Chapter Eight: Craig's P.O.V

I awoke with a start as a loud buzzing sound filled my head. I turn my head to the alarm clock beside me. It looks like it's going through a seizure. Twitching..

My mind then wandered subconsciously to today's mission. I can't believe I'm actually considering going through with it. What if it fails? Completely falls to shit? I can't let that happen. Not again. I throw the rumpled covers off me and pound my fist on the clock, making it stop. I toss my legs off my bed and feel the coarse warmth of the carpeted floor beneath my feet. I had to get to school early. I had to prepare. I'm not usually the type to think too much about anything. But I had to make an impression. I had to get my best friend back. I stride across the hall to the bathroom and check my reflection in the mirror. Expressionless. Broody, at best. I turn to the worn down shower, turn on the water, the sound filling the room. I look out the bathroom window into the still darkness, the sun peeking out of the mountains. Maybe I'm a little too early. I shrug to myself and tug off my clothing, throwing them carelessly on the floor. I step into the shower, letting the warm water cascade down my body. I shiver at the contact, but ignore the feeling. Again, I find myself thinking about the day ahead. I lose myself in my thoughts, closing my eyes as I travel. I don't know why this kept happening. What did I care if Tweek wouldn't be my friend again? I've dealt with it for the past eight years, what's another lifetime? He didn't want me anywhere near him, that's cool. So why did I feel this stinging pain in my chest? I've never been one to show emotions or whatever. The truth was: I didn't allow myself to. If I got too attached to something or someone, I would be giving them an invitation to rip my heart out and stomp on it with cleats. My guinea pig, Stripe, was the only exception. He understood me unlike anyone else, and vice versa.

I turn off the water and grab my towel from the hook on the wall beside the shower. Making quick work of drying myself off, I wrap it around my torso, grab my scattered clothing and head back to my room. It was quiet in the house, meaning that my parents weren't here, again. I stand in front of the cage of my aforementioned guinea pig, and see him staring at me with his wizened beady black eyes. He's gotten me through some tough times. I noticed how faded the colour of his fur was, realizing that of course, he was getting old. It won't be long until I'd have to say goodbye to another friend. I stare back at him with a sad smile. Stripe was the only living creature that could get me to show any kind of human feeling. But only if it was just the two of us. No one else could see how weak I really was. That's why I keep to myself, unless Clyde decides to burst into my living room, like he did last night. Prick. It was because of him that I was over thinking. Although, I did appreciate his friendship (not like I'd ever admit it), he was way too confident in my abilities. To be honest, I was terrified. I didn't know what to say to Tweek, much less if he would even listen. How do you start a conversation with someone that you have spoken to in years? 'Oh, hey, dude. Been a while. How's that black eye I gave you all those years ago doing?' Seriously? Jesus. As I shake myself out of my trance, I glance the sun rising ever so slightly into the sky. I check out my clock. Hm, still early. I dress quickly, tugging on my mangled blue chullo. This hat is about as old as Stripe. Just another childhood memory I carried with me into my teens. It was my favourite piece of clothing. I wore it with everything. In this case, all I wore was a simple pair of black skinny jeans, plain white fitted t-shirt, and a dark blue windbreaker. I didn't care much for fashion. I liked everything to plain, boring. Except when it came to Tweek. He was anything but. Maybe that was why he caught my interest..

I shake my head of the thought and stuff my last minute completed homework into my beat up backpack, and swing it over my shoulder. I fill up Stripe's food and water bowls, and head downstairs to the kitchen. I wasn't much of a breakfast person, nor was there much food. I grabbed the first thing I found, a granola bar, and stuck it in my mouth. Grabbing my keys off the hook, I head through the door and lock it behind me. I could feel the chill of the morning wind bite through my windbreaker, giving me goose bumps. I stuff my hands in my pockets and scrunch my shoulders in, keeping my head low. The school wasn't too far from my house, so it didn't take long when I entered the double doors of Hell. I rub my hands together and breathe into the small opening, getting my circulation back. The hallway to my locker was empty. The whole school felt like a ghost town. I couldn't be that early... Maybe the janitor is working around here, or the principal is busy in her office. I amble my way to my locker at the end of the hall. I effortlessly open my lock and trade my books from my bag with the ones in my locker, yesterday's homework buried in the midst of my bag's contents. Oh well. I almost slam the locker door shut, and sit down on the floor, resting my back on said locker. Guess I'll just wait for school to start. I take my iPod from my jeans pocket and stuff the ear buds into my ears, blasting some My Chemical Romance. As I listened to the godly voice of Gerard Way, I slowly drift off into a dreamless sleep. I wasn't able to get my beauty rest last night because of a certain fellow nasally voiced comrade. As I drifted, I could feel myself go limp, sliding down my locker and settling onto the floor, curling my knees up to my chest. There was no one here anyway, so might as well take a power nap.

I felt someone's foot connect with my ass, waking me up. I was prepared to flip off whoever it was and settle back into my sleeping position when I noticed the before empty hallway now filled with a butt load of students. What the hell? I stood up, brushing myself off and ripping out my ear buds. I stared at the ass-kicker and saw it was Clyde.

"Hey, dude. Were you here the whole time? No wonder you weren't in class. It's lunch time now."

I didn't comprehend his words until I heard 'lunch time'. "What?" I say groggily. "Lunch. Time." Clyde exclaimed, slower and more annoyed. He pointed to the cafeteria to help me further. Shit. I slept through my morning classes. The halls started to empty out again as everyone went to the cafeteria for grub. "I gotta go take a leak. Go on without me." I mumble to Clyde. He shrugged and followed the crowd. I head the opposite way to the washroom. As I got to the other side of the hallway, I stepped back. I peeked around the corner and confirmed what I'd seen. Pip and Damien, kissing. Holy hell. Literally. Who would've thought the British goody-goody and the anti-christ were like that? I watched them break their contact and head to the cafeteria as well, holding hands. Brave move, guys. I tried to picture myself and my blond necking. Wait. My blond? I really am going insane. I continue my stroll to the washroom, stepping into the disgusting sewer that is the guy's restroom. I hate public toilets, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. I head to the cleanest looking urinal and unzip. As I do my business I hear a small whimpering sound coming from one of the stalls. Oh no. That better not be... I stride to the sink and turn on the tap when the person making the sounds burst out of the stall. I looked in the mirror and saw a huge pair of blue-green eyes staring at me. Dark circles rimming the bottom of his sockets. I stood frozen, staring back at him. I watch him clutch his life thermos to his chest. He wasn't twitching one bit. He didn't even blink. I wash my hands, not taking my eyes off the reflection in the mirror. I turn off the water and spin around to face him. The sudden movement made him flinch. Come on, Craig. Don't be a pussy. "Hey, Tweek." My voice was quiet and monotone, but that didn't hide the fact that I was shaking slightly. Why was I so nervous? Tweek seemed to notice it too, because he finally came back to reality, in all his twitchy glory. "H-hey, Craig. GAH!" We were silent for what seemed like an eternity. Tweek was the first to move, heading to the door. As I watched him reach for it, without thinking, words tumbled out of my mouth. "I'm sorry, Tweekers. For everything." I missed calling him that. It was my nickname, after all. Tweek's hand stopped in mid-air, and his haunted face turned to glance at me. Tears started to well up in his eyes, and I could feel my throat tighten. Why is this happening to me? How can he affect me so? I wipe my hands on my jeans, drying them, and slowly stride to stand in front of him. He flinched again, but didn't run out the door screaming. That was a good sign. "I'm sorry", I say again, quietly. Tweek shakes his head slightly and smiles sadly like I had done this morning. "D-don't be, Craig. I-it, nng, was a long time ago."

He was forgiving me? "No, Tweek. What happened was all my fault.. Us not being friends anymore.. it's my fault." Where is this insecurity coming from? Why am I like this around Tweek? Damn, I really needed to pull myself together.

"We n-never stopped being f-friends... I overreacted. GAH! W-we were kids. We're men now. Maybe we c-can start over. B-be friends again." When did Tweek become so mature? I grin at him and hold out my hand. "I would like that very much, Tweekers. Maybe we can hang out at lunch. Or after school." Okay, I wasn't getting a bit hasty. I couldn't contain my excitement at how easy this was. Over thinking for nothing. But wait. What if this was too fast for Tweek? I knew he liked taking things slow. As I realized this, my outstretched hand started to drop slowly back to my side. Before I could clench my fist, Tweek grabbed hold and pulled me into his arms. What. The. Fuck. I gasp inwardly and feel his hands snaking around my back, holding me tight. I stop breathing entirely, my heartbeat accelerating. What was happening? Since when was Tweek so confident? What the hell do I do? Shit. Do I hug him back? Oh, God, I want to. I want to hold his face in between my hands and kiss him the way Pip and Damien had. No. That was too fast, even for me. I hesitantly wrap my arms around him and hold him just as tight. He was a head shorter than me, but his crazy hair still stuck up wildly, tickling my nostrils. I could smell the coffee practically emanating off the addict. It smelled so sweet, so good. So Tweek. I wanted to stay this way forever. Just as I thought this, though, I could feel Tweek's grip loosening, and his head tilting up to look at me. "T-thank you, Craig. You have no i-idea, nng, how long I've b-been trying t-to talk to you.." He has? "You have? But I thought you were always avoiding me."

He chuckles. It was a happy sound, like bells. "K-kind of hard to, w-when you're always w-watching m-me." He steps back from my embrace and smiles at me mischievously. Damn it. He knew.

I reach my hand behind my head and smirk. "Yeah, well, you know.." I didn't know what to say to that. What could I say? I was a god damn stalker and we both knew it.

"We should get to the caf, lunch is almost over." Tweek nods in agreement and I open the door for him. I still couldn't believe it. As we entered the caf together, as we sat with the guys together, as Clyde smiled at me with full approval. We were friends again. This was unreal.