"Hey, hey, hey!" I wave across the hall from me, making the Watch Kid look up.
"What time is it?" I ask him. He sighs, stops reading his picture book, and looks at his watch.
"It's 5.06pm Tweek. And can you stop asking me the time? You've done it…" The guy uses his fingers to count "… Thirty four times this afternoon."
"Sorry, I'm just excited." I grin at him and rub the back of my head.
"Why?" I'm about to answer, but Bradley decides to be a dick and interrupt me. He's still mad at me for our argument last night. I think that's why he's mad. Pretty sure it is, knowing him.
"It's because he's waiting for that Craig guy." He says, not taking his eyes off the book he's reading.
"Are you serious? That's why you keep asking me the time?" I shrug, looking sheepish.
"Yeah, pretty much." The Watch Kid glares. I don't understand why. It's not that hard to look at your wrist and tell someone what it says.
"… Son of a bitch." The three of us look at Eric. Cursing is strictly forbidden here, especially when a nurse is in the room, which there is right now. I curse all the time, but I'm smart enough to do it when staff aren't around, apart from Mr Tucker. I don't give a flying fuck what he thinks, though I suppose Craig swears a lot, so he doesn't mind me doing it. The nurse looks up from her phone and glares, but doesn't do anything.
"What is it, Eric?" I ask, rolling my eyes. We've all gotten pretty sick of his complaints, even the staff. I had to sit next to him at breakfast and lunch today, because we're both being handcuffed for a week, due to fighting. He seems to have totally forgotten about yesterday, which is good. He told me to call him Cartman, because that's what his friends from the outside call him. I think he was trying to imply that he wanted to be my friend. Not to be an ass, but I'd rather stay in this prison my whole life than be friends with someone like Eric.
"My friends are coming any minute…" Eric sighs.
"I don't understand why you hate them so much. I mean, they care enough to drive five hours every few days to visit you for only like half an hour."
"Shut up, Tweek!" I give him a glare. He looks at the floor in embarrassment. After a few seconds, he speaks again. "Hey … I noticed, you don't stutter any more. What's up with that?"
"… Oh… I just … got out of habit I guess." I smiled weakly, though I know the real reason why. *cough* Craig Tucker *cough*
"Right. So you say you're excited about Craig coming?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't be. He's a dick."
"So you do know him."
"Yeah, I go to school with him. He's in my class."
"What's he like?" I asked, feeling interested. Eric scowls.
"Like I said before, he's a dick, always flipping people off for no reason. He's also friends with the biggest douche in the universe, Clyde."
"Clyde?"
"Yeah, he's even worse than Craig. So yeah, I mean, he pretty much hangs out with the biggest assholes in our class, so stay away from him." I sit on my bed and look down to the floor, remembering the smile Craig gave me yesterday.
"… He's not like that. At least, not to me."
"Then, you're the luckiest guy in the world, Tweek Tweak."
"I can't freaking believe I have to be handcuffed everywhere outside my cell now! This fucking sucks!" Eric bangs his fist on out table, shaking all our glasses of water. I had to lift mine up because he's sitting right next to me.
"Live with it. You've only got about a week left here anyway." I say, sipping my water leisurely, while glaring into the distance while I'm at it. I don't like this table either.
"No I don't!" He frowns at my confused face. "Now I've got an extended two weeks because I was involved in a fight. Thanks a lot!"
I would say sorry, but my dad taught me to be honest, so I'm not gonna. I'm totally distracted anyway. All I've been able to think about all day is Craig visiting. I heard that school in the outside world ends at 3.00pm, for kids our age. It takes five hours to get here, and knowing Craig, he would try to come as soon as possible. In other words, he should be here at around 8.00pm, which is pretty lucky, since we have to be in bed by 9.00pm.
I've already accepted that I like him in a romantic way. I think it's like that type of romance, 'love at first sight', because I'm pretty sure I fell for him the moment I saw him. In fact I might've fell for him when I saw his picture. I was fascinated, that's for sure. But I doubt he'll ever return my feelings. Judging by his looks, there's at least a 80% chance that he's got a girlfriend. If not, no matter, he'll still not return my feelings, because I can tell he's straight as a line. Just my luck.
Wait…
"Hey Eric?" I ask slyly, not sure if he's still in a bad mood, which he probably is.
"… What?" What d'ya know? I was right.
"Has… Has Craig got a girlfriend?" He drops his spoon and glares at the table.
"I…
"Yes?"
"I…
"Yes!?"
"I have no fucking idea." Oh, for God's sake, how can he not know?
…
I'm being moody. Of course he doesn't know. He said himself that he hates Craig, so how would he know about Craig's personal life? Face palm.
"Hold on, I'll ask." I'm about to inquire how he'd ask, but he takes something out of his pocket that immediately answers my question.
"Where the hell did you get a cell phone!" I hiss as he's dialing a number.
"My mom bought it for me earlier this year." God.
"I meant, how the hell did you sneak it in!" He ohes and nods in understanding as he's still dialing the number.
"I'd rather not say. It involves a body part that I doubt you'd want to know about." The hell?
"…What?"
"I shoved it up my ass, retard!" He yells. So loud that everyone in the room stops eating and stares. They stop once Eric flips them off. I think the nurses don't want to deal with him this time of day, so they don't do anything to him for giving all the kids in this hospital the finger. Score for Eric.
"Holy crap!" I back away from the phone, not wanting to be anywhere near that thing.
"Calm down, Princess. The world's not as clean, kind and pure as you might think it is." What the hell does he mean by that? He holds the phone to his ear, waiting for someone to pick up. He suddenly starts talking, so someone must've answered.
"Hey Kyle~" He says in a sickly sweet voice, that I guess he uses to bribe people. …
"Yeah whatever. Look I need to ask you a question."…
"You know Craig? Craig…uh..."
"Tucker." I whisper.
"Craig Tucker?" …
"Yeah, uh, does he have a girlfriend?" …
"Uh huh. Ok then. Just needed to ask… ok … ok, I'll see you in a few days. Ok, bye." He hangs up and sighs.
"Stupid Jew…" Eric mutters. I wait for him to tell me if Craig's dating anyone, but he doesn't.
"Well?"
"Oh, right. Yeah, he's dating a girl named Milly."
Oh.
Well … there goes my heart.
"I think there's a picture of her on my phone somewhere… AHA! Here it is!" He shows me the screen. I look at it closely. There's a bunch of girls in it. One has long black hair, one has long sandy blond hair, one has light red hair, and the last on has curly blond hair.
"…Which one is she?" I ask almost darkly.
"That one." He points to the one with light red hair in pig tails. She looks fairly nice, pretty smile, happy expression, but I can't help but hate her. I'm such a hypocrite. I always say never to judge people before you know them, but here I am; hating a girl I haven't even met yet, just because she's dating the guy I have a gay crush on. Nice. Eric sees I clearly don't want to look at the picture, and finally puts the phone away, to my freaking relief.
Oh well. I expected it. It's not that surprising that he's dating, I've told myself before. It's natural anyway. I should actually be ashamed of myself for liking a boy. Oh crap. What if I go to hell for this! What if I'm a sinner because I like a boy! What if-
My thoughts are put to a halt when a nurse places a mug in front of me. Everyone at my table stares, including me.
"What's this?"
"Coffee. Mr Tucker's son requested that you get one cup a day, to help reduce your addiction."
"What the hell! Why does he get such special treatment? He's a trouble maker and one of the most insane kids in this hell hole! Why should he, of all people, get what he wants?" Some handcuffed kid across from me shouts. I know him, he's always had a grudge against me for absolutely no reason. Sometimes, during the afternoons where we're all in our cells, I catch him staring at me. I can only hope he didn't come here for murdering, like Eric did.
The nurse walks from me to him, looking outraged.
"Young man, you are to apologise to Tweek Tweak right now, or you're to leave this room right now without dinner, and without breakfast in the morning. Apologise now!" The kid hesitates, but then glares at her.
"No way! I'm not even sorry! You can starve me for all I care! I'll never apologise to someone like him! He's the reason people like us in mental institutions have a bad name! Did you know, Tweek, that in the outside world, there are rumours about you! When I went home for a visit, I heard so many kids saying stuff to me like 'Hey don't you belong in that asylum with that Tweek kid? I heard you're all nuts! I heard that you get into fights and you're all addicted to drugs!'. People say stuff like that about us! You give us all a bad name, with all your insanity! They should've kept you in a padded cell permanently!"
Everyone in the room stares in utter shock as the boy is dragged away by security, just like I was the day before. I'm still trying to process what the kid said to me. It's something you just don't do here. Blaming another patient for being labeled in the outside world as a 'nut', 'insane' or 'crazy', when truly, no one is to blame but yourself. I know it's not my fault people like us are known as those names, but I can't help but think it is. If people in the outside know me in particular, then there must be something that I'm doing or I've done to somehow get myself known.
"WAIT!" I yell to the security. They immediately stop to see who yelled. They stay standing when they see it's me. God knows why. I can't understand why I'm suddenly getting special treatment. I walk up to them slowly. The kid they're holding scowls at me.
"Who said those things? How does everyone know about me?" The boy smirks.
"Ask the kids in South Park. You know them. They'll tell you." South Park? That's the town my dad lives in. I think the Tuckers, Eric, and his friends live there too, but I haven't confirmed it yet. The security take the kid away, leaving me standing in the middle of the room, confused. I hear someone walk up beside me. A pair of handcuffed hands give me my cup of coffee. My eyes travel next to myself, to see Eric.
"Don't listen to that bullshit. I live in South Park. While we do talk about this hospital a lot, none of us know any of you. Name wise. Don't worry. Before I came here, I'd never even heard of you before." I nod in understanding, smiling slightly. Eric means well… sometimes, but I still have my doubts. What would that kid have to gain by lying? Nothing. That means there's a good chance he's telling the truth.
"Both of you; sit down and be quiet." A nurse points to our table. I sit down and start sipping my coffee quietly. It's even black coffee. I can't believe Craig was kind enough to ask them to give me coffee once a day, not to mention black, which I love. I wonder why. How could he treat me like such a special person when I've only known him for a day?
Once Cartman and I have sat down, a nurse stands in front of everyone.
"Now, let's all have a quiet dinner and a peaceful evening. No talking, no trouble. Just eat, then you'll all go back to your cells nicely. Some of you will then be visited perhaps."
I look around for people I know. Thomas is sitting a few tables away, looking at me sympathetically. I spot Bradley. He's looking at me too. I'm about to smile at him, but then I see his face.
It's anything but sympathetic.
Waiting for Craig.
Waiting for Craig.
Waiting for Craig.
I bang my head against the back wall of my cell, which is the only one that isn't glass. I can tell about half the kids are staring at me. The others are either used to my weirdness or just don't care. Eric's one of the people staring at me. I look to see what Bradley's doing. Ok, apparently, he's one of the people that don't care. He's got his back turned to me. I think he's studying.
That's another thing. Believe it or not, we get school here. Opposite of the outside way. We have school on Saturdays and Sundays, and we have free time (apart from talking with our psychologists and medication) on all the other days. We're put in small classes of ten, depending on our intelligence. I'm in one of the lowest classes, along with Thomas, because we were both put in here at a very young age and didn't have a chance to attend anything above pre-school. Bradley's two years older than me, so he was able to attend school for a bit before he came here, but that's not why he's in the top class. He's one of the smartest kids I've ever met, always studying and trying to get the top marks for tests.
Anyway, he's got his back to me. I don't understand it. Lately, he's been a real ass to me. Maybe it has something to do with Craig. Oh yeah, Craig.
"Hey!" I wave to the Watch Kid, trying to get his attention. He's coloring a drawing in a notebook with crayons, which is pretty childish, considering he's about three or four years older than me. He looks up from the drawing and glares.
"Not again?" I nod, looking desperate. He sighs and looks at his wrist.
"7.04pm." NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Still an hour until he comes, at least! Just kill me now! Just-
"Tweek Tweak? You're to go to Dr Tucker's office right now. His son is waiting for you."
Don't kill me now.
"Hey Tweek." Craig gives me a radiant smile as I walk in. Mr Tucker says I have to be handcuffed while seeing Craig from now on, just to be safe. What does he think I'm gonna do? Go all 'Hannibal Lecter' on his son?
"Hello…Why are you here so early? I didn't expect you to come till at least eight. It's a five hour journey here! And school ends at three, right?" I hope his dad didn't speed and get a ticket. I read in a book if you drive too fast you get a ticket.
"My dad let me leave school an hour early. You should've seen everyone's faces! They were so jealous that I was let out early. It was hilarious." My thoughts travel back to what Eric said earlier.
"Why do you hang out with assholes?" Craig's smile goes from radiant to non-existent.
"Who said that?"
"Eric Cartman." Craig's jaw drops open.
"How the hell do you know him?"
"Don't you know? He's a patient here, and will be for the next three weeks." Craig leans back in his chair and stares into space, looking bewildered.
"I knew he'd been sent to a mental hospital, but not this one."
"He's in the cell next to me." Craig's head snaps up. He stands up and grabs my shoulders, half-frightening me.
"WHAT? Tweek, you need to understand something. He's a hater. He likes Nazis and he's just plain evil. I don't want you to go near him. Or his friends. They're all just plain trouble."
"He said you were a dick because you flip people off and that your friend Clyde's a douche. Is that true?"
"Look Tweek. I'm trouble. I'll admit it. I flip people off, I'm anti-social, I'm not smart, and I hate a lot of people, but I try. And Clyde, well, I'll admit he can be an ass at times, but he's really a good guy at heart. So yeah, we're not the kindest people in the world. But Cartman … he belongs here, Tweek. Unlike you, I'm pretty sure he's actually insane. You know the reason he's here, right?"
"He killed someone's parents and then fed them to the said person."
"Yeah. And the only reason he did it was because Scott Tenorman, the victim, played some pranks on him. That's crazy, to do something like that for such a childish reason. He's done other things too. Much worse stuff … anyway, what I'm saying is for you to stay away from him."
" … He's sorta friends with me though."
"WHAT! ARE YOU NUTS! HOW COULD Y-
"Why did you ask the staff to give me coffee every day?" He glares for being interrupted.
"…It'll help you get over your addiction."
"How does giving me more coffee help me get over the addiction?"
"You get used to having only one cup a day, like a normal person, then you won't want to have so much anymore."
"I never thought of it that way…"
"Don't worry. When you get out of here, which is soon, you'll be able to attend the same school as me, and we'll probably be in the same class. And you'll catch up with us, no doubt."
"That'd be cool. I doubt I'm ever gonna leave here though. All the staff seem to hate me, and I'm also considered the most crazy kid here."
"Don't believe that, Tweek. You're not normal, but you're not crazy, and to be truthful, you seriously don't belong here." He leans toward me. I think he's gonna kiss me for a second.
"Between you and I, my dad is working really hard with a lawyer to try and get you out of here. No one knows about it but me, my dad, and the lawyer, so keep quiet about it. If a nurse or something hears, they'll keep you locked up in a padded cell and fire my dad. That would suck, because I'd never be able to see you again." He whispers cautiously.
"…Do you like me, Craig?" He seems startled by the question.
"Sure I do. You're cool, and a good friend. Not that way though." He smiles as if it's a big joke, like it's actually funny, even though that's the last thing in the world I'd ever want to hear him say.
"No, not that way. That'd be weird." I play along. I remember the incident at dinner earlier.
"Craig, do people in the outside talk about me?" He looks at me in a confused way.
"The outside?"
"You know; the outside world."
"What?"
"…The… the place outside this hospital…"
"Oh … right. I've heard people talk about this hospital, and most of them ask me about it, because my dad works here, but I've never heard anyone mention you before. So no. Why?"
"There was an incident at dinner today. A kid lost it and yelled at me that kids in the outside spread rumours and all know about me."
"Don't believe that bullshit Tweek." I realise something and start laughing.
"What is it?"
"You just agreed with Cartman. He said it was bullshit too. That's funny, since you guys hate each other."
He smiles and starts laughing as well. Our moment of happiness is then interrupted by Mr Tucker opening the door. He sees us and blushes. I realize Craig is sitting right next to me, which I doubt he does to people on a regular basis. He thinks his son is trying to advance on me, probably.
Craig glares at Mr Tucker. The reason, I don't know.
"I have to go now, if I have any hope of attending school tomorrow. I can't come and see you tomorrow, but I'll try and come the next day." My heart sinks. Disappointment alert.
"…Alright. I guess I'll see you then."
Mr Tucker once again allows me to walk them to my limit of space. Once we get to the door, Craig turns around to say bye. My mood's turned into a brooding one now, since I've realised there's no hope for him and me. He doesn't like me that way, he's dating someone, and there's a good chance he loves her. Might as well kill me now.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely come soon."
"…I'm sure you will." Oh God. That mode's appeared.
"You're such a great friend. I like you Tweek. Not that way though." He smiles again at the joke that he'd made only about fifteen minutes earlier. This time, I don't smile back. Craig sees this and stops smiling.
"You okay?"
"…I hope you're happy with Milly." Craig's eyes widen. I guess he didn't expect me to know about her.
"How-
"You shouldn't worry so much about me, especially when you've got school, friends, and a love to worry about."
"Twee-
"It's ok. One day, you'll get a good job, marry Milly, have children, and die peacefully. And I'll stay here in a glass cell for the rest of my life. That's how it's supposed to be, and that's how it will be."
"W-What the hell are you talking abou-
"I'll see you afterwards. Maybe." I see Craig flinch at the hidden meaning of 'afterwards'. I then close the door to the outside before he can say anything. I turn to see all the kids in the room (getting medication), looking at me. Including Eric.
He pushes the nurse (next to him) away and runs up to me.
"Tweek, what the hell was that about?" I don't reply, just stare at the ground with a gloomy look on my face.
"Hey, you're jealous right? I could tell by the look on your face when you first saw that bitch Milly." There's no point in lying to this guy. He'll get the truth out of you, one way or another. Not to mention how much in common the two of us have. If I can read him like a book, I'm sure he can do the same to me. I nod slightly, so he's just barely able to see. I see a movement in his arm. His hand's hovering just above my shoulder. He hesitates and lowers his hand again. Son of a bitch. He was trying to comfort me. I guess even Eric Cartman can be a kind person.
"Will you be alright Tweek?"
I laugh bitterly at Cartman's question.
"No."