The Creature He Is

CHAPTER 7

When Craig goes to school the next day, he feels a bit lighter, from what he could only guess was making up with Clyde and the air around their group no longer feeling awkward anymore. As the day passes, he decides to spend lunch that day with his friends after informing Kenny before the class lets out. His only response from him, is a simple nod before he heads off.

It had been a while since Craig last spent lunch with his friends, but when he meets with them, it was like he never left. Everything felt as it was before.

When the day comes to an end and Craig leaves the school building, he spots Kenny. At first he isn't sure if it's him or not, but he recognized his posture stance, even from that far away and that orange parka he always wore.

He's not sure why he's there at first, he figured he would've already left by then, but then recalls how the two of them had been hanging out after school. He hadn't brought it up since he didn't spend lunch with him that day, so he thought that he would be gone by now. When he realizes that Kenny had waited for him until school ended to see him, a strange wave of some sort passes through him.

As he starts to walk towards him, someone calls out his name.

"Hey Craig!"

Craig stops and looks back to see his group of friends approaching him.

"We're thinking of going to the usual place to eat, you coming?" Token asks.

Craig hesitates a bit, glancing back at where Kenny is. Part of him wanted to turn it down, but their friend group just got back together, and he didn't want it to fall apart again. So with a small nod, he looks at them.

"Uh, sure," he replies.

"Well then, let's get going," Clyde says, as they walk past him.

Craig looks at Kenny again, to see him turn away and head off. A tinge of guilt sticks with him as he sees Kenny round a corner and go out of sight.

"Craig?" Clyde calls, drawing his attention away.

"Yeah, sorry, was just checking something is all," he replies and catches up with everyone.

When Friday comes, Craig's cold is all but almost gone. There were still a few coughs here and there, but they were pretty much gone by this point. He spends lunch that day with his friends, but only half of it, before he runs off, saying he needed to take care of something.

As soon as he gets outside, he sprints all the way to the spot by the stream. When he gets there, he looks to the rock but sees it's empty. He feels disappointed at it and his expression falls.

"You showed up."

Craig all but nearly jumps at the sudden voice from behind him. When he whirls around quickly, Kenny's there.

"Can you please stop doing that?!" Craig says, placing a hand on his chest, "You're going to give me a fucking heart attack one day." Kenny laughs a bit and Craig notices the distance between them. "How the hell did you get so close without making a sound anyways? We're in a forest."

"Guess you could call it a skill," Kenny replies, "You're not spending today's lunch with your friends?" he adds as he walks past Craig.

"Well I did spend some of it with them," Craig replies.

"How come not the whole thing? I'd think it's a good thing to be talking to them again, and wanting to spend more time with them."

"I do like being around them, but you're also my friend so..." Craig trails off as he slowly realizes something, "wait, how did you know I wasn't speaking with them?"