek could ask where they were going, Craig was leading Tweek back into the swell of people and down towards the end of the hall. Tweek's eyes widened when he realized that Craig had taken him to his locker. He remembers where it is?! Well of course he did, he'd been staring at Tweek for ages. But Tweek still gave Craig a look of barely concealed wonder before shakily opening his locker.

It took him several tries to get the combination right, but he finally managed. Pulling open the thing, Tweek swung his backpack into the messy locker before grabbing for his lunch. Craig leaned against the locker beside him, entirely at peace. Though he often thought it, Tweek couldn't help but notice how much taller Craig was. He was the tallest in the fourth grade, was taller than a good number of fifth graders even. But it was at its most noticeable when he stood near Tweek because Tweek was just so short.

I wonder if the world looks different from up there…

"Wanna eat with Token, Clyde and I at lunch," Craig asked unexpectedly, not even looking Tweek's way. Jumping and losing his grasp on his thermos, Tweek let out a squeak. Reaching out, Craig attempted to grab Tweek's thermos as it fell but screwed up his timing. Inevitably, it clanged and sloshed as it hit the linoleum.

"Fuck," Craig muttered. Stooping down before Tweek could, he grabbed the silver container and instead of handing it directly to Tweek, he held it just out of his reach, fixing him with a pointed expression. "So, will you?"

OH MY GOD, IT'S SO MUCH PRESSURE!

Forced to actually think through the question, Tweek realized what he was being asked. He wants me to hang out with his friends. Even though he felt fear coil in his gut at the idea, Tweek stared at the mildly hopeful expression on Craig's face and couldn't say no. "Y-yeah man," he agreed. Raising an eyebrow, an action that he did quite a bit as a substitute for showing real emotion, Craig handed Tweek his thermos back.

"Good," he commented shortly, before turning and walking towards the cafeteria.

The moment the stepped into the room, Tweek felt a little overwhelmed. He usually avoided this room at all costs. It was full of people who didn't much like him. The tables were always full of people and the lunch lady glared at him every time she so much as saw him because one time, he'd accidentally sloshed coffee on her when he'd fallen. Never mind that one of the fifth graders had been the one to trip him in the first place, the mess had been his fault.

So going in there, practically clinging to Craig, Tweek felt exposed like a raw nerve. Oh god, they're all staring! They want me to leave! They don't want me here so now they're staring and they all want me to leave. OH GOD, WHAT IF I DROP DEAD! CAN GLARES KILL?! But Craig simply nudged him in the direction of the lunch line and Tweek had no choice but to follow him. It was that or get left alone, stranded in the middle of the most terrifying place in this entire school.

Predictably, the lunch lady glared at him, a venomous expression that made Tweek feel like simply wilting to the ground. Craig, however, flipped the woman off, causing her attention to shift so she could screech at Craig. Oh god, he's gonna get sent to the principles! But Craig just moved on, uncaring. He didn't even bother to deny that he'd flipped her off, he just grabbed a tray and moved along.

It was interesting, whereas most people would have felt the need to fill the silence, Craig was comfortable with just existing quietly. Tweek knew the boy could talk, but he could also choose not to. Tweek liked that, it meant that no one was saying anything that could freak him out.

That being said, the silence didn't last long.

"CRAIG!" Suddenly, Tweek was pushed to the side as boy practically leaped at Craig and hugged him. Lifting his tray up over the brunette's head, Craig groaned but didn't fight the boy, who Tweek could now identify as Clyde. "HA! Token said you wouldn't let me hug you but you totally did. I knew you weren't pissed at me anymore!"

"You're going to pop my stitches," Craig informed the boy, who promptly let go. Bouncing backward, Clyde went back to his seat next to Token, who was looking at Tweek calmly. Under his gaze, Tweek hid behind Craig again, feeling horribly self-conscious. Oh god, they're going to tell me to leave!

"Oh, it's T-T-Tweek," commented a boy Tweek recognized as Jimmy, who was sitting next to Token. Squeaking, Tweek shivered and twitched as Clyde too noticed him and fixed him with an intense look of scrutiny.

"Why is he here?" Clyde asked, not exactly frowning but definitely not looking happy. OH JESUS! I should just leave now, Craig's not gonna want me around if his friends don't. I should just go before they hurt me. They might kill me for talking to Craig!

"Because he's eating with us asshole." Sliding into the seats across from the other boys, Craig grabbed Tweek's arm gently but still pulled him down next to him. Tweek didn't fight it, he just yelped in fright as the other boys continued to stare at him.

Token was the first to speak. Going back to his food, the black boy said, "It's good to see you out of the hospital, Tweek." Shocked that one of Craig's friends was being nice to him, Tweek just twitched and kept his mouth clamped shut tight. They're talking to me, what do I do?!

"Yeah, you and Craig really went crazy there," Clyde commented. "I guess it's good you two aren't fighting anymore." Though he didn't sound as blasé about it as Token had, he seemed to not care enough to contest it, simply going back to eating his food.

Pulling out his own food, Tweek shivered and started to eat, unsure what else he was supposed to do. There followed a moment of silence that Tweek felt was unnecessarily awkward. Jesus, I wish someone would just say something!

"So Craig," Jimmy commented, leaning forward over the cafeteria table. "That sure was p-p-p-pretty crazy this mor- This morning. You really gave Cartman a real beating." OH JESUS, NOT LIKE THAT!

"AUGH!" Shrieking, Tweek yelled, "HE'S GONNA GET IN SO MUCH TROUBLE MAN!" As soon as he'd said it he slammed a hand over his mouth, terrified. Oh god, I said something. They're going to kick me out. They're going to throw me to the wolves! They're going to-

"That's what I said!" Clyde exclaimed suddenly, entirely surprising Tweek, who leaped in his seat and huddled closer to Craig, who didn't protest. "I mean, this is Cartman we're talking about Craig, you're so done. There is no way he's not going to try and get revenge on you!"

"Let him," Craig said, entirely unconcerned. "He's a dick and he deserved it." Tweek had to agree, but it still freaked him out. He knew first-hand how mean Cartman could be, he didn't want Craig to have to deal with that. Especially not when the whole reason the Noirette had attacked Cartman in the first place was because of him.

"T-T-That doesn't sound like a good idea to b-be p-p-p-perfectly honest," Jimmy told Craig, raising an eyebrow. "But it was t-t-totally b-badass, watching you kick the shit out of him." Token shorted at that and Clyde laughed, to which Jimmy grinned.

"What was that I heard about Cartman getting his ass handed to him?" Suddenly, a certain grinning boy slid in beside Tweek and the blond yelped as Kenny McCormick ruffled his hair with a laugh. So he didn't die after all. Good, I think. "Man I wish I could have witnessed something so historic."

Tweek was about to yell at Kenny to just leave him alone when suddenly he found an arm being wrapped around him before pulling him closer. As he found himself squashed against Craig, the twitchy blond heard the Noirette say, "The fuck do you want McCormick?" Oh god, Oh Jesus, HELP! Except with Craig's arm around him, Tweek was finding it hard to launch into a full blown panic attack.

"Aww, look at them~" Kenny cooed, before turning to the rest of the boys. Eyes glittering dangerously, the boy said, "I'm here because some friends of mine have something to say." Suddenly, the air around the table thickened with tension as Kyle and Stan both walked up.

Staring at them in fear, Tweek could feel Craig's arm tightening as he spat, "Oh great, more of you."

Holding out his hands, Stan said, "Come on guys, we just want to talk." He looked genuinely concerned, which didn't do much to help Tweek's stress but it at least meant this wasn't some sort of set up. "Don't be like this Craig, it's been a week, get over yourself."

"We know that you didn't mean for it to get like this, it was mostly Cartman after all," Token said, seemingly the voice of reason for the group. Unlike Craig, who was being openly hostile, the black boy gestured to what little space there was open at the table, urging them to sit. Tweek muffled his own squeak of fear at that, not wanting them so close. The only one who noticed was Craig, who shifted the arm that he had around Tweek so he could pat his head.

It was a weird gesture, but then Tweek was weird and found the whole thing strangely comforting. As Stan and Kyle both took their seats, Kyle beside Kenny and Stan beside Clyde, Tweek reached for his thermos at took several gulps of it.

"So what's up?" Clyde asked, chewing on his sandwich as he spoke.

Stan shifted slightly and didn't speak. At last, it was Kyle who opened his mouth. "We just wanted to say sorry for Cartman being such a dick. He's in the hospital with a broken nose now." Tweek jerked in shock and stared up at Craig, who just snorted.

"Yeah, he deserved it," Stan admitted ruefully. "He was being a piece of shit to you Craig."

"We d-don't hold you acc- accou- We don't hold you accountable for what Cartman does," Jimmy said, shrugging. Tweek glanced at the boy, wanting to say that Stan and Kyle had been every bit as responsible for Craig and his fight as Cartman, but he couldn't make the words come out. At least they sound genuinely sorry.

"They're just being all bashful," Kenny said, ignoring the glares of his friends. "What we really came over here to say is that Cartman told the principle that you and Tweek were responsible for what happened. You're kinda screwed."

"Yeah dude," Stan agreed, nodding fervently. "Why did you have to punch him? That was so stupid!" Shaking his head, he seemed to relax somewhat as he looked at Craig meaningfully. Tweek shivered under the look, but Craig didn't flinch. "I mean I get he was insulting you but-"

"I didn't punch him because of that," Craig said calmly, taking a bite of food as if to show just how little he cared about the conversation. "I punched him because he hurt my friend."

And just like that, Tweek felt his spirits soar. Friends. We're friends.

"Just watch your back," Kyle warned, shaking his head. "It might not be now, it might not be for a while even, but trust me, Cartman will get you back. He's a petty asshole but he's really good at it." They seemed concerned, but somehow, Tweek didn't feel like screaming.

Cause if Craig's there, I'll be fine.