Hiraeth Of The Heart (Tweek X Craig)

Chapter 20, Everything Ok?

Craig's face was unreadable, even from inches away. His lips in a slight frown; his jaw clamped; and his blue eyes dull with no shine, still staring into the blackest parts of mine. He took his precious time studying my face, slicing back and forth at it with his sharp eyes. He took one heavy breath in through his nose, and suddenly--

"Joking." He sneered, lifting his eyes back up to mine.

My eyes widened as his voice spoke out. Craig's hands slipped away from the counter behind me as they discovered the safety of his jean pockets, his feet taking two cautious steps back. I wrinkled my brow in response, a twitch carved into my natural reaction as usual. Subsequently, I dropped my weight back onto the heels of my feet and away from the tips of my toes that it previously rested on; letting loose my grip on the countertop.

"Then do you mind telling me why you're still following me around?"

Craig blinked, a slight frown generously placed onto his face as collateral, and a hand behind his neck as his head tilted back towards the wall.

"I've told you a thousand times already. I can't leave your side, and when I do it feels like a damn bullet train is hooked to my chest,"

I parted my lips to speak, preparing my words with a scripted smug expression.

"And before you ask, no. Not in some cliche lovey-dovey way, it's actual physical pain." He squinted his eyes slightly as he clarified the situation.

I closed my mouth in defeat; pressing my lips together tightly enough to tint them white.

"That doesn't make sense." I caught my stutter before it hit my words, and proceded to glance into the corner of the room as I let myself slip into unfamiliar thought.

"I died and now I'm an incubus; does any part of this entire situation make sense to you?"
Craig questioned in a stern tone, letting a finger twirl and pull at a strand of his greased fringe noticeably sticking out from the bottom of his hat.

I rolled my eyes before locking them to his own. It was obvious that Craig was suddenly in an awful mood.  As for why? Who knows? Maybe demons just get this way sometimes, it's not like I've had any experience with them previous to this. I've known the guy for what would be a week today, and he's always in the same cocky-upbeat mood every day; something is obviously not on key for him.

I slipped out of my thoughts just in time to notice Craig's eyes glazing over me, dripping wet with curiosity all over my frame.  I scripted out a snarky response that I had in mind, said it a few times in my head just to make sure it didn't sound stupid, and then I spoke.

"You'd think finding new ways to act like a jerk is something you do in your spare tire-"

I quickly slapped my hand over my mouth.  I just said tire instead of time.  Oh fuck me.  Suddenly a small wheeze escapes Craig's mouth as he stares me down with his lips parted -- which very quickly morphs into a smile, accompanied by his thick brows curving upwards in amusement.

"Did you just say spare tire?"

"AH- NO."

Craig's face tinted pink as he tried not to burst into laughter

"Aha- Yes you did."  Craig loudly chuckled in-between his words.

I sulked in defeat, my harsh eyes hazing Craig. He finally burst, laughter and smiles exploding out of him as he tilted forward. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he completely forgot about his cheap mood. It's the first time I'd seen him laugh so hard; I didn't even know he had a side like that in him.

Craig pulled himself back up, pulling his hat off his head as he pushed back his hair with the palms of his hands and covered his eyes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he looked almost like a model. Suddenly a small snort escaped with his laugh, causing him to pause.

I lifted my glare and let my eyes widen.

Craig, who's suddenly carrying a very serious expression, lifted his hands off his eyes, revealing his messy bangs and his sharp blue eyes.

"Don't. Say. A. Damn. Thing."
With each word he spoke, his frown only lifted into a smile more and more.

I couldn't help but to laugh.
"Don't worry, I can keep a secret."

Craig smiled at the ground with sharp eyes, sliding his hat back into it's signature spot on his imperfect ebony colored hair.
I lifted myself onto the bathroom counter and took a deep breath through my smile. The room went quiet. I let my smile fade as I glanced past my shoulder and at myself in the mirror.

An obnoxious ringing filled the room and burrowed into my ears.
First block was starting soon.
My eyes met with Craig's; neither of us spoke as the moment continuously stretched on.

"I need to go to class." I pushed myself back onto to my feet and headed for the door. As I slipped my fingers around the handle, I glanced back over to Craig.

"U-uh," I avoided Craig's seemingly burning eyes - I had my sight on his jaw until the last moment. "You can come with."

Craig took a lead forward and stepped into the spot next to me as he grabbed onto the door from above my head, ignoring my grip on it's handle and holding it open for me regardless. Jesus, he was so tall compared to me.

"After you." He pushed the door further open and slipped it from my grip.

I stared for a moment before realizing that probably wasn't the most tactful thing to do in the moment. Instead I backed up and fled into the hallway.

The halls were surprisingly empty.

"Craig?" I turned to face him as I took short steps towards Honors English.

"Hm?"
Craig hummed dully as his eyes swept over the lockers.

"Uhm- Is something wrong?  Earlier you just seemed-"

"Nah."
He spoke without turning to face me, and he made it completely obvious that he didn't want to talk about whatever it was, so why bother?

It was fine and I really didn't mind. . .

I mean if he doesn't want to talk about it, like I said that's completely fine, but shouldn't I at least get an explanation?

Maybe I should ask him again later?

Ahh. . .

Nah.

Well, maybe-. . .

Jesus ChrISt, why can't I just not care?