Through the Smoke (Staig)

Chapter One

Craig
The pencil taps against my desk as I look at the clock. The second hand stuck at thirty seconds, and the minute hand continuously moving as time passes by.
Eventually the bell rings, and hastily get up out of the desk, rushing over to my friends, Clyde, Token, and Jimmy. Who are all next to each other.
"Hey, Craig." I hear a voice distract me from my path. I turn around to see Stan
"Yes?" I ask, and he messes with his collar
       "Do you wanna maybe... sit with me at lunch today?" He asks, which makes me smile softly
       "I'd love that" I smile and he holds his hand out, I take it and intertwine my fingers with his and we start walking, getting the stares from the people in the hallway.
        Wendy looks at us in slight shock, but after that fades she gives a smile.
        "Stan, I had no idea!" She hugs him "I'm proud of you for coming to terms with yourself"
        "Im bisexual, Wendy." He responds
        "Im still happy for you, Stan, a lot of people wouldn't be so open about it." She says
         Stan doesn't take me to lunch. He takes me to the library, to the reading area in the back corner, where couches and pillows are.
         He pulls me onto a bean bag chair with him and holds me close.
        "You're being fairly bold, Marsh." Our faces are close, really close. I can examine most of his facial features.
        "Oh I heard through the grapevine that you've been giving me eyes, didn't believe it till I saw it for myself." He's lost in me. His focus is on me completely.
         "Maybe I have... maybe I haven't." I smile softly.
         He doesn't say anything, his eyes flicker down my my lips a couple of times before he leans in and connects them. I kiss him back, feeling my chest explode. When we part, he turns away and looks at the ceiling, but my gazed is fixed on him.
         "Craig, would you want to be my boyfriend?" He asks, quickly, as if ripping off a band aid.
         "You were nervous about this whole thing, but the thing that gets you, is the fucking asking?" I laugh "of course I'm gonna say yes you fucking idiot" I kiss his cheek and we both laugh together, he sounds as though he's laughing off nerves.
         "Asking is just so stupid." He chuckles, but I know he's a little nervous, regardless.
     
        That was months ago, but it's still a memory I hold onto fondly. Back when everything was new, and fun. Now it's just boring. Now I spend my days at his house waiting for him to get tipsy enough to kiss me. He spends his time playing his video game with his friends, I tried to get into it, but I just can't.
         We've gotten into some arguments too, but they're always stupid. I guess this is some long term relationship shit. Four months in.
         "Stan, I don't think I can do this anymore." I say, looking up from his bed, but he's sat on his futon, playing his game with his friends, Yelling at Cartman through most of it. 
         "Stan." I say a bit sterner
         "Hold on guys." He takes his headset off, and looks at me "What."
         "This isn't working." I state "I can't be with you anymore." I slip my shoes on and he throws his headset and his controller to the side, getting up and rushing over to me, putting his hands on my hood.
         "Woah woah woah, what? What are you talking about?" He says frantically
         "I can't.... I can't be with you anymore." I look him in the eye. He's beautiful. I really do like him... "I don't want to spend my days listening to you scream at your friends." I look away "You've become an apathetic asshole, and I can't... I can't be with you..." he sighs let's me go, putting his shoes on, and grabbing his keys.
         "Let me drive you home." He says, he sounds like he's holding stuff back.
         "Okay..." I look down and follow him out.

    The ride home is awkward. He has music playing loudly as he speeds. After a little bit I turn the music down to mumble "Don't drive so fast." And he slows down, the music goes back up.
       We get back to my house, and I get out. He watches me, and as the door shuts he looks down and he drives away. I hear his tires peel out. That's so bad for his fucking car.
        I go inside and collapse into my mom. Telling her what happened, and how he was. She holds me and plays with my hair, and my dad is sat at the table, doing his ship bottle things that I've never understood.
     "What did I say, Laura?" He shakes his head, focusing on putting a piece in before looking over at us "The Marsh's are trouble makers. All of them." He shakes his head and gets back to what he's doing.
      "Y'know what always helped me feel better?" She starts "I wouldn't spend time moping over the shitty people I've lost, I'd spend time with the people that love me, doing the things I love the most, having fun with life."
       I look at her, confused, before she reaches over and grabs the keys.
      "Go ahead and take the car, spend some time with your friends, reap havoc on the world." She puts them in my hand, and I get up. Smiling softly "And be safe, Honey. Be home by ten." She says, and I nod along, Rushing out and sitting in the car. Clyde usually works on Tuesdays. Token doesn't but we typically aren't alone together. Clyde is kinda the binder that holds us all together. When a room is silent, he loses his mind. He can't stand it.
      Hmm... I pull out my phone and call an old friend of mine, who answers almost immediately.
      "Craig?" He asks as soon as he answers, followed by a mumbled "cockkk" in the background
      "Hey! Thomas uh... You maybe wanna..." I trail off, he knows his past with me. He knows about the time he spent with me, at the musical, and numerous sleepovers.
      "Oh! I uh... SHIT- I I'd love to!" He responds
     Great. Time to forget about that fucking douchebag.