NOTE: Hello all! Can you believe we're at CHAPTER 20?! I can't believe it! Just a little heads up: I'm going back to school this week and will be having job training all day Friday and Saturday, and then I return to classes on Tuesday! I will try to upload as often as I can this week because once classes start, I'm not sure what my uploading schedule will be! But for now, enjoy!
Senior prom was on a Friday, so, as per tradition, the seniors all skipped school that day in order to get ready for prom. Tweek sat with Bebe, Heidi, and Wendy in a salon as they got their hair and makeup done, glad he didn't have to go to such measures to get ready for prom. He was flipping through a magazine when Wendy spoke.
"So, what's the plan for afterward?"
"I was going to invite everyone back to my place." Bebe said, a grin on her face as she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
"Are we going to do the stereotypical 'get drunk after prom' bullshit?" Tweek asked, snorting at the offended look on Bebe's face.
"Do you have any plans?!" She laughed, looking up at the ceiling as the woman applied her mascara.
"No. I just find it funny, is all." Heidi let out a laugh.
"Of course, South Park is the one school that doesn't throw a post prom. They throw those to literally stop kids from going out and drinking." Wendy let out a laugh.
"It's because all the budget went towards prom!" Tweek snickered.
"Yeah, you'd know, you planned everything."
"I just…I really hope everything goes well." As class president, Wendy was in charge of planning and organizing the prom with her fellow class officers. She had been stressing out over the past month, making sure everything was finalized and in order.
"Honey, there is no doubt in my mind that prom is going to be amazing!" Heidi said, reaching over to give Wendy's hand a squeeze.
"Let's hope so," Wendy smiled softly. "Wait, Tweek, what color is your bowtie?!" Tweek blushed.
"Blue."
"What's Craig's?"
"Yellow."
"So, you're…wearing the color of his jacket and he's wearing your favorite color?" Tweek blushed, nodding slowly.
"That's so gay." Bebe teased, Tweek tossing his head back in laughter.
"It just…looked really good together when we went to rent our tuxes."
"Blue and yellow complement each other really well!" Heidi chimed in, giggling.
"That's why we picked them! I wanted the yellow but it looked too close to the color of my fucking hair." The girls laughed, Tweek grinning as he returned to look at his magazine. An hour later, they were all walking out together to go their separate ways. They were meeting up in two hours for the group pictures, Tweek heading home to start getting ready. As he walked into his bedroom, he felt his phone buzz. He smiled when he saw it was Tricia. He opened the text, laughing at the image she sent. Craig was curled up on the couch asleep, his arm tossed over the arm of the couch.
He's very clearly excited for tonight!
Well wake his sleepy ass and tell him he has two hours to get ready.
Suddenly, Tweek's phone buzzed as Tricia was calling to FaceTime him. He answered, a mischievous grin on her face.
"I wanted you to see this."
"Tricia wh-" Tricia threw water on Craig's face, Tweek laughing as Craig jumped up, coughing.
"Tricia what the fuck?!" Tweek slammed a hand over his mouth, trying to stop himself from laughing harder.
"Tweek said to get up."
"I don't think he meant to wake me up like that!"
"Craig-Craig, honey, I'm sorry!" Tweek laughed, Tricia handing Craig her phone.
"Did you plan this?"
"No! She-oh my god this is so funny-I told her to wake you, but I wasn't expecting this!" He laughed, Craig unable to hide his smile anymore.
"I'll see you in a few hours, sweetie." Tweek blushed, smiling and waving.
"See you, handsome." Tweek ended the call, leaning against the door. He tilted his head back against the wood, grinning at his ceiling. Tweek was going to prom, and unlike last year, he wasn't going alone. Tweek was going with a boy, a boy whom he loved very much.
Craig was struggling to get his hair the way he wanted it. He only had about fifteen minutes before Tweek showed up with his parents so they could get some pictures before they left to go to Token's for the group shots. He was grumbling to his reflection, grunting as someone knocked on the door.
"Craig, you okay?" It was Laura. He sighed, opening the door for her.
"Mom…can you…help me with my hair?" The simple request made Laura's heart swell. It's been forever since she's done her son's hair. She chuckled.
"Sit on the edge of your bed." He nodded, sitting down as she stood in front of him.
"Thanks mom." He murmured, up at her as she started using her fingers to style his hair. She hummed, dumping a little bit of water from a water bottle onto her hands.
"You always had that annoying cowlick right by your part." He snorted, blushing a bit.
"Yeah…," They fell silent, Laura swallowing the lump in her throat as she saw her son as she stepped back. This was the first time she really saw him as the young man he turned into, and although she was proud she raised such a wonderful son, she was sad, and not ready to let him go. Craig noticed the look on her face, smiling a bit. "Mom…"
"Hmm?" Craig stood, wrapping his arms around her. She gasped, squeezing her eyes shut tight.
"Thanks for…everything." Those words resonated in Laura, a small sob escaping her lips as she smiled.
"What's…w-what's that supposed to mean?"
"For…driving me to practices and all the hospital visits and-and the delicious meals after I won a game. That time you let the guys spend the night on a school night. That time you took Tric and I to go see Santa on Black Friday because we really, really needed to get our Christmas lists to him. That time you laid in bed with me for three hours listening to me ramble on about my feelings for Red or-or that time when I came out to you and you were nothing but supportive of me and you just…you said you knew! You know more about me than I know about myself! Just…thank you…literally for everything you've done for me." Laura looked up at her son with wide eyes, a smile on her face.
"Craig…you h-have no idea how much that means to me…" She whispered, cupping his face in her hands. He blushed, smiling a bit,
"I have a feeling I do." He whispered back, kissing her forehead. The doorbell rang, Tricia's voice meeting their ears as she opened the door to let the Tweak's in. Laura tugged her son in for one last hug, closing her eyes.
"You look so handsome." She whispered, kissing his cheek as she pulled away. Craig smiled at her, walking down the steps with her. As Laura walked down the steps, Craig stopped halfway down, catching sight of Tweek. He looked…perfect. Well, perfect to Craig at least. Tweek wore a black tuxedo with a white button up and royal blue bowtie. His hair was still a little messy, but he had styled the hair off of his forehead so every last freckle on his face was visible. Craig wore a similar outfit, but he wore a yellow bowtie, much to Tweek's liking, and a black dress shirt. Tweek looked up, a blush crawling across his cheeks. Craig grinned at him as he stood in front of him, noticing the boutonniere in Tweek's hand.
"I like the red rose." He whispered, Tweek blushing.
"Thanks…you look…"
"Yeah…you too…" They didn't even have to say it. At this point in their relationship, they've said the words "beautiful" and "handsome" so many times, they knew when the other person was going to say it. Craig held up his finger, going to the kitchen to grab Tweek's boutonniere. He came back, blushing.
"I got you a red rose as well."
"You have great taste." Craig snorted, grinning.
"Thanks, honey."
"Oh, Craig, you look so handsome!" Mary said, a grin on her face. With Tweek's hair out of his face, Craig could really see the resemblance between the two of them.
"Thanks, Mary."
"And Tweek, you look handsome as well!" Laura chimed, leaning against the couch.
"Thank you, Mrs. Tucker," He blushed, looking up at Craig. "C'mere. Let me attempt to put this damn thing on you." Craig snorted, turning to face Tweek so he could try (and he does mean try) and attempt to pin the boutonniere to his tuxedo jacket. It took a few tries, but he finally did it. Craig pinned the boutonniere to Tweek's jacket, the action taking all of his concentration. After he let go and saw it stay in place, Craig grinned.
"Come on, picture time! You two have to head to Token's in ten minutes!" Thomas said, Tricia running into the room to take pictures as well. Craig usually hates formally posed pictures, but he didn't hate this one. There were simple ones, like ones with their arms around each other. Some where the kissed. Some where they made funny faces. It was perfect. Those ten minutes flew past, Tweek and Craig saying goodbye as they got in Craig's car. Their parents were following them to Token's, but they would be over a little later. When they pulled up to Token's a line of cars sat by the curb in front of his house. They walked up, hearing the voices of their friends in the kitchen. When they walked in, Tweek took a moment to look at everyone. Everyone looked incredible. Wendy wore a dark red strapless dress that framed her figure nicely, sparkles on the top part of the dress. Bebe wore a simple black dress that hung off her shoulders, the skirt of the dress having sparkles in them. Heidi wore a navy-blue dress that had an open back, the fabric pooling around her feet. Nichole wore a dark green dress, the color making her skin tone pop. It was a strapless dress and it was skin tight like Wendy's. Leslie wore a light pink dress, hers having a high neck in the front, but was opened backed like Heidi's. All the guys looked handsome, too. Stan had styled his hair similar to Craig's, keeping the hair off his face. Kyle even got his curls trimmed up, making it easier for him to manage. Kenny kept his hair messy, but it worked for him. Jimmy kept his hair relatively the same, but then again, his hair was always out of his face and neat. It was…incredible, to say the least. They all cleaned up really well, and Tweek was happy he looked just as good. They all talked for a while before their parents showed up to take their pictures, the process taking almost an hour. They did group shots with just the guys, then the girls, then everyone together, then everyone with their dates. Craig was just about to shoot himself when their ride showed up, Clyde being the first to run to it.
"He thinks there's going to be a stripper pole." Bebe laughed, looking at Craig. Craig snorted.
"Part of me hopes there is so we can be entertained by your boyfriend for the entire ride." He said, grinning at her.
"You clean up nice, Tucker." He blushed a bit, chuckling.
"You too, Stevens." She laughed softly, everyone saying goodbye to their parents before heading to the bus. Clyde was the first one on (as he waited patiently for them all to come), followed by Bebe. She groaned.
"Clyde, no!" Craig snorted as he got on, seeing Clyde hanging from the stripper pole in the middle of the bus.
"Bebe, listen to me. I love you, but this is my dream."
"Oh, thank god some quality entertainment!" Stan laughed, plopping into a seat. Kenny gasped.
"Yo, who's going to dance first?!" He plopped down next to Craig, a grin on his face.
"This must be exciting for you two." Heidi laughed, pointing at Craig and Kenny. The boys knew what she meant: the possibility of seeing a cute boy or girl pole dancing. They looked at each other, turning back to her before nodding.
"Very." They said at the same time. Craig tugged Tweek down next to him, grinning. Kenny tugged Butters onto his lap, kissing his cheek.
"Kenny!" He laughed, leaning into his embrace. Once everyone was settled in for the forty-five-minute drive to the banquet hall in the next town over, Clyde stood up.
"Guys, any song requests to dance to?" He plugged his phone into the speaker system the party bus had, looking over his shoulder,
"Material Girl!" Craig shouted, making Clyde gasp.
"Craig, tag team it!"
"What?! No!"
"Remember when we used to dance to that song?! In third grade?!" Craig's cheeks turned a dark red as Wendy looked at him.
"Craig…you didn't!" Craig puffed his cheeks out.
"We did…" Clyde started the music, grabbing Craig's hand.
"Come on!" Craig rolled his eyes, a grin on his face.
"Only because I fucking love you." He stood up, both boys on an end of the bus. They walked towards each other, lip synching the words to the song. Tweek's mouth was hanging open as he grinned, looking at Wendy, who was recording the entire thing. It was very obvious that they had done this recently, their dance almost in synch. Clyde grabbed onto the stripper pole, dropping down and pulling himself up as Bebe screamed with laughter. Craig did the same thing on the other side of the pole, both boys dancing around each other. It was a great way to start the night, and Tweek was sure to tuck into the back of his mind that he's now seen his boyfriend pole dance to Madonna's Material Girl.
Tweek wasn't sure as to why Wendy was worried about people hating prom, because there was nothing wrong with it. It was classy and beautiful and it felt…grown up to be there. The evening was filled with dancing, laughing, and good food. Finally, after what felt like forever, they were getting ready to announce prom king and queen.
"Who do you think is gonna win, fellas?" Butters asked, leaning into Kenny's side. Bebe shrugged.
"I honestly don't really know. I voted for Craig." Craig blinked.
"Wait, I'm on the ballot?" Bebe's mouth fell open.
"Yeah! Weren't you there when we voted last month?!"
"I never voted! I-I must've been out with my fucking face injuries!" Bebe snorted.
"What a bummer. But I voted for you."
"…thanks, Bebe." He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He looked out at the dance floor, watching Tweek dance with Wendy and Clyde. Bebe saw it, a smile on her face.
"You really do love him, don't you?" Craig turned around, blushing.
"What?"
"Tweek…I see it on your face…it's the kind of look you see in the fucking movies." Craig blinked, trying to find the right words.
"I…well, of course…I'm just-"
"Scared? Me too." He sighed, looking at his plate.
"He's going so far away…"
"Clyde and I argued last week about it finally. I was starting to worry he didn't care…but he finally said something about it."
"Why were you worried?"
"Well…Tweek, Wendy, and Heidi always spoke about arguments they had with you, Stan, and Kyle about college. Clyde never showed any concern about it…I think he was trying to not think about it. With graduation in a month…I think it became too hard to ignore." Craig nodded, looking at his friend.
"He thinks so highly of you, Bebe," She blinked, turning a dark red. "I don't think you have anything to worry about." She bit her lip, looking down.
"I…had considered breaking up."
"Why?"
"Because I do love him…I didn't want him to feel like he has to worry about me while I'm traveling next year and he's in Washington." Craig nodded slowly, closing his eyes.
"Makes sense…"
"But…that's the problem…I love him. And I'm afraid-"
"You won't feel the same way with another person?" She paused, nodding.
"Y-Yeah…" Craig gave her hand a squeeze, smiling softly.
"That's how I feel with Tweek." Bebe's eyes widened, nodding again.
"It's scary."
"It is. But isn't it nice having someone for now that makes you feel that way? Yeah, there's always the chance Tweek and I…go our separate ways. But I don't think I could ever have any anger towards him. It would strictly be the distance that drives us a part…at least I hope. He's my best friend and I trust him." Bebe smiled a bit, looking down.
"Thanks Craig…"
"It's cool." He murmured, chuckling softly. He heard the music stop and then Wendy's voice.
"Hey everyone! Hope you're enjoying this kickass prom so far!" People cheered and clap, Craig chuckling as Tweek had his arms around Kyle, who had Tweek on one side of him and Heidi on the other. He walked out slowly to join the crowd, tugging Tweek to him by his tux jacket. He heard the soft laugh of his boyfriend, his heart soaring as his arms wrapped around his chest. "As you probably have guessed, it is time we announce our Prom King and Queen! So let's cut the crap and get righ to it! First, let's announce the king, shall we?" She grinned as everyone cheered again, looking down at the piece of paper in her hand. "Well…no surprise there. Your Prom King is Craig Tucker!" Craig blinked, laughing softly as Tweek shoved him to the stage. He blushed as he climbed the steps, hugging Wendy after she placed the (cheesy) crown on his head. He took a step back, watching her turn to face the audience. "And now for our Queen!" She looked at the piece of paper again, chuckling softly. "Well…this is unique! As you know, we always leave the option to write someone in for both King and Queen, and it seems that there was a popular write in. Well, to put it simply, they won! So, I guess instead of a Prom King and Queen, we're having two kings this year!" Craig blinked, a grin crawling across his face. South Park, you have my back once more. "Our other Prom King is Tweek Tweak!" Tweek blinked, catching Craig's gaze. Kyle and Stan lifted Tweek up, Craig laughing as he heard him yell in surprise. They carried him up to the stage, his cheeks almost as red as his boutonniere. Wendy kissed his cheek as she placed the other (cheesy) crown on his head, Craig taking his hand as he stood next to him. "And now, our two lovely Kings will share a dance!" Craig grinned as he heard the opening cords to Modern English's I Melt With You, hopping down off the stage and turning around to help Tweek down. He held his hand as they walked to the middle of the circle that formed, eventually stopping and moving his arm to twist Tweek to face him in front of him. The song was faster pace, but the lyrics made it easy to want to move slow. He tugged him closer, a grin on his face as the lyrics hit his ears.
Moving forward using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the world crashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always
Mesh and lace
Tweek grinned up at Craig, pressing their lips together gently. As the chorus hit, everyone started grabbing their dates and pulling them to the center of the circle.
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference
And it's getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
Craig pulled away, humming softly,
"You know I would do this."
"What, melt?"
"If it meant I got to be with you, yeah." Tweek blushed, chuckling softly.
"You know, ever since you started dating me, you've just progressively gotten more and more cheesy."
"It's called the beginning of my transformation into my father." Tweek let out a laugh, dropping his head to Craig's shoulder. Craig grinned, kissing the top of Tweek's head. He didn't care how silly he may sound to Tweek, he always meant anything he said about being with him. Craig's dating his best friend, after all.
The party at Bebe's was surprisingly calm, everyone still riding the high of prom as they changed into more comfortable clothing. As they settled into her basement with drinks in hand, they fell into a light conversation.
"Okay, question for everyone…what's something you do when you're drunk that you normally don't do sober?" Heidi asked, Kyle groaning.
"Heidi, you're only doing this for one reason only."
"Oh? What is that reason Kyle?" She teased, Kyle's cheeks turning a dark red.
"I feel like Kyle does something when he's drunk." Kenny stated, his arm tossed around Butters. Kyle puffed his cheeks out.
"I'm not going first."
"Fine, I will! Whenever I'm drunk I like to watch romantic comedies!" Kenny laughed, Wendy gasping,
"Kenny that seems so unlike you!"
"I cried a few weeks ago over When Harry Met Sally, sue me!" He snickered, looking at Token.
"What about you?"
"Me?" Token thought a moment. "I like to roll myself up into blankets. I like the feeling of being surrounded by something. I…sometimes move around. Acting like a caterpillar." Clyde started laughing, falling backwards onto the floor.
"He does! It's true!" He laughed, Bebe tugging him back up.
"What do you do, Clyde?!" She laughed, his cheeks turning a light pink.
"I, uh, sometimes like to dress up in women's clothing."
"I get super fucking emotional. I cried at the end of Rocky a few weeks ago." Craig said, Stan letting out a laugh.
"That isn't even a sad ending!"
"My point exactly!"
"I get really…frisky when I'm drunk," Wendy admitted, Stan holding his thumb up as he nodded. "Hey! You get like…gay for everyone! You just talk about who has the best ass among the guys!" Craig, Token and Kenny started cracking up, tossing their heads back. Stan's cheeks turned a dark red.
"It's Kenny by the way. He has the best ass."
"Dude, I'm touched."
"I-I've only been drunk a few times, but those few times I was I really liked to send-send risky texts." Butters said, his cheeks a dark red. Kenny grinned.
"Guess who got them all?!" Butters punched Kenny's arm, a small smile on his face.
"Shut it, Kenny!"
"Come on Kyle, just tell us!" Leslie begged, everyone egging him on.
"Okay okay!" He sighed, looking down. "I start speaking Hebrew. Like…a lot."
"That's it?! Dude that's so tame compared to us!" Kenny said, laughing softly.
"Well…sometimes...fuck why am I saying this…sometimes I start to talk dirty in Hebrew!" Tweek snorted, slamming his hand over his mouth.
"H-h-how does one-one talk dirty in Hebrew, Kyle?" Jimmy asked, his eyebrow raised.
"Well, I'm not gonna say it! But I'll speak Hebrew if that's what you want!"
"Nuh-uh. You said you spoke dirty, so let's hear it!" Bebe said, a curious grin on her face. Everyone started chanting for Kyle to do it, the red head finally yelling in frustration,
"Fine! Shut up!" They all fell silent, his face almost as red as his hair. "tistamee-tah-peh." Wendy's mouth fell open.
"What the fuck does that mean?! It sounds so sexy!"
"It means shut the fuck up!" Craig let out a laugh, falling backwards as he did. Stan was laughing too, Wendy grabbing the beer out of his hand as he fell forward. A few hours have passed now, and some people have already passed out (Token, Bebe, Butters, Leslie, Nichole, Clyde, Wendy, Jimmy, and Heidi). Kenny, Stan, Kyle, Craig, and Tweek all remained, Craig lighting a cigarette as they sat in a circle.
"Dude, I'm surprised you smoke as much as you do, seeing you play sports and shit." Stan stated, his words becoming slurred the longer he drank. Craig shrugged.
"They make me feel warm." He admitted, tossing his arm around Tweek. Tweek was starting to fall asleep, his head falling into Craig's lap. He didn't drink munch, but it was still enough for him to be tipsy. Craig played with his hair as he spoke to the remaining three.
"Are you guys ready for graduation?" Kenny asked, Craig passing him the cigarette.
"Yes and no," Kyle said, taking a sip from his beer. "I'm excited to go to school, but at the same time I'm not ready to leave…everything I've established here." They all nodded slowly, understanding the feeling.
"I don't know what to do with Wendy." Stan murmured, glancing back to look at his sleeping girlfriend.
"What do you mean?" Craig asked, taking the cigarette back from Kenny.
"I just…I want her to be able to do whatever in New York and not have to worry about me while I'm in Arizona…I just…should I break it off?"
"I literally had this conversation with Bebe at prom." Craig snorted, taking a draw from his cigarette.
"Yeah? And?"
"If you feel it's right, it's the right thing to do. I mean," He looked down at Tweek. "I was really hesitant to start this relationship with him because I knew we'd be leaving each other within a year. You know, he's going to be doing his thing in Philadelphia and I'll be in Colorado still. It's scary. You feel alone without your significant other there. And everyone is scared of being alone," He took another draw of his cigarette, sighing as he blew out the smoke. "You and Wendy have been together on and off since fourth grade. The longest you two were apart was what, two years? Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try doing long distance, and if it doesn't work out, maybe it's for the best. I don't know…but you two have literally never dated anyone else." Stan blushed, looking down.
"I just…have so much fun with her. She's my best friend." Craig suddenly felt guilty for the advice he gave, biting his lip.
"Stan, look. I know how you feel. Maybe…maybe don't break it off, but instead give her that option. You don't want to make it seem like you only ever want to be with her. She'll figure out in her own time if she really wants to be with you forever. It seems like you want forever, but does she?"
"I-I think so…we've always talked about marriage."
"And I think that's great! But…again, you've never really dated another girl."
"I know…I've always thought about that."
"Try the long distance. If it doesn't seem to be working, take a break from each other or just…don't date for a bit. You'll see each other over breaks back here, and if it's something you both really want…well, life has a funny way of figuring things out for us." Kyle blinked.
"Dude, when did you get so…poetic on shit like this?" Craig blushed, chuckling softly as he put his cigarette out. He looked down at Tweek.
"December. Yeah…," He smiled at the boy that fell asleep in his lap. "It was definitely December."
NOTE: So I was literally going to have Kyle speak in Hebrew, but as I was using google translate, I remembered Hebrew is a language that uses symbols! I found that phrase on a random website and it actually means "shut the fuck up" so I made it work! The next chapter is possibly going to be graduation! I'm unsure if I want to have one filler chapter, but I'm probably going straight to graduation! Get ready! Also: PLEASE look up Modern English's I Melt With You if you haven't heard it before! It's possibly the most romantic song I've ever heard and it makes my heart melt! As always, any and all feedback is appreciated!