Chapter Fifteen
A Plan Unfolded
The bike I bought Tweek had a sturdy green frame, thick mountain tires and a basket and a bell; everything someone of his stature could possibly want. My long forgotten and pointless ambition of getting myself a new car had been demolished and the promise of a bike ride in the future was far more likely now. So I bought it with the money Cartman had been giving me. It had to be used for something good, I realized.
However, as I strolled through South Park's winding roads with the bike rolling by my side, I still hadn't figured out what I wished to tell Tweek. I knew he was waiting for me, despite how coldly he left me after my football game a week ago. But it was Christmas Eve and I knew the bike, being as sentimental as it was, would say a few things I felt.
I left the bike outside the Tweak residence with his name attached to the handlebar. The pull to knock on the door was very strong but the moral of allowing him space was stronger so I left with my hands in my pockets and a sense of content.
Christmas day forced me into my dreaded funeral suit for church service in the morning. I decided on a whim that I'd go and see Tweek before, get the words out of my system before I'd have to endure a morning of hymns. My stomach was full of butterflies and my heart was full of hope.
I made my way past snowmen, festive lights and decorations until Tweek's house was in sight. Green and red lights adorned the bricks of his home and lit the doorway where three figures were sheepishly huddled together. At first glance, I assumed the trio were Tweek and his parents but under closer inspection, I realized I was only half right. One of the figures were tall and fat.
What was Cartman doing here? I wondered, a flicker of anger in my chest. However, what happened next alarmed me even more.
Richard Tweak outstretched his hand to Eric and in his hand was at least a hundred dollars. My fist balled and my face boiled as I tried hard to put the pieces together. Tweek's parents… Were paying Cartman… But for what? Was I apart of this? Was this apart of Cartman's master plan? There had to be a good explanation for what I'd just witnessed.
All three faces whipped in my direction when I began storming towards them. "What the hell is going on here?" I demanded.
Richard blinked twice, twitched just once and quickly tied his hands around his back as he composed himself and smiled, that wide toothless smile.
"Craig! Nice to see you, will you be joining us for service today? I'm sure Tweek would be happy to see you" the man beamed. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"No thank you" I said "but I am concerned why you're giving Eric Cartman money."
The couple looked awfully suspicious.
"Tweek's been off recently. Eric here offered to pick up his hours at the coffee shop for the last week" Richard explained. He was a good liar; a very good liar, but I knew Cartman hadn't been busy at the coffee shop at all. So not so good there.
"Please sir, be honest with me because I have a bad feeling right now. Is this about Tweek?" I asked.
"What do you mean, son?" He smiled again.
I really wished I was wrong, but the slight smirk on Cartman's face was telling me I was right. The nervous energy of lying parents felt too strong. I turned to Tweek's mother who seemed in a worse state than her husband, hoping I'd get an answer.
"Mrs. Tweak, you haven't been paying Eric to matchmake me and Tweek, have you?" I asked her as calm as I could. She sighed.
"Craig… Darling, it isn't what you think" she muttered and Richard hissed at her to hold her tongue. Thankfully, she didn't.
"Eric said he could help Tweek. Our son didn't have many friends, he was bullied and he was failing all his classes. We wanted to help him… Of course we were skeptical at first but then he started coming home happy, he was getting good school reports, getting invited to parties and well, he had you. We owe this young man for that" she lay a hand on Cartman's shoulder who's smirk stretched from ear to ear. I felt sick to my stomach.
It made sense, it all made perfect sense. The Tweak family were paying Cartman to help with their son, no wonder he had money to bribe me and spend on all these new gadgets. But wasn't it obvious he was just using them? Wasn't it obvious that he didn't care about Tweek? More importantly, how could parents betray their child that way? I was utterly baffled. Words couldn't describe the anger and confusion I felt in that moment.
Before I could open my mouth to talk, we each heard the sounds of squeaky brakes and monster tires slush through the snow. A blond boy in a plain suit had hopped onto his new green bike and was racing into the distance before his parents' yells could reach him. Tweek had obviously overheard and he was gone. If I wasn't angry before, I was definitely feeling it now.
"No disrespect to you Mr and Mrs Tweak, but I think you're incredibly stupid and I can't believe you'd do this to your own son. You should ask Eric what he's really been up to. He never helped Tweek, he humiliated him and bullied him. The reason Tweek was so happy and started getting good grades is because he did it all himself. I'm pissed you have more faith in this asshole than in your own flesh and blood."
I was containing my anger well despite how badly I wanted to scream at them at what a bad decision they'd made. I was hurt myself, to find out I'd been part of a plan bigger than I imagined. But I wasn't important right now- Tweek was.
"There's no need to throw a pussy fit" Cartman murmured, loud enough for me to hear.
As soon as his beady eyes glanced away in an evil smirk, I balled my fist and struck him. He was taken aback with barely enough time to block my punch and instantly the bastard fell to the floor, weeping and hissing in pain. I'd got him right on the nose and I didn't feel an inch of guilt.
Mr and Mrs Tweak gasped and stood back, watching the two of us in terror.
"Alright" Cartman sniffed as he failed to get to his feet again "I deserved that."
"You did" I agreed.
"But if you wanna fight, then I won't hesitate to break your nose..."
Cartman with one hand on his bleeding nose, used his spare fist to return the punch but I'd caught it in time, squeezing his knuckles with little to no effort and twisting his wrist until once again he became a ball of sobs and pleas on the ground.
"I have more important things than entertaining you" I scoffed "and next time don't fuck with the football captain."
For the next part I leaned in close to his ear.
"And if you ever go near Tweek again, I'll fucking castrate you."
Satisfied with my effort, I bid my farewell to Tweek's parents who in utter shock ran inside to phone Cartman's mother.
Somehow I knew where Tweek had ridden off to and I wasted no time in running in the exact direction my heartstrings were pulling me.
The snow was less thick in the forest surrounding Starks Pond since the trees were sheltering the cold ground beneath. It became easier to run along the mud when I reached the familiar winding path towards the river bank.
I wondered if Tweek would hear me out and if he'd forgiven me. The last time we spoke was like taking a last breath. The memory of him walking away in tears was still so fresh in my mind; far more fresh than the victory of the football match. I'd been holding my breath ever since; scared to take the next step.
Sure enough my instincts had been right. There sat Tweek, huddled on the edge of the frozen lake with his feet dangling off the edge and his head in his hands. I swallowed the doubt in my throat and quickly brought myself to sit behind him.
We sat in silence for a while though Tweek had taken his face out of his hands. We gazed upon the rising sun reflecting in the ice, the mountains reaching the clouds.
"Are you okay?" I finally asked.
"What do you think?" Tweek replied, his voice raspy from crying.
I sighed.
"I didn't know, I swear I didn't" I assured him. He weakly smiled in return.
"I know… It's my fault. I shouldn't trust people. Can't even trust my own parents."
A great sadness swallowed me whole. I knew I needed to do something.
"Tweek… I know it's early, I don't expect you to forgive me but you can trust me. I'm an idiot for what I did, but I stopped accepting the money once I realized how much I care for you… Not that it makes things any better."
"It's okay Craig, I forgive you" Tweek said as he faced my direction for the first time this morning. I hadn't expected him to forgive me just yet.
"And… I meant what I said. I do love you."
"Well, I love you too."
I could breathe again.
Tweek had forgiven me but I could tell he was still sad. The color blue lingered over his hunched form and the betrayal of everyone close to him came out in long wispy sighs.
I placed my hand on his.
"It will be okay" I told him.
"Maybe" he mumbled "thank you for the bike."
"It's fine. Well, I thought we could go on bike rides together. You know, like how we used to when we were kids."
Tweek gazed up at me, a smile crawled on his face and those big beautiful mismatched eyes stared into my soul. "You're so gay" he chuckled.
"Yeah" I laughed "I am. I really am."
Tweek squeezed my hand before he jumped to his feet and head towards his bike. He hopped on the front of the seat and motioned for me to join him. I raised a brow in amusement as I stood up.
"I'll give you a ride to church" he declared.
As I cautiously made myself comfortable on the back of the seat and wrapped my arms around his waist, he reassured me. More so than I expected.
"Things will get better" he began "you'll see."
A/N: I really just... yeah nah, I'm not gonna make an excuse for this one. Well at least y'all know I'm not dead. In fact, I will get this fic finished if it kills me. Lucky for me, all that's left is an epilogue and then this travesty will have come to an end. Hope you're all enjoying your summer!
