They both knew their friends were dramatic, but their reactions to their accidental matching tattoos was, as Craig said, "Fucking ridiculous". Clyde pretended to faint, his legs kicking as he laid down on the ground. The girls screamed from "how cute!" it was. Stan, Kyle, and Kenny found it amusing since they were literally in the shop together and could've told each other, but instead made it a surprise and now "this is the result". Token and Jimmy were the only normal reactions, both complimenting everyone's tattoos. A few days later, they were all laying on the beach, the next day being their last full day of senior week. Bebe frowned, sitting up as she looked into the distance.
"Guys, I think it's going to rain."
"Don't be so negative, Bebe." Heidi said, rolling over onto her back.
"Heids, I'm literally looking at the storm clouds." Craig snorted at the tone of voice she used. Sounds like how I talk to Clyde. Speaking of, Clyde looked at Bebe, a proud grin on his face as he stood up in the middle of the sandcastle he made.
"Bebe, look! I made you the castle I promised I'd give you!" Bebe looked at him, blushing as she smiled.
"It's perfect, sweetheart!" She yelled, Clyde rushing up and plopping onto the blanket with her. He started placing gentle kisses to her neck, yelping as Craig kicked him in the leg.
"¡Elimínalo!" He scolded, rolling onto his stomach. Wendy sat up.
"Craig, why are you now just speaking Spanish to us?! We've known you for years!"
"I only speak it to my abuela and when I'm super fucking angry or irritated."
"You're always irritated." Stan said around his sandwich.
"Yeah, but I'm careful not to say it around you guys because I know you'll always ask me to speak Spanish because you're that easily entertained. Now I just don't care because you heard me talk to my abuela."
"Are you close with her?" Token asked, sitting up.
"Well…we've gotten closer as I got older. She moved back to Peru when my abuelo got really sick so he could be with my aunts and uncles in Peru after we said goodbye to him. Once he passed away when I was eight, she moved back to the states. She lives about…four hours away? We just haven't made the drive. I make an effort to call her every now and then. She's lonely." Tweek looked at him, a blush on his cheeks. I wonder if he'll ever take me to meet her…
"I like listening to you speak Spanish. It's about time we got some culture in this group." Kyle teased, adjusting his sunglasses. Craig snorted, turning his head to face Tweek's.
"You alright?" He whispered, noticing Tweek's rosy cheeks.
"Will…do you think I could meet her some day?" Craig hummed, thinking a moment.
"She can be…tough. But…I think she'd like you. Before we leave for...well, ya know…" Tweek's chest tightened at the mention of college. This week had been so fun that it managed to distract him from the fact he's leaving in two months. Two months. He started to feel sick at how quickly time was flying, rolling onto his back to stare at the darkening sky. He closed his eyes as he felt a few rain drops on his too hot skin, the cool water giving him some relief.
"God dammit!" Bebe whined, starting to grab her things. Jimmy held up a hand.
"W-w-wait a m-minute, Bebe. I-I think th-this is a p-p-perfect time to reen-reenact cheesy m-movie scenes in-in the r-r-rain." Wendy's eyes lit up, everyone else seeming to really enjoy that idea.
"Start thinking of cheesy rain scenes!" She yelled, huddling up with Stan and Kyle. Once the rain really started to come down, that's when they all stood up, grins on their faces.
"Who's first?!" Clyde shouted, Stan and Kyle rushing forward. Wendy had a mischievous grin on her face, Tweek's mouth falling as Stan yelled over the rain.
"I wrote you 365 letters! I wrote you every day for a year!" Kyle blinked
"You…you wrote me?"
"Yes.
"You-"
"It wasn't over. It still isn't over." Wendy and Tweek screamed, the guys hollering as Stan grabbed Kyle's face and slammed their lips together, their bodies shaking with laughter as they pulled away a moment later. They all clapped, grins on their faces.
"Oscar worthy, fellas!" Wendy laughed, Kenny running forward. He started singing Singing in the Rain, but he knew all the dance moves for it. Clyde cheered, a grin on his face as he ran out and started dancing with him. Everyone started singing at this point (it was one of Tweek's favorite movies), all clapping as they finished.
"How did you know the dance moves?!" Token laughed.
"Karen liked to dance when we were little!"
"I just like the movie!" Clyde admitted, his cheeks red.
Craig leaned over to Tweek, whispering into his ear. He grinned slowly, a giggle escaping his lips as they rushed forward. Craig cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair.
"I love you." Tweek rolled his eyes.
"How do you expect me to respond to this?" Bebe grinned, grabbing Heidi and Wendy's hands.
"How about you love me too?" Tweek scoffed.
"How about I'm leaving."
"Doesn't what I said mean anything to you?!"
"I'm sorry Harry, I know it's New Year's Eve, I know you're feeling lonely, but you just can't show up here, telling me you love me and expect that to make everything alright. It doesn't work this way!"
"Well, how does it work?" Craig glared at Tweek, his hands on his hips. Clyde had his hands over his mouth.
"I don't know but not this way."
"Well, how about this way. I love that you get cold when it's seventy one degrees out, I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich, I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts, I love that after I spend a day with you I can still smell your perfume on my clothes and I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night! And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody," Craig grabbed Tweek's shoulders, looking him in the eye. "You want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible!" Tweek felt breathless, not even sure if Craig was acting anymore. He couldn't even think of what the next line was. They had watched When Harry Met Sally countless times, but all of a sudden, he was baffled. He opted to just pressed his lips to Craig's, his hands shaky as he grabbed onto Craig's face. Craig smiled against his lips, grabbing Tweek's wrists as they pulled away.
"That scene wasn't even in the rain but I don't give a fuck!" Kenny practically sobbed, all of them cheering for them as they walked back. They continued on for what felt like an hour performing silly scenes in the rain. It was a nice alternative to their alcohol induced shenanigans, Craig thought. Yeah, they didn't drink a few days ago and had fun with Clyde's silly game, but this felt…natural. He kept his arm draped around Tweek, his eye going to the tattoo on Tweek's bicep. He felt his lips tug up into a smile, overwhelmed by his love for this beautiful young man besides him.
When they woke the next day, sitting on the patio for breakfast one last time, there was a somber feeling in the air. It was so nice, the California sunshine. A change from the typical dry mountain air. Their conversation was to a minimum, but it was Kenny who spoke up.
"I have a surprise for us tonight."
"And what does that mean?" Token laughed, looking at him. Kenny grinned slowly.
"You'll see tonight." Craig snorted.
"Secrets secrets are no fun unless you share with everyone." He sang, laughing as Kenny flipped him off. He happily returned the gesture. The rest of the breakfast conversation lightened up a bit as they realized they should make the best of their last day. Later that afternoon, Tweek and Craig had managed to fit onto the swan pool float, Tweek's left leg and Craig's right leg dangling in the warm pool water. Tweek let out a sigh.
"I miss figure skating." Craig took a draw of the cigarette he had between his fingers
"I miss ice hockey." Tweek snorted, looking up at Craig.
"I'm sad I won't get to see you play once more before-"
"Yeah…" Tweek frowned when he was cut off, but he knew Craig had been thinking about college too.
"Are we…we're not doing a good job of communicating right now…" He murmured, Craig sighing.
"I know…"
"Well…talk to me." Craig fell silent.
"It's…not that simple." He grumbled, closing his eyes. Tweek bit his lip.
"What d-do you mean?"
"I just…don't want to watch you go. I'm not ready to lose this…routine we have." Tweek nodded slowly, looking up at the sky.
"When you were helping me with my routine, right before my competition when I was trying to do the double triple axel…I knew right then and there that I was royal fucked come time for us to-"
"Stop saying it." Tweek flinched at the harshness in Craig's voice, his boyfriend's face hard to read as he exhaled smoke.
"Craig…"
"I'm done talking about it right now. I want to enjoy our last day." He hissed between his teeth, Tweek sighing as slid off the swan into the pool. He felt a pang of betrayal when Craig made no efforts to go after him, deciding to go up to their room in an effort to relax his anxiety. He needed to talk to someone. No, don't ruin their last day. Tweek whimpered, tugging his wet swim trunks off and a pair of sweatpants on as he crawled into bed with fistfuls of his hair. He blinked, reaching for his phone. He'll know what to do. After a few rings, he heard a voice.
"…Tweek?"
"Hey E-Eric."
"Why…are you calling?"
"I-I need to calm down. I'm-I'm freaking out." He breathed out, tugging at his hair. His chest felt like he had a weight on it.
"Why didn't you call-"
"He's the reason I-I can't breathe!" He heard the realization on the other end of the line.
"O-oh…why? What's-what's going on?"
"H-he's freaking about me leaving again and-and he just shuts down! He w-won't talk about it anymore and I feel so bad because I don't want to let him f-fester in this anger he has! H-He's going to break up with m-me, I know it!" Tweek practically sobbed, his hands shaking as he resisted the urge to scratch or bite. Eric swallowed hard.
"Tweek…know I'm a thousand percent serious when I say this…but that kid wants to spend the rest of his life with you. And I think that's why this hurts him so much." Tweek blinked.
"Y-you don't think th-this hurts for me?!"
"NO of course it does! But…I think Craig keeps thinking long term whereas you're trying to focus on the next few months. I think he's thinking like…I don't know, nine, ten years from now? He's hard to read, I know. But…it's obvious how much he loves and cares for you." Tweek sniffled.
"W-What if he cheats on m-me? What if he likes a g-guy or girl b-better than me? Th-there are so many better-looking people t-than me."
"Craig Tucker does a lot of things, but he would never stoop as low as cheating." Tweek winced at the harsh tone Cartman used, his cheeks flushing a bright red.
"I…how can you be so sure?"
"Like I said, this kid is looking to spend his life with you, I think." Tweek sighed, swallowing hard. I need air.
"Thanks Eric…hope y-you're doing well."
"Been better, but much better since that day I confessed everything." Tweek smiled a bit at that.
"I'm g-glad…see you, Eric."
"Talk to him, Tweek." The stern voice of Eric Cartman ran through his head as he got up, tugging a t-shirt over his bare chest. He shot Wendy a text.
Will you take a walk with me? I need to talk. He looked down a few minutes later when his phone vibrated.
Meet me on the beach.
Call him petty, but Tweek took the long way to get to the beach in order to avoid his boyfriend floating in the pool. He was afraid that if he saw him he'd break down in hysterics again after finally calming the angry creature in his chest. He saw Wendy waiting by the entrance to the main beach, her arm looping through his as they started walking.
"Talk to me, sweet Tweeks." Tweek looked at his feet, wiggling his toes in the soft sand.
"C-Craig's mad again."
"College?"
"He won't even let me say the word!" Wendy grimaced.
"Yeah…that's anger." Tweek grunted.
"I know, Wendy! That's why I need your help! I-I don't know what to do anymore!" He yelled in frustration, his arm leaving her grip as his fingers tangled into his hair.
"Sweetie, you have to breathe!"
"I-I can't anymore! T-this is suffocating me! Sometimes I think i-it would be better if we just broke up!" Wendy frowned, letting Tweek pace around for a few minutes before grabbing his arm. He yelled out in pain as she slapped him across the cheek, grabbing his reddening face between her hands.
"Listen to me, Tweek! This is going to be the hardest thing you've ever had to deal with! I'm going through the same bull shit! I understand your frustration and anger, but don't break it off before you two even gave it a try! That's something a quitter does, and you're no quitter! Craig told me all about your training for that competition, the countless nights of you two on that rink! That's love. He wanted to see you succeed, so he gave you every opportunity to! You support each other, even when the going gets tough! That's just what you do! Stan…tried to break it off right before graduation. I told him that he was a fucking wimp for not even trying long distance! And-and we have all summer! Sure, we'll be working, but you know what? Maybe it would be good not to see each other every day so come time for you to leave you're not going cold turkey! You have to be smart, Tweek. This is going to sting like a mother fucker, but man won't it feel great meeting him at the airport in Philadelphia? Showing him all the places you've been? Won't it be great coming home and just seeing him? You can't give up now. Not when there's still time," Tweek had tears rolling down his rosy cheeks, Wendy using her thumbs to wipe them away. His face twisted up as he broke down into shaky sobs, hiccups wracking his body as he collapsed against his friend. She rubbed small circles on his back, her other hand stroking his hair. Wendy placed a kiss on his temple. "You have to talk with him." Tweek flinched, hearing Eric's voice say those words in his mind as well. He sniffled into her neck, nodding slowly.
"…o-okay." He finally whispered, Wendy taking his arm as they slowly started walking back. Every step felt like a mile to Tweek, worried the conversation will turn into a similar argument like the night of the Absinthe abomination in February. He looked at Wendy as they got back to the house, a caring set of eyes meeting his.
"Go." She whispered, and Tweek did. It was starting to get dark, and Craig was no longer in the pool. He slowly made his way into the house, catching Kenny's gaze. He smiled sadly, pointing to their bedroom door. Tweek gave a thankful nod, the climb upstairs feeling like a mountain. When he finally reached the top, he turned to walk towards his door. There was a ringing in his ears, the sound of his hammering heart droning out the ringing as he reached their bedroom door. He pushed it open slowly, blinking as the bedroom was empty. Tweek saw the light seeping out from under the bathroom door, knocking lightly on the door.
"C-Craig?" His voice sounded foreign to him.
"…what?" It was something. He pushed the door open gently, his heart fluttering at the sight in front of him. Craig was up to his neck in bubbles in the bathtub, his big toe running over the faucet. His right arm hung over the side, making sure his tattoo didn't soak in the water. There was a tired look in his half-lidded eyes, but he was clearly still stewing in his anger. Tweek shut the door, leaning against it. Don't get distracted, even if this is the sweetest sight you've ever seen.
"I…can we talk?" Craig didn't speak for a while, Tweek convincing himself he would never speak to him again.
"Get in."
"E-excuse me?"
"I said get in." Tweek blinked, watching Craig sit up, the bubbly bath water sliding off his shoulders and down his chest. Tweek blushed, but nodded slowly as he stripped down. He sat at the opposite end of the tub, his feet on either side of Craig. The water was warm, Tweek unable to figure out if Craig had just gotten in the tub or if it was his anger and frustration that boiled the water.
"We…," Tweek twirled a finger into his hair. "W-We can't keep ignoring this…"
"Why not?" His tone was so flat, almost as if he was unamused.
"Well…f-for starters, I don't w-want to break up." Craig's eyebrows furrowed.
"What makes you think I wanted to break up?" There's some inflection, but not much. Tweek ran his tongue along his bottom teeth, Craig watching his mouth move with the action.
"I just…y-you seem so frustrated every time I-I bring up college and…sometimes I th-think you just…ya know…w-want to call it off…" Craig blinked, sighing.
"Tweek, I love you, but that's the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard you say." Tweek winced a bit. Okay, so it wasn't the nicest way to word it, but he at least doesn't want to break up.
"W-well how could I not think it?! You constantly a-avoid the conversation! You never want to talk about it and-and we'll end up leaving in August with all this pent-up frustration towards each other for leaving and-and then you'll meet some hot blonde or handsome red head and cheat on me and-" Tweek's eyes widened as he let his thoughts slip, the color draining from Craig's face.
"…you really think I'd cheat on you?" His voice was barely audible over the pounding in Tweek's ears. Fuck, he looks so devastated…
"NO! I-I just…i-it's what I think could happen…"
"Yeah but…you still…thought it." Tweek winced. This is just like the Absinthe abomination…except I'm the asshole this time…
"Craig…I just…I-I don't want us to be over…"
"I-it isn't going to be…not any time soon," Tweek hated the sound of Craig's voice breaking, only because he knows he caused it. He shifted himself forward, crawling onto Craig's lap. His knees were on either side of him, his hands grabbing onto the edge of the tub behind him. Craig's bottom lip quivered, those bold blue eyes filling with tears. Tweek reached out, wiping a tear that slipped away. "I just…w-want everything with you, ya know?" Craig's lips twitched slightly, sniffling as he looked at Tweek's neck. "I-I want it all. It's selfish. But I just want all of you for my fucking self," His hands grabbed Tweek's hips, the blonde gasping as they dug into his skin. "You're mine and I-I don't want that to change any time soon…I'm just afraid with you being so f-far away…that those words won't have the same meaning anymore…" Tweek leaned his forehead against Craig's, brushing their noses past each other.
"I'll always be yours. Even if I'm not physically there," He grabbed one of Craig's hands, placing it over his bicep where his tattoo sat. Craig's thumb instinctively ran over it, head leaning back against the edge of the tub. Tweek pressed his lips to his throat, feeling his lover's anger melt away with each kiss. Craig's arms slid up his sides, snaking around behind his back and up to his shoulders. He rested his hands there, pulling Tweek against him as he leaned his head forward to kiss him. There was no sexual desire behind it (even though the position they were in would say otherwise), but there were fireworks. Wait…those are…real? They pulled away slowly, the colorful lights reflection off of Tweek's face through the window. They both sat up, looking out towards the beach. They climbed out of the tub, quickly drying off and tugging on clothes before running outside with everyone else to the beach (Craig had stopped to help Stan carry Jimmy to the beach so he didn't have to hobble all the way out). When they were on the beach, Kenny was running towards them, a lighter in his hands as he laughed.
"I told you I had a surprise!" he laughed, plopping down into the sand by their feet. They watched in awe as the colors filled the sky, South Park only setting fireworks off twice a year on the fourth of July and sometimes New Year's. This was most definitely a surprise.
"Dude, where did you get these?!" Stan said, his eyes up at the sky.
"They sell them on the fucking side of the road here! They were cheap!" He laughed, Clyde sitting next to him. Craig glanced over at Tweek, the reds and golds in the sky dancing in those green eyes of his. He felt his heart skip a beat, a small smile forming on his face. Tweek blinked, looking up at him. His cheeks flushed a light pink.
"What?" He breathed out, Craig leaning down and pressing a kiss to his lips. He pulled away after a moment, leaning their foreheads together.
"I promise to do better with communication. I'm sorry. I just…my mom had texted me saying I had gotten information in the mail about my orientation in a few weeks and it…made me angry." Tweek's heart fluttered, swallowing hard. He nodded, pressing a quick kiss to Craig's lips.
"I-I understand…and-and I don't think you'll cheat. I-It was just a deep fear I-I conjured with my anxiety…"
"I know, honey." There it was. The pet name. Tweek smiled, both boys turning their heads to look back up at the sky. Purples and oranges and silvers were filling the dark sky, that curtain of darkness no longer so dark. Tweek blushed as Craig's hand slid into his, fingers interlacing as he looked up still. He wasn't sure what compelled him to do it, but Tweek ran his thumb over Craig's ring finger. As the booms of the fireworks made his chest shake, Tweek decided that the notion was a silent promise. And Craig understood exactly what he meant. When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
NOTE: It was pouring rain all day here in the city, I had twelve hours of job training, and after three hours of writing, I have the sappiest chapter up to date. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! You all had such nice things to say about yesterday's chapter and I hope I can continue to deliver! I have nine hours of training tomorrow, and then come Tuesday, my classes will start back up which means my updating schedule will be changing more than likely :(. As for now, don't forget I love to hear any and all feedback! (And if you've never watched When Harry Met Sally, you will fucking love it, so please do it)