It was a cold autumn morning. Dry brown leaves flew through the crisp cool air landing at the feet of two pre-teen boys waiting by the bus stop. One of them, the one wearing a blue chullo hat with a yellow poof ball on top, stood there groggily with tired eyes struggling to stay open. The boy next to him was slightly shorter with messy blonde hair. He was wearing an unevenly buttoned greenish brown sweater and anxiously chugging a thermos, except it wasn't filled with water or soup or anything else nourishing.
"Dude, take it easy on the coffee." Craig, the taller, more relaxed of the duo said.
The blonde, Tweek, just twitched in response.
"I can't man! It's our first day of middle school and I'm freaking out!!"
Craig gave him a concerned look. "Well I don't think that coffee's helping. I think it might be making it worse."
"My parents say the caffeine helps with my adhd! So I need it!"
Craig rolled his eyes but still stared cautiously at his anxiety riddled boyfriend. Ever since they started dating Tweek's been better at laying off the coffee, but once middle school rolled around he went right back to his old habits.
"I mean! Multiple classes?! How do you even manage that!?!?"
As the bus approached them, Craig pried Tweek's fingers off his thermos to hold his hand. At least he had Craig to help soothe his nerves when coffee didn't.
They must've been the last ones to get on because they were immediately greeted by a full bus of screaming pre-teens throwing paper airplanes, swearing, and some even blew spit wads at each other. Craig put his arm around Tweek to help guide him through the chaos. They made a beeline for the back where there was a row of empty seats next to their friends Jimmy and Clyde.
Craig slumped down in the seat with an exasperated sigh and Tweek slowly sat in the seat next to him.
"Hey guys! You two excited for middle school?" Clyde practically yelled at them.
Craig just rolled his eyes. "I don't really care. School's school. I'm worried about Tweek though."
"When aren't you worried about Tweek?" Clyde asked rhetorically. "I'm sure he's fine, that's just how he is, right buddy?"
Tweek took a break from chugging his coffee to look at Clyde and nod nervously.
Craig just looked annoyed and concerned. "Is that healthy though?" he asked himself quietly.