The Evermore Dissociate(Creek) - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

The light from outside transitioned through the thick glass of the window as it met with the disheveled blonde hair. He was stuck in art class once again, and though at one point in his life he had loved nothing more than making art, it now seemed like a waste of time. It no longer relaxed him, if anything, it did quite the opposite since the gears in his mind barely turned as he put pen to paper, or in this case, paint brush to canvas. He had lost his passion for the fine strokes a brush could create with just a spark of creativity. How the wonders of a simple idea could progress into something so beautiful. The creation that laid before him now was anything but beautiful, it's half attempted flicks and contours far from put his classmates to shame, in fact, it was he who was ashamed.
It was truly a misfortune that he'd lost his motivation, because the art he once created was enticing, capturing the perfect amount of emotion within his work. Even the teacher had noticed the change in his enthusiasm. He can tell by the way she looks at his work as she passes through the classroom to check on everyone's progress, he can tell by the way she hums disapprovingly, while biting her tongue to prevent her true critic side from showing. Not that he cared, anyway.
Beside him, Kevin Stoley was repeatedly tapping his pencil against the edge of his desk, his eyebrows knitted with concentration as he analysed his work, searching for ways to improve his sketch of a light brown canoe floating through a glistening silent river. His contrast as sky meets water was astonishing, displayed with the right amount of shades. Tweek couldn't help but envy the stars that coated the skies in Stoley's piece, or the light radiating from the water as the moon hung heavily above the canoe.
The tapping however, was increasingly annoying Tweek, thus expressed by the low growl that caught in the back of his throat as he glared at the side of Stoley's head. It only continued though, with each tap smacking against the desk harder than the last. "Will you cut that out?"
Looking up from his work, Stoley raised an eyebrow in questioning. "Huh?"
"Tapping your pencil." Tweek gestured to the still moving object in Stoley's hand. "It's annoying."
"Oh." Stoley murmured, halting the action, before looking directly at Tweek. "Hey, I was going to speak to you after class, but since you're bugging me, I might as well get it out now."
"Okay?"
"Jimmy told me to invite you and your little tribe of losers to his house this Friday." Stoley began, his eyes flickering over to the teacher, who continued to shuffle through papers, oblivious to their conversation. "We're watching the Star Wars Trilogy from episode one."
"I hate Star Wars." Tweek complained. "Besides, why're you suddenly inviting us now? You've never before."
"That's because you say dumb shit, like you 'hate Star Wars'." Kevin sighed. "Look, I don't care if you go or not, but Jimmy said he has some important news and he wants his friends to all be there."
"I'll um... I'll think about it."
"What's there to think about? It's not like you have anything else going on at the weekends."
"I might." Tweek scoffed.
"Whatever, I don't care." Stoley held his palm out dismissively. "But I think you should go."
"Why? Has he already told you what the news is?"
"No," Kevin turned back to his work, shading in the edges of the moon as he wet his dry lips with the tip of his tongue. "But I think it's something bad."
-
Lunch couldn't have arrived any slower than it had, not only that but his sociology class had been held back because according to Mr Franklin, not enough of the students had been paying attention to his presentation. So, as Tweek shuffled down the hallways in the direction of the cafeteria, he wondered where he'd sit. For the past week, he'd been sitting with Kenny and his friends, but now with his friendship with Craig making a come back, would that mean he'd go back to sitting with him at their old table with Clyde and Token.
Oh God, he'd completely forgotten about Clyde. They still weren't on speaking terms, and to be quite frank, Tweek wasn't sure he wanted to be just yet. So far he'd managed to doge the wave of apologies from the brunette, but sitting back at their old table would mean he'd have to see him.
So here he was, in the midst of a dilemma as he stood at the entrance of the cafeteria. On one side of the room, Kenny was sat at his usual table with a burger hanging from his mouth as Kyle grimaced beside him. Then, on the other side of the cafeteria, was Tweek's old table where Token was currently sitting alone, poking a fork into his moms homemade pasta, while he read a book.
To Tweek, this felt like the biggest decision of his life. Token or Kenny, Kenny or Token. It was like a scale, one tipping lower than the other, though in the end they evened out. He hated cross roads, and this was most certainly one of them. Despite his indecisive mind, his legs began to lead the way, guiding him down the midsection of tables, as he nervously looked around. His eyes landed on Kenny who looked up and grinned, waving Tweek over, but all Tweek could manage was a robotic shake of the head. Kenny frowned in confusion as he watched Tweek slowly head over to his old table, visibly shaking with every step he took.
Inhale, exhale, Tweek reminded himself, before clumsily sitting down opposite Token. "Hi."
Looking up from his book, Token was taken aback, not expecting the company, but soon his lips twitched into a small smile. "How's it going?"
"Good, I think..." Tweek nodded his head, bending his fingers as he looked everywhere other than his friend sitting opposite him. "Um, is Clyde coming?"
"He's not at school today." The noirette replied, closing his book as he stabbed some pasta up with his fork to put into his mouth. "He sprained his ankle during last nights practice, so I doubt he'll show up for the rest of the week."
"He's okay though, right?"
"You know how Clyde is," Token chuckled to himself. "He makes things out to be worse than they really are."
Gently nodding his head, Tweek chewed on the inside of his lip. "Kevin said we're invited to a movie night this Friday."
"A movie night?"
"Yeah, I don't know, Jimmy has something important to tell everyone."
"Couldn't he just tell everyone at school? I have so much course work I have to be doing. I don't have time to sit around watching movies all night."
"Apparently not." Tweek breathed, turning around in his place to catch a look at Kenny, who was sharing Kyle's fries. at least it seemed like they were sharing, though with Kenny he could be pinching them without Kyle realising. Tweek returned to face Token, carefully watching him as he finished his meal. "They're not even watching any decent movies."
"Who's place is it at?"
"Jimmy's. I can't remember what time, though."
"I'll text him about it later." Token said, his stare down casting to Tweek's hands that were mushed together. "Why aren't you eating anything?"
"I didn't have time to grab something from home."
"Want me to get you something from the line while it's still open?"
"Ngh- no, thanks. They don't even wash their hands before serving." Tweek shuddered at the thought of eating anything from there again. "I um, I spoke to Craig this morning."
"Really?" Token leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the table as he stared at Tweek with interest. "What did he say?"
"Not much." Tweek recalled. "I mean, we started talking, but then we were late for school and I haven't seen him since. Have you seen him?"
"Haven't had any classes with him today. So no, but like, are you two good now, or?"
"I'm not sure," Tweek sighed as he rubbed his temples, trying to rid himself from the headache that had began to form. "Maybe?"
"Is he going to Jimmy's movie night?"
"I don't know, I'm not sure if he even knows about it yet. Kevin told me to tell you guys."
"Give me your phone." Token ordered, holding his hand out as he patiently waited.
"What? Why?" Tweek worried, yet he still dug a hand into his pocket to withdraw his phone before handing it over, watching closely as Token somehow unlocked it. "What're you doing?"
"Texting Craig."
"What! No!" Tweek startled, making a grab for his phone, but Token dodge him by backing up, continuing to safely text Craig. "Please don't!"
Smiling to himself, Token extended his arm, offering up the phone though it was too late, by the smug look he was wearing, it was clear he'd already hit send. Tweek grumbled to himself as he checked his phone, clicking on the conversation with Craig and reading what Token had wrote.
'Movie night at Jimmy's this Friday, you should come.'
It wasn't as bad as he was expecting, much to Tweek's relief, though he still cringed at the thought of Craig thinking he was desperate. Token had began to collect his rubbish, standing from his seat before patting Tweek's shoulders, though the blonde wasn't paying attention, his eyes were glued to his phone, watching the bubbles appear as Craig began to type out his reply. The bubbles kept disappearing and reappearing every five seconds before he finally sent his message.
'Yeah, maybe.'
"What did he say?" Token asked over Tweek's shoulder, trying to get a look.
Putting away his phone, Tweek fought off the smile that had taken place on his face as he stood from the table, ignoring Token's amused stare. "I think he's going."