Chapter 6: Abyss of Illusion
Tweek's POV
This day seemed to fly by, and I honestly was enjoying myself. Home economics was great, we talked about nutrition and how it can help improve the body. It was very interesting, and my sculpture class we started by making mythical creatures. I started working on a mermaid since even as a kid it fascinated me how they were able to breathe and survive under water. If I could be a merman, I would without a doubt. Before I knew it, it was lunch. I walked in with Craig and Token, who had just been in my English class. All of us were starving and rushed over to the lunch line.
I dug through my backpack for any sort of spare change, or anything I could use to buy something. Even if it was a bag of chips. I completely forgot to bring money today, since I'm normally not one to be hungry during the day. Today was different since I only had one cup of coffee this morning. When Craig texted me, I got so excited I forgot to fill my Travel mug with coffee before I left. Not having all this caffeine in my system has definitely affected my hunger. I frowned as I went through my bag, finding not even a single penny.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, which caught the attention of a certain noirette in front of me.
"What's wrong dude?" He looked over my shoulder into my backpack as if the source of my troubles was with me physically.
"I forgot lunch money," I mumbled so that only he could hear me. I didn't want people to think less of me because I didn't have a lot of money. My parents own their own business, of course, we don't have a ton of money. It always goes into the business, but I can still ask for lunch money when I need it.
Craig pulled out of five dollar bill from his coat pocket and hands it to me so no one else sees it. "I brought extra money today, but I don't mind helping you out." He smiled lightly, and I took the five dollar bill and shoved it in my jeans pocket.
"I owe you." I mouthed, grabbing a tray of a flimsy hamburger on a bun larger than it needs to be with a side of soggy tater tots. It came with either a pudding cup with a little dollop of whipped topping or a fruit salad. Obviously, I chose the pudding. I got chocolate milk since it was the next best thing to coffee in this damn school. I paid for it all, then walked with Craig to the table where everyone else was sitting. We sat at a circular table, surrounded by multicolored plastic chairs. It was me, Craig, Token, Jimmy, Clyde, Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Cartman. The table was large enough to fit all nine of us, even though I wasn't the biggest fan of a someone there. Cartman was a complete and total asshole, and he always has been since I've known him. I used to be friends with him, Kenny, Stan, and Kyle. The only person who I really connected with was Kenny, and we were good friends for a while until we drifted apart.
I wasn't really paying attention to any of the conversations going on around me, I felt awkward if I tried to interject myself into any of them. I ended up staring into space, eating my burger solemnly until I saw a flash of orange run across my face. I snapped out of my daze and saw Kenny waving his hand in front of my face. I jumped with a "GAH!" pouring out of my mouth.
"Dude! We asked you a question!" Kenny's no good grin was plastered on his face, and concerned flowed through me.
"W-what?"
"Do you think any of the girls here are hot?" Clyde asked, giving me the same no good grin Kenny was. I looked around the table, and suddenly everyone's eyes were on me. Especially Craig, whose eyes were a little wider than everyone else's. It seemed as though he was more interested in my answer than everyone. I didn't know what to say! No one knew my sexuality, and I wanted it to stay that way!
"Too much pressure!" I screeched before trying to calm myself quickly. My left hand was tugging at my hand hard. I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped by it, only to turn and see Clyde an inch away from my face.
"Dude, it's alright if you do. You can tell us, we're your friends." He seemed very calm and reassuring. It didn't calm me down, it made me a little more nervous.
"N-no…..No really! I d-don't think any of the girls here are h-hot."
"Really? Dude, are you a fag?" Cartman laughed out, causing my face to get bright red. "Oh my god he is!" A louder laugh came out of the fat boy, and he got socked in the arm by a smaller ginger.
"Dude, even if he was gay that's not a big deal!" Kyle defended me.
"No, I'm not gay!" I yelled, turning my embarrassment into anger. I slammed my hands down, causing everyone at the table to jump. "I'm sick of people saying I am!" I got up, and stormed out of the cafeteria. I heard about four voices calling out my name, but I didn't care. Once I was out of the cafeteria, I ran down the hall towards the bathroom. A salty wetness poured down my face as I stormed into the bathroom. What I didn't expect was someone there waiting for me.
"That was quite a show out there, wasn't it Tweek?" His red eyes pierced into my soul, and all of my thoughts flew out of my head. All I could process was fear. Damien wasn't someone I knew well, hell I never even talked to him. When Craig mentioned him this morning in homeroom, it caused a chill to go up my spine. I felt that chill through my whole body this time.
"What are y-ou…" I started to say when he cut me off.
"You're trying so hard to make people believe you aren't gay, why is it such a big deal to be gay?" He took a step forward, and I took two steps back until I was backed up against a wall. My brain was frozen, and I couldn't say anything in return. "It's very easy to see right through you Tweek. Your anxiety actually lowers your mind's guard, since you're so focused on your worries. I can read you like a kid's book."
"I-I don't understand…" was all I was able to squeak out.
"I know you don't really know me Tweek, and I don't expect you to understand everything right now. But I may possibly be your guardian angel here." He placed both his hands on my shoulders, and I felt trapped. Guardian angel? How the fuck is the son of satan going to be anyone's guardian angel?
"How the f-fuck...does t-that work?" I questioned him, which caused a smirk to form on his face.
"I know about your sexuality, and I know about Craig." My heart was racing. What about Craig? That I have a crush on him? It's not even that big of a crush….at least that's what I tell myself.
"C-Craig?"
"I know a lot more about Craig than you would think. But we're talking about you here. I already know a lot about you though. I know your middle name is James, I know your parents are controlling and only care about their business, and I know you are secretly in love with Craig."
"I wouldn't s-say I'm in love with h-him." Every single thing he has said so far was true. I could deny it all I wanted, but he got the first two things right.
"Oh I would, he's a large part of your thoughts. I want to help you though because I've seen both of your thoughts. I think I can be a little matchmaker, out of the goodness of my heart." He backed off of me, and I was able to relax a small bit. But more questions swam through my head, what does he want? Why does he want me and Craig together so badly?
"I don't trust you, Damien. What trick do you have up your sleeve?"
"Clever girl." He grinned. "It's not a big deal, but there is something I would like out of Craig. Not him, obviously." He reassured me. "And I know exactly what he wants." His eyes went through my soul again.
"M-me?"
"No shit honey, he's crazy about you! He's gonna deny it forever, but I've seen the way he looks at you. I've seen the way he thinks of you."
"Y-you read minds?"
"Duh, you seriously haven't picked that up yet?" He rolled his eyes at me. "You're not slow Tweek, but you aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer." He got right up in my face, with his hands on either side of my face. I gulped and stared at the only thing I could see. That was the fiery passion in his demon eyes. "Look, I truly want to help you. I have seen the shit in your head, and I have seen what you have gone through. I just want something good for you, you seem like you need a light beyond the darkness." He slammed the wall next to my head, causing me to flinch and crunch myself up a little bit. "Just trust me, and I'll make all your dreams come true." With that, he left the bathroom and left me by myself.
"What the fuck just happened?" I asked myself out loud. I was confused, honestly more than confused. I was afraid. I heard someone open the bathroom door, and saw a chubbier boy walk through the door.
"Tweek? Are you alright?" Clyde came in and saw me against the wall. I slid down the wall, and placed my head on my knees and wrapped my arms around it.
"I….I don't know."
"What's wrong, Tweek? You can tell me anything." He sat down next to me and put his hand on my upper back.
"Clyde, I'm in love with Craig."
A/N (January 18th, 2018): Hey guys, I'm sorry this chapter is very short. I wasn't in the best shape mentally this week because on Monday I was in a mall shooting situation. I didn't get shot, but I was right next to the incident when it happened. I was with my mother, and we were both traumatized for a couple of days. I didn't feel like writing, but I have plenty of ideas for this story I want to keep moving along. I also wrote this chapter at 11pm tonight while I was drinking tequila and watching Shrek 2 with my roommate, so I know it isn't going to be the best chapter by a long shot. Sorry for the short chapter again, but I hope everyone is enjoying this story so far! -Emma
