As always, thank you to everyone for reading! Thanks for the kudos, follows, and favorites.
A special thank you to GE. PIP .SP, cylathebat and M3 for your comments/reviews on my last chapter.
Chapter 5: Tweek doesn't know
====Craig's POV====
"Shit, Craig, this party really blows!" Cartman whines obnoxiously from his seat next to me on the living room couch.
"Thanks, Cartman, tell me something that I don't already know." I snap at him. I wish I could deny it, but Cartman is spot on in his assessment. Things started going south the moment Thomas showed up, but they got one hundred percent worse when I came downstairs and got a look at the unquestionably girly, neon purple, birthday decor that my mother has chosen.
To top things off, the weather took a turn for the worse, forcing her to move the party indoors. It has barely started, and already our tiny living room is overcrowded, since mom apparently invited every kid in the freakin' neighborhood.
"So, Craig, when I got here I was talking to you mother, and you know what she did? She thanked me Craig, she thanked me for coming to your sweet sixteen party!" Cartman continues to whine even louder, inciting mild laughter from Wendy and Bebe who stand nearby drinking some strange purple concoction out of clear plastic cups. My frustration only grows worse once I spot the little pink straws and sparkly bright yellow umbrellas that are sticking out of the top of their cups.
I know that she means well, and I love my mom, because she really is an excellent mom. She is so much cooler than any other mom. She sticks up for me when my dad acts like a dick, she doesn't get upset when I flip people off, and she accepted me immediately when I came out of the closet. The woman's basically a saint!
She was much more excited about this party than I was, and she went to so much trouble with the balloons, and streamers, and lame little party favors; I don't have the heart to tell her that calling it a sweet sixteen party is right up there with sticking her son's head in the toilet. For the sake of her happiness I've decided to suck it up, but Cartman isn't making it easy.
"I know you're gay for Tweek and everything, Craig, but I had no clue you also grew a Vagina. Exactly when did that happen, Craig?"
"Shut the hell up, Dude, why are you even here? We're not friends, in fact, I hate you!" I release my irritation on him, before standing up, and walking towards the other side of the room. Of course, the fat asshole decides to follow me.
"Hey, don't get upset Craig! I was just asking. What, are you looking for your mom, because I think I saw her running around handing out little baskets of Summers Eve party favors over near the front door."
That's the last straw, I grab Cartman by the collar and shove him away angrily. Of course, this gets witnessed by my mother and grandma, who just happen to be walking towards us with perfect fucking timing.
"Craig, honey, look your grandmother's here." My mother points out the obvious, and the look on her face tells me that I will be getting a good talking to later on.
"Hi Grandma, I'm sooo happy to see you!" I call out sweetly, and flash her my perfect grandson smile. What can I say, I'm a grandma's boy at heart. I'm also hoping that some good behavior will keep my mother from killing me later. I lean down and throw my arms around Grandma's thin shoulders to receive a warm and much needed hug.
"Happy birthday, dear!" Grandma says with a bright smile, as she hands me my birthday envelope. I already know what's inside of it, since every year Grandma gives me a check.
"Thank you Grandma!" I say happily, and give her another, bigger, hug. Leave it to Grandma to turn my shitty mood around.
"You can go ahead and open it, sweetie." Grandma tells me excitedly, and I notice my mom and dad are watching us a bit suspiciously. I carefully tear open the envelope and pull out a generic birthday card. I make a show of reading it carefully, before glancing at the check.
"Grandma!? I think you made a little mistake." I'm concerned because there are way too many zeros, so I try and hand the check back to her.
"No dear, that's the right amount." Grandma grins at me, and I notice that both of my parents are grinning too. "Instead of just giving you a car for your birthday, we thought it would be more fun to let you pick it out yourself."
"No way! Grandma, this is sooo cool!" I stare at the check in excited amazement. I can hardly believe it, I'm getting my own car, now I'll be able to take Tweek out on a proper date!
My elation is interrupted by a loud commotion near the stairs. Glancing over my shoulder I spot the boy that I was just thinking about heading for the front door in a hurry, and he looks upset.
"Tweek!" I yell across the crowed room, but he ignores me and rushes towards the front door.
"I want to break up!" Tweek's loud cry causes the room go silent, as everyone turns to watch him dash out the door, and then all eyes turn my way.
"Tweek!" I call out to him again, but he's already gone. In all honestly, I still don't feel ready to deal with Tweek and Thomas, but it's obvious I can't avoid it any longer. I also know that running out in the middle of my party isn't very cool to my friends and family, but I hesitate only for a moment, before turning to my grandmother.
"Thank you so much Grandma, I love you, and I'm sooo happy, because this is such a generous gift, but that was my boyfriend, and I think I better go after him." I give her another hug and a quick peck on her cheek.
"Of course dear, tell Tweek I said hello." She smiles at me understandingly, and I'm reminded of why I love this lady so much.
However, my father calls out to me before I can escape. I look towards him, expecting a lecture about skipping out on my own party, but I'm still determine to go after Tweek.
Surprising, he doesn't try to stop me. "It's snowing, son, don't forget your coat, and take a spare for your boyfriend."
"Yes sir, thanks."
"Craig, hold on." My mother calls out just as I'm pulling on my winter jacket. "Take this with you." She plucks a palm sized present in blue wrapping paper from the gift table and holds it out to me. I lean over and take it from her, sliding it into my jacket pocket.
"It's Tweek's present to you, honey, I don't know what you did, but you better bring that boy back with you, or you don't get any cake." I can't help but smile. I've suspected this for awhile, but now I'm certain, my mom likes Tweek even more than she likes me. I can't really blame her, Tweek is perfect son-in-law material. Respectful, well behaved, and heir to his families business.
"Yes, mother, you just worry about getting my dowry ready, I'll take care of Tweek." I tell her sarcastically.
"Oh, I'm way ahead of you on that sweetheart." My mother teases, and kisses me on the cheek before heading back to the guests.
As I'm searching through the packed hall closet, trying to find one of my spare coats for Tweek, I spot Thomas coming down the stairs. He looks completely baked and his eyes are bright red, which is troubling, but I'm more concerned with Tweek.
"What did you do to Tweek?" I calmly accuse, while pulling a suitably warm jacket from the closet, and tossing it over my arm.
"Nothing!" Thomas answers and I immediately know he's lying by the way he's avoiding my gaze in favor of his feet.
"Thomas, you fucker, what did you do?" I ask again loudly, not caring that the entire room is listening.
"Nothing! I just told him about our kiss and he freaked out." Thomas mumbles. He's lucky we're in a room full of witnesses, because I really want to kill him.
"Seriously?! Why? We were nine years old! Why would you do that?" It hits me then, how bad this is, what Tweek is probably misunderstanding. I don't have time to deal with Thomas. Tweek is probably having a panic attack as we speak! I have to find him, right now! I need to make this right.
As I run out the front door, I slam into Stan who is coming up the steps. He falls backwards and lands on his ass in the snow.
"Which way did Tweek go?" I bark at him while grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
"That way!" He points down the street, "Kyle already went after him, but Tweek's pretty freaked out, I was just coming to look for you."
"Thanks." I call out, and take off running up the road.
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It's freezing out, and snowing heavily, and I don't see Tweek anywhere. I'm angry at Thomas, but I'm furious with myself, because I should have told Tweek about Thomas long ago. Now Tweek's somewhere out here in the cold, having a panic attack, and it's all my fault.
"I want to break up!"
That's what he said, right? But, I don't want that! Tweek's the person I plan to spend the rest of my life with...
"I want to break up!"
Tweek can't break up with me. I'm the one he leans on for protection when he can't deal with the world. I'm his best friend, his boyfriend, his sanctuary...
"I want to break up!"
Tweek's in love with me! Isn't he? He's never said it out loud, but he shows me everyday; the way he grins the moment he sees me, the possessive way he holds on to my hand, the adorable way he pouts to get my attention, and the way he always believes in me, I'm pretty certain Tweek loves me, but what if he doesn't?...
"I want to break up!"
What the fuck was I thinking!? I knew he was feeling insecure, but I didn't want to deal with a little drama on my birthday, so I abandoned him, I left him in a room with Thomas, the one guy who I didn't even want him to meet...
"I want to break up!"
I have a horrible feeling in my gut, and when I finally spot Tweek and Kyle standing at the intersection, the relief washes over me, because I've found him, and I know Tweek will forgive me, he always forgives me...
As I run towards them my feet hit a patch of ice that threatens to knock me to the ground, but miraculously I keep my footing.
Kyle has his arms wrapped around Tweek, but even from far away I can tell Tweek's in bad shape. I can hear him sobbing and screaming in a voice so full of anguish that it burns right through my soul.
"Tweek!" I call out to him, wanting him to know that I'm on my way to his side, to protect him. I immediately regret it when Tweek pulls away from Kyle, looks in my direction, and bolts into the road.
"TWEEK, WATCH OUT!" I scream, because I can see the car coming, but Tweek obviously doesn't. I'm too far away, I can't reach him in time. I can't protect him!
Fortunately Kyle is closer. Kyle dashes into the road, grabs Tweek and shoves him out of danger, barely avoiding being hit by the car himself when it hydroplanes on the ice and does a 180.
"Thank you, God, thank you so much!" I cry out toward the heavens, because even though I don't consider myself to be very religious, I am smart enough to recognize a blessing when I see one.
As I continue to run to Tweek, I notice the driver of the car has pulled over and gotten out. I recognize him at once, it's Mr. Garrison, our old elementary school teacher.
"Are you kids alright." I hear him asking worriedly, "Is that you Kyle Broflovski?"
"I'm okay, Mr. Garrison, but Tweek's hurt." Kyle responds shakily. He is sitting in the snow with Tweek propped up against his chest.
"What's wrong with Tweek?" I demand, as I join them at the side of the road.
"He hit his head on the curb when he landed! I think he's alright, but it's really bleeding." Kyle explains. I drop down next to them and it's just as Kyle has said. Tweek has a cut on the right side of his forehead, it's bleeding heavily, and his eyes are large, frightened and filled with tears. I put my hand gently on his chin, wanting to examine his wound, but he turns away from me, shoving his face into Kyle's chest and starting to sob again while whispering those horrible words over and over. "I want to break up!"
"Oh Jesus Chris! He's hurt? I'll call an ambulance, just don't sue me!" Mr. Garrison pulls his phone from his jacket.
"No ambulance!" Tweek begs, mumbling into Kyle's chest. "I'm all right, don't call an ambulance!"
"Tweek." I reach for his hand, because I need to feel him, I need to make certain he's okay, but before my fingers can make contact he jerks back, pulling away from my touch.
"Don't touch me." He shrieks, and buries his face deeper into Kyle's chest. He's shaking violently, his thin hands clutching onto Kyle's jacket, while he weeps and mumbles incoherently. This isn't a panic attack, I've seen his panic attacks, this is something much worse. I've never seen him this distressed, and it's destroying me, because he won't let me help.
I know it's childish, but I don't like Tweek clinging to someone else, I want to rip him out of Kyle's arms. I need to hold him closely, to whisper in his ear, to make him smile again... because Tweek is mine, and his special place is by my side.
"I want to break up!" but I have no right to touch him anymore, because I did this, I'm the one hurt Tweek!
"Tweek, I'm sorry, I..." I start to apologize, and he immediately tenses up, causing the words die on my lips... I try to reach for his hand again, but stop when Kyle shakes his head scornfully.
"We need to take him to hospital." I say while digging out my phone so I can alert Dr. Norris. I know it will upset him, because he hates hospitals, but this is all I can do for him right now. Tweek needs to be examined, both physically and mentally.
"No hospital!" Tweek insists, but Kyle ignores this request.
"Mr. Garrison, you need to drive us to the hospital." Kyle says assertively.
"Of course, let's get him in the car."
Kyle stands, and I step forward, I at least want to carry Tweek to the car, but Kyle shakes his head again.
"I got this." He lifts Tweek up in his arms and carries him towards the car. Kyle is not a very large guy, but carrying Tweek takes little effort. Tweek is so lightweight, I know this because whenever we watch movies at his house and he falls asleep on the couch, I carry him upstairs, place him in his bed, and kiss him goodnight... It's the only time that I've ever dared to kiss him, because I was waiting for him to make the first move... or was i just afraid...
'Tweek doesn't know about all of those stolen kisses that started in 6th grade, nor does he know that I fell in love with him the first time that I held his hand.'
'Tweek doesn't know how I discovered I was gay when I was only nine years old, but I pretended to be straight because I was afraid that I wouldn't be accepted, until I was.'
'Tweek doesn't know how the first boy I kissed knocked me on my ass for kissing him, and told me I wasn't his type, or how those words really fucked me up; Tweek doesn't know how later that same boy fell in love with the pictures that I emailed him of my cute boyfriend, because I was sooo childish, and I wanted to brag about how lucky I was.'
'Tweek doesn't know how I'm sooo bad at communicating, or that I lie to myself all the time, and I omit the things that make me look uncool from our conversations, because I only want Tweek to see me in the best light.'
'Tweek doesn't know that I would never cheat on him, because I love him sooo much, and no other guy could ever compare to him.'
'Tweek doesn't know I was only trying to protect us, or that sometimes Tweek's jealousy frightens me, but not nearly as much as my own does, and it's the real reason I walked out on him today.'
'I don't want to break up, because Tweek's my special place, and I need him by my side.'
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End of Chapter 5