The Evermore Dissociate(Creek) - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Gentle fields of daisies surrounded the group of students, with the tall grass tickling at the ankles exposed for all to see. The faint smell of fruit and sweat combined together, creating some uncanny scent that lingered with each person. The almost non-existent wind brushed at the dark hair around Craig's ear, the lenient whispers passed on through the air, with a heavy hand irritably brushing against it. One of the most reoccurring facial features Craig expressed was frowning, which he was currently doing. He was immensely annoyed at the fact Tweek had ditched him to hang around with Kenny and Eric. The situation visibly grinding his gears, and having to listen to Clyde and Token's cringe infested bromance was only making it worse.
One minute, Tweek was by his side, then the next he was scurrying away with Kenny, who accepted the straggler with open arms, not wanting to have to listen to Cartman's whining on his own. Why Tweek had chosen those two, was beyond any realistic reasoning. Craig just couldn't, for the sake of heaven and hell, understand why.
Andrew, the guy who had given them their introduction yesterday, had been sending them on a wild goose hunt all day, ordering them out in small groups to study particular plants for whatever reason. Within the third hour of self grumbling and questioning Tweek's sanity even more than he did on a regular basis, Craig decided to ease up on the scowling, since it proved to be doing nothing but giving himself a headache. Besides, it's not like Tweek could be having that much fun anyway, having Eric Cartman around, and all.
Clyde had been teasing Craig on and off for the past hour about how he was being a clingy, jealous friend, and even though it was true in some sense, Craig still flipped him off. Sensing the heated glares being sent his way, Tweek was feeling extra anxious today. It was taking all of the courage he'd hidden away, not to look back. He needed to figure out what was happening with himself. To figure out why he was feeling this type of way for his best friend. He needed some space away from Craig to just get it out of his system, but what he needed most was for the unbearable longing in his bones to just go away, to leave him alone, and quit forcing him to act this way.
He was currently sitting under a tree with Kenny and Eric, sheltered by the green leaves that dangled like patterned flakes, ready to be touched by the hands of all. The dryness of his throat outweighed any of his other needs. Kenny had spent his time unwisely, plucking the innocent flowers from their beds to toss at Eric when he wasn't looking. It was turning into some kind of mischievous game once he realised Tweek found it rather amusing, and with Tweek's attempts to hide his grin, it only encouraged Kenny more.
All was going well, until Eric turned his head back to them, no longer in a daze, when the flowers that had piled up on his hair began to fall down, raining in front of him like a dandelions seeds being blown away. His eyebrows knitted together, laced with confusion as he looked upwards, brushing his hand through his hair in attempt to find the source of his troubles. Kenny subtly tossed the remaining daisies from his hand behind himself, slyly grinning towards Tweek after.
Snapping out of his confusion, Eric shook the sheet of paper in his hands, realising he hadn't been doing anything for a while now. "Whats the answer for the eighth question?" He cleared his throat.
"Which element has the lowest atomic number?" Kenny asked, halfheartedly.
"If that's the eighth question, then yes." Eric tapped his pen against the paper impatiently.
Tweek looked down at his sheet, his answers had so far been as vague as possible, either one or two words each. "I wrote hydrogen."
"Is it right?"
"I don't know. I think so?" Tweek answered with dismay.
"I put the same thing."
"Shut up, I just watched you copy him." Eric accused Kenny as he watched him fake offence with his bruised hand covering his heart.
"Are you calling me a cheat?"
"That's exactly what I'm sayin."
Moments passed with hurried scribbling and offhanded insults, before the groups had been called back over, and Andrew lead them to the worlds tiniest lake that smelled a lot like frogs and dirt. Craig had slipped away from his friends and completely ignored Butters attempt to strike up a conversation as he made his way over to where Tweek was standing. By this time, Kenny had joined Stan, leaving Tweek to look entirely uncomfortable standing next to Eric.
When Craig's presence was noticed, Tweek visibly relaxed, before realising he was supposed to be spending time away from him. He gave Craig a nervous smile. One that felt too forced, but soon flattered when Craig stared back passively, with seconds passing before his rough hand latched around Tweek's wrist to drag him over to a tree which was close enough not to be noticed, but far enough to have some privacy.
"Jesus Christ, Craig!" Tweek hissed, freeing himself to rub his skin.
"Why're you avoiding me?" Craig's fiery eyes urged, his voice quiet and mysterious, never failing to catch Tweek's attention.
Tweek agitatedly glanced around, making sure they wasn't drawing any curious eyes to themselves, before looking back to Craig, not fully meeting his eyes. "What're you talking about. I'm not avoiding you."
"Bullshit." Craig persisted. Tweek was cornered, with his back to the tree, whilst Craig blocked him from the other students. "What's going on?"
"N-nothing." Tweek insisted, but Craig could tell he was lying with the way he was playing with the hem of his sleeve.
Craig chewed his lip in thought, and Tweek had to force himself not to imposingly watch the innocent action. "Is it because of this morning? You know I was playing, right?"
There it was, that was exactly what Tweek was worried about, it was dumb of him to think it could've been anything more than it was, a joke. His stomach dropped, feeling like he'd just been punched in the gut, and had all of the life sucked out of him. It felt like a knife had just been shoved carelessly into his chest, twisting around inside and puncturing his lungs.
He couldn't look weak though, and so he put on what was supposed to be the best show of his life, somehow hiding the anxiety spilling out of him as he masked himself with the most stoic expression he could muster, having learnt from Craig over the years. He could only hope it was believable, and gave a tight nod.
Craig stared down at him for a few seconds, watching as Tweek stared off to the side, his jaw tightened. "So then, what is it?"
"What's what? I do have other friends you know." Tweek snapped. The last thing he wanted was to get into an argument with Craig, but right now he was as close to losing it as possible. There was just so many emotions flowing through him right now, and he wasn't the type of person who could easily repress them.
Craig's eyebrow twitched, but other than that he seemed neutral, which only hurt Tweek more. His attempts to push past Craig and get back to the others had failed when Craig grabbed his wrist again to keep him in place. With his patience wearing thin, Craig exhaled through his nose. "What're you thinking?" He asked, his words coming out somewhat soft but also forced, whilst his eyes narrowed at his unstable friend, failing to make the connection.
Tweek didn't know how to answer that. He couldn't exactly say, 'hey I know you've been my best friend since fourth grade, but I kinda wanna make out with you right now.' No, he couldn't answer honestly. It was selfish thinking like that which was going to ruin their friendship.
Craigs hold on his wrist tightened slightly when the blonde didn't reply. Tweek's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed nervously, his eyes looking at everything except Craig, before settling on a patch of grass. The fingers from the hand that wasn't captured pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke.
"I think I'm gay."