The Way That Gravity Pulls (Creek FanFic)

Chapter 22: The Butterfly Effect

I hate bugs and I always will.

They're just too tiny and too gross.

Cockroaches can live for weeks without their heads.

Mosquitoes are actually the world's deadliest animal.

Honey bees grow hair on their eyeballs.

And worms literally live in their own shit.

Surprisingly, my hatred for bugs started off with fireflies. Once when my friends and I were kids, we all stayed over at Jimmy's house and camped out in his backyard. We decided to catch some fireflies and I had no problem with them, until everyone decided that it would be funny to rip apart the bug's guts and smear them down their faces, making "glow in the dark tattoos."

It was embarrassing as all hell to be 8 years old and to be called a "sissy" for not wanting to play with bugs just like every other normal little boy did.

But, there is one type of bug that I'm not afraid of.

Butterflies.

Maybe I'm just drawn to their bright, vibrant colors or maybe it's their confidence that I'm jealous of. But honestly, I think I'm okay with butterflies because of Craig Tucker, for hundreds of them swarmed inside of my stomach when he was around. And I had known the feeling ever since I could remember, for I just knew butterflies more than anyone could ever imagine.

And I'm a strong believer in The Butterfly Effect.

If you don't know what that is, allow me to explain.

The Butterfly Effect is a chaos theory. They say if a butterfly flaps its wings at just the right time and in just the right place, it can cause a hurricane thousands of miles away.

You wouldn't believe how something so small could be the reason for such a huge disaster.

Everything affects everything.

So what was it that caused the hurricane that not only tore apart Craig and I, but so many other people?

Who or what, was the butterfly?
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After Craig and I laid Stripe to rest, Craig snuck me back into his house and back upstairs. He quietly lead me to the bathroom and he helped me clean up Liane's blood which had dried to my arms and face. He started a shower for me and gave me some of his pajamas to wear, for I wasn't going back home at all that night.

"No one's going to find out I'm h-here, right?" I asked Craig as I stared down at the bathtub. "I don't wanna get you in trouble."

"No. Everyone's asleep. It's gonna be okay," he said as he turned to leave. "When you're done, just give me your clothes so I can throw them in the washer for you. Hopefully you'll have them for school tomorrow."

"I don't wanna wear those clothes ever again."

"Understandable, but I'm still going to wash them though. We can find something in my closet for you to wear tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay...and uh...can you stay outside of the d-door please? Just in case someone were to wake up?"

"Yes Tweek."

"Thank you Craig."

Craig gave me a sad smile before closing the door gently behind him. I watched his shadow linger outside of the bathroom from underneath of the door. He sat down, blocking anyone from getting in as he leaned up against it. I felt at ease knowing that he was there for me.

As I began to take off my clothes, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror above the sink. My skin had been paler than it normally was, for it was almost ghostly white. My light touch of freckles across my nose was no longer visible because all I had were dark circles under my eyes and cracks engraved in my face from where I had been breaking down under all of this pressure. And my lips, even though they had been kissed countless of times over those last couple of days, looked rough as they pulled down into a frown.