The first week away from home was definitely the most difficult and anxiety inducing time of Tweek's eighteen years of life. Not only did he miss his parents, but he missed Craig, he missed Wendy, he missed Heidi, he missed Bebe, the smell of his parent's coffee every morning, the way the tree outside his window hit the glass on stormy nights. He started remembering the small things that irritated him and he grew reminiscent of them. He tried to hang out with Ivy as often as he could in an effort to make new friends, but it still wasn't the same. He talked to Craig every night before bed, and on nights where he had a hard time sleeping, he'd listen to the same tape he started of Craig talking to him over and over. It helped him relax enough that he could get at least a few hours of sleep. The weekend was harder because Ivy had convinced him to go out to a frat party (which was fun) but he ended up drunk and anxious in the middle of a crowded frat basement. He stumbled back to his dorm with Ivy a few hours later (they lived in the same dorm building), staring down the security guards as they handed their ID's over. Thankfully, sher didn't question their sobriety as she passed their ID's back after swiping them in. Ivy was much more sober than Tweek, leading him up to the third floor.
"Come on, kiddo." She cooed, taking his wallet out of his hand to grab his key card. She swiped through his door, waving to one of Tweek's three roommates, Lyle. Tweek lived in a suit style dorm, which meant it was him and three other guys sharing a small living space and a bathroom, but it was two to a room. Lyle happened to be his roommate. He was a nice kid from Scranton that was randomly placed in Tweek's room. So far, there hasn't been a problem, and Tweek doesn't think there ever will be. They were pretty compatible personality wise.
"Rough night?" He asked, looking up from his laptop as he took a sip from the beer in his hand.
"I've been trying to distract him the best I can." Tweek looked up, his eyes half lidded.
"You-you need distracting too, missy," He slurred, struggling to climb into his bed. "Who the fuck made the-the bed so high?!" He whined, running and jumping up onto the bed. He nearly fell off, Ivy pushing him back up.
"You did, sweetheart," She chuckled. "And I know I need distracting, too. We're in this together, Tweek. You and I are going to be long distance champs by the end of college!" Tweek sniffled.
"I miss him." He choked out, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Hey-hey no! No tears, Tweek!" Ivy scolded, brushing his hair off his face. "You're strong. Craig needs you to be strong, alright? You can do this! He wants you to have fun! He wouldn't want to see you all cooped up in your room every single night. Didn't you have fun tonight?!" Tweek sniffled, nodding slowly. "See? I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Lyle won't either! We've got your back, bud." Tweek nodded again, humming as Ivy took his shoes off and at unbuttoned his shirt. She then tugged the covers up to his chin, kissing his forehead.
"Thanks, buddy." He mumbled, rolling onto his side. She chuckled, putting a water bottle next to him. She spotted the Walkman and tapes sitting on his desk, smiling a bit.
"I didn't know you were into retro shit." She put the headphones on, lifting the Walkman and pressing play.
"-remember that night? I think we had just gotten back from a date and you really wanted to fuck and we tried to be super sensual and sexy but it just…ended up being stupid? We just…laughed the entire time. Lots of fumbling around and mistakes, but an overall…quality night of sex. It was nice...don'tcha think?" She pressed pause, her gaze lifting up to Tweek's. His cheeks were a light red, his eyes half lidded.
"I...sorry." She breathed out, putting the headphones down.
"Don't be." He whispered, looking down. Ivy smiled sadly, kissing Tweek's forehead.
"He's not going anywhere, Tweek. He…made all those tapes for you. Don't worry, okay?" He nodded slowly, his eyes fluttering shut. "You know where to find me." She smiled, waving goodbye to Lyle before heading down a floor to her own room. Lyle glanced up every now and then to check on Tweek, noticing his fingers lightly scratching at his wrists.
"Tweek?" Lyle knew about Tweek's anxiety. They had laid out all their personal issues that they felt the other should know about. Lyle had bipolar depression, and Tweek talked about his anxiety. They both knew how to help each other now, but Tweek warned that there would be instances that Craig or his parents may have to be called. Tweek didn't look up from his wrists, sniffling as he kept moving his fingers over his skin. Lyle frowned, hopping down from his bed and walking across the room. He grabbed one wrist only, running his thumb over the palm of his hand. "Look at me." Tweek's eyes were glazed over, half from his drunken state and half from just being sad.
"Lyle…do…you h-have someone special…right?"
"Yes. A girlfriend. She goes to school at Drexel across the city."
"H-How do you handle it?"
"Tweek, I can see her easily. She's a train ride away."
"I-I can't. How-I want to not think about him all the time!"
"It's okay to think about your boyfriend, dude. He's your boyfriend. You don't have to punish yourself because you think about him, alright? I don't think Craig would like that." Tweek whimpered.
"H-He wouldn't?" He slurred, his eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion started consuming his body.
"Not at all. I think he'd be upset. Think of how happy he'll be to see you in a few months, though. You'll be stressing over something probably and then he'll show up and I'll give you both the room for a few hours to do whatever the fuck you want, but don't fuck in my bed," Tweek smiled, letting out a soft laugh. "And-and you can show him around the city and campus some more, yeah? Do things for Craig." Tweek hummed, nodding slowly as the tension left his shoulders. Lyle watched him for a minute before letting his wrist go, making his way back over to his bed. He continued to glance up from time to time from his laptop to check on Tweek, but his roommate had drifted off almost immediately. He had no doubt in his mind that Tweek's dreams were filled of home.
Craig, meanwhile, has been aimlessly distracting himself for the past week. He only has one more week at home, so he's been trying to fill the time he isn't talking with Tweek by packing or hanging out with Kyle (Clyde left yesterday and Kyle left the same day as Craig. Everyone else that was leaving has left already) and his family. Kyle sat in his bean bag chair as he organized some of the clothing he wanted bring, a hand on the back of his neck as an old Rush album played on the record player his abuela got him as a moving in gift. Thomas had a few old albums that he let Craig rummage through, Craig picking out his favorite ones to bring with him. Kyle looked up from his phone suddenly.
"What're you doing with Stripe?" Craig looked down at the guinea pig, watching him scamper around his cage. He chuckled, opening the cage and picking him up.
"Probably gonna see if Tricia wants him in her room. I…haven't really thought that one through."
"He could just stay here and Tricia can come in and feed him."
"He needs someone to look at. He'll get lonely." Craig kissed the top of Stripe #5's head before placing him back in the cage, smiling sadly.
"It's weird…it's just us." Kyle murmured, leaning his head back to look up at the glow stars on Craig's ceiling. Craig sighed.
"I know…it's been weird ever since Tweek left."
"Ever since Heidi left…she's-"
"All you worry about." Kyle laughed softly.
"Exactly…and I know Stan is at school with her…but I still worry…" Craig nodded.
"I mean, that's your girlfriend. Of course you're gonna miss and worry about her." Kyle hummed.
"Part of me wonders if we're doing the right thing, you know? Doing…long distance and all." Craig furrowed his brows, putting a cigarette between his lips.
"What do you mean?" He asked, lighting the cigarette. Kyle thought a moment.
"Well…we've been together around the same time you and Tweek got together, so about…eight months. That's a long time to be with someone! Now, I don't want to break up by any means, I just…wonder if we should've broken it off and then see if fate brought us back together."
"You believe in fate?" Craig asked, exhaling smoke. Kyle bit his lip.
"Well…sort of. I think it was fate that Tweek told Heidi what to do if she wanted to get back with Cartman, but…she never called him. She called me." Craig stopped a moment, smiling around his cigarette.
"I…guess it's fate I decided to stay late that night after work to do my homework. Otherwise, I might not have ever seen Tweek perform…" He thought aloud, a small smile on his lips. Kyle smiled.
"Yeah…guess so."
"Do you think you'd marry her?" Kyle turned a bright red.
"I-I'd love to! I just…my mom wants me to marry a Jewish girl. But…I finally told her I was seeing Heidi…last night." Craig blinked, looking behind him to face Kyle.
"How'd that go?"
"It…was a little rough. She was madder I kept my relationship from her for eight months more than the fact she wasn't Jewish. But…I think…she'll get over it? My dad said he'll talk some sense into her. He's the supreme Jewish person in our house so I think he'll be able to convince my mom about the Jewish girl thing." Craig chuckled.
"Well I'm proud of you, if that's any consolation." Kyle snorted.
"Thanks, Craig." Craig thought a moment, putting his cigarette out on the ashtray he kept on his dresser.
"Do you…think our siblings will stay together very long?"
"Well…I think it's been almost a year since they first started ya know…seeing each other." Craig whistled low.
"A year? Shit time flies." Kyle chuckled.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"We could be brother-in-law's, Kyle." They both stopped a moment, their faces twisting up into small smiles.
"I wouldn't mind that."
It was the night before Craig left for school and his bed felt extra comfortable as he laid there, trying to go to sleep. He was texting Tweek when he heard a knock on the door, looking up.
"Come in." Laura poked her head in, smiling sadly as she sighed.
"Damn…gonna be weird coming in here and not seeing you." Craig chuckled, moving over instinctively for his mother to lay down next to him. She laid on her side after crawling under the covers, resting her hand on his cheek.
"I'm gonna be fine, mom." He whispered after a while, seeing the tears in his mother's eyes. Laura sighed.
"I-I know…it's just…my baby is all grown up." He hummed, placing his hand over top hers on his cheek.
"I'll always be your baby, mom."
"Craig, you've been six foot since eight grade. You haven't been my baby for a long time." Craig snorted, smiling at his mom.
"Well…metaphorically." She laughed softly, brushing the hair off his forehead.
"I'm so fucking proud of you." She breathed out, running her thumb over his jaw.
"I know, mom. You remind me a lot."
"Well, I don't want you to forget it. Your father is proud of you, too. You've accomplished and overcome a lot of bullshit this year, and I think that makes you more of a man than anything. You had to grow up and mature in the span of eight months. December hit you hard emotionally and mentally and you bounced back like n-nothing happened! You-your uncle…fuck, Craig, I will never forgive myself for taking you there…" Craig frowned, putting a hand on his mom's back.
"You should forgive yourself. It isn't healthy to hold in those emotions, mom." Laura let out a shaky breath, smiling sadly.
"See what I mean? Mature." Craig laughed softly, tugging her into a hug. He buried his face into her shoulder, wanting to feel small for once. Laura smiled at the notion, kissing the top of his head over and over again.
"I…I-I love you, mom." He whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. Laura felt her heart flutter, kissing Craig's forehead.
"I love you too, Craig. To the moon and back. My heart to the moon."
The ride to the University of Colorado felt longer, all of Craig's beloved belongings packed into the back of their car (minus Stripe #5, to his dismay). Tricia seemed distant, but Craig knew this was her way of handling him leaving, so he didn't take it personally. Once they pulled up and unloaded all of Craig's things, Thomas parked the car and they started the process of taking all of Craig's things inside to the fifth floor. His roommate was Henry, both boys deciding after orientation that they should room together, and it seems like he hasn't shown up yet for move in. Craig was fine with that, because he knew once he saw one of parent's cry (probably more his dad) he'd cry, too. Tricia wanted to help Craig hang some of the posters he brought while Laura made his bed up for him. Thomas had started hanging things up in the closet, gathering any trash that accumulated. Tricia smiled at the framed poster of the night sky.
"Is this…is this from Tweek?" Craig looked over, smiling a bit.
"Yeah…he, uh, gave that to me the day he left." Tricia nodded slowly, handing it up to Craig to hang on the hook he hung up. After they had everything hung up on the walls, Craig took a look around, a small smile on his face. This was his new home, and damn, he made it feel as homey as he could. There were space themed images on the walls, some old bands, his record player sat on top of his dresser, he had storage containers under his bed with food and other toiletries and such, his clothes were all put away, his bed was made with black sheets and a black comforter that had stars all over it. Tricia sniffled, looking around the room.
"There aren't enough pictures of me." She teased, Craig laughing softly.
"I'm hanging pictures in a bit. I want to look through them all and hang the best ones."
"I-I expect to see my face on that wall at least ten times." She choked out, trying to smile as a few tears fell. Craig smiled sadly, tugging her into a hug. She let out a sob, gripping at his back.
"Jump." He murmured, catching her as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He smiled into her shoulder, rubbing her back as his sister finally cried. She had been distancing herself all week, and Craig knew it was because she would cry if she saw him doing anything college related.
"Fuck! I…h-have fun, asshole…d-don't…d-don't forget about me, yeah?" She choked out, letting her legs drop. Craig smiled, walking over to his closet. He rummaged through it for a second before tugging a NASA sweatshirt off the hanger.
"Here, Tricia, take this back home." She blinked, shaking her head.
"T-That's your favorite-"
"You need this more than I do." He whispered, nudging her arms up so he could tug the sweatshirt over her head. It went down to her knees, but to Tricia, it was the most beautiful thing she's ever worn. She sniffled, wrapping herself up in the fabric. Tricia smiled up at Craig, wrapping her arms around him in one last hug.
"I-I'll take good care of it…and-and Stripe, too."
"I expect weekly pictures and updates, got it?" She let out a laugh.
"Got it, Craig." She walked over to her parents, both of which had wet cheeks. Craig bit the inside of his cheek, trying to relax himself. Be strong. Laura smiled sadly, reaching up and stroking his hair.
"Be good, yeah? Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Craig snorted.
"You know I will."
"I know. But…do it in moderation." She smiled, tugging him down into a tight embrace. Laura sniffled, rubbing his back lightly before kissing his cheek and backing away. She had her time last night, knowing her husband needed some time with him. She smiled before waving, bringing Tricia out into the hall to give the two a moment alone. Thomas leaned against the closet door, a small smile on his face.
"You…son of a bitch, Craig. I'm so…fucking proud." He choked out, Craig's throat tightening as he let out a soft laugh.
"T-Thanks, dad."
"You worked hard…y-you worked so hard to get here. I-I remember you asking me to play hockey…I remember those big blue eyes of yours…you loved hockey so much. And…h-here you are…you get to go to school…full ride…because someone liked what you had to bring to the table. That…that's pretty amazing to me. You…you're something to be proud of." Craig blinked, a few tears falling down his cheeks as he smiled slowly.
"D-Dad I…thank you. You let me play hockey. You were at every game. Every practice. You…you're the reason this all came to be…I love you, dad." Thomas let out a shaky breath, a grin crawling across his face as he tugged Craig into a hug. They just held onto each other for a moment, smiles on their faces as they pulled away. It wasn't a super sad moment, more of a you did it and fuck I'm proud to see you go and shine kind of moment. Thomas gave him one last pat on the back before pulling away.
"Love you too, kiddo. Be safe. Don't be a stranger," He opened the door, chuckling. "And call your mother at least once a week." Craig laughed softly.
"I will." And on those words, Thomas shut the door, and Craig was officially off on his new adventure. He was alone for the time being. He was a college student and athlete. He was in a long-distance relationship. He was…at peace.
It was eleven at night when Craig called him, a grin crossing his face as he pressed the phone to his ears.
"Well…I have been dying to hear from you."
"Sorry I didn't call earlier. Henry needed some help carrying things up to our room and then we got hungry and then we ended up meeting some people and it became a whirlwind of a day. But…I'm all moved in. I'm officially in college."
"I'm happy to hear that! I expect pictures of your room. I gotta approve of the decor, ya know?"
"Tricia helped me put up my posters. I still have pictures I want to hang on the wall above my bed, but I want to sort through the ones I brought and hang my favorite ones. They aren't all gonna fit up there." Tweek laughed softly.
"I have tons of wall space! Well…had tons. It's all filled up now." Tweek's wall had a string of Christmas lights running along the top, some posters of some of his favorite movies, there were pictures of all his family and friends hanging from strands of twine, and he had some posters of famous artworks he really enjoyed.
"Well, Mr. Interior Decorator, I'll be sure to send you some images once I'm finished with my room."
"Sounds like a deal."
"Been doing anything fun?" Tweek could hear Craig rummaging around, assuming he was getting changed into pajamas.
"Not too many things. We explored the city a few times and did a couple of activities that the school put together to fill the gaps during the day. I went out to a few frat parties."
"Ooo frat parties? Already? I'm shocked."
"Oh, don't be a dick about it! I got really drunk last weekend. I vomited for what felt like…forever on Sunday." Craig snorted.
"Sounds like a helluva time."
"It was ass. Lyle had to make sure I wasn't dead on the bathroom floor every time it fell quiet."
"I should send him a fruit basket for taking care of you already." Tweek laughed softly.
"Lyle and I would greatly appreciate that."
"Whoa, I said Lyle gets the fruit basket, not you!"
"No fair! I live in this dorm, too!"
"Yeah, and so do two other people…what're their names again?"
"David and Keagan."
"They sound pleasant. Please be sure to share the fruit basket with them, but you can't have any. And I will make sure Lyle knows these specific instructions."
"I feel attacked right now." Tweek laughed, rolling over to look up at the images on his walls. His heart felt full seeing Craig's face and hearing him speak.
"I'm kidding, honey. Listen, I have to wake up early tomorrow for some presentation or whatever, so I have to cut this short. I promise I'll call you at some point tomorrow. I love you, Tweek."
"I…I love you too, Craig." He breathed out, frowning against the glass of his phone.
"Night, cutie." The phone call ended, beeping in Tweek's ear.
"Yeah…night." He whispered, closing his eyes. His chest hurt already, swallowing hard to fight the lump in his throat. He crawled down to the foot of his bed, reaching onto his desk and grabbing the Walkman. He put the headphones over his ears, pressing play after getting comfortable.
"-think there are aliens? I remember lying awake at night with you in fifth grade, talking conspiracy theories for hours. You loved that shit, you ate it up! You always had such a vivid imagination. Now, that might be just from the caffeine or your anxiety, but either way, I loved the shit you had to say to me. I feel like I was lying to myself way back when about my feelings for you. Thinking about it now as I sit here recording…I felt those same butterflies then that I feel now with you. Well, maybe they were caterpillars crawling around in my stomach, making me feel nervous. I wasn't sure if I could even feel that way towards a guy at eleven. I wasn't sure if that was allowed! Of course, my parents gave me the talk for real that year. I had done my research online. God, I was a horny ten-year-old," Tweek smiled to himself, hugging the sweatshirt on his body closer to him. It was one of Craig's hockey sweatshirts, and Tweek wanted it because it had his last name and hockey number on the back. "But they told me that you can like boys and girls! That fucking blew my dick off. I couldn't believe that I could actually like boys and girls! But…as time progressed, I realized I wasn't sure if I liked boys and girls. So that's why I started experimenting. I told you I kissed a lot of people. But, and I'm being one hundred and sixty percent honest, none of them compare to you. Not even Kenny McCormick! And he's known for his great kissing!" Tweek looked up at the images on his wall again, closing his eyes slowly as he listened to Craig's voice until sleep hit him. "I've dreamed about kissing someone like you. Kissing someone that makes me as happy as you make me. Don't think I don't love kissing you. If anyone in Philadelphia ever says some bullshit like "Hey, your boyfriend doesn't like kissing you", then punch them! They're lying. They're full of shit. I love kissing you. I love fucking you. I love being with you! I love…literally everything about you. And it is my life mission to make sure you never forget the things I love about you."
NOTE: So, I have some news! I am sadly getting towards the end of this story! There will be forty chapters total and an epilogue, so if I can manage to publish each day this week, it will be all over by the end of the week! The chapters will start to skip around in time a lot, but that's just because it's hard to progress a story unless they're in the same room/city, ya feel? BUT! Don't fret! I will probably take some time off and return with another story for ya'll! I already have some ideas in the works, so don't forget about me, yeah? I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm sick now (as if this week couldn't toss anything else at me), can't breath out my nose, and it's almost 3 am and I have work at 10! As always, any and all feedback is much appreciated! Love you all!